Results 11,721-11,740 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (17 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 215, inclusive, together. The Wild Bird Declaration will be reviewed and considered prior to the current Declaration expiring on 30 April 2022 and a decision will be made in due course. While there is no statutory obligation on my Department to carry out a public consultation for the Wild Bird Declaration, consultations were undertaken in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Feb 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: Coastal Protection (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government established the Inter-Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change to scope out an approach for the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change to our coastal communities. The Inter-Departmental Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the OPW and will bring forward options and recommendations for the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 426 of 1 February 2022 which sets out the position in this matter.  A copy of the report was provided to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department received a submission from Clare County Council, dated 23 July 2021, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Clare. A response issued to the Council on 3 August 2021 indicating that my Department would review the submission and it also sought a detailed breakdown of costs associated with the Report. A breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (16 Feb 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, including the introduction of a revised application process which will only require the homeowner to submit an initial ‘Building Condition Assessment’ at minimal cost recoupable on entry to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, which I commenced in August 2021, laid the provisions for the introduction of a new local authority led affordable purchase scheme. Part 2 provisions will support buyers in purchasing local authority delivered new homes by providing equity to bridge the gap between the value of the home and the buyer's available mortgage and deposit. Regulations to set out...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The schedule requested by the Deputy is outlined at the following link. Foreign Travel

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (16 Feb 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 which funds five remediation options. The enhanced scheme is estimated to cost €2.2 billion and will continue to fund the five remediation options set out in the I.S....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q3 2021, over 97,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 62,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including 1,708 households in Wicklow.  Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant (DCB) 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. I aim to bring the required primary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Of the 1,460 staff employed by my Department at 31 January 2022, there were 103 at principal officer or equivalent grade level or above.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the measures to support institutional capacity, Housing for All commits to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects and recognises that this requires the resourcing of the housing services of local authorities.  Last year, my Department worked closely with local authorities, through the County and City...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department issued a circular in February 2021 asking each local authority to identify a decarbonising zone and to provide a broad outline of the main projects that could be implemented in the decarbonising zone plus an indication as to the potential outcomes deliverable in terms of reductions in carbon emissions. Galway City Council identified the Westside area of the city as its...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: To date, 29 of 31 local authorities have submitted plans  for decarbonising zones. The projects proposed fall into a range of climate change areas including green mobility, renewable energy, and adaptation. A list of the proposed decarbonising zones is set out in the table below.  Two local authorities, Dun Laoghaire, Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a scheme which funds the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Projects (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to support the costs associated with its intended construction of a Naas Inner Relief Road, in October 2017 Kildare County Council was approved for exchequer grant funding of up to €4,500,000 under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF). LIHAF funding supports the provision of infrastructure to facilitate residential land banks and allow for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Staff (16 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently employs six civilian drivers. At this time there are no Garda Ministerial drivers assigned to my Department. The total salary cost for the civilian drivers in 2021 was €260,924.