Results 11,521-11,540 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government’s “Housing for All, a new Housing Plan for Ireland”, launched in September  2022, sets out four pathways to a sustainable housing system. A key objective is that everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area 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 Government’s national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is not available in my Department. 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 2011 (as amended). In line with the Regulations, applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Maximum rent limits for HAP were set for each housing authority area in 2016, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the provisions of which I commenced in August and September 2021, laid the foundation for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: the first to be delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency, and the second a national 'First Home' shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market.  Part 2 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. The designation of all existing RPZs has also been extended until 31 December 2024. The Act provides that rent reviews outside of RPZs can, until 2025, occur no more frequently than bi-annually. This provides rent certainty for tenants...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (8 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. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Protected Disclosures (8 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 67 of 25 March 2021 which sets out the position in this matter for the years 2017 to 2020. Seven protected disclosures were received in the period 2019-2020, as follows: Year  Number of Protected Disclosures 2019 4 2020 3 The annual report for 2021 will be published on...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I ask the Deputy to give me the details concerning Eleanor. It has not been raised with me before and I will happily do whatever I can to assist in that case. I cannot comment on matters of development planning like rezoning and so on, but with regard to Eleanor's situation I will provide whatever assistance I can.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for his question. The Government is absolutely committed to tackling the scourge that is vacancy and bringing empty properties back into use. The planning regulations were changed just a couple of weeks ago to broaden further the exemption on commercial properties being converted to residential use. The Minister of State, Deputy Burke, and I will bring forward,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This morning the SCSI published a very significant report, one which we commissioned and said we would do. We have improved the scheme already. I said I would seek independent input into it and would publish a report, and I have done that. That report has now gone to the expert group chaired by the Paul Ford who is an eminent engineer with vast experience in this area. He will report back...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Oscar Traynor Road, O'Devaney Gardens-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O’Callaghan for raising this very important issue. At the outset, I completely agree with the Deputy and I condemn in the strongest possible terms this abhorrent behaviour. While we may not be sure of the scale of it, it does occur from time to time and any time it occurs it needs to be condemned and we need to do everything we can to ensure it is stamped out. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is correct. In the first instance, we are not aware of the scale of this issue but wherever it happens it needs to be condemned. It is atrocious and reprehensible behaviour. I want to assure the Deputy in the plainest language that I can that anything that we need to do from a legislative perspective on this issue, we will do. Timeframe-wise, I hope to have something back from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions on this and I will keep the House informed. It is a priority matter for us. We looked at trying to assess how we would quantify the scale of it but, from dealing with advocacy groups, particularly in the area of sexual and gender-based violence, we were advised that including that in a survey would not be the appropriate thing to do....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I genuinely thank the Deputies for their contributions on this issue. We worked on it together in opposition and I assure them that we will continue to do so. I want us all to work together on it. St Michael's is a really important site. The Deputies and the rest of us all know that. We want the project to be delivered. I do not want there to be any delays. I wish to make two points on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond in a moment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: To clarify, for Deputy Joan Collins, the mixed tenure unit is the unit within my Department that will deal with the post-planning stage and the funding and approval of it. The planning stage is separate. That unit is being established. In response to the point made by Deputy Ó Broin, I can state that it will be a three-stage process. I believe that St. Michael's is such a significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: They will be for purchase under Project Tosaigh.