Results 14,541-14,560 of 26,971 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Registration of Title (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I assume that the Question is referring to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Under Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, housing authorities may provide assistance to bodies approved for the provision and management of housing accommodation. There are currently 470 bodies with approved status. The register of AHBs can be found on the following...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (13 Jul 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. Where a local authority has approved a homeowner for grant assistance under the...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided that arent increase was not permitted to take effect during, or in respect of any part of, the period from 27 March 2020 to 1 August 2020. From 1 August 2020, the blanket ban on rent increases taking effect inside or outside of a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) was lifted for all, apart from the most vulnerable tenants. The...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The focus of the Government is on preventing homelessness to the greatest extent possible. Budget 2021 reflects this commitment, with funding of €218m this year for homeless services provided by local authorities.A significant portion of expenditure incurred by housing authorities goes towards initiatives aimed at preventing households entering emergency...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service and the assessment of the requirements arising, including the nature of the fire hazards and the probable incidence and extent of fires, in its functional area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. Despite the best efforts of communities, wildland fires can occur in certain...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: To date, a total of 62 leasing projects have been approved by my Department in 2021 under the Long Term Leasing and Enhanced Leasing Schemes. These 62 projects have approval for the delivery of 783 dwellings under long term lease agreements and 135 dwellings under Part V lease agreements. A breakdown of these approvals by local authority, detailing...
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (13 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators. As the Chair has outlined, I am just reporting on amendments made in the Dáil. Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 3 relate to section 6 of the Bill, which allows local authorities to enter arrangements with specific bodies for the provision of affordable homes. I previously accepted a Seanad amendment to subsection 6(4) to refer to the long-term sustainability of diverse...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: No, we have a fair bit to get through. I appreciate that everyone is working on this co-operatively throughout. I might just come back in my closing remarks.
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: Amendments Nos. 4 and 5 relate to consequential amendments. Amendment No. 4 deletes the previous section 26. Section 26 contained three amendments to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. My amendments Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, insert a new Part 6 into the Bill containing a number of amendments to Part V of the 2000 Act. As such, the three amendments that were in section 26...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank colleagues for their comments. Cost rental is incredibly important. Like Senator Fitzpatrick, I also want to see it scaled up massively. This is a start. We wanted proof of concept and that is why the first 25 units were so important. We will have eight schemes across the country in the coming months.I would always encourage all Members to use their influence with the Ministers...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The amendments concern cost-rental provisions. Amendment No. 6 will insert language to illustrate matters that, under section 33, the Minister may prescribe as mandatory terms in every cost-rental tenancy agreement. As with social housing, it will not be the Minister who is the landlord for cost rental. However, the power to prescribe mandatory terms in tenancy agreements will allow the...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I intend to have the regulations for cost rental published in three to four weeks. As we explained in the Dáil, the reason for having regulations for cost rental and affordable purchase is they will be easier to change as opposed to primary legislation. I envisage there will be changes as we roll out the scheme and as we see how it works. We will go on a net-income basis, which will...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: These amendments relate to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. During the Second Stage debate, I flagged that these amendments, whose purpose is to expand the use of Part V in accordance with the programme for Government commitment, would be added to the Bill, to include the provision of affordable housing on top of the protection of the 10% social housing, during its passage...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: The changes will take place from the time of the commencement notice being signed for new permissions. A transition period is allowed for someone who has purchased already. There is a period of five years when the 10% will apply but there is an activation measure where if it is not developed, an additional 10% will apply to the land. For any new land purchase after the commencement order...
- Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank all Senators and Deputies. This is a significant day, with the Bill having passed the Oireachtas within just over a year of the formation of this Government. I thank the team in the Department, who have done an incredible job throughout. I thank all the members of the joint committee for their input from pre-legislative scrutiny onwards. This puts affordability back at the heart...
- Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: Unfortunately, I am not in a position to accept the amendment. The Senator has explained her position and why she believes it is appropriate. I oppose it on the basis that the LDA is entirely separate to NAMA. We have spent a lot of time on this. The LDA exists, and has existed for a number of years now, but it does not have legislation to underpin it. We need to get the LDA set up on a...
- Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)
Darragh O'Brien: I will address all the amendments in the group and speak to them. The Affordable Housing Bill just went through the House. Members will know that we accepted some Opposition amendments when we could. We are always open to doing that but these amendments seek to amend section 2 of the Bill, which provides for the purpose of the Bill by inserting a reference to public, social and affordable...