Results 8,681-8,700 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy commits to increasing the housing options available...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government's ‘Housing for All’ plan includes the ‘Fresh Start’ principle whereby those who have previously purchased a home, but who are divorced or separated or have undergone insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and no longer have any financial interest in their former home, can be eligible for these schemes just as if they were first-time buyers. This...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing Policy Objective 12.1 of Housing for All (September 2021) outlined an action to bring forward new ways for the State to share in a fairer way from the land value gains secured through zoning/designation and planning permission decisions, referring to measures previously recommended by the Kenny Report and more recently by NESC. In December 2021 the General Scheme with Heads of Bill...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future and Housing for All committed to not extending the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) arrangements beyond their legislative expiry date of end December 2021, which was subsequently extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related extension of statutory timelines within the planning system by eight weeks in respect of the period...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The scheme aims to bridge the current “viability gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. The Land Development Agency (LDA) are at the heart of this plan, advancing their remit to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Town Centre First, jointly developed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development, sets out 33 actions which will provide a co-ordinated framework across established national policy objectives (in particular the National Planning Framework, Housing for All and Our Rural Future), to address the decline in the health of our towns and sets out actions to regenerate and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed under Housing for All to developing a roadmap to implement minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards, or ‘Cost Optimal’ equivalent, for the private rental sector beginning in 2025. This action is a key plank of Government policy in regard to both improving the quality of housing stock available to rent and in meeting our overall national climate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (14 Feb 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. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. An action under Pathway 4 provides for the introduction of a programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (14 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 period and ensure that there is no cliff edge impact on 1...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Question refers to the Iveagh Markets on Francis Street in Dublin 8, and not to the Iveagh Trust Buildings on New Bride Street. My functions as Minister with regard to the protection of our architectural heritage are set out in the Planning and Development Acts, as are the responsibilities of local authorities and owners. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All (September 2021) and the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022), the Government is committed to the expansion of data-sharing arrangements between the Revenue Commissioners and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Engagement between the RTB and the Revenue Commissioners is ongoing with a view to implementing this commitment and following any necessary...

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

Darragh O'Brien: A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector and are advised that this accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The limits applicable are related to the specific household and the rental market in the area. My Department is aware that...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not make allocations of funding to local authorities for the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). CAS is demand-led and funding is provided to each local authority and to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in line with their advancement of new housing projects. Under CAS, capital funding of up to 100% of project costs is advanced by local authorities to AHBs to provide...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department issued approval to Carlow County Council for a 9 unit Repair and Leasing project at the first address supplied in November 2022. An application for approval for a 10 unit Repair and Leasing project at the second address supplied is currently being assessed and my Department is in correspondence with the local authority to finalise details of this proposal. Under the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022. The Act makes emergency provision to defer the termination dates of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the 'winter emergency period', beginning on 30 October 2022 and ending on 31 March 2023. The lawful serving of notices of termination...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Wind energy projects are complex developments that require full and proper assessment by the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board). In making decisions on a planning application, a planning authority, or the Board as appropriate, must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area having regard to the provisions of the local development plan,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department administers a number of schemes that provide grant funding to local authorities to assist in the carrying out of improvement/adaptation works for eligible households. The detailed administration of these grants, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants under the various schemes, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. One...