Results 12,701-12,720 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to issue of mortgage requirements and the assessment by financial institutions of mortgage applications, these requirements are governed by the Central Bank of Ireland which retains independence in the establishment of macro-prudential policy and mortgage measures. Information in this regard, including on exemptions and other matters, is available at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 87 together. In response to concerns expressed by homeowners and a unanimous Dáil motion on the issue of Defective Concrete Blocks, culminating in the June protest march, I established a time bound working group to consider the issues being raised. The first meeting of the group was held on Wednesday 30 June 2021, with the terms of reference...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971. The Land Development Agency Act was recently signed in law and, on commencement, the LDA will be established as a commercial State agency. The LDA are currently progressing the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003.  My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) provides a roadmap for the regeneration of Limerick across the four main areas identified in the plan. Limerick City and County Council are the lead agency in the regeneration programme and are best placed to review and determine the approach to deliver on the overall objectives of the LRFIP. My Department remains fully...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. Measures to deliver this housing are supported by over €4 billion in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is currently available to first-time buyers only. This is set out in the regulations governing the Scheme and ensures effective targeting.  However, applicants who are separated or divorced may be treated as first-time buyers, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. The HAP scheme is legislated for under Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Consistent with the provisions in section 46 of the 2014 Act, once approved for HAP, the local authority will expect the HAP tenant to stay in the same property for at least two...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 98 together. The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next important step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. The residential potential within the available lands is for a maximum of 3,500 additional...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Using State support, a range of work is already ongoing to deliver Cost Rental housing.  My Department is utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), to deliver initial Cost Rental projects. Under Budget 2021, €35 million was allocated to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The recently published Housing for All strategy is 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.  Housing for All is supported by an investment package...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

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. 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: Scéimeanna agus Tacaíochtaí Tithíochta (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Seachadann an Straitéis Tithíochta do Chách tiomantas an Chláir Rialtas inacmhainneacht a chur i gcroílár an chórais tithíochta. Cuirtear maoiniú os cionn €4 billiún ar fáil gach bliain, ag léiriú an leibhéal is airde riamh d’infheistíocht Rialtais i dtógáil tithíochta sóisialta agus...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commissions of Investigation (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There are no Commissions of Investigation currently underway concerning my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP. In order for housing assistance to be provided under the Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

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. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 292 together. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is operated by my Department, is designed to enable creditworthy first-time buyers, who are unable to access a mortgage from a commercial lender, to obtain sustainable mortgage lending to purchase a new or second-hand property.  To support prudential lending and consistency of treatment for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 280 together. The Housing Agency underwriters provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. The Agency has confirmed the average turnaround time for applications to be assessed...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system. A multi-faceted approach is being implemented to deliver 54,000 affordable homes interventions between now and 2030.  This will be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, as well as through a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).  The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan has been made available nationwide from local...