Results 13,181-13,200 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under 'Housing for All' the Government's priority is to deliver 47,600 new build social homes over the next five years. Substantial funding is available to local authorities and AHBs to deliver on this objective as the primary means through which they will increasingly meet the needs of those on their waiting lists. I am also keen that local authorities and AHBs avoid competing with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In September 2020 I convened a working group to examine the issues around unsold affordable properties. The working group comprises members of the Local Government Sector, Housing Finance Agency (HFA), Housing Agency, Approved Housing Bodies through the Irish Council of Social Housing, and the Social Housing Leasing Section of my Department.  In progressing this examination,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Disabled Persons Grant Scheme (DPGs) is funded by my Department to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability and over-crowded household situations. Typical works include adaptations such as stair-lifts, level deck showers, ramps and grab rails, widening door opening widths and improving circulation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 563 together. Increased rent limits for the Housing Assistance Programme (HAP) and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016. These limits were agreed in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP).  In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government agreed an enhanced €2.2bn Defective Concrete Block scheme on 30 November 2021. The comprehensive changes include: - The current 90% maximum grant will be increased to a 100% grant for all remediation options 1-5 - The maximum grant cap for option 1 (demolition and rebuild) will be increased to €420,000 from €247,500 - The grant calculation methodology...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. The Scheme will be extended beyond the current scope of Principal Private Residences only, to also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: In light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the requirement that a primary earner must have at least two years continuous employment and the second applicant must have at least one year of continuous employment is relaxed temporarily. Periods where an applicant was unemployed as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation will not be deemed as a break in the required continuous employment and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, each of which are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: No further details have yet been received in relation to the specific water supply zones that are the subject of this referral. My Department expects to receive papers from the Commission in the coming months, but the timescale varies for each individual case.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Welfare Payments (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 527, 528 and 540 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At the end of Q3 2021 there were more than 62,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,600 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reviews (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Details of the studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by my Department and currently underway, are set out in the attached table, together with the scheduled completion date. Information in relation to recently published reports is available on the homepage of my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-housing-lo...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. Under Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005 each Public Body is required to have at least one officer authorised to act in the capacity of an access...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority waiting list to another. There is already a degree of flexibility regarding waiting lists. The four Dublin local authorities have arrangements allowing social housing applicants apply for housing in up to two...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides the statutory basis for the establishment of the First Home scheme.  The First Home scheme will support first-time buyers on moderate incomes to buy a new-build home. The banking sector has confirmed it is committed to working with the State to develop and deliver this scheme. Budget 2022 allocated €44 million to my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am informed that under the Property Registration Authority (PRA) Digital Mapping Project (2005-2010), Land Registry plans and boundaries were transferred from the paper maps to the digital map. This digitisation was carried out in accordance with the guidelines as set out in the PRA Digitisation Protocol Document, which was validated by eminent international mapping/land...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) maintains a title register and the Land Registry map is not, except as provided by legislation, conclusive as to boundaries or extent. A specific note to that effect appears on the National Land Register. This has been the position since the inception of the title registration system in 1891. The registration mapping framework maintained by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Decisions on eligibility for social housing support are a matter solely for local authorities with reference to 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 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: While there has been no specific discussions of the kind described, as the Deputy will be aware, the policy area of insurance falls under the remit of my colleague, Mr Paschal Donohue, TD, Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Media (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Communicating effectively with the public and stakeholders is an essential part of my Department’s work. My Department utilises social media channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) with this objective in mind, promoting the schemes and initiatives managed by us, and utilising the reach afforded by these channels to inform the public of the wide range of activity of our Department....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (19 Jan 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The expenditure by my Department in 2021 on consultancy services was some €1.8 million. The costs of Consultants appointed, together with the reason for each consultancy and the name of the consultancy are set out in the following table. Consultancy service providers are only engaged by the Department where specific expertise is required which is not available in the organisation...