Results 11,481-11,500 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's contributions to the humanitarian challenges that have arisen as a consequence of the situation in Ukraine have evolved in recent weeks. The task force initially examined options under three headings: rapid delivery volumetric accommodation; use of vacant public and private buildings as multi-occupancy accommodation; and measures to stimulate and accelerate construction of new...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Quarrying Sector (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In October 2021, I requested the National Building Control & Market Surveillance Office in partnership with Donegal County Council and with the support of Geological Survey Ireland, to carry out a market surveillance audit of all quarries in Co Donegal. The purpose of this audit was to evaluate relevant economic operators’ compliance with the Construction Products Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The assessment of households for social housing support is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations, which set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. A household may apply for support to one housing authority only....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the implementation of the new tenancy management system is an operational matter for the RTB.  I am aware that some landlord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Control Act 1990 as amended provides, inter alia, for the making of Building Regulations in respect of the construction of buildings. The aim of the Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) and certain works to an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is leading the initial humanitarian response, including providing emergency and longer-term accommodation. As part of a whole-of-government response, DCEDIY is securing accommodation for arrivals through: - hotels, guest houses and B&Bs; - accommodation pledged by the general public; -...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 225 to 227, inclusive, together. Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for the establishment of the ‘First Home’ affordable purchase shared equity scheme to support purchases of new build homes in the private market. The Scheme aims to support c. 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for two new affordable home purchase schemes, which both use an equity share model. Part 2 of the Act provides for the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, and Part 4 of the Act provides for the First Home Scheme.  Newly-built homes made available by local authorities under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme will be sold...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes in the period 2022-2026.  Individual targets for the delivery of social housing have been provided to each local authority. Budget 2022 provided just over €4...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am working with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide for an increase in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) discretion rate to 35% and for new tenancies to expand the couple’s rate to single persons where required. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.  The planned expansion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Budget 2022 (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Total Gross allocation for my Department in 2022 as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) is €5,933m. This  is made up of €2,530m Current and €3,403m Capital. This will be supplemented by €276m Capital Carryover from 2021. In addition, my Department's housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As each State body under the aegis of my Department is responsible for ensuring the application of centrally authorised remuneration increases for its employees, without recourse to my Department, the requested information is not available within my Department.  However, it would be available from the State bodies themselves, and the dedicated e-mail addresses for members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The imminent launch of the First Home Scheme will see first-time buyers helped to purchase new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. It has been previously confirmed that the provision of support under the scheme will be subject to regional price ceilings set with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collate data of the type referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).  The SSHA captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need has not yet been met and helps better inform policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Jul 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (5 Jul 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 2022. The purpose of this Bill is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Second Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The defective concrete block disaster has haunted lives in Donegal, Mayo and beyond for too long. People who built and bought family homes to make a life in saw their dreams crumble around them. Instead of a shelter from the storms of life, their homes became prisons. With no help available, they turned to the State for support. When...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (30 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: None of the state boards under the aegis of my Department currently are, or have been registered as a charity.