Results 8,181-8,200 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Projects (22 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Areas of conservation interest are reviewed by staff in the NPWS of my Department, to assess the scientific value of habitats and/or species that occur. Scientific selection criteria such as the occurrence of nationally rare or vulnerable habitats and species are used to identify the most appropriate sites for designation. Sites identified as being of national importance for particular...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fisheries Protection (22 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: One of the key features of the General Scheme of the Marine Protected Area Bill approved by Government in December 2022 is participation in the co-design and co-management with all stakeholders including fishers. This participatory approach is essential for the successful delivery of Marine Protected Areas internationally and in Ireland. I am committed to working with all stakeholders...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (22 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála, as appropriate, may grant planning permission for a development, which involves rock breaking (drilling, blasting or splitting). When making a decision on a planning application, a planning authority or the Board, as appropriate, is required to have regard to the particular local circumstances of the proposed development and may attach...

Eviction Ban: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Which the Deputy is against.

Eviction Ban: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is against everything.

Eviction Ban: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Bring forward proposals.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is a net decrease.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not have missed the Deputy.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I had to step out for a minute.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the number closed.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Data from the RTB shows that 19,049 new tenancies were registered in January and February of this year. In the last three months of 2022 during the winter eviction moratorium, 1,896 HAP tenancies were created. On this point, I want to highlight that the State created on average 630 HAP tenancies during each month last year. That is a direct support for our most vulnerable renters. Almost...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What does the party say to those families and those individuals? Those who are saying we did nothing over the period of the moratorium to increase supply are not telling the truth. The facts are the facts. The Government decision of 7 March set out our next steps. The actions we are taking include the significant protections we are putting in place for renters while also ensuring...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We are increasing the number of social housing acquisitions to at least 1,500 in 2023. Many Deputies have raised the tenant in situ scheme with me and I assure them that I have corresponded with local authorities. I have issued them each with targets and I have requested that they provide regular progress updates to me.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: They are directed to do that. The figure of 1,500 is the floor and we will do more. We are also adding 1,000 new social homes through targeted leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024, which are specifically focused on our homeless community. This is another initiative that Sinn Féin is opposed to. We have also taken on board pragmatic and solution-driven proposals from colleagues in the...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We have expanded the help-to-buy scheme to €30,000 for first-time buyers and we have introduced emergency powers, as Members will know, to accelerate the delivery of housing, a measure which, unsurprisingly, Sinn Féin did not support at the time we brought it forward. I, like many Deputies across the House, have spoken to tenants over the past two weeks. They ask me what help...

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: This is the same incendiary language Sinn Féin Members used when the eviction ban during the pandemic came to an end. Instead, myself and my Government colleagues outline the supports available to them.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I speak to them about HAP, RAS, rent supplement and purchase for tenants in situ. I encourage them to speak to their local authorities about their situation. I inform them of the various schemes-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----the Government has in place to help people to buy their own home, all of which Sinn Féin opposed, including the first home and the help-to-buy schemes. It even opposed the vacancy grant. I inform them of cost rental, the new form of tenure in Ireland where tenants-----

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----are in place now paying rents that are not driven by the market or profits.

Eviction Ban: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I tell them we are doing everything we can to ensure that no person ends up homeless.