Results 11,421-11,440 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (30 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, responsive repairs and implementing planned maintenance programmes, is a matter for each individual local authority, under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (30 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. Part 3 of the Acts provides for rent and rent reviews. Section 3 of the Acts applies the Acts to every dwelling the subject of a tenancy, subject to certain exemptions which include situations where the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (30 Mar 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 The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (30 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 to 47, inclusive, together. I brought a Memorandum on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme to Government on the 30 November 2021 and it included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn. Full details in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (30 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I assume that the Question is referring to legacy debt issues where group water schemes are seeking to be taken in charge by Irish Water. Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run and they remain fully the responsibility of the scheme right up until such time as they are formally taken in charge by Irish Water. Irish Water and the local authority are actively working to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (30 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together. In April 2018, a Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider investment needs relating to rural water services. The aim of the group is to recommend measures that ensure an equality of outcome between those who receive water services from Irish Water and non-Irish Water customers. The terms of reference for the review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A review of homeless deaths was undertaken on behalf of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive by Dr Austin O’Carroll. The review analysed the available data concerning deaths in homeless services for 2020 to identify learning for homeless and health services that could help tailor the provision of care to homeless people. This ‘Interim Report on Mortality in Single Homeless...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ukraine War (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 337 together. The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response. As part of its response, Government is providing accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and is working closely with Local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Mar 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. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021, a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) was launched which was designed around the Programme for Government commitment to retrofit 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal BER standard by 2030. It is expected that approximately 36,500 of those homes will be local authority owned homes. The EERP is the programme specifically designed for retrofitting local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All 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 measures to achieve its policy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold the information requested by the Deputy. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. The regulations prescribe the timeframes for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has received funding applications from Limerick City and County Council in respect of Thermal Upgrades under the Limerick Regeneration Programme. The applications are being actively reviewed and a response will issue to the Council on completion of this process, in due course. My Department has held regular meetings with Limerick City and County Council and they are fully aware...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. Applications can continue to be made to local authorities and processed under the current Defective Concrete Block grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2019, my Department announced funding for capital works under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. An allocation of €53,550 was provided under Measure 6.(a) – Community Water Connection Network, to Kerry County Council for the project named in the details supplied. The day-to-day administration of the Programme is devolved to local authorities. Kerry County...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no current retainers with outside organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The €70 million revolving Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAA fund) was established with effect from the 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring vacant property portfolios from banks and financial institutions that could then be used for social housing. The target for the HAA fund was to acquire 1,600 units over a four year period to 2020 with this target subsequently extended...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 to 329, inclusive, together. The EPA reports in the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard, up from 95% in 2019. I was pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (29 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Data in relation to housing commencements is published by my Department on a monthly basis and can be accessed via the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts / Data is analysed from the Building Control Management System to produce the provided information. The table below includes the total commencements for all unit types in each of the years 2016 to...