Results 9,541-9,560 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7th July this year, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Full information on the First Home Scheme is available at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie The setting of the initial First Home Scheme price ceilings was informed primarily by an analysis of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 314, 315, 316 and 317 together. My Department provides funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, with Exchequer funding of €65 million...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is continuing to work closely with local authorities and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), as well as engaging with private owners, the Department of Justice, the OPW, the HSE, and the Department of Education to identify, refurbish, and bring into use, multi-unit vacant properties that may be suitable and available as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cost of Living Issues (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, with Exchequer funding of €65 million available nationally in 2022. As part of the annual budgetary process the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Retained local authority fire services are made up of both the senior fire officer ranks the Question refers to who are are whole-time fire service officer grades employed by local authorities, as well as ‘retained’ local authority firefighters. Retained firefighters are men and women who are ‘on call’ to respond to a range of fire service emergencies. Many...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In October of last year I requested National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, in partnership with Donegal County Council and Geological Survey Ireland, to carry out an audit of all quarries in Donegal to evaluate relevant economic operators’ compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 when placing relevant construction products (aggregate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently preparing the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the period up to 2027. This plan will build on the work of the second-cycle, and will again describe the main pressures and activities affecting water status, set out the environmental objectives to be achieved up to 2027 and identify the measures needed to achieve these objectives, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Union’s Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) (as amended) requires Member States to protect habitats and wildlife areas of European interest by, among other things, designating sites as Special Areas of Conservation. The European Union Habitats (Lough Corrib Special Area of Conservation 000297) Regulations 2022 completes the formal designation of Lough Corrib site as a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: All landlords, including Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority. There is no legal obligation to conduct virtual inspections, however a number of local authorities piloted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am currently considering potential changes to the social housing income eligibility model. In the meantime, I have approved proposals to scope and develop options for a new income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it and I expect that the work will complete in the next few months. I have...

Retained Firefighters: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "acknowledges that: — Retained Firefighters are highly committed frontline responders providing an exceptional service within their communities; — the retained fire service has been shown to be highly effective in dealing with a wide range of emergencies, working...

Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022: Referral to Joint Committee (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 2nd November, 2022, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5),...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On 19 January 2022, the Government announced a Covid-19 recognition payment for frontline healthcare workers to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. This once-off payment is ring fenced to staff who were ordinarily onsite in Covid-19-exposed healthcare environments within the period from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2021. It applies to eligible staff in the public health service and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Supports for first time buyers are provided for under the Housing for All strategy which delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. Housing for All has an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the decision on 3 November 2022 of the Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála to retire early from his position, I announced my intention to initiate the process of appointing a new Chairperson. My Department is currently making the necessary arrangements to initiate the appointment process in accordance with the Planning and Development Act.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Action 19.9 of Housing for All (September 2021) it was agreed that all Government Departments examine their existing portfolio of properties and, subject to any obligations under the Public Spending Code, the Land Development Agency (LDA) Act 2021 or the State Property Act 1954, would place them on the market if they were not required and may be suitable for residential housing. This...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Data on the repair and leasing scheme in respect of all local authorities to end Q2 2022 is published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provis ion/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls This includes the number of units delivered by each local authority since the launch of the scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Nov 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: Emergency Accommodation (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented, approved housing body, cost rental and student specific accommodation sectors and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. Subject to a limited number of exceptions, the Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy. The Acts also apply to dwellings...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of allotments is addressed within the guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas, a copy of which issued as Ministerial Guidance within the meaning of Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act (as amended) in 2009. Within these guidelines, Section 4.18 - Recommended Qualitative Standards – refers to the need for a focus on the quality of...