Results 10,821-10,840 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There were 1467.06 staff serving in my Department at the end of April 2022, as calculated on a fulltime equivalent basis.  The information requested is set out in the table below.  Grade Female Male Total ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 20.80 25.75 46.55 ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 2 1.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 which came into effect on 1 July 2019. Notwithstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (31 May 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: Derelict Sites (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (31 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the location and date of vacancy of local authority units are not collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government has recently established a dedicated Cabinet Committee, chaired by An Taoiseach, to oversee and coordinate the Ukraine humanitarian response, including accommodation and supports for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) is leading the initial humanitarian response,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be income-based and reflect tenants’ ability to pay, the making or amending of such rent schemes is a local authority executive function. Accordingly, decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels for public water services, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, encompassing the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure. Irish Water’s primary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the Buy and Renew Scheme was introduced, local authorities have purchased c750 homes for social housing use. Nationally, the average cost to deliver one of these homes under the Scheme is c.€196,000 including the cost for the necessary improvement works to the properties. I have asked local authorities to increasingly target vacant and derelict properties that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department supports local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to acquire social housing homes through a number of funding programmes. The Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) allow local authorities and AHBs to recoup 100% of acquisition costs. The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight and management of local authority housing stock and the allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the relevant local authority concerned, in accordance with its allocation scheme made in accordance with section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations. This legislation requires all local authorities,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.  Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The relevant data is collected by coursing season rather than full calendar year. To this end the following information, as supplied by the Irish Coursing Club, covers the coursing seasons 2017/2018 to 2021/2022: Sept 2017 to Feb 2018 Sept 2018 to Feb 2019 Sept 2019 to Feb 2020 Sept 2020 to  Feb 2021 Sept 2021 to Feb 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of differential rent schemes and the calculation of the rent payable is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 235 and 236 together. The initiation, design, planning, development and management of housing projects is a matter for local authorities in exercise of their statutory functions as Housing Authorities. In March, 2021 my Department introduced a revised social housing application form, in consultation with the local authority sector, to include an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Addressing the current housing shortage requires short, medium and long-term action to stimulate housing supply. The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme is one measure within Housing for All that will help to kick-start apartment developments that might not otherwise be developed. On December 10th last, the Housing Agency held a stakeholder engagement workshop to gain feedback on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Financial Services (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) 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-buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. My Department does not have responsibility for electricity supply and does not hold information in relation to water along the lines set out in the question. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local...