Results 9,641-9,660 of 26,783 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Tá Sinn Féin ag déanamh é sin i gcónaí. I am deeply concerned. The Deputy can respond. I am deeply concerned around-----

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am deeply concerned about Sinn Féin directly undermining the work of the CSO. Where does the rejection of the CSO's statistics stop? The Deputy will be questioning whether Jack really is the most popular boys' name in this country next. The CSO has fully clarified the rigorous evidence basis of its figures. I trust the Deputy has read that clarification. I call on him now to...

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The only measure-----

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The only measure that Sinn Féin has proposed with regard to retaining private mom-and-pop landlords in the market is to tax them a further €400.

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to emergency planning, let us look to what Deputy Ó Broin has said in this very Chamber. We have already brought forward legislation to accelerate housing delivery through emergency planning. Deputy Ó Broin knows that. The Bill was passed in December but, at that time, he was singing a very different tune. He seems to have forgotten that he opposed facilitating the...

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: His party's councillors right across the country-----

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: ------continue to oppose social housing on the ground-----

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and continue to object to it.

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: If the Deputy can control himself for a moment, I suggest he look at the measures the Government has brought in. We brought in the winter eviction ban. As I have said already, we will review that ban but the review will be based on sound legal advice. We have provided a €500 renters' credit and will provide a credit worth €1,000 per renter this year. We introduced emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Water Services Act 2007, as amended, all owners of premises served by an individual domestic waste water treatment system (commonly known as a septic tank) are required to register their system with their local authority by 1 February 2013. Having a cut-off date before which owners must register helped to ensure that an estimated 95% of systems were registered. My Department provides...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and 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 supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs, in their area of choice. On entering the HAP scheme, tenants are required to stay in the same property for at least two years. However, they may be able to apply to their local authority for a new HAP payment for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 were introduced to assist the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (MCEDIY) in meeting Ireland’s legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2, entitled ‘Exempted Development -General’, to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The regeneration of social housing is a matter in the first instance for the local authority. Cork City Council have informed my Department that The Glen Regeneration project was a two phase project with both phases being delivered between the years 2003 and 2016. My Department's records show that funding of approximately €11m was provided for Phase 1 and funding of approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The regeneration of social housing is a matter in the first instance for the local authority. Cork City Council has informed my Department that it is at the early stages of examining the Tarry Path area in Mayfield with a view to development of a regeneration solution to vacant and derelict areas. As this review is at early preliminary appraisal stage, no submission has yet been made to my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. My Department does not collect the data sought. However, the Clerk of the Dáil requested that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 310 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 236 of 16 February 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Sign Language (21 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is aware of its obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, to ensure that interpretation into Irish Sign Language is provided by a competent Interpreter; for persons who are competent in that language; and at no cost to them. My Department has clear procedures in place to source and engage accredited interpreters through the Irish Deaf Society and has previously...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (21 Feb 2023)

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: Fire Service (21 Feb 2023)

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...