Results 121-140 of 10,594 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (21 May 2024)

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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. While responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Requests for housing transfers are considered solely by the relevant local authority concerned in accordance with that authority’s allocation scheme, which is made by the elected members under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and in compliance with Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011, as amended. Allocation schemes shall apply to dwellings owned or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 Oct 2023, known as the Renewable Energy Directive III ('RED III') for the promotion of energy from renewable sources, entered into force in November 2023. RED III amends Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and Directive 98/70/EC and repeals Council Directive (EU) 2015/652. The Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four new funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF to 2030. To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The flexibility of HAP as a social housing support is one of the scheme’s key characteristics. Households eligible for social housing support are provided with the opportunity to avail of HAP in any local authority area; subject to the current Social Housing Eligibility Income Bands or confirmation that the applicants’ income is below the threshold in the new local authority. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All targets the delivery of 54,000 affordable homes by 2030, divided between affordable purchase homes and Cost Rental homes in the ratio of 2:1. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development. In the case of Cost Rental homes, in August last year the Government increased the income thresholds for new tenancies, with net household income limits rising to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (21 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Donegal County Council currently has a 29-unit social housing project under construction at Gallows Lane in Lifford. I expect that allocation of the social homes will be carried out in advance of the construction completion date in order for tenancies to commence as soon as the homes are fully completed and signed off. This is a matter for Donegal County Council. Further information on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) regulate tenancies in the residential rental sector covering private renters, cost renters, social renters with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), and regulates tenancies and licences in student specific accommodation. The Acts set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (16 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (16 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including the development of a policy on rightsizing. The Housing for All policy objective to make more efficient use of existing housing stock includes tasking my Department with the development of a national policy on rightsizing and to explore...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (16 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are many existing avenues of engagement between the public and local authorities that influence budgetary decisions, including through SPCs, public consultations on LPT decisions and a range of community engagement structures. As part of the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to incentivise local authorities to bring forward pilot participatory budgeting projects. I welcome...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (16 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the correspondence referred to was forwarded from my office to my colleague Minister Dillon, as Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, for direct reply. I can confirm that a reply was issued on 8 May 2024 (under reference number MOSD-00076-2024) Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act ), I am...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (15 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (15 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to my reply to Question No. 356 on 20 February 2024 which set out the position on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (15 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Water Services Acts, it is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that their Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (DWWTS) is fit for purpose, operational and kept in good order. My Department's Rural Water Programme provides financial assistance to households in specific circumstances where capital works are required to rectify defective DWWTS to protect human health...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (15 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The policy of providing grant funding to households for work on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular. There are three grants available and funding is provided under the Department’s Rural Water Programme, which is administered by the local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (15 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector in Ireland plays a significant role in the delivery of social housing. Under Housing For All, the sector has a target of providing up to 40% of all new social homes nationally. In general an independent AHB may appoint to their Board individuals as they deem fit and will endeavour to appoint members with relevant experience, competence and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (14 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently three defects remediation schemes operating; namely the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme and the Interim Remediation Scheme to fix emergency fire safety issues in apartments and duplexes that were built between 1991 and 2013. Only the remediation of apartments and duplexes will operate with public monies delivered to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (14 May 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to invest in water and waste water infrastructure to support the development of those rural villages that are not currently served by Uisce Éireann. Under the National Development Plan more than €243 million of capital funding, over the period 2021 to 2025, has been provided for non-Uisce Éireann investment in rural water infrastructure. This...