Results 14,421-14,440 of 26,971 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2018, the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme was introduced in order to target newly built, or yet to be built, houses and apartments that could provide social housing through long term leasing at a reasonable scale. The Enhanced Leasing Scheme is one option available to supplement delivery under local authority and approved housing body build and acquisition...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department conducts regular reviews of funding as part of the ongoing financial management of the Vote including: - A comprehensive annual review of expenditure and funding requirements in preparation of the Estimates for the Budget involving a detailed analysis of funding needs to meet my Department’s commitment to deliver on its broad range of functions, including local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities. There is no doubting the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of housing is a priority for the Government and for my Department in particular. I am aware that the Construction Sector has faced a number of considerable challenges over the past year, not least the restrictions on construction activity introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19 and the impact of Brexit and related supply issues. Domestically, delays are being...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authority has responsibility for the detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, as set out under S.I. 25 of 2020. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. Homeowners may apply to the local authority seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am acutely aware of the distress that the issue of defective concrete blocks has caused to the people and families affected. After working with the affected households and local authorities I have established a working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to quickly review and address any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme is designed to enable credit worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first-time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not otherwise have been able to obtain. More details of this are set out in the FAQ's section of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In response to concerns being raised by homeowners in relation to the Defective Concrete Block grant scheme, I established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups who are tasked with reviewing the operation of the scheme and providing a report with recommendations by 31st July. The Group has met on six...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 740 and 800 together. The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses". In this context, I established a working group to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 741 and 742 together. 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 oversight and management of the lists of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750 and 786 together. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Mayo County Council has responsibility for the detailed administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme in Mayo. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved. Homeowners may apply to the local authority seeking confirmation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Details of the funding provided by my Department to each local authority in respect of the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme/Improvement Works in Lieu (DPG/IWIL) for local authority tenants up to 2020 is available at the following link. www.housing.gov.ie/housing/grantsfinancial-assistance/disabl ed-persons-grants-and-improvement-works-lieu-schemes The 2021 DPG...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Representations from Oireachtas members to local autorities are subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act, 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 274 of 2003). The Regulations include provisions in relation to correspondence with Oireachtas members by local authorities, arrangements to facilitate access to information, and communication generally by local authorities with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (27 Jul 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. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.  The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding on an annual basis under the Disabled Persons Grants (DPGs) scheme to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. The scheme applies to works that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability.  This may involve...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (27 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the Policy Statement on Housing...