Results 8,001-8,020 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Directives (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the full transposition, implementation and enforcement of EU environmental law in Ireland. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has handed down judgments in the following cases in respect of non-compliance with the Directives specified below which relate to my Department: Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Water Supply Project is a strategic national project, included in the National Development Plan, to help meet the long-term water supply requirements for the Eastern and Midlands region. The preferred scheme for the project involves the abstraction of water from the lower River Shannon at Parteen Basin in County Tipperary. The abstracted water will be treated at a new water treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households with a long term housing need. At end Q2 2023, over 112,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, with 58,234 active tenancies being supported under the HAP Scheme. Details of the number of active tenancies by local authority area at the end...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and as such numbers of registrations are a matter for the Board. My Department does not collect the information...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has been working in close collaboration with Parliamentary drafters over the past months to develop the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will be published before the end of the year. The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, which launched on 7thJuly 2022, supports first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme was expanded in April to enable eligible renters who have received a valid notice of termination from their landlord to purchase the home they are renting under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 36 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 provides that the Government may make a scheme for the purposes of enabling a designated local authority or an approved housing body to remedy damage caused to dwellings by the use of defective concrete blocks in their construction. The grant rates for this local authority and approved housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The nature of the personal data breaches identified by my Department fall into the following general categories: personal data being shared accidentally with unintended recipients; the loss or theft of equipment (phones/laptops); the accidental exposure of personal data to unauthorised persons; or systems being compromised. All breaches are dealt with in line with my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that I have recently received this correspondence which is receiving attention. The matter will be responded to in accordance with my Department’s Quality Customer Service Charter.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: This is pathetic.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: He does it all the time.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Delivering on housing is the defining challenge of this Government. After over a decade of undersupply, our country is catching up but too many of our people are still left behind. We need to do more and do it quicker and we will. I know how hard things are for people but we are making progress. In 2023, more homes will be built and more homes will be bought than in a generation. We will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A comprehensive review of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) was initiated in May 2021, led by the Office of the Attorney General. This process included extensive stakeholder engagement, particularly with the Planning Advisory Forum established in December 2021. The review culminated in the publication of the draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 in January 2023. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the review of the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) has been extended to 2030 with an associated level of additional investment. To date there have been two Calls for proposals under the URDF with more than €1.6 billion provisionally allocated so far in respect of 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 projects. In January of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Acts to operate national tenancy registration system and as such, the RTB registration figures are an operational matter for the RTB. My Department does not have the information sought. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 127 together. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Court of Justice (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested in relation to judgments made against Ireland in the Court of Justice of the European Union over the past five years in respect of matters which are the responsibility of my Department is set out in the table below. CJEU Case No. Nature of Case Remedial Actions taken to date Cost Failure to comply...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Oct 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Maximum rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. In prescribing these limits, household size and...