Results 13,961-13,980 of 25,880 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25th May 2018. The nature of the data breaches identified by my Department since 25th May 2018 fall into three broad categories:  personal data being shared accidentally with unintended recipients; the loss or theft of equipment (phones/laptops); or the accidental exposure of personal data to unauthorised persons....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings across Ireland. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an AHB with the cost...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Despite the challenges faced throughout 2020 due to the Covid 19 emergency measures, local authorities and the Housing Assistance Payment Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC) have continued to provide a critical service to all HAP customers. This is evident in the high number of HAP tenancies that continued to be set-up this year. The 2021 HAP target is for 15,000 additional tenancies and, at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q1 2021, there were over 61,300 households in receipt of HAP and nearly 34,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is supporting Kildare County Council in the major refurbishment and new build social housing scheme at St. Patrick's Park, Rathangan. Kildare County Council has advised that Phase 1, involving the refurbishment of 34 homes, was completed in October 2019 and that Phases 2 and 3 of the programme have been developed following public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for, and being in need of, social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003.  My Department, primarily through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Convention (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A Convention on the Constitution was established in 2012 to discuss proposed amendments to the Constitution.  The Eighth Report issued by the Convention dealt with the matter of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and was published in March 2014. The most popular option for reform was the insertion of a provision into the Constitution that "the State shall progressively realise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: To date, my Department has issued two broad-based Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) calls for proposals to local authorities. Funding of almost €200 million has been approved in principle in support of 40 infrastructure projects in 14 local authority areas across 9 counties, which will assist in the delivery of almost 4,200 affordable homes for purchase or for rent. Details of 35...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tax Code (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or since 2018 a private funder to acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage from a lender, which also enables the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.  The scheme is an established part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (1 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Protected Disclosures (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires each public body to publish an annual report setting out the number of protected disclosures received in the preceding year and the action taken.  The annual reports for my Department are available on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/20f06-protected-disclosures-annual- reports/ My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits to appointing Education Liaison Officers in our National Parks to work with schools across the country, to promote the importance of biodiversity and the natural world, and to involve pupils in the work that goes on in our National Parks. My Department is in contact with the Department of Education and Skills to progress...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing delivery activity. This data includes details on the number of social houses built between 2004 - 2015 and from 2016 onward. This data is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. State funding provided to Irish Water since its inception in 2014 including the estimate for 2021 is set out in the table below: The Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 sets out Irish Water’s multi-annual...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity.  This includes detailed data on the Repair and Lease (RLS), including data on delivery through RLS for each local authority since 2016. The data is available to the end of Quarter 1 2021.  Housing statistics are published on the statistics page of my...