Results 9,301-9,320 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure...

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

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: Ukraine War (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On 31 March 2022, my colleague, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and I wrote to the chief executives of the local authorities welcoming the establishment of Community Response Forums in every local authority area to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of assistance and support to those arriving into our communities having fled the conflict...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments, including Part V leasing. Section 96(3)(b)(iva) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that a Part V agreement may be satisfied by the lease of housing units either on the site subject to...

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

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 properties...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 218 together. The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 220, 221, 224, 225 and 231 together. Housing for All(September 2021) is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 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. It...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers who will self-build their own home and live in it as their principal private residence. It is intended that the local authority will either supply...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 228, 229 and 230 together. Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The continuing increase in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation is a serious concern for me and for the Government. We are doing everything in our power to tackle this problem, both by increasing housing supply and investing in homelessness prevention. The Government is investing significantly in social and affordable housing, with record funding allocated for current and capital...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments, including details of turnkey delivery, which have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and pre-tender process. The most recent publication was for Q2 2022. The report is available at the following...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Reducing construction costs is a key part of supporting the delivery of Housing for All, and is critical to increasing supply. Under Action 23.2 of Housing for All, my Department, in conjunction with the Construction Sector Group, is conducting Residential Construction Cost Study for new build housing and apartment schemes and student accommodation. This is an analysis and value engineering...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels in accordance with Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. This includes the connection of new houses to the water services network. Irish Water is committed to supporting the delivery of housing including the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the reply to Question No 298 of 15 November 2022, the Naas Inner Relief Road project was cancelled by Kildare County Council following the rejection of the Part 8 planning application for the road by the elected members of the council in mid-2019. As the infrastructure was not proceeding, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) funding agreement was cancelled...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the question is referring to legacy debt issues where group water schemes are seeking to be taken in charge by Irish Water. Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run and they remain fully the responsibility of the scheme right up until such time as they are formally taken in charge by Irish Water. Irish Water and the local authority are actively working to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Galway Housing Task Force is continuing to provide a strong focus to social and affordable housing delivery across the two Galway Local Authorities. I understand that the minutes of the Task Force continue to be shared by the secretariat, currently operated by Galway County Council, which reflect the productive work programme of the Task Force. I have not as yet received the report...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has recently agreed to increase social housing income eligibility thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The income eligibility bands, the respective thresholds, and the local authorities assigned to each band, were introduced in 2011. The thresholds were developed with reference to the income needed to provide for a household's...