Results 8,641-8,660 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (15 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The aim of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 is to afford time for housing supply to increase and to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market. To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter emergency period and ensure that there is no cliff...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (15 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. Under the Housing Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (15 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 285 of 14 February 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013, over 77,500 local authority social housing dwellings have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of over €251 million. In 2021 a new holistic approach was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In May 2022, Government approved a three-year Strategic Action Plan for renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Building on the substantial investment under the Plan, which comes to an additional €55 million across three budgetary cycles, there are a range of funding initiatives managed by the NPWS to support individuals or groups to assist with the conservation of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (14 Feb 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: Rental Sector (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) which came into effect on 1 July 2019. Under this legislation applicable in RPZs: - Short term letting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Both the Programme for Government and Housing for All commits to strengthening the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme and ensuring that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant amendments already made to the scheme in 2017, the 2021 Review, which was published on the 24 January 2022, examined the impact of these changes and what further changes would benefit those in need of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. In order...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In response to the many building failures that have emerged over the past decade, my Department introduced the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction by registered construction professionals and builders, lodgment of compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The terms for gratuity payments to elected members of local authorities are as set out in the provisions of the Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002-2006. The calculation of the gratuity is based upon the Representational Payment that was in place when the Principal Regulations were given effect and this is adjusted in proportion to any adjustments made to the salary of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is happy to work with the organisation concerned to come to a resolution and is currently working on registering a new domain name.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The key aim of the review and consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was to put plan-making at the centre of the planning system by bringing increased clarity and streamlining to the legislation and improving the functioning of the planning system for both practitioners and the general public. This review and the draft Bill it has produced represents the most comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála ('the Board') is independent in the performance of its functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is engaging with the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector, including Cena, on its capacity to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation as part of the ongoing work of the Programme Board, established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Expert Group Review report. My Department supported Cena in 2022 in relation to the following: - funding for a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Budget 2022 provided for record capital investment in Housing with total funding of over €4 billion available through exchequer resources, Land Development Agency (LDA) investment and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) lending. In respect of capital expenditure on Housing in 2022, my Department will shortly submit its Capital Expenditure Management Report End Quarter 4 2022 to Government. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), a key commitment under Housing for All, is a new tax which was established in Finance Act 2021. It is designed to activate suitably zoned and serviced land for housing and is a key pillar of the Government’s response to address the urgent need to increase housing supply in suitable locations. The Department of Finance leads on its implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Addressing vacancy and dereliction, and maximising the use of the existing housing stock, is a priority objective of the Government, as evidenced in Housing for All - where one of the four pathways in the plan is specifically dedicated to this area - and also the recently announced Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme which encompasses derelict properties. The Derelict Sites Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Arts Centres (14 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Events Centre was included as a commitment under Project Ireland 2040. This underlines the Government’s objectives for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. It was agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility...