Results 10,881-10,900 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We know that but we are being honest with people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Do not try to distort the truth, Pearse.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Stop shouting. Calm down, Pearse, please, would you? Just calm a bit.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I know from working with him in my constituency, Dublin Fingal, that it is a very important issue to him and, indeed, all Members so that we make sure we provide special education places and supports for those kids who need it. That is why the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, has been so vociferous in her work to ensure we increase...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom mo fhíor-chomhbhrón a ghabháil leis na daoine sna Stáit Aontaithe, go mór mór na daoine áitiúla in Valdes Texas tar éis dúnmharú uafásach na leanaí ann. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse. On behalf of the Government I send our deepest sympathies to those affected by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (25 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: Departmental Schemes (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, each of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (25 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. The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.  My Department does not fund any homeless...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals.  At the end of Q4 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 and over 33,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at the local level. My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 164 of 5 May 2022. The full time staff complement of the Vacant Homes Unit will involve further staffing, the specific resourcing requirements of which remains under ongoing review, to support the dedicated full-time Principal Officer and Assistant Principal Officer.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have any grant available specific to the removal of asbestos from homes.   The Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme provides a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024 and prohibiting any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme is underpinned by secondary legislation. The provisions of Regulation 7 of the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability), Regulations 2007 set out the types of mobility aids that the grant can be used for, including accessible showers, access ramps, grab rails, stair lifts and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department published the terms of reference (attached) for Senior Counsel Remy Farrells "Report into the management of conflicts of interest and relevant disclosures by the Deputy Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála in relation to certain Decisions of that Board and related matters" on 12 May 2022. While the purpose of the report is to provide an opinion from Senior Counsel on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme 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...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. I look forward to reading the report from Deputy Matthews and other colleagues on the housing committee. We will be moving forward with the Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund. We have identified it as a pathway to housing and to tackling vacancy. All three parties in government are serious about doing so. As regards work on a vacant property tax, data...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am completely in agreement on the importance of the community water connections under the upcoming multi-annual rural water programme that runs to 2025. To give the Deputy an idea for timeframes, the working group is currently finalising a report due. That should be with me in the coming weeks to make recommendations. I will not be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (24 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...