Results 13,261-13,280 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 provides for the establishment of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of all voluntary and co-operative housing bodies. The AHBRA was formally established on 1 February 2021 and will have responsibility for, inter alia, establishing and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. In this regard, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the recommendations contained in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services report in April 2017, a Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider resources and investment needs relating to the rural water sector. As part of its work, the Working Group recommended a number of revisions to the existing grant scheme that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at the local level. My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016.  The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 was signed into law on 9 July 2021 and all sections, apart from section 6, came into operation on that date. Following enactment, the Act was enrolled by the Supreme Court and published on the Irish Statute Book on 15 July 2021. Section 6, which relates to rent setting came into operation on 16 July 2021 on foot of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together. 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. If a household meets the eligibility and need...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My officials will make arrangements to contact the Deputy directly to furnish the relevant documentation in respect of the Wild Bird Declarations for the period 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 643 together. The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses". In this context, I established a working group to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The social housing project referred to in the question is being advanced by Galway County Council with funding support from my Department under the Social Housing Investment Programme. I understand that the Council received planning permission for the development from An Bord Pleanála on 26th April 2021. I look forward therefore, to receiving their pre-tender...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The examination of a social housing passport as a means of allowing those with a housing need assessed in one local authority to be housed in or transferred to another local authority's functional area was, as referred to by the Deputy, part of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.  A similar measure has been included in the Programme for Government as part...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increased rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (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 the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Jul 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 Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 provide that where a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months, with no valid notice of termination having been served during that time, a 'Part 4 tenancy' is established to cover the next 5 years and 6 months. Section 34 of the Acts provides that a landlord must state a reason for the termination in any tenancy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. With a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan you can borrow up to 90%of the market value of a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A number of measures are currently in place for individuals seeking to purchase or self-build their first home. The Help to Buy Scheme may return tax paid in the previous four years (up to a maximum amount of €30,000) to eligible first-time homeowners purchasing or self-building a new home. Further information on this support is available online at:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has recently engaged with the revelvant local authority in relation to some queries on the Community Waste Water Connection (formally known as group sewerage schemes) project included in the details supplied. It is now a matter for the local authority to advance the project further. My Department will continue to engage with the local authority on the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: On foot of clarification received by my Department from the Deputy, I understand that the question relates to a Town Public Realm Enhancement project in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon.  I further understand that the project is funded under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), which comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community...