Results 13,841-13,860 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 619 together. The cracking of external walls of dwellings in Donegal and Mayo, due to the crumbling of concrete blockwork, came to light in 2013. An Expert Panel was established in 2016 to investigate the matter. It was chaired by Mr Denis McCarthy (former Chief Executive of Waterford Co Co) and it included representatives nominated by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Donegal County Council is an independent legal entity whose leasing activities are outside the remit of my Department. It is a matter for Donegal County Council to satisfy themselves that leased properties are structurally sound and fit for purpose. Local authorities have powers available to them under various legislative provisions to enable them to deal with the saferty of structures and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority has responsibility for the detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. The scheme only opened for applications at the end of June 2020 and applications received to date are being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Monitoring at Kilkee Beach shows that it has excellent water quality. However, as a result of the recent increase in people swimming and beach users generally, I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining potential increases to the frequency of bathing water monitoring and improving the dissemination of results to improve information for people swimming. I have also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 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 analysis as that put in place...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Jun 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 Centre. The HAP rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority. Given the need for inspectors to enter tenants’ homes,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. A protocol to assist victims of domestic violence has been established between the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The setting and collecting of rents and the management of arrears are executive functions and are subject to broad principles set out by the Department. Information on rent accrued, rent collected and arrears is contained in the Annual Financial Statement prepared...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Directives (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The annual State wide Wild Birds Declaration that I signed on 30th April 2021 is compliant with the EU Birds Directive. Legal advice is subject to legal privilege.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Standards Authority of Ireland (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572, 573 and 616 together. The Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. Where a construction product covered by a harmonised standard is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ and affix a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy refers to the Government's Policy Paper "Irish Water - Towards a National, Publicly-Owned Regulated, Water Services Utility. The Government is clear in its policy position that the public water system run by Irish Water should remain in public ownership. The Programme for Government specifically provides that the Government will retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The remedial options provided for under the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme constitute a material alteration to an existing building. Any works that are beyond the requirements of the current building regulations for existing dwellings, or any works that are not required for or ancillary to the remediation of damage to the dwelling arising out of, or in connection with, the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hen Harriers (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The final meetings of the inter-departmental group to review the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan took place recently. Revisions have been made to the draft Plan to reflect the outcome of these meetings and it will be published shortly. The process has taken longer than expected due to the requisite widespread consultation with stakeholders and the complexity of the issues to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The funding of sites that local authorities acquire, whether through compulsory purchase or otherwise, is related to the purpose for which the local authority uses the site. For example, my Department provides full funding to local authorities for sites that are used for social housing developments, while other Departments will support sites used for programmes that they support in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under current Government policy. My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress projects...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 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: Vacant Properties (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The innovative website vacanthomes.ie was developed by Mayo County Council in July 2017 on behalf of the local government sector to serve as a central portal for individuals to anonymously log possible vacant homes and to alert local authorities so that they can then follow up with the registered owners. It is a key tool in the effort to identify and bring long-term vacant homes back into...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at supporting households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP); agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and are deemed eligible for social housing support. The property in question must also meet certain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland’s Climate Action Plan sets out an ambitious whole-of-society approach designed to enable Ireland to meet its EU targets of reducing carbon emissions by 51% between 2021 and 2030, and thereafter to achieve a climate neutral economy by 2050. Action 165 of the Plan sets local authorities the challenge of identifying and developing Decarbonising Zones in each local authority in...