Results 8,761-8,780 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Question refers to the years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Development contribution charges to be applied on developers are set at the planning permission stage but are not collectable by the relevant local authority until after the development work commences. Commencement notices are issued by the developer to the local authority and these generally trigger the raising of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities, as housing authorities, have responsibility for the planning and provision of housing in their respective areas. My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services. In April 2022, I announced an advanced element of funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services. The Rural Water Working Group will shortly finalise the composition of the measures for inclusion for funding under the upcoming multi-annual programme.  When I have had an opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Regulations (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Provisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced in early 2019. Previous provisions under local government legislation were repealed. In addition, provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, were commenced. The commenced provisions under the amended Part 18 of the 2001 Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Household Means Policy and accompanying guidance, which sets out how local authorities should assess household means, provides savings are only relevant to the assessment in so far as they generate income for applicant households through dividends or interest. Determining whether a household meets the income criteria when applying for social housing support is based on a calculation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The administrative areas of the following counties have been designated by the Act for the purposes of the enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 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. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is a key initiative which underpins...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. On 20 January 2023, I launched a three-month public consultation on proposed amendments to Part B of the Building Regulations relating to fire safety. The details of the public consultation can be found on my Department’s website at the following linkwww.gov.ie/en/consultation/1ed7c-public-consultation-on-...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 560 of 18 January 2023 which sets out the position in the matter. 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foreshore Issues (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 160 and 161 together. My Department operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933,as amended, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. The volume of applications made under the Act in recent years has grown significantly. In parallel, my Department is leading an extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Updated Planning Guidelines on short-term letting are currently being prepared by my Department to complement the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill 2022 being brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. It is intended that the updated guidelines will be published on the enactment of the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, uses an equity share model to support first-time buyers nationally in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market. Further information is available on the Scheme website at:www.firsthomescheme.ie. The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist all local authorities in bringing forward affordable housing schemes. Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Government recently agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. My Department has also recently begun work to scope options for a new social housing income eligibility model and I expect proposals for a new model to be submitted for my consideration in Q1 2023. Pending completion of this work, it would be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (2 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is a scheme for the repair and conservation of structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS). It is designed to leverage private capital for investment in small-scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled conservation professionals. Match-funded grants of up to €15,000 may...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pension Provisions (2 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The award of any pension entitlements is a decision of the employing organisation.  Any dispute in this regard is primarily a matter between the employee and that organisation/pension administrator, which, in this case, is Dublin City Council. I have no role in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Nursing Homes (2 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Office have the statutory responsibility for determining if a property is liable for rates. The Valuation Office is independent in the discharge of its function. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy and collect rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (2 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department have been working with Galway County Council in relation to this project. A method statement prepared by Galway County Council, which outlined the methodology for the topographical survey along the N59 (Bunnakill to Oughterard) as part of the overall N59 Maam Cross-Oughterard Project, was approved in July...