Results 10,461-10,480 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (28 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Primary responsibility for the management and monitoring of identified bathing waters is assigned to local authorities as specified in Regulation 7 of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008.   The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the environmental regulator who ensure that the local authorities carry out their functions under Bathing Water Regulations.  As part of their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (28 Jun 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 level. Irish Water as a single national water services authority takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Irish Water,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (28 Jun 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. Staffing matters, including training, are a matter for Irish Water and as Minister I have no role in relation to their ongoing training plans. Irish Water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (28 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for the establishment of the ‘First Home’ affordable purchase shared equity scheme to support purchases in the private market. The Scheme aims to support c. 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026. First Home will help applicants to afford new homes in the private market...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand the point. We actually simplified the form and made some changes to it last year to ensure that it was in compliance with the plain English guide. We simplified the form and removed some questions that were not required. An application to put someone on the list for social housing is obviously an important application. The Deputy is right that there is a parallel process with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no question about me agreeing with the Deputy. I meet with the CEOs on a regular basis. We engage with and meet them individually. I have had two recent housing summits where all chief executives and directors of service for housing from all 31 local authorities attended. That was very much focused on housing delivery. As I mentioned earlier, we will deliver more social homes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in my response to an earlier question, two affordable housing fund supported schemes will deliver affordable housing in Cork city this year. Cork City Council has advised my Department that the first two phases of the Boherboy Road project in Cork city, involving a total of 117 affordable purchase homes, will see 37 of those homes completed. They will be advertised for purchase...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There are further advance purchase schemes coming to us that are under consideration by me and the Department, because the affordable housing fund is open. It is an open call where we bring schemes forward, so the Deputy will see more than this being delivered. The Deputy will also see the first home scheme, which will support affordable purchases of new homes in the private market, and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies. I have been very clear. We need scientific evidence on this and it is being done independently through the review by the NSAI of the standard. We need scientific research and testing on infill as well. If the Deputies were on this side of the House they would do the same. We need to bring forward the legislative basis to provide for what is effectively a new scheme....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies can trust me on this----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Is this permitted?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: No one will dispute the level of work that has gone into bringing about this legislation. When Deputies look at what is in it and see the published Bill later today in the hearings, it is a significant improvement on the previous scheme that was simply set up by way of regulation itself and was not on a sound footing. I said yesterday in response to Deputy Ó Broin that I will continue,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This is an important matter. I will give the Deputy the official response as to what the target is. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The regulations require that local authorities, subject to conditions, deal with social housing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Deputies stop?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputies should try to behave themselves. They were doing well up to then.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 81 together. Following the Government decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the remediation of dwellings damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and I intend to progress the legislation before the end of term in order to ensure we can have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We want to get the scheme up and running. Apologies, I did not realise Deputy Mac Lochlainn was to ask a question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We are doing something about it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Aside from what will be delivered through the first home shared equity scheme in South Dublin County Council there are more than 1,100 affordable homes in the pipeline between now and 2026. We will have thousands more through the first home shared equity scheme that will launch in July. It will give first-time buyers and those on the fresh start principle the opportunity and choice to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am happy to advise the Deputy that both Cork City Council and South Dublin County Council will be delivering affordable purchase homes this year. Cork City Council has advised that 117 affordable purchase homes will be delivered in the Boherboy Road in Cork City. The first two phases of this development involving 37 homes will be delivered this year...