Results 11,661-11,680 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. He does our health workers and those who work in the HSE a great disservice by saying the health service is a disaster.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy will understand what the health service has been through over the past two years and the incredible commitment of our professionals in accident and emergency departments, right through our wards and back room and management teams. They have had two exceptional years trying to keep our people safe and manage this country and the health response through Covid. The Deputy's comments...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It is unfortunate the Deputy has taken this approach but he is entitled to do so. Let us be honest with people about the investment in the health service. We have record beds and resources for diagnostics-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and record levels of staff. The Deputy is asking the Government to renege on an agreement that is in place. I have great regard for our public and Civil Service. We have fantastic people working across the sector and, particularly over the past two years, those who wanted to see it have seen the value of that and of ensuring we resource our public service.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy and Aontú are saying they would rip up an agreement that has been supported by the Dáil previously, by most parties. We are looking at a pay increase of between 1.7% and 10%. Is the Deputy for real in saying he would rip that up if he was in government and bring in legislation to renege on an agreement while we are in the middle of trying to negotiate a new public...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Good luck.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy and what he refers to as a "revelation" in the Business Postwas no such thing. I brought a memo to Cabinet three weeks ago detailing the measures we brought forward over a year ago to protect first-time buyers against bulk purchases. What the Deputy has neglected to say is that in that period of time planning permissions have been granted for over 16,000 homes with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I was not trying to score any political points. I was just stating the facts of the Social Democrats position and of what we are bringing forward as a Government on affordability measures because we support home ownership, social housing and social housing delivery. We have a plan that is fully funded on a multi-annual basis to do that and that plan is starting to take hold. There is no...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question and for raising the important issue of defective blocks. As he rightly stated, the Bill is detailed and complex legislation. By the way, it has not been delayed. There has been weekly, if not daily, engagement with homeowners and I have endeavoured to engage with Opposition parties. I wrote to the Deputy directly with many detailed questions a number of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I assure the Deputy that, as I have done with all Bills that I have brought before the House, many of which I have received support for from Opposition benches, I will work through the legislation and we will consider any amendment to it as we move through the process. It is fair to say that tomorrow's meeting will give an opportunity for residents to put forward their views. There have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Angling Sector (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm that the working group established to examine ways to improve fish passage at Parteen Weir has completed its work, the output of which includes an assessment of the feasibility of a number of options to improve fish passage at Parteen Weir. A roadmap of actions has been proposed and the installation of a suitable new fish pass at Parteen Weir represents the first step of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regulatory Bodies (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together. The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, which was enacted in December 2021, includes provisions to establish a new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). MARA's role will be wide ranging in scope and extensive preparatory work is required in advance of its establishment in respect of each of its individual functions. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Following Government approval, I shortly intend to introduce the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill, 2022 to the Oireachtas. The purpose of this Bill is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the defective concrete blocks grant scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 61,900 households actively in receipt of HAP support. Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department funds the Multi-annual Developer Provided Infrastructure Resolution Programme for the progressive resolution by local authorities of housing estates with this legacy water services infrastructure to enable the taking in charge of these estates. The programme is focused on housing estates which are not taken in charge by local authorities and do not have their water services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Labour Market (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Central to delivering on the ambition of Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland is the need for additional construction sector workers. The number of construction workers involved in residential construction will need to rise to 67,500 by the middle of the decade to achieve an annual average delivery of 33,000 homes. This will be achieved through a variety of means, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (22 Jun 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home...