Results 10,701-10,720 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 61,900 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including more than 2,300 households in Kildare. Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (14 Jun 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. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) involves a three way contractual relationship between landlord, tenant and the local authority with each party having their own responsibilities. Accommodation provided under RAS is governed by the terms of the Residential Tenancies Acts (RTA) 2004 to 2021, as amended. Section 12(1)(c) of the RTA sets out in legislation the requirements for a landlord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports, to be eligible. The scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. In order...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Funding of €68.5 million under the National Development Plan has been allocated for the period 2021-2025 for legacy water services issues in relation to lead pipe remediation and the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme.  My Department is operating a multi-annual programme to provide funding for the progressive resolution of housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), payments for vacant dwellings are recouped to local authorities for a maximum period of 3 consecutive months to allow for tenanting of the dwelling by local authorities.  If the dwelling remains vacant at the end of the 3-month period and has not been withdrawn from the scheme, it is deemed to be inactive and notified to my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect data on the purchase of residential properties by individual private companies. That said, the Government introduced measures in May 2021 to limit the bulk purchase of houses and duplexes by institutional investors. The measures included - requiring planning authorities (via Ministerial Guidelines under Section 28 of the Planning and Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am working with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide for an increase in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) discretion rate to 35% and for new tenancies, to expand the couple’s rate to single persons. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness. Once this engagement process is complete, the changes to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Building Regulations provide for the health and safety of people in and around buildings.  Part L of the Building Regulations provide for the Conservation of Fuel and Energy. Part J of the Building Regulations provide for Heat producing Appliances.   All new dwellings must comply with all parts of the building regulations.   Part J of the Building...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Programme for Government (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is leading implementation of the process to expand Ireland's network of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the associated commitments in the Programme for Government, namely: (1) to develop comprehensive legislation that will enable MPA designation and management, and (2) to realise Ireland's outstanding target of 10% MPA coverage of our waters as soon as is practical,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (14 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question 243 of 19 May 2022 and the information provided on the water quality issues with Kilteel Group Water Scheme.  My Department's Rural Water Programme provides capital funding under a multi-annual programme and an annual subsidy for the operational and management costs of group water schemes providing water for domestic use. The funding under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collate information in relation to local authority housing stock according to their heating source. However, this information may be available or requested from each individual local authority. Since 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information sought by the Deputy regarding nominations received from prescribed bodies  for membership of An Bord Pleanála in 2014 is being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. The appointment of ordinary members of the Board is governed by section 106 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended, and by Part 7 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Radon Gas Levels (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 set a minimum standard for decent, safe and secure rental accommodation. These Regulations also focus on tenant safety and include measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. With very limited exemptions, these apply to social housing as well as private rented residential accommodation. All landlords...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Radon Gas Levels (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of office accommodation for my Department falls within the remit of the Office of Public Works. I understand from my officials that nine (9) of my Department's offices, are located in areas currently designated as high-risk for radon. To date six (6) of the nine (9) locations have been tested and the remaining three are scheduled for testing later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together. Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The appointment of Board members to An Bord Pleanála is governed by section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), and Part 7 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended.  It provides that appointments to the Board by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage are generally made from candidates nominated by panels of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 Jun 2022)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (2 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Social housing statistical returns are completed by each local authority and returned to my Department on a quarterly basis. There is a robust process in place to ensure the data provided by local authorities is accurate. Each quarter the statistical returns are compiled by the Statistics and Data Analytics Unit and validated by the Social Housing Delivery teams in my Department. Each social...