Results 10,241-10,260 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Policy (8 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The policy intent of developing a new Cost Rental sector in Ireland is to assist those on moderate incomes who are facing affordability pressures in the private rental market and may not qualify for social housing supports. The social housing sector already caters for a significant cohort of people and it is not intended for Cost Rental to overlap with or replace traditional social...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Disability Services (8 Dec 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 Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. My Department introduced an Energy Efficiency Programme that commenced in 2013, with the ambition to fund retrofit on all social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. This programme has seen improved energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 75,000 Local Authority homes over the period 2013 to the end of 2021 at a total...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Vacant Properties (8 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages and as, of the 15 November, the grant was expanded to include eligible vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Water Services (8 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels in accordance with Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. The day-to-day operation of the public water system, including the arrangements for dealing with unforeseen outages, and communicating with customers and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The funding system that applies to local authorities in Ireland is a complex one, as those authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government including my Department but also other government departments and state agencies. Most of the funding from Central Government to local authorities must...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages and as of the 15 November, the grant was expanded to include eligible vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is continuing to work closely with local authorities and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to identify, refurbish, and bring into use, multi-unit vacant properties that may be suitable and available for accommodation purposes for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.  The building referred to in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage 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. As...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the body responsible for setting water connection charges as set out in Part V of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, in particular it sets out the CRU's responsibility for the determination of the charges, including connection charges, and charging arrangements that apply to customers of Irish Water. Prior to the establishment of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 (the Act), the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies.  The register of AHBs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The City Edge Project is a joint initiative between South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and Dublin City Council (DCC). A non-statutory Strategic Framework has been published jointly by DCC and SDCC and is available online at www.cityedge.ie. Section 12.7 of the Framework addresses the proposed funding for delivery of this ambitious project.  My Department has funded studies and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (7 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 finance. In response, in February 2021, I established a...

Building Defects: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not the waiting time. It is the scale of the programme.

Building Defects: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I welcome the residents who are here this evening for this important debate and, indeed, the representatives of the Construction Defects Alliance and the Apartment Owners Network. I welcome the opportunity to debate this. It is important and I am not opposing the motion. There are elements within it that I do not agree with, specifically around the area of the pyrite resolution...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am pleased to introduce this Bill to Seanad Éireann today. I thank the Seanad for facilitating this important and urgent legislation. I acknowledge concerns about the limits on debate time and the fact that the pre-legislative scrutiny report has not been published. However, the urgency of the issues at hand to address the housing crisis requires immediate legislative action. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A vote has been called in the Dáil Chamber.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will check with the Government Whip, but I believe I am required to attend the vote in the Dáil, unfortunately. Beidh mé ar ais.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for their thoughtful contributions today. To put this in context, it is about urgent interim measures regarding An Bord Pleanála. Senator Moynihan and other Senators raised issues about the need for a consolidated planning Bill; we are doing that. We are bringing forward consolidated planning legislation, which I intend to bring to Cabinet on 13 December. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Risk Management (6 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the body responsible for flood risk assessment and mitigation of flood risk. OPW work directly with local authorities in relation to flood risk management projects.  When flooding occurs, the Government approved Framework for Major Emergency Management (2006) designates responsibility for coordination of the local response to the relevant...