Results 9,641-9,660 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: On 1 January 2021, there were 19 staff working in the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). This equated to 18.48 staff on a Full-Time Equivalant (FTE) basis as there were three staff on worksharing attendance patterns. On 9 November 2022, there were 19 staff working in the NDFEM. This equated to 18.73 staff on a FTE basis as there was one member of staff...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) to each local authority as a key benchmark for the development and costing of new build social housing.  As UCCs are based on previously tendered social housing construction projects, they act as useful guide costs for local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies against which to benchmark their projects. UCCs are representative of...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay. Local discretion and flexibility are...

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 (DCB) 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....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (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 by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was designed to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was designed to...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is underpinned by the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024. Section 24A of 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: Emergency Accommodation (15 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. 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. Under the Housing Act...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock including carrying out pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out responsive repairs. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 337 of 18 October 2022 which sets out the position in relation to the annual average number of new private rental homes required to meet the total annual average target of 33,000 homes under Housing for All. I also refer the Deputy to the Housing for All Action Plan Update which was published on 2 November 2022. Specifically,  page 9, section entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 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 by end Q4 2022. I have also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The tenancy agreement between the tenant and the local authority or the Approved Housing Body, who is their landlord, sets out the conditions of the tenancy, the rules by which the tenant must abide, including those related to sub-letting or participation in schemes such as the Rent a Room Scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, and the responsibilities and obligations of both parties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Once approved for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the local authority will expect the tenant to stay in the same property for at least two years. However, a tenant may be able to apply to their local authority for a new HAP payment for another property sooner if their circumstances change. For example, if they receive a job offer in another area, or if their family changes in size and...

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2022: Leave to Introduce (9 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2022: Vote 27 — International Co-operation (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 28 — Foreign Affairs (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 30 — Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 35 —...

Finance Bill 2022: Financial Resolutions (9 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move the following Resolutions: 1.THAT section 79 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39 of 1997), which deals with foreign currency and the computation of income and chargeable gains, be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution. 2.THAT the provisions contained in Part 35D of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39 of 1997) which...