Results 8,521-8,540 of 26,783 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. EV charging infrastructure is crucially important. It is good to see the growth in EV sales. Something that has helped them is the grants. I would like to see the grant levels maintained for EVs as well, because people are responding to that. Local authorities have a role to play in that, and many exercise it. I have seen an increase in charging infrastructure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will let the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, talk about the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. In my opening statement I gave some detail around the retrofitting programme which is really important, with our local authority stock and the housing stock that we have, in order to reduce emissions. Local authorities are key drivers in their own areas to advance climate policy. They...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (14 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 was enacted on 24 July 2022. My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding the substitute consent and 37L procedures, following which the substitute consent and section 37L provisions of the Planning and Development,...

Retained Fire Services: Motion [Private Members] (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — Retained Firefighters are highly committed frontline responders providing an exceptional service within their communities; — Retained Firefighters live and work within close proximity of their fire station, which provides operational cover and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Allotments Provision (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 395 of 30 May 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Judicial Reviews (13 Jun 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. My department does not hold the specific information requested by the Deputy. Arrangements have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 3 November 2022, my Department approved a budget for the Housing Agency in respect of its role in the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks scheme for 2023. This funding is to cover the operational costs of a regional office, payments due to framework consultants and professional support and costs. The budgetary process is an annual one and my Department is committed to ensuring that the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has operated the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme since 2006. The purpose of the scheme is to provide financial and advisory support to farmers to manage farmed habitats and species of conservation concern above and beyond statutory requirements. The scheme is operated under the Agriculture Block Exemption Regulation (ABER) 702/2014 (as extended...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork County Council. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork County Council. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork County Council. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork County Council. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork County Council. This data is available to the end of 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There are no vacant properties in the ownership of my Department. It is the role of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to provide office accommodation to all Government Departments. The OPW owns or leases the buildings which my Department occupies. The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 697 to 699, inclusive, together. The Framework for Future Delivery of Water Services (June 2022) was developed following a comprehensive process of engagement with unions under the aegis of the Workplace Relations Commission and enables the integration of public water services into Uisce Éireann's organisational structure. The Framework provides...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department fully supports the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027, which was published by my colleague the Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, in March 2023. The Plan can be accessed on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have overall responsibility for hedgerow surveys. Teagasc, however, has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive national survey has been carried out to date, a number of local authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by my Department provides funding to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government's Legislation Programme for summer 2023, published in April, includes the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill 2023 for priority drafting in this Oireachtas session. Policy is being developed as a matter of priority and draft legislative provisions and administrative measures are being examined to help a tenant to buy their rented home on the basis of a landlord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: These bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail, by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the attached table. The information would be available from the state bodies themselves, and the dedicated e-mail addresses for members of the Oireachtas in respect of each such body are as set out in tabular form below. State Body Contact E-mail Address An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my department has commenced a project to review and update wildlife legislation. This is an extensive review and is a multi-year project. It will examine closely the effectiveness of our legislation in protecting wildlife and regulating activities that adversely impact on wildlife and biodiversity. The review includes the Wildlife Act, which, in...