Results 14,581-14,600 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The first Cost Rental site in Ireland, comprising 50 units at Enniskerry Road in Stepaside, is currently under construction by the Tuath and Respond Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), with the support of low-cost land from the Housing Agency and an infrastructure grants of c.€4m from my Department’s Serviced Sites Fund. The mixed-tenure development also includes 105 social housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not hold the data on the amount of empty or unoccupied domestic dwellings in the State, nor does it hold data on the number of vacant properties in local electoral areas. My Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent including a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the current location and number of vacant local authority units are not collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 729, 791 and 792 together. Turnkey social homes are generally new homes built by developers under contract for local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Turnkeys commonly provide a faster delivery of units (in the majority of cases, planning permission is already secured). In many instances, turnkey delivery has provided a means of delivery in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities consider many factors when deciding on the location and volume of housing developments in their area. The zoning of land at particular locations is an exercise undertaken as part of the overall statutory development plan function under sections 9-13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended). Under this legislation, the decision to zone land for development is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 737, 738 and 761 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At end Q4 2020 there were nearly 60,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 33,520 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. In...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Generation (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: On Tuesday 12 November 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued its judgment in case C-261/18, which followed on from the judgment in case C-215/06. The judgment ruled against Ireland and imposed a lump sum fine of €5m and a daily fine of €15,000 until compliance is achieved, plus legal costs. The court judgment will be complied with when the Derrybrien Wind...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 741, 742, 744 and 745 together. The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published by my Department in 2018, since then my Department has provided funding to each local authority of €50,000 per annum. This funding is to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer for each local authority. All 31 local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 747 together. Management and maintenance of the circa 140,000 local authority housing stock is very important. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Management and maintenance of the approximately 140,000 local authority housing stock is an important issue. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Rangers (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department has recently worked with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to create a Conservation Ranger panel from which positions across the country will be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The commitments in relation to Constitutional reform in the Programme for Government provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. My Department has begun the initial work on scoping the complex issues involved and will in due course make recommendations on how we might progress such a referendum. I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753, 754 and 755 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 regard, my Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (21 Apr 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. As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water of which €692...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no dedicated grant scheme available from my Department to provide accommodation for older people in the circumstances set out by the Deputy. However, in accordance with settled Government policy my Department is committed to supporting older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible, as this has the best outcomes both for the individual...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, November 2014) apply to the filling of vacancies on the Boards of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department. These Guidelines state that there are a number of exceptions from the arrangements set out, including from advertising on the State Boards portal (www.stateboards.ie) operated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department received a staffing sanction request for the post of Executive Parks and Landscape Officer in Cork City Council and a letter of approval sanctioning this post issued on 14 April 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 774 and 793 together. I am very aware of the recent increase in people swimming, and the increase of beach users generally, outside of the traditional bathing season (in Dublin Bay and in many other areas). I have asked my Department to work with the National Bathing Water Expert Group, and with stakeholders, to specifically examine the feasibility and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I have not yet received an application from the Irish Coursing Club for licenses to net hares for the forthcoming coursing season which will begin in September next. On receipt of an application, I will consider all relevant issues including the matters relating to the RHD2 virus.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: As a general rule, any suitably qualified person may apply for a position on a Board of a State body under the aegis of my Department, when a vacancy is so advertised by the Public Appointments Service. The principles underpinning the advertisement and filling of such positions are set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,...