Results 13,661-13,680 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Banking Sector (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware that the Central Bank recently announced it will conduct a deeper review of its mortgage measures framework over 2021 and 2022.  However, I understand the first step of the framework review will be a consultation process with individuals and households who experience the effect of the mortgage measures first hand. Therefore, no engagement has taken place...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the Programme for Government, a key focus for the delivery of social housing is for the majority of the 50,000 new units to be delivered over the next five-years, to be built by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and State agencies.  This is part of our focus to prioritise the increased supply of public, social, and affordable homes. While this will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including through the use of design-build rapid delivery methodologies (including modular build units). Local authorities have been advised that design- build rapid delivery approaches should be adopted where appropriate to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: At my Department's invitation Louth County Council has requested a meeting for further feedback on its Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) application in respect of the Port Access Northern Cross Route proposal which was unsuccessful under Call 2 of the URDF.  The meeting between officials of my Department and officials of Louth County Council is due to take place shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 66, 83, 87, 88 and 90 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. Under Regulation 28 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range.  Single applicants for the loan must not be earning greater than €50,000 gross per annum.  The combined income of joint applicants must not be greater than €75,000 per...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 examine defects in housing. The group’s terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gender Equality (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Gender provisions for Dáil elections were first introduced at the 2016  Dáil election. These provisions are set out in the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 and link the State funding of political parties in the electoral Acts to the achievement of a gender balance in candidate selection at Dáil general elections.  To receive full State...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department received correspondence from Clare County Council in October 2020, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Clare. A comprehensive reply was subsequently issued to the Council in November 2020.   My Department informed the Council that before any extension of the scheme can be considered, the same rigorous...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Jun 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, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.  In accordance with the Programme for Government, legislation to establish the LDA on a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and supporting renters is a key component of that. The Affordable Housing Bill 2020 will ensure that affordability is put at the heart of the housing system and will underpin the new local authority led scheme of affordable homes for purchase, an Affordable Purchase...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jun 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. If a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, 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 Acts requires...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The rent increase limit of 4% per annum that applies in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) provides for a modest increase in revenue for accommodation providers to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Jun 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: Defective Building Materials (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme is underpinned by regulations made under Sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have information on the number of local authority construction projects that have included a social clause as such contracts are negotiated and signed directly by the local authorities; such information may be available from the local authorities. 

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority for this Government and the Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a specific focus on new build. The Government’s commitment to increase the supply of public housing is further underpinned by the 2021 Budget which provides €3.3 billion to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (24 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided that arent increase was not permitted to take effect during the relevant emergency period from 27 March 2020 to 1 August 2020. From 1 August 2020, the blanket ban on rent increases inside or outside of a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) was lifted. The standardised average rent rose by 2.5% to €1,256 from Q2 2020 to Q3...