Results 9,721-9,740 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The making of valuations for rating purposes as well as determining the ratability or not of a property is the sole responsibility of the Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Act provides that all buildings used or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 to 411, inclusive, 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 vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (8 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 vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The recently published Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report Water Quality in Ireland 2016-2021 shows that the main risk to water quality continues to be excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) in our rivers, lakes and coastal areas. In relation to the Priority Areas for Action, the EPA reports that a total of 117 river water bodies showed improvements in status, while 67...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Medical Aids and Appliances (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 422 together. The Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme is underpinned by secondary legislation. The provisions of Article 7 of the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability) Regulations 2007 set out the types of mobility aids that the grant can be used for, including accessible...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It is my intention to bring forward a piece of legislation provisionally titled the Fire, Emergency Management and Public Safety Bill, whose primary purpose will be to update the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Part of the impetus for this work arises from the review of fire safety in Ireland carried out in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy in the UK. It is also my intention that the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I currently have no plans to amend the Household Means Policy and the requirement to assess household income eligibility on the previous 12 months net average income. The income eligibility requirements reflect the long-term nature of social housing support. However, my Department is monitoring the operation and implementation of the policy, which will be kept under review. In the wider...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides a range of strategic learning and development options, delivered flexibly, using a range of delivery methods, with a particular emphasis on work based learning. In the past ten years to date, there were no officials in the Department who completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 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 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 recently approved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (27 Oct 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, to assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP was required. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (27 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Data in relation to levels of vacancy, average turnaround times and reasons associated with this are not routinely collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Oct 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...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not say that. I said in this legislation there is no provision to extend it.

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: What kind of house is the Deputy referring to?

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Does the Deputy get trolled?

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Subject to being passed in the Dáil and Seanad, the legislation will take effect from 1 November and will apply to notices to quit issued from that date onwards. That is very clear in what we are doing. It is because of the potential for challenge that we crafted this Bill really carefully with the advice of the Attorney General and his office as to what would stand up to such a...