Results 12,801-12,820 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 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: Electric Vehicles (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently has 11 electric vehicle charging points available for staff across Department carparks throughout the country. Details of the locations of these charging points are outlined in the table attached. My Department is engaging with the Office of Public works to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points available across Department locations as a key action...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. Under HAP, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. The tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended. HAP supported tenancies are afforded...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to discuss with the committee the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022. There are certain specific items to address within the regulations. The proposed regulations amend provisions in the principal planning and development regulations 2001-21 relating to development that is exempt from the requirement to obtain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: There is one matter I should have mentioned. The draft statutory instrument that was circulated to the committee contains the 250 sq. m restriction, and acknowledging that we will not proceed with that, we can proceed on the basis of a revised statutory instrument, with the permission of the committee, rather than coming back and delaying this further by submitting another revised statutory...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I remind members that some limitations remain which, I believe, are sensible. They include a requirement that the property must be vacant for at least two years prior to the commencement of the work. We do not want people closing premises and then saying they will convert them. There are requirements for adherence to the minimum requirements of floor area, as well as storage space...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy made a couple of good points. To address one of them, first, let us remember what we are focusing on. We are focusing on commercial units that have been vacant for two or more years, and we are adding public houses to those. Many of these will be on our main streets in towns and urban areas, but they will be in rural areas too. The exemption applies across the board. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Flaherty for his support of these measures. He has made a very good point. On the vacant homes officer positions, which we are expanding through the country to make sure they are individual roles, I see the councils having a real role in this and a focus on it. We want dedicated resources across the 31 local authorities looking at the issue of vacancy. When these changes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senator Cummins. I visited one of the converted pubs in Waterford with the Senator on a wet day. I noted the difference between converting other premises and this. The people doing it informed me of the hoops they had to jump through and it did not seem to make sense. Many other examples were given to me. I commend the Senator for that and for his ongoing engagement on setting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator for his support and note the points he has raised. These units will be vacant for two years or more so rates should not be an issue. We do not want people moving out of commercial into residential because they will get a planning exemption and move on with nine units. Criteria will be set under that. Notification will go to the local authority. I want to keep this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. On the last point, if something is left open-ended, people may long-finger making those changes. We have seen an increase year on year. Once the regulations were due to expire, many people asked if we could extend it further. It is important to do it in reasonable medium-sized timeframes. If I was to leave it openended, it may not have the focus to suggest we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I might let Mr. Sheridan or Mr. Ryan in here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We will not. I will add that we undertook a survey around size in this context and we have not, as far as I am aware, found any downsides. We keep this issue under continual review, but we looked at average size, the number of units and all those aspects, and I have not seen any downsides in the information presented to me. Any analysis we have undertaken - we can share this information...