Results 11,581-11,600 of 26,846 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There have been a number of deaths of people who had been sleeping rough or accessing homeless services over the last number of years. Each of these deaths is a tragedy and I extend my sympathies to the families concerned. The deaths of people availing of homeless services are a concern and are being taken very seriously. It is important that we establish the facts concerning the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jun 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: Student Accommodation (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am committed to working collaboratively with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to improve student accommodation provision through a dedicated working group set up for that purpose. The Government plan, Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland will transform every aspect of our housing including the area of student accommodation....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Addressing the current housing shortage requires short, medium and long-term action to stimulate housing supply. The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme is one measure within Housing for All that will help to kick-start apartment developments that might not otherwise be developed.  In developing the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme, my Department engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Data in relation to new dwelling completions is published by the CSO on a quarterly basis and can be accessed via the following link: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/construction/newdwellingcompletions / 5,669 new homes were added to the national housing stock in Q1 2022. This represents a 44.5% increase from 3,923 completions in Q1 2021 (when there were COVID-19 restrictions in place) and is 15.1%...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The role of my Department is to ensure that a framework of policy, legislation and funding is provided to ensure that housing authorities are in a position to address homelessness at a local level. I can assure the Deputy that resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The continuing increase in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation throughout the country is a serious concern. The Government, local authorities and others are making every effort to reduce homelessness. Key to this is the delivery of new social housing and boosting overall supply. The Government is investing significantly in social and affordable housing, with record funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Appointments (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department received a staffing sanction request for the post of Harbour Master from Fingal County Council on 8 June 2022.  A sanction approval letter in respect of the post issued to the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council on 20 June 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 230 and 232 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. The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is leading implementation of the process to expand Ireland's network of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the associated commitments in the Programme for Government, namely: 1. to develop comprehensive legislation that will enable MPA designation and management, and 2. to realise Ireland's outstanding target of 10% MPA coverage of our waters as soon as is practical,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to ensuring that the local government sector remains vibrant and sustainable and is well equipped and properly resourced to deliver the key functions within its remit and adequate staffing of local authorities is key in this regard.  The recruitment and filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. The EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The overall aim of the Directive is to maintain high and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Louth County Council sought formal sanction from my Department for two additional staff at Senior Executive Officer (SEO) grade level in early 2020, the posts to be filled by internal competition.  Formal sanction was communicated by my Department to the Council on 31 January 2020 on a three year specific purpose contract basis with recruitment confined to the local government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (23 Jun 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: Housing Provision (23 Jun 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. It will see 54,000 affordable home interventions which includes 36,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 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.  Further details will be available when...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 223 and 224 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....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Departments Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding under a number of measures to enable group water schemes to resolve infrastructural deficiencies including their taking in charge by Irish Water. Under the Rural Water Programme an annual subsidy is also payable by local authorities to group water schemes towards their operational and management costs of supplying...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the local authority concerned as per its allocation scheme made in accordance with Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations. This legislation requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme which...