Results 11,141-11,160 of 26,791 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: On the 14 July, my Department launched the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The Fund is initially focused on supporting refurbishment of vacant homes in regional towns and villages. The Fund is being delivered by local authorities, and will provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, initially through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (20 Sep 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. To be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Sep 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 Local Authority Home Loan can be used both for new and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (20 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Details of the studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by my Department and currently underway, are set out in the attached table, together with the scheduled completion date. Information in relation to recently published reports is available on the homepage of my Department's website at:  The first annual update of Housing for All is due for completion in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (20 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with Section 53 of the Land Development Agency (LDA) Act 2021 , there is an obligation on all relevant public bodies disposing of relevant public land to first offer it for sale to the LDA. The LDA is also currently preparing a report to the Government, which shall identify lands suitable for the purposes of the LDA Act. Under Action 19.9 of Housing for All it was also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Over the period to 2026, the Government's Housing for All strategy commits to delivering 10,000 Cost Rental homes and 18,000 Affordable Purchase homes which will be delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA), and the First Home shared equity scheme. Local authorities have begun collating information on delivery of affordable homes in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President. The purpose of...

An Bord Pleanála: Statements (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not want to interrupt the Deputy-----

An Bord Pleanála: Statements (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am listening to him intently. However, unfortunately, the way this debate is structured, I do not have the ability to respond to what the Deputy said. It is not a questions and answers session. I can happily, in another public forum, give him direct answers to the quite serious things he said-----

An Bord Pleanála: Statements (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I just want the Deputy to know that I am not being funny now. It can be put on the record of the House that I cannot respond here to that.

An Bord Pleanála: Statements (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to speak to the House today regarding An Bord Pleanála. An Bord Pleanála, as I have said publicly, stands at the apex of our planning system and plays a crucial role as the final arbiter of many planning applications. In this light, I treat and have treated any allegations of inappropriate actions or behaviours by its members with the utmost seriousness....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rent Supplement scheme is operated by the Department of Social Protection. It provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting but whose circumstances have changed due to a temporary loss of employment can continue to meet their rental commitments. There were 10,347 people in receipt of Rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Resolution Processes (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have access to data on the number of derelict buildings which have been brought back into circulation during this period. The preliminary findings of Census 2022 provided a figure of 166,752 vacant homes nationwide. This represents 7.8% of the housing stock. Studies suggest a properly functioning housing market will have a base vacancy rate for this reason and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in relation to allotments, community gardens or urban orchards and my Department does not hold the information requested. The locus of responsibility or accountability at central level is determined by the nature of the particular issue or activity involved, not by the fact that it involves a local authority role per se. In addition, local authorities are entirely...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The working group convened in September 2020 to examine the issues relating to unsold affordable properties is continuing to consider a number of options and met most recently on 14th September 2022. Any solutions put forward will consider all relevant parties including the tenants, the approved housing bodies, the local authorities and achieve good value for the Exchequer. These will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: When dealing with special leave with pay (SLWP) for Covid-19 my Department applies the guidelines and policies set out in the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19. The latest version of this document was issued on 22 May 2022 and included changes to the policy surrounding the payment of SLWP. This document can be found using the following link: SLWP is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The design and delivery of new social homes as well as the maintenance and upkeep of existing properties, are the direct responsibility of our local authorities, working in partnership with AHBs. My Department is providing substantial funding to the local authorities for their work in these important areas and I understand that the Council is deploying some of the €1.628 million which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Sep 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs, in their area of choice. On entering the HAP scheme, tenants are required to stay in the same property for at least two years. However, they may be able to apply to their local authority for a new HAP payment...