Results 13,701-13,720 of 26,864 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 285 to 288, inclusive, and 290 together. 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, supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum.  Supporting the delivery of housing, including social and affordable housing, is a priority for the...

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. Over €4 billion in funding is provided annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in housing.  A multi-faceted approach is being implemented to deliver 54,000 affordable home interventions between now and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As COP 26 takes place, we have published the Climate Action Plan 2021. This plan sets a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government.   The actions in Housing for All, our new housing plan for Ireland have been developed to support the targets and objectives of the Climate...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides support to the Rural Water Sector through a Multi-annual Rural Water Programme  for capital investment and the Annual Subsidy for Group Water Schemes. The current Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021 is providing capital funding for 621 projects across 25 local authorities. This funding is being provided through local authorities...

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...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Second Stage (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce Second Stage of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 to the Seanad. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Members for facilitating early debate on this very important Bill. As the House will be aware, the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future committed to not extending the strategic...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Second Stage (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators who contributed in a positive way - Senators Cummins, Moynihan, Malcolm Byrne, Warfield, McDowell, Black and Conway and my good friend and colleague, Senator Casey. I have taken note of the points they raised. I have always been convinced that the best place for planning is with the local authorities. We must resource them to do that work. Every Senator, including...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (10 Nov 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: Vacant Properties (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 28 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2009. Notwithstanding this, under the Voids Programme, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (10 Nov 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 (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice.Responsibility for the overall legal definition of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Justice. In relation to Housing legislation, the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Statutory responsibility for the care and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Advertising (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no specific plans in place to use InvestEU funds at this time to support investment in social housing. The recently published National Development Plan 2021-2030 provides a Capital Investment framework for all investment under the responsibility of my Department. Between 2021 and 2025 some €17.5bn will be provided, and an average of €2.4Bn per annum of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 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. Over €4 billion in funding is provided annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in building social and affordable housing.  A multi-faceted approach is being implemented to deliver 54,000 affordable homes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Nov 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 110 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. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net...