Results 10,361-10,380 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 218 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 220, 221, 224, 225 and 231 together. Housing for All(September 2021) is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. It...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers who will self-build their own home and live in it as their principal private residence. It is intended that the local authority will either supply...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 228, 229 and 230 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 per...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The continuing increase in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation is a serious concern for me and for the Government. We are doing everything in our power to tackle this problem, both by increasing housing supply and investing in homelessness prevention. The Government is investing significantly in social and affordable housing, with record funding allocated for current and capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 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. 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 per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments, including details of turnkey delivery, which have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and pre-tender process. The most recent publication was for Q2 2022. The report is available at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Reducing construction costs is a key part of supporting the delivery of Housing for All, and is critical to increasing supply. Under Action 23.2 of Housing for All, my Department, in conjunction with the Construction Sector Group, is conducting Residential Construction Cost Study for new build housing and apartment schemes and student accommodation. This is an analysis and value engineering...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (1 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. This includes the connection of new houses to the water services network. Irish Water is committed to supporting the delivery of housing including the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traffic Management (1 Dec 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the reply to Question No 298 of 15 November 2022, the Naas Inner Relief Road project was cancelled by Kildare County Council following the rejection of the Part 8 planning application for the road by the elected members of the council in mid-2019. As the infrastructure was not proceeding, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) funding agreement was cancelled...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the question is referring to legacy debt issues where group water schemes are seeking to be taken in charge by Irish Water. Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run and they remain fully the responsibility of the scheme right up until such time as they are formally taken in charge by Irish Water. Irish Water and the local authority are actively working to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 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: Departmental Schemes (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Galway Housing Task Force is continuing to provide a strong focus to social and affordable housing delivery across the two Galway Local Authorities. I understand that the minutes of the Task Force continue to be shared by the secretariat, currently operated by Galway County Council, which reflect the productive work programme of the Task Force. I have not as yet received the report...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has recently agreed to increase social housing income eligibility thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The income eligibility bands, the respective thresholds, and the local authorities assigned to each band, were introduced in 2011. The thresholds were developed with reference to the income needed to provide for a household's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (30 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. The Tenant Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. All sales under the scheme must meet the criteria set down in Part 3 of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and associated Regulations. While the sale of any dwelling under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (30 Nov 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...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this issue. Deputy Mac Lochlainn raised it previously and, obviously, so did my Government colleagues. I met with the chief executive and two directors of services from Donegal County Council very recently. We went through the specific issue regarding those homes that are deemed to be uninhabitable right now and discussed how we can advance the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It is important that that is in place. However, I know homeowners are waiting for word on that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We are trying to move through the applications as quickly as we can now.