Results 14,201-14,220 of 25,979 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The delivery of housing supports is a key priority of Government and this is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to increase the social housing stock nationally by more than 50,000, with a key emphasis on delivering new build homes. We are ambitious to ramp up the delivery at local authority level and we are committed to developing housing on public land. The Government...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. I am happy with that. I know this is a large grouping but I will do my best to address each amendment where it is relevant and then the grouping in general. I hope that as we work through this long list of amendments the debate will become more seamless and efficient. I am happy to facilitate in whatever way I can.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: This goes to the heart of what the differences are between the Government and the main Opposition party. Our public deserve better and they want to see the lands we have developed and put to productive use for homes, affordable, social and cost-rental, for our people. Amendment No. 13, and the other two related amendments tabled by Sinn Féin, would fundamentally change what this agency...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy McAuliffe has covered the issue really well. Deputy Boyd Barrett has stated his opposition, effectively, to the LDA being set up in this manner yet further along his amendment No. 136 seeks to ensure that, with the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the LDA, the agreement for Shanganagh Castle is honoured by the agency. On the one hand, the Deputy is saying that this is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond to a couple of the queries and try to address the amendments in the interests of moving this along. Deputy Gould spoke about cost rental and how it is framed. I will welcome his party's support for the Affordable Housing Bill because cost rental will basically cover the cost of the development and maintenance of those properties, with rent set accordingly. The Deputy...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will address the specific block of amendments first. To be clear, the LDA will have to be fully compliant with public procurement and the public spending code. The four-stage approval process is a different matter. I have altered the four-stage approval process for local authorities, as the Deputy knows. The single stage can be used up to €6 million, and I will seek to review...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett on amendment No. 44, I covered that issue. I reiterate that the LDA is a public body. It is State body. We own it but it is being portrayed by some as if we are selling our land bank off to the Trump organisation. This is about us managing our own land productively, as Deputy Higgins so rightly said. We need to get on with doing this and people know...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendment No. 85 seeks to delete section 13(1)(f). This section enables the LDA to appraise sites, prepare master plans and planning submissions, make planning applications and obtain development consents and approval. Obviously, that would be crucial to the development and to how the agency would operate. To delete that section would further neuter this agency and is not something I can...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be brief. That is not what Deputy Higgins was referring to at all. I just want to make a point. Pre-legislative scrutiny was not denied on this legislation. I could not let that remark go unchecked. There was detailed pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft scheme in the previous Oireachtas that I participated in. Deputy Ó Broin did as well. There were full hearings....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for tabling the amendments. Section 2(a) of the Bill, as published, states that the purpose of the Bill is, "to enable urgent measures to be taken to increase the supply of housing in the State and in particular affordable and social housing". That is pretty clear on what we want to do. The amendment from Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues seeks, to insert "public...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will try to start in a positive vein because we have a lot of work to do to get the Bill through. It is significant that this groundbreaking legislation is now on Committee Stage. I look forward to working with colleagues of all parties and none to get the legislation through as expeditiously as possible. Deputy Ó Broin has just raised a point about the provision of a budget for the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond quickly on those amendments. I have already responded to two. Amendments Nos. 41 to 43 are another example of stripping functions from the LDA, which is a State-owned agency to develop and manage our own lands. It is clear from the short two hours of discussion we have had today that Sinn Féin does not want the LDA to build any homes or to plan to build any homes or any...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I think I did but if not, I will do so on Thursday. I am happy to do that because there are lots of amendments in the groupings. I will come back to it if the Deputy believes he did not get a response to his amendment.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Ó Broin has his lámh suas.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I never heard that.