Results 10,201-10,220 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. A breakdown of the exchequer funding budget allocation for An Bord Pleanála for the years 2016 to 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 126(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), An Bord Pleanála (the Board) has a statutory objective to determine planning appeals within 18 weeks of receipt of the appeal. In accordance with section 126(3) of the Act, where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of the particular...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 581 together. The Local Authority Home Loan was launched in January 2022. It is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It is available to first-time buyers and "fresh start" applicants to purchase a new or second-hand property, or to self-build. The Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together. My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Centres (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In general, it should be noted that there is an established legislative process set out in the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) in relation to the review and adoption of a city or county development plan by a local authority, which is a reserved function of the elected members. Since the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator (the Office) in April 2019,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All, the Government's housing plan for Ireland, commits to developing proposals for a standardised national differential rents scheme across the country. Following the publication of Housing for All Action Plan Update in November 2022, and having regard to the significant changes in the economic environment over the past year, this action is now scheduled for completion in Q3...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the grant scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The 2022 Act has currently designated 4 local authorities for inclusion in the Enhanced DCB Scheme, namely Clare,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Inflation/Supply Chain Delay Co-operation Framework does not cover Part V agreements as they are not public works contracts. Part V units are privately developed units acquired by local authorities. Generally, a local authority will negotiate a price with the relevant developer for the construction of Part V units. This price is specified in the Part V agreement, which is a legally...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 567 together. Under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, a grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the Topical Issue debate of 15 December 2022 the operation of the Whitegate Public Water Supply is a matter for Uisce Éireann, who has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: A driving license or passport is requested as proof of identification on the social housing application form. However, where a particular document cannot be provided, the local authority may, at its discretion, request alternative documentation to satisfy itself in relation to the specific information being sought. Ultimately, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Working Group for the review of the bird species on the Open Seasons Order is proceeding with its plan for a public consultation on the matter. A Chairperson for the public consultation will be appointed in the coming weeks and dates for the consultation will then be finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the output targets referred to in the Question are the '2022 Output Targets' indicated in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023 report. Statistics related to those targets are collated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and published in the Public Service Performance Report in Q2 each year. The process to gather the statistics is due to commence...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the conditions associated with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, there is a requirement that the applicant(s) will live in the qualifying property for a period of at least five years from the date of payment of the Grant. If at any time they sell the property or it ceases to be their principal private residence within ten years, they must reimburse the local authority an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 571 together. The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. Under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013, each of the building control authorities (local authorities) have been designated as the principal market surveillance authorities for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (18 Jan 2023)

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: Regulatory Bodies (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) was formally established in April 2019 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act). The Act provides for the statutory functions and staffing of the OPR. The OPR has 3 statutory functions provided for under Section 31P of the Act. These functions are: - Independent assessment of all local authority and regional assembly forward...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The administrative areas of the following counties have been designated by the Act for the purposes of the enhanced grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Almost 85% of households are supplied by water through the public water system operated by Uisce Éireann. Census 2016 indicated that approximately 172,000 households nationally (around 10% of households) have private sources of water (usually a private well). Updated data based on census 2022 will be published by the Central Statistics Office later this year. In addition, an estimated 6%...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (18 Jan 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The decline of Ireland’s native breeding Curlew is a cause of concern. The changes made to land management over the past 40 to 50 years have had consequences for birds such as the Curlew, along with various other species. It is imperative that we work with those who manage lands where Curlew remain breeding. Since 2017, the Curlew Conservation Programme has operated with local...