Results 9,981-10,000 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Electoral Reform Act 2022 ('the Act') was enacted on 25 July 2022 and section 1(5) provides that the provisions of the Act are subject to commencement orders being made. The Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 and the Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2022 provided for the commencement of a number of the provisions of the Act. Both statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: On 20 January 2023, I launched a three-month public consultation on proposed amendments to Building Regulations relating to fire safety. The proposed changes aim to improve fire safety in new buildings and support the re-use of existing buildings by simplifying, clarifying and rationalising fire safety requirements. The review is also a key action of the government’s Housing for All...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All commits to increasing the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 new homes per year. It has secured and sustained levels of State investment of over €4bn a year, giving the construction sector the certainty it needs to help ensure the ambition of the Plan is realised and 300,000 new homes are built by 2030. Supply is increasing. The 2022 target of 24,600 homes will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2021, is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/f6119-summary-of-social-housing-as sessments-2021-key-findings/ . While the average waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 237, 238, 239 and 242 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. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In November 2022, following an updated assessment by An Bord Pleanála of resourcing issues likely to emerge as a result of planning applications in respect of proposed developments under the National Development Plan and other infrastructure projects, of the Board’s new marine functions, as well as a number of new senior positions approved under the Action Plan for An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Social housing construction is funded through a range of delivery streams such as local authority direct construction, Part V, turnkey developments, regeneration programmes and through direct construction and turnkey developments delivered by Approved Housing Bodies. The funding provided by my Department to Kildare County Council in respect of social housing construction programmes in each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Statistics are published by my Department on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery by all local authorities across the range of programmes, including local authority build. This data, including that in respect of Kildare County Council, is available to the end of Quarter 3 of 2022 at the following link: . Data up to Q4 of 2022 will be published as soon as it is assembled. In addition,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. My Department has oversight of a number of supports under Pathway 1 of the Government's Housing For Allstrategy, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”. I have introduced the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) to assist first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 103 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 327 of 24 January 2023 which set out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2009 the Department issued guidance to local authorities on the use of unsold affordable properties (USAs) to provide social housing. Whilst the original intention was that these properties would be sold on as affordable homes once demand increased to a level that would stimulate a sale, following the financial crash, developments in the housing market resulted in significantly reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department, through local authorities, makes a number of funding programmes, including the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS – closed to new applications since 2011), leasing, P&A-CALF available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision of housing for social housing use. As we have moved to the statutory regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourist Accommodation (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: All development, unless specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. This includes the material change of use of land or buildings. It should be noted that exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. The Programme for Government commits to funding Uisce Éireann's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (25 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I assume that the Question refers to waste water treatment plants in housing estates that are not in the charge of local authorities, and are dependent on developer provided water services infrastructure for the provision of their waste water services. I can confirm that all local authorities have, under legislation, the appropriate powers of inspection and investigation, and where issues...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. On overdue decisions within the board, I met with the new board of An Bord Pleanála last week and have asked it to come forward with a plan for the backlog, particularly but not exclusively in areas of residential development. We have provided over the past 12 months sanction for an additional 59 staff so far. This Thursday I will publish the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. The issue of outages in Galway has been raised by the Deputy and by some of his Dáil colleagues. I will contact Niall Gleeson, the chief executive of Irish Water. I am in regular contact with him. It is important Deputies are aware that Irish Water now has a €6 billion capital programme to deal with legacy issues we have had for decades....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q3 2022, over 106,700 HAP tenancies have been set-up since the scheme commenced, with almost 59,700 active tenancies being supported under the HAP Scheme. Over 31,890 landlords or agents were providing accommodation to households...