Results 9,241-9,260 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister Deputy Harris has done an excellent job on apprenticeships. Thankfully we are seeing a substantial increase in the number of people registering for apprenticeships. We need to value trades and we need to value the work. We had changes last year whereby apprenticeships are now alongside the CAO and CAS offers. Deputy O'Dowd is right. We need to keep increasing the number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: More than 400.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On the Croí Cónaithe initiative, for the record there are nearly 500 applicants in already and many of them are processed. I am not sure what date that question response went up to. I welcome the Deputy's question. As the Deputy will be aware, Deputy Bruton has asked a similar question. Housing for All, which is the Government's plan, has been debated in the House and people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Lands (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I know Galway city and county well. I have been out in Connemara on several occasions as well as in the city. There are lands in the county, such as the Dyke Road site, which the Deputy will be familiar with. There is also the Sandy Road site. There are sites there we can develop. The register will deal with State lands. The Deputy mentioned the example of lands owned by religious...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Lands (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The LDA is on schedule to complete the register of relevant lands in line with the target delivery date and the register will be made available in an online map format in the coming weeks and in advance of the end of this year. Its contents are informed by the LDA's State lands database and by engagement with the Property Registration Authority, Ordinance Survey Ireland and other relevant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Lands (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy again for the question. I understand what she is saying. One of the priorities I had when I became a Minister was to legislate for the LDA, which we have done. The agency has capitalised and it is delivering its first homes. It has done extensive work on planning and mapping out relevant sites. It is important that people understand that the register of relevant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I say the following to be helpful. The Deputy is of the view that we could use first the pyrite remediation scheme and the Act that underpins it. That would not be the way forward. From discussing the matter with residents and, in particular, the Construction Defects Alliance, I know that is not their view. We will need bespoke legislation. That does not mean we will not bring in interim...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, the aim of the emergency winter eviction ban 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 to ensure there is no cliff edge, as referred to by the Deputy, on 1 April,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: To give an update on purchase for tenants in situ, we have more than 700 properties now. The number is increasing every day. I gave a commitment at the select committee last week that we are breaking up those data between homes. We had a target of 200 homes to purchase this year. We have well exceeded that. Most of the number above that is purchased with tenants in situ. I will gladly...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As regards the recent media report, published yesterday morning, in respect of us setting aside the environmental assessments, that is totally incorrect. It was an incorrect report. There is no question of us doing that. We are drafting the specific amendment at the moment. I met with the Attorney General last night. As soon as we have that amendment, I will be happy to ensure that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I fully acknowledge the difficulties that owners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing and the stress caused by these defects in their homes. We are committed, as a Government, to supporting such homeowners. That commitment was included in the programme for Government and, from that, as the Deputy will know, I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We are looking at interim measures because there are a number of apartment complexes and multi-unit developments that have very specific issues now. One of the reasons I met representatives of the insurance sector last week was to see what interim measures we can take. I am not going to delay on that. However, what I need to do, as the Deputy appreciates, is bring the recommendations to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This scheme is going to be with us for a number of years, unfortunately. The work that is being carried out is very important. Some 28,000 different homes have participated in that survey so we now have the best handle on the scale and type of defects that exist. We will not delay. I thank the residents who have continued to engage with us in a very constructive way. The Government will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the next five years. The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 in Housing for All is focused on addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock. With regard to the vacant units referenced in the details supplied, I understand that these properties are over a commercial premises and have been vacant for some time. Following engagement by Cork County Council with the property owner, discussions are currently ongoing between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 55 and 68 together. The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report Safe as Houses?,and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying options for those impacted by defects, to access low-cost, long-term finance....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will 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 State and retail banks. 2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. Significant funding has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. In preparing these plans local authorities were asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool and plan their provision accordingly. Local authorities with a strong and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Modern Methods of Construction(MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for AllPathway 5 Section 5.3.2. MMC encompasses a broad and diverse range of innovative construction practices with huge potential to boost productivity and increase efficiency (avoid waste)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 36, 37, 39, 41, 49, 69, 201 and 202 together. The social housing income eligibility bands, the respective thresholds, and the local authorities assigned to each band were introduced in 2011. They were developed with reference to the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing...