Results 11,561-11,580 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: The cost rental equity loan funds approved housing body, AHB, development of cost-rental homes through low-interest loans over 40 years for up to 30% of delivery costs. We have had two calls for proposals to date, with a major focus on delivery in 2022. We set parameters specifying that proposals submitted must see homes being tenanted this year. There was one application from Dublin City...

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

Darragh O'Brien: It is a new scheme and a new call and it is important that we recognise that this year we are going to have hundreds of families in State-backed affordable cost-rental units with rents up to 40% and 50% below the market rate. It is something that is most welcome. Equally, just to be clear, when I referred to turnkey units, many of these properties being developed are ground-up turnkeys....

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

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I flagged in advance that we expected an increase in homelessness over a number of months before we see it reducing again. What we have seen is of serious concern to me, the Government and all Deputies. We are acting to address it. While significant work has been done, more needs to be done. We are committed to doing that work. I have...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is correct on exits, which have been difficult in recent months because of shrunken supply. We are affected by the lack of new supply coming in over the past two years. We could not build the number of homes we needed. Much of that was down to Covid. We will see a significant increase in social housing supply this year. We will hit our target of 9,000 new builds. That does...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There is no prohibition on the purchase of properties but we cannot have it both ways. We want to increase stock. I heard Deputies rightly criticising the Government last year for buying homes out from under first-time buyers. We have to have a balance. The figure of 200 set across the board is there but properties can be purchased in extremis. I am looking at further measures,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I recently met with representatives from Social Justice Ireland and I had a good engagement in relation to findings in their report and what this Government is doing to address housing affordability. 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, rising to more than 40,000 by 2030. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: At a national level 4,100 Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental homes are targeted for delivery in 2022 through a combination of Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and the First Home shared equity scheme. The annual national targets will increase incrementally over the Housing for All period.    Despite the impacts of Covid-19, 65 Cost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Mar 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. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Social housing build and lease targets for the period 2022 - 2026 issued to local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Mar 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 an average of 10,000 new social homes and 6,000 affordable homes each year. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 was enacted on 27 March 2020. Part 2 of the 2020 Act provided for the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 during the Covid-19 emergency period up to 1 August 2020, to better protect tenants by prohibiting rent increases in all cases, and tenancy terminations in all but limited and exceptional cases having regard to:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 143 together. 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. Over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Indications of increased...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 30 November 2021. 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 the changes announced are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 205 together. Housing for All (published in September 2021) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 160, 169, 170, 185, 187, 192 and 195 together. 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). If a household meets...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (3 Mar 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) proposal was unsuccessful under both Call 1 and Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).  My officials have explained to officials of Louth County Council that the main focus of Call 2 of the URDF was on supporting integrated development proposals that targeted regeneration and redevelopment within the existing...