Results 11,061-11,080 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department. The oversight and practical management of housing waiting and transfer lists is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Requests for housing transfers are considered solely by the relevant local authority concerned in accordance with that authority’s allocation scheme, which is made by the elected members under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and in compliance with Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011. Local authorities are responsible for assessing housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 May 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: State Bodies (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The details supplied relate to GeoDirectory, a private company, whose shareholders are An Post (the majority shareholder) and Ordnance Survey Ireland. Pursuant to Section 7(1) of the Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001, Ordnance Survey Ireland may, either by itself or with another person, with the consent of myself as Minister, take part in the formation or establishment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 371 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: Energy Conservation (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2020, funding of €20 million was made available as part of the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan for an energy efficiency retrofitting programme to fund upgrades to local authority houses in the midlands, under the 'Just Transition' programme. The Midland Retrofit Programme was established as a pilot programme to provide learnings on the move to 'deeper retrofit',...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Help to Buy tax rebate is a matter for the Department of Finance, and policy responsibilities and the power to make amendments to the scheme lie with my colleague the Minister for Finance. In terms of my own Department's work, the Affordable Housing Act 2021 lays the foundations for two affordable purchase schemes: Part 2 of the Act details the provisions for the Local Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 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.  Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. With regard to the question of the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including through the use of design-build rapid delivery methodologies (including prefabricated and modular build units). Local authorities have been advised that design-build rapid delivery approaches should be adopted where...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 359 and 378 together. The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. It commits to an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report "Safe as Houses?". Housing for All, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally-binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 (compared to 2018 levels). The carbon budget programme proposed by the Climate Change Advisory Council has been approved by Government, and adopted by the Oireachtas. This carbon budget...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In general, public procurement is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement. Embodied Carbon in construction materials makes a significant contribution to the lifetime carbon emissions of new buildings. Currently these embodied carbon emissions are addressed in the Climate Action Plan 2021. The operational carbon...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 361 together. Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to working with industry stakeholders to increase the use of low carbon materials and technologies in the construction and renovation of buildings in Ireland, informed by evolving EU standards and by best practice in other jurisdictions. Embodied Carbon in construction materials makes a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Media (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 363 and 364 together. Corporately, my Department uses five social media accounts. In addition, there are approximately a further 40 social media accounts operated locally in my Department in areas such as our six National Parks; the LIFE Programme; National Inventory of Archaeological heritage; National Monument Service; Marine Planning Ireland and Fire...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Government Audit Service conducts a yearly audit of the annual financial statements of each local authority. Part 12, Chapter 2 (Sections 114-126) of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) provides for the establishment, functions and procedures of the Local Government Audit Service, the role of which is "to carry out or assist in the carrying out of audits of the accounts of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not awarded any contracts outside the standard procurement process to date in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not employ external persons or firms to deal with public relations. My Department’s Press Office provides public relations services and the engagement of external expertise would only be considered where the issues involved require specific expert skills that are not readily available within the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Tenants in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (10 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of local authorities in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons. The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered...