Results 9,621-9,640 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Control Act 2007 provides for the registration of persons entitled to use the professional title of Building Surveyor. Part 5 of the Act establishes the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) as the registration body for building surveyors. Assessment for registration is the responsibility of the SCSI and is a matter for that body. Part 53(1) of the Building Control Act...

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

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. A working group – the Rural Water Working Group – is considering the composition of the measures for inclusion for funding under the upcoming multi-annual programme and I expect to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. 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 which has been tasked with commissioning it and I expect the work...

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

Darragh O'Brien: On the 28 April 2022, I announced a new funding measure, as an advance stage of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. An allocation of €50 million has been committed under the National Development Plan for up to 2025 for the measure, which...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021 included a measure to fund Community Waste Water Connections (previously called Public Group Sewerage Schemes), Measure 6(b). This measure aims to facilitate the continued expansion of central waste water collection systems by extension off the public (Irish Water) network where it is technically and economically viable to do so. ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spend in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year- i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus. Details of the capital...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it...

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

Darragh O'Brien: 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. In response, in February 2021, I established a Working...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278, 279 and 289 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: Vacant Properties (15 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: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to the project referred to in the Question, my Department issued Stage 4 approval to proceed to tender on 5 September 2022.  My Department has been made aware that the local authority is working with the relevant Approved Housing Body to satisfactorily resolve some issues, which have arisen during the contract award process.