Results 12,061-12,080 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan Scheme has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 and replaces the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme. The scheme can be used for the purchase of new or second-hand residential properties and for self-builds. Allocations for 2022 are currently being finalised and will be based on activity during 2021 provided to my Department by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 91 together. The regulation of institutional investment is a matter for the Minister for Finance. First and foremost the solution to alleviating pressures in the rental and housing markets is boosting supply across the board. Housing for Allis the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Notwithstanding this, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Priorities (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 119 together. The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects, including support for the pyrite remediation scheme and the examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses". Firstly, in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), to deliver Cost Rental projects in a variety of ways, in order to prove the concept of this new sector. This is in conjunction with the policy framework as to how the Cost Rental sector will operate in Ireland, as set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (25 Jan 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 self-build....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (25 Jan 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 self-build....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 122 and 127 together. 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 aliathe efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department supports local authorities to engage with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in the delivery of housing. There are a range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver social housing supports in partnership with AHBs through capital and current funding. The funding under these programmes is provided directly to local authorities who, in turn, advance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Notwithstanding this, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Policy Paper on Water Sector Transformation (February, 2021) sets out clearly the approach planned by Government to proceed with the integration of public water services within Irish Water's organisation structure and thereby deliver a publicly owned, stand-alone, regulated, national water utility tasked with modernising and transforming the delivery of water services in Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for Allis 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. The Plan is backed by historic levels of investment with in excess of €20bn through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (25 Jan 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. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn in funding through...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas of high demand. LIHAF was designed to specifically address the issue of housing supply, a crucial factor in terms of house prices. 30 projects were...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) has an immediate focus on managing the State’s owned lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner, to bring essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market. Listed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant Purchase Schemewas reviewed in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments in 2021, with amendments to these criteria subsequently approved by Government. The new regulations were published on 11 January 2022 and will come into effect from 1st February 2022. The scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Maximising the use of our existing housing stock, especially in our towns and cities, is a critical element of any sustainable housing policy and Pathway 4 of Housing for All, “Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock”, is central to the overall Plan. The State, its Departments and Agencies are the owners of large amounts of property. It has already been agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Social housing is a long-term support intended to support households that have continuing, long-term difficulty meeting their own accommodation needs. This is reflected in the underpinning legislation and the Household Means Policywhich provides for applicants’ eligibility to be assessed on their net average income over the previous 12 months from the date of their application. This...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the first ever standalone affordable housing legislation, established a basis for four new affordable housing measures. These measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority...