Results 9,781-9,800 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to building public homes on public land, we capitalised the Land Development Agency, LDA. We passed the legislation to get that done. We have broken ground on the largest public site in decades at Shanganagh Castle. That is happening but we cannot turn this around in one year. We have made good progress in the first year of Housing for All, however. We intend to build on that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Shanahan for his comments. Specifically in relation to the North Quays project, I had the pleasure of visiting the city of Waterford on a number of occasions. The overall Exchequer commitment to Waterford on that project alone is approximately €170 million. Overall, it is approximately €200 million when the contribution from Waterford City and County Council is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy used the example of the North Quays project. We gave a commitment to Waterford that precedes this Government. The Deputy mentioned how this goes back to the former Minister, Martin Cullen. We have delivered on that, however. The most significant investment in the region is through the urban regeneration and development fund. People can see the colour of our money in that space...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is slightly disingenuous to look at this in isolation. The Deputy neglected to mention the cost-of-living measures we brought forward in the last budget, which was the most significant package of measures brought forward and more than even the Deputy’s party looked for. Sinn Féin's targeted measure, as far as we can discern, would affect about 716,000 mortgages. That party...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not. I ask the Deputy to publish his proposals because on any issue, he brings forward what he deems simple solutions but never publishes costings or legislation for them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: You bring forward a motion. The reality of it is-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----this Government’s stewardship of our economy over the past two or three years has meant we have been able to bring forward unprecedented measures in relation to the cost of living and increased social welfare payments targeted at the right people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The issue of non-bank lenders is a real one.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have said to the Deputy, for fear of repeating myself-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----that the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, has engaged with the Central Bank in that space.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy should provide his costings and publish them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I also pay my deepest sympathies to Niamh Bhreathnach’s family, colleagues in the Labour Party and friends. I had the pleasure of meeting her on a couple of occasions. She was a fine person who leaves a strong legacy in education and will be sorely missed. I thank the Deputy for her kind remarks on the attendance from Government. There will be an appropriate time to pay tributes to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have found the Labour Party to be constructive in many areas of the debate on housing. I welcome that and it contrasts greatly with some other parties on the Opposition benches.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We have to acknowledge progress and we have to build the capacity to provide the homes we need. We set a target last year of 24,600 and exceeded it by over 5,000. We have a target this year of 29,000 and intend to exceed that too. We are doing that by investing €4.5 billion in Exchequer moneys this year. I would compare that with the last time we had a Labour Party Minister with...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: This was debated with the Sinn Féin motion last night and it was also raised on Leaders' Questions yesterday. The Deputy knows that the formulation of monetary policy is an independent matter for the European Central Bank. We are acutely aware that the ECB has hiked its key interest rates by 3% since last July to fight inflation. That is why it is being done. We expect two further...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to holding a referendum on water. It is important to note that the establishment of Uisce Éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022 whereby all shares of Uisce Éireann are vested in the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with both...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Matters in relation to the allocation of social dwellings, including the transfer of sitting tenants to other dwellings, are the responsibility of the respective local authorities. My department has no role in this regard. There is no legislative or policy provision preventing a tenant in an AHB social dwelling, who was drawn from the local authority's social housing waiting list, from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the provisions of the Local Government (Expenses of Local Authority Members) Regulations 2021 a range of allowances are payable to councillors to support them in carrying out their role, including the Local Representation Allowance (LRA). The LRA is a flexible allowance with 14 eligible expenditure categories under which a councillor may claim expenses which are wholly and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has made funding available to support the local authorities in the creation of a temporary support team to: - work as part of the Community Response Forum, reporting to the Chief Executive; - lead the co-ordination of the provision of supports and services to Ukrainians at a local level by the range of public and not-profit bodies involved; - identify gaps or any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (9 Feb 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations 2022 took effect on 23 June 2022. The regulations were made under Section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 and give effect to Council Directive No. 2001/55 EC and Council Implementing Decision EU 2022/382 of 4 March 2022, to provide immediate protection in EU countries for...