Results 13,741-13,760 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (22 Jun 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 local level.  Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.  My Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a national footing, is designed to provide this response, by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together. Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 682 of 2020 prescribed Dublin City Council-National Building Control Office (NBCO-DCC) as a competent authority to carry out the functions of a Market Surveillance Authority under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 225 of 2013). The service delivered...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321, 322 and 323 together. 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. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building and to certain works to existing buildings. The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations in 12 parts, Parts A to M. Part B (Fire safety) sets down the statutory minimum standards of fire safety provision. Part III of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme for local authority tenants or persons on local authority housing waiting lists, 2021 funding allocations were issued in early May to all local authorities and are available publicly at the following link: Separately, funding allocations for 2021 under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. The Programme for Government also commits to establishing a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing. It is intended that the Commission on Housing will review the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government committed to establishing a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing.  It is planned that the Commission on Housing will be formally established in September this year. The Chair designate for the Commission was announced in May, and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: The most recently published data is in respect of April...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: All new dwellings must comply with building regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings, and in addition achieve a 60-year durability for all key elements. The building regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) or an extension to an existing building as well as for material...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 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: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There are 7 employees of my Department earning less than €12.30 per hour. My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis.  These State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below. State Body Contact E-mail Address An Bord...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce this Bill.I sincerely thank the Seanad for facilitating the urgent passage of what is very important legislation, and facilitating its passage not just here in the Seanad but starting it here for it to conclude very shortly, before the recess. For this reason I have asked the House to consider a motion to enable the President to sign the Bill...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I was listening.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be here.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator will have to make his mind up on that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: All of the Senators who contributed, bar one, specifically referenced the value of local government members and the difficult work they have had to do right the way through this pandemic. It has been incredibly difficult. Local authorities and councillors are the tip of the spear when it comes to the State's response in the area of local democracy and its response to the pandemic in the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: If there are any Members who have not read the Bill-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I advise they read it again. It is not a blanket extension. We have said that one will need to apply for it. In regard to the provisions within this Bill that I bring forward, I welcome the support and input of Members. I am open to receive any reasonable suggestions and amendments at Committee Stage. We must pass this Bill by the recess, as it is time bound. We have responded to a...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: If you like.