Results 11,541-11,560 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 120, 168 and 173 together. I thank both Deputies for their questions. I have an interest in seeing progress on this project also. Emmet Road is a really important project for development, particularly in the cost-rental sector in Ireland. The plan for a local authority-led financing structure is a key element in the long-term delivery of cost...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin cannot ignore the facts. He would say they have failed because that he what he would say. There is no question. He would never come in and say that any Government measure is working because his go-to point is to say that it is failing, everything is wrong and nothing is working. That is what he does. He is the one who said in his interview with The Currencyand...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government has banned bulk buying. We have changed planning and brought in an owner-occupier guarantee. For the first time in planning we have recognised owner-occupier as a tenure of housing. We are doing that and have done it. I am at a loss to understand what Sinn Féin housing policy is. I listened to the Deputy a few weeks ago talking about bringing in 10,000 vacant units...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Let me be very clear. We are going to be delivering cost-rental units in Dublin city.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Schemes (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As I said, what I wanted was short-term delivery. I want people in homes this year. As a result, I set the parameters around the call to the local authorities and AHBs to bring proposals to us whereby the units could be delivered this year. That is what I wanted. Dublin City Council had a proposal that would not be delivered this year, and I stated that it would not be included in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not, frankly. I cannot comment on any individual case; I am not privy to private negotiations and nor should I be. I cannot confirm either whether the reports are 100% accurate. What I will and can say very clearly regards the measures that this Government has introduced. We have committed to introducing a form of owner-occupier guarantee - this has been done - to enable local...