Results 10,201-10,220 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan provides a roadmap for the regeneration of Limerick. The advancement of housing and other works under the Limerick Regeneration Programme is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council. My Department provided funding under the Regeneration Programme for a new children’s playground...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no plans to amend section 15 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 in view of preliminary data from Census 2022. Unlike the position for Dáil members, there is no constitutional or legislative requirement for the revision of the number of elected members of local authorities. Any such consideration of elected member numbers will be determined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Detail on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is published by my Department in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). See below for the link to the 2021 summary. SSHA 2021  www.gov.ie/en/publication/f6119-summary-of-social-housing-as sessments-2021-key-findings/ The SSHA exercise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There are two members of staff in my Department whose public service pension is abated.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (14 Jul 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: Legislative Process (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 gives legal effect to the proposed reconfiguration of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network arising from the 2014 review of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area network. The Bill had completed all stages in the Dáil and the Seanad, and had been returned to the Dáil for consideration of the various amendments made by the Seanad when the Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following the publication of Housing for All, 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. Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 371 together. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area and the length of time on waiting lists are provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).  Below is the link to the summary report for 2021:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. Prior to that, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was the mortgage available from local authorities. As of 4 January 2022, no new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications are accepted, although applications/approvals already in process are being honoured. The Housing Agency provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (14 Jul 2022)

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. Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. These include a commitment to 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new build houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme uses regional price ceilings based on the median prices of new build first time buyer homes. Full details of the scheme are available at www.firsthomescheme.ie. The First Home Scheme is not currently...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Funding is made available by Government to assist local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery of affordable housing, for purchase and rent, through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), previously known as the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), and the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL). Two Affordable Housing Fund supported schemes will deliver affordable housing in Cork City this year. Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (14 Jul 2022)

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. Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 375, 376 and 377 together. Tenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 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 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 per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regulatory Bodies (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department published the terms of reference (attached) for the Report into the management of conflicts of interest and relevant disclosures by the Deputy Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála in relation to certain Decisions of that Board and related matters on the 12th of May 2022. In accordance with the terms of reference, Remy Farrell, Senior Counsel, was requested to provide a report to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (14 Jul 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. 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 Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála ('the Board') is independent in the performance of its functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Local authorities lease dwellings taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable communities’ considerations and value for money. These properties are allocated to...