Results 8,141-8,160 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Probate Applications (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Addressing vacancy and maximising the use of existing housing stock is a primary objective of Government. Housing for All(September, 2021) and the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November, 2022) have the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes. Addressing vacancy is a key part of the strategy and and I work with my ministerial colleagues...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins the policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All. In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. The grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government agreed on 7 March that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act. In advance of this, I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years in the residential rental market, and will report on how our housing system can be enhanced to provide an efficient, affordable,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 7 March last the Government decided that the “Winter Emergency Period”, under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022, will cease on the 31 March 2023. This will see deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023. In addition to the on-going and extra measures taken to put in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding the retrofitting of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 to the end of 2022, over 77,500 local authority social housing dwellings have been retrofitted with a total...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All includes an action (21.7) to introduce a targeted energy efficiency retrofit scheme for Approved Housing Bodies. In this regard, the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, launched on 8 February 2022, includes enhanced grant levels for certain measures, specifically for Approved Housing Bodies. Responsibility for the implementation of this Action rests with my colleague, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (28 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 (the Act), the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies. As provided for under Section...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cúrsaí Oidhreachta (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá an séadchomhartha atá i gceist ar eolas ag Seirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta i mo Roinnse agus tá cosaint dhlíthiúil aige toisc é a bheith san áireamh i dTaifead reachtúil na Séadchomharthaí agus na nÁiteanna arna bhunú faoi alt 12 d’Acht na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cúrsaí Oidhreachta (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Le linn gnáthobair chothabhála/athsholáthair fálta a dhéanamh laistigh de Pháirc Náisiúnta Chonamara, rinne conraitheoir rianú gairid ar chuadrothar ar fud rian a bhí ag suíomh reilig an Mhaoilinn (GA023-023002) cheana féin. Thug seandálaí a raibh taithí chuí aige/aici ó Sheirbhís na...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In the local government sector, travel and subsistence policies and rates mirror those established centrally for the Civil and Public Sectors and, therefore, any consideration of initiatives such as that referenced will need to be informed by central policy. A key consideration is this regard is the requirement to limit travel, subsistence and related expenditure and the loss of official...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 226 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: Approved Housing Bodies (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Statistics on overall units owned, managed or leased by AHBs are captured as part of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority’s (AHBRA) annual monitoring programme. The first monitoring programme took place in 2022 and statistics will be published by the Regulator over the coming months. Information in respect of funding for individual Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 (the Act), the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies. The register of AHBs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. A ‘Fresh Start’...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Climate Action Plan (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. The Board carries out its quasi-judicial functions independently of the Minister and his...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: 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, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (23 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 234 of 19 January 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.