Results 10,481-10,500 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us consider all of the things we have discussed here today. The Vice Chairman made a very good point in his opening remarks that the representatives of the local authorities, in their contributions here, all focused on housing delivery but perhaps not all of them use every tool that is available to them right now. We have got to support them to use all of the tools because they do a lot...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the Vice Chairman. We are working on quite a substantial cost-rental scheme in Ballymun at the moment. We have made changes to the cost rental equity loan, CREL, which underpins cost rental. That was done at the request of AHBs as well. I would like local authorities to do cost rental directly. We have opportunities to do that because the funding model is even more...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: When we came into Government the LDA existed and was not just a concept. It had done some good work on master-planning and planning other sites. I wanted to bring those from the planning and concept stages into actual delivery of homes. We saw the first of them - in Mallow, County Cork, and Shanganagh Castle - break ground over the past few weeks. Work is also starting on St....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I mentioned earlier that the baseline review has commenced. It was delayed by Covid-19 and there was a delay with the CSO data. We expect to conclude the work on the baseline review in quarter 2 next year. That will provide the requisite clarity that many local authority members are seeking. We will be focused on that. The important issue then is that it is self-funding and is spent in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy mentioned a few of the initiatives. We are seeing the URDF take hold throughout the country. We would like to see more of the fund used and we will do a review of it. We are seeing improvements in our cities and towns throughout the country. We will have another call on the fund too. The overall capital in this sphere of the Department will deliver a step change in housing...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of affordable homes is very important. We will deliver affordable homes this year for the first time in many years, although not enough. We need to do more. Next year will be challenging, by the way. I do not want to leave anyone in any doubt. Increased interest rates, increased rates in funding and development finance and, in particular, inflation provide risk into next...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will very briefly address that. That scheme is a supply-side measure. We have extended it to self-builds. I do not envisage it being available for second-hand homes. It is the supply itself that-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will let the Deputy know that I am committed to speak at a Safe Ireland event on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence so-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This is a very important issue. I am glad the Deputy raised it. I met with Donegal County Council last week. We are seeing an increase in applications, which is good. I met with the local authorities to make sure we are moving through those applications from stage 1 to stage 2 in order to actually get them done. Approximately 19 homes have been remediated in the Donegal area. It is not...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There is a chance they will slip but if they do so, they will be completed very early next year. We are at an advanced stage on them. I have been made aware that some homeowners have still not received the €5,000 or €6,000 through the grant. It is a very small amount that relates to the testing work. I want that to happen this year. I am also particularly concerned about 15...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I know.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not disagree. I know from my meeting with Donegal County Council that the Housing Agency is now involved in the reassessment of some of the stage 1 applications which, as the Deputy rightly said, are in effect stuck. I want to see them move through. A large number have now gone to stage 2. We are looking at further social homes. I believe we can move on the first tranche of social...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There are homes that can still be done.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There are homes that are progressing through the stages now. I met with Donegal County Council specifically to look at the actual applications that were there in respect of homes we could move on very quickly now. I mean it when I say "now". I am acutely aware of the stress and distress that families are in, not just in Donegal but also in other affected regions in Mayo, Clare and Limerick.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am looking at that at present. I discussed that with the chief executive of Donegal County Council - I ask Deputy Ó Broin to allow me to conclude on this because it is important - and his director of service. I have sought input from Donegal County Council and the Housing Agency on how we can move specifically regarding those people. It is probably approximately 20 homes right now....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I still intend to bring recommendations on the report to the Cabinet this side of Christmas to get a Government decision on how to proceed. I am committed to helping homeowners. The State needs to grasp the nettle, and we will. I am very conscious that approximately 14% of apartments have already had work done.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I met the members of the working group, which has now stood down. I met the Construction Defects Alliance. I met the Apartment Owners' Network recently. Some good suggestions were put to me and to officials-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: May I conclude what I was saying? I would have answered already if the Deputy had not interrupted me. Some good suggestions have been made to me about what measures we can take, particularly in respect of homes and apartments that are deemed dangerous. I am assessing those suggestions, but I want to be clear-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me just say-----