Results 11,901-11,920 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Institutional investment in the housing market that finances additional supply is welcome and needed. Without such investment, activity in the housing market would be much reduced and would increase the significant pressure already facing renters and prospective home-owners. That said, institutional investment must not displace home-buyers in traditional estates where demand and viability is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tax Reliefs (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of these rent schemes is an executive function and subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.Decisions regarding the sources of income included and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is in the process of developing stand-alone legislation to enable the identification, designation and management of marine protected areas in accordance with Ireland’s national and international commitments. This work is expected to continue for a good part of 2022. In this regard, work is under way drawing up the General Scheme of the Bill. The target is to publish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Detail on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need has not yet been met and helps better inform policy and plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. At the end of Q3, 2021, there were 1,052 tenancies supported under Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) in Co. Tipperary. Expenditure under the scheme relating to these tenancies up to end of Q3 2021 was €4,027,685. At the end of Q3 2021 there were 1,860 households in the county that were actively in receipt of the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I issued individual targets to each local authority in September 2021, in respect of the delivery required under the Housing for All target of 47,600 built social homes, for each of the years from 2022 to 2026. The targets in respect of Tipperary County Council are as follows - 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 230 155 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for 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. As social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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). To qualify for social housing support a household must meet all of the eligibility criteria, which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 338 and 343 together. I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on 30 November 2021 and 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Donegal County Council have responsibility for the administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. Officals from my Department met with Donegal County Council on the 20 January and advised that applications can continue...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 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, 97,600 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 62,300 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,400 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In September 2020, I convened a working group to examine the issues relating to unsold affordable properties. The working group has discussed a number of options to date and is keen to develop a long term solution which works for all parties including the tenants, the approved housing bodies who have long established relationships with the tenants, and the local authorities. Any proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland was published in September 2021 and, as part of a broad suite of social housing reforms, committed to reviewing income eligibility for social housing. The review, which examined inter alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, was completed in November 2021. I am currently...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 345 together. I received the final report of the Working Group on Defective Concrete Blocks in early October and since then have engaged in extensive consultation with Government colleagues on the matter. Following completion of this consultative process I brought a Memorandum to Government, setting out proposals for improvements to the existing...