Results 8,381-8,400 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Office of Public Works (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is the Executive Agency within my Department with primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves. Our six National Parks, Killarney, Connemara, Wild Nephin, Wicklow Mountains, Glenveagh and The Burren are all managed as Category II National Parks...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 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: Referendum Campaigns (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to holding a referendum on water, and work on the drafting of an appropriate wording is at an advanced stage. My planned course of action as outlined previously is to bring forward a referendum proposal on water ownership for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing once the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 216 together. My Department’s Foreshore Unit operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. Up to 2020, the Foreshore function in my Department was part of a much broader business unit that also dealt with Marine Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to the specific project mentioned, I can confirm that the project received conditional Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding approval in 2019 for 34 social housing homes.My Department actively engages with the local authority and the Approved Housing Body (AHB) concerned. I understand that following withdrawal of the preferred bidder from the procurement process, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Regeneration Programme targets the country’s most disadvantaged communities; those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. My Department supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects which seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these estates through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (9 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 Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum annual reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports. In determining a tenant’s minimum annual reckonable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 311 of 28 February 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Properties (9 Mar 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: Housing Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supply. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations and responsibility for the enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government and Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, the Housing Commission was established by Government in December 2021 to independently examine and review the housing system in Ireland. The Commission has been tasked to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In my first year as Minister, I introduced significant tenancy protections under the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 with effect from 1 August 2020. The Act provides for enhanced tenancy protections by requiring a landlord to copy the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) with any 28-day warning notice (doubled from 14 days under that Act) given in writing to their tenant seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Action 2.12 of Housing for All requires that, among other things an examination for the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, informed by international experience occurs. This examination has a timeline of Q2 2023. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 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. Under Housing for All, the Government aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All recognises that in order to create the environment needed to enable supply of over 300,000 new homes by 2030, land needs to be serviced with transport, utilities and other infrastructure. Housing for All provides for this ‘whole of system’ approach. In line with Action 22.6 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022) both Uisce Éireann and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 235 and 240 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 235 of 26 January 2023 which sets out the position in this matter. In addition, this week, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes including: - an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out the range of actions intended to increase the overall supply of housing to 33,000 new homes on average per year over the next decade. Under the strategy, 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Mar 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 Q3 2022, over 106,700 HAP tenancies have been set-up since the scheme commenced, with almost 59,700 active tenancies being supported under the HAP Scheme. I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme and...