Results 9,521-9,540 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Legal responsibilities in relation to the repair and maintenance of stormwater pipes are set out in the reply given to Question No. 142 of 28 September 2022 and the position remains unchanged. As Minister, I have no function in relation to the matter. At the time of responding my Department is not aware of any correspondence from Cork City Council in relation to the matter. Any correspondence...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the implementation of Housing for All, each local authority has prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for the years 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in their Action Plans. I have also set five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets for those local authorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In September 2004, Government approved a national flood risk policy which assigned OPW the lead role for flood risk management and mitigation. The OPW is responsible for overseeing Ireland’s approach to flood risk management across three strategic and policy areas, i.e. prevention, protection and preparedness. The 2004 report also acknowledged that the primary concern of my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

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: Departmental Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability scheme, in respect of private houses. The scheme comprises a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses, in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 15 November 2022.  The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

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: Derelict Sites (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Where an approved housing body has purchased or constructed housing, the responsibility for management and maintenance of the housing is a matter for them, in conjunction with the local authority. My Department will engage with the local authority in relation to the homes referred to in the question with a view to having them brought back into productive use and to reinforce the point that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions. Generally, it is “house rules” agreed between a landlord and a tenant at the start of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All last year, 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. 18 local authorities,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A funding application from Limerick City and County Council for this turnkey project was received in my Department on the 30 September 2022. The project was approved on the 18 November 2022 and the local authority has been notified.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government and Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, The Housing Commission was established by Government in December 2021 to independently examine and review the housing system in Ireland.  The Commission’s Terms of Reference cover a wide range of issues connected to housing, one of which is to consider the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (22 Nov 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 fire authorities through setting general policy, providing the legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Telecommunications Infrastructure (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. Sections 50, 50A and 50B of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, codify the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022 was enacted on 24 July 2022. My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for consequential amendments to the Planning and Development Regulations regarding the substitute consent procedure, following which the substitute consent provisions of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (22 Nov 2022)

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.   While...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. These include 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together. I intend to bring forward legislation early in the new year regarding eligibility of non-nationals for social housing, including provision for legal residence as an eligibility criterion in any assessment for social housing support.  In the meantime, my Department continues to provide guidance and updates as needed on related...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to concerns around the adequacy of certain local authority housing, my Department is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in the Housing (Standards For Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords including social housing landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. Under HAP, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. However, additional supports are available under HAP for homeless households or households at risk of homelessness. While eligible...