Results 12,341-12,360 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Self Help Grant Scheme was an initiative introduced by Kildare County Council to assist local authority tenants to carry out minor improvement works on their home. My Department did not have any role in the design, funding or oversight of this grant scheme. Queries in relation to the scheme should be directed to Kildare County Council. The management and maintenance of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Authority Home Loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. Prior to that, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was the mortgage available from local authorities. As of 4 January 2022, no new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications have been accepted, although applications/approvals already in process are being honoured. As...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (26 Apr 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. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn. Full details in relation to the changes announced are available at the following link: ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: National affordable housing delivery targets were published in Housing for All for 2022 – 2030. Overall targets to 2030 include 54,000 affordable housing units. Within that, the target for affordable purchase homes is 36,000 dwellings, with a further 18,000 to be cost rental units. From 2022 to 2026, over 28,000 affordable homes are targeted for delivery. The five-year 2022-2026...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A Housing Delivery Action Plan prepared by each Local Authority will underpin local authority delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental homes to 2026. This includes local authority delivery of Cost Rental homes utilising the support of the Affordable Housing Fund. Each Local Authority submitted the first iteration of their plans in December and my officials have now met...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collate information in relation to local authority housing stock according to their heating source or cooking source. However, this information may be available or requested from each individual local authority. My Department does provide funding under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit of local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 688 together. My Department does not collate information relating to deaths of homeless individuals. However, Cork County has advised that three people died while residing in emergency accommodation in the local authority area  in 2021. Each of these deaths is a tragedy and I extend my sympathies to the families...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Registered landlords and all tenants can apply to the RTB for dispute resolution. Section 134 of the RTA...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including tenancy agreements, is a matter solely for each local authority. My Department has no role in this regard. That said, it is typically a condition of social housing tenancy agreements that tenants must inform the relevant local authority of any change in circumstances related to their tenancy, including changes in employment,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cybersecurity Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) is very heavily dependent on the availability, reliability and integrity of information relating to the registration of property and deeds in Ireland. Information and communication technologies (ICT) governance and security are of critical importance to the process. Accordingly, the PRA has a well-developed information security policy and access...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Public Group Water Schemes are currently charged for the use of water (and wastewater service if applicable) in accordance with the billing practice that applied prior to the establishment of Irish Water. For most such schemes, the scheme itself is Irish Water’s customer, rather than the individuals within it. It is not a matter for Irish Water to determine how a public Group Water...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: An application for funding has been made for the project referred to in the Question under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme. This application is under active consideration in my Department and a response will issue to Limerick City and County Council on completion of this process in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (26 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland commits to working to eradicate homelessness by 2030 and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this as a priority. Housing for All includes eighteen distinct actions on homelessness. Two of these actions relate...

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am not sure how I feel about that.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The system works, though.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The most important thing is that the Deputy is here now.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy can give me a copy of her script if she likes, if she thinks I missed any of it.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Apr 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. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn. I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of 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: Ukraine War (7 Apr 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is continuing to develop its humanitarian response to address the accommodation issues arising in the short, medium and long-term for persons arriving in Ireland fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. As part of this response, Government is working to ensure local capacity, resources and knowledge are brought to bear on the overall humanitarian response and is working closely with...