Results 9,901-9,920 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, and the making of valuations for rating purposes is his sole responsibility. I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. The Valuation Office is currently engaged in a national revaluation programme, which is to ensure that the first revaluation of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All last year, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. In preparing these plans, local authorities were asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool and plan their provision accordingly. Both Offaly and Laois...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Transport (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: No domestic flights for work purposes were taken by me, my Junior Ministers and Department staff for each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 307 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: Water Services (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 169 of 29 September 2022 which sets out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 281 together. My Department cannot give advice on the specific individual situations outlined in the details supplied. However, I can advise that my Department’s Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public (Irish Water) services. Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 278 and 322 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes subsequently coming into effect from 1 February 2022. The minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme changed from €15,000 to €12,500. The time tenants are required to be in receipt of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has overall responsibility for the provision of accommodation for Ukrainian nationals seeking temporary protection in Ireland and a sourced a variety of accommodation types for this purpose. My Department is focusing on the longer-term accommodation challenges where upgrading investment is required and is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is supporting the local authority which is advancing the refurbishment of the housing development at the location raised by the Deputy. This work includes an element of additional, new build social housing. The local authority has advised that Phase 1 of the works was completed in October 2019, involving the refurbishment of 34 homes, and that plans for the next phases have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government supports two affordability schemes which operate using a shared equity model, namely, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home Scheme. Both schemes are open to older persons whose available mortgage financing will not meet the open market value of a new home, provided they meet the usual eligibility requirements. While applicants to both schemes must...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (4 Oct 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 extended the remit of the RTB to cover student licences and tenancies in student-specific accommodation. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 302 together. The review on social housing income thresholds is now available at the link below on my Departments website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/c49a0-review-of-income-eligibility -for-social-housing-support/ The background to the report is the commitment in Housing for All,  which was published in September 2021 to review income...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The overarching principle of social housing support is reflected in the underpinning legislation and the Household Means Policy, the latter being amended last year. The amended policy aims to better reflect the long-term nature of social housing supports and, in doing so, ensure fairness and equity in the system and that those with a continuing long-term need are prioritised. A social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, construction, and consequently expenditure on construction related activities, are significantly impacted as a result of ongoing economic issues including the restricted operating environment under Covid-19 health and safety protocols that prevailed up to early 2022 coupled with the significant level of price inflation to construction materials; supply chain disruption...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (s), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme. Government has signalled that homes will be provided broadly on a 2:1 affordable purchase to cost rental basis over the course of the plan. I can confirm...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) budget funds the ongoing current costs of social homes delivered using a variety of different delivery mechanisms. This includes properties built or acquired by Approved Housing Bodies (s) using funding under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and the Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAA), which are then made...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme is one of a suite of measures introduced under ‘Housing for All’ that together are intended to deliver some 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030. Launched on 7 July 2022, the Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. As a demand-led measure, within which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Oct 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 303 together. 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. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (s), the Land Development Agency (LDA)...