Results 14,981-15,000 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Objecting to it.

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Order for Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." A simple argument underpins this Bill and our broader approach to addressing the housing crisis. It is that the State has to step up to the mark to provide affordable homes for purchase and rent using all the means at its disposal. A good home provides shelter, stability and a safe location. It should be the launch pad for life's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water is a central component of effective water policy. The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025sets out the range of policy objectives across the key thematic areas of quality, conservation and future proofing that will be pursued between now and 2025. The Policy Statement supports the promotion of water conservation and water resource...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Feb 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 work of scoping what such a referendum might involve. Following this review, I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should be put to the electorate and the appropriate timeframes that should...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In respect of local authority housing stock, section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that management and maintenance is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes maintenance programmes and carrying out responsive, planned and pre-letting repairs. My Department provides support to local authorities in terms of various targeted stock upgrade programmes, large-scale...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. The National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy was published in July 2018, it provides a targeted, effective and coordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. The range of objectives and actions it specifies have been pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Building Regulations 1997 - 2019 set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. Their aim is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 282, 283 and 290 together. The Government announced that additional public health restrictions would apply under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 on 6 January 2021. The additional restrictions required all construction activity to cease from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with a number of exceptions. These measures are set out in The Health Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Budget 2021 allocated €35m for a new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, under which the Government will make loans on favourable terms to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for up to 30% of the cost of new homes for Cost Rental. A Call for Proposals from AHBs opened on 14 December 2020 and closed on 5 January 2021. Applications were then competitively assessed by my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency. The LDA has informed my Department that the Shanganagh development is scheduled to commence in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256, 257, 294, 295, 305 and 306 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 recently published SSHA carried out in 2019, details the number of households on all local authority waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The two estates mentioned in the details supplied were allocated funding last year under my Department’s Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021. It is now a matter for Galway County Council to plan the advancement of the most appropriate and sustainable solution to enable the estates to be taken in charge. My Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together. Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the very stressful circumstances which the owners and residents of buildings face when defects occur in their homes. Unfortunately, building defects have emerged in some houses and apartments built during the 2000s. In general building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme remains open for business. All local authorities are receiving and processing applications and are incorporating increased flexibility to accommodate applicants during the COVID 19 Pandemic. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme Approval in Principle letter is usually valid for a period of 6 months from date of issue. Approvals can exceed six months...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The disbursement of funding to projects under the Social Intervention Fund of the Limerick Regeneration Programme is the responsibility of Limerick City & County Council (or the Limerick Regeneration Agencies prior to 2012). Based on information provided by the Council and the Agencies, the Table below sets out details of disbursements from the Social Intervention Fund from 2009 to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Assistance Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department supports local authorities to fund Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver housing under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for priority housing categories, including age-friendly housing. CAS operates on the basis that loans of 100% are available to AHBs where all people to be accommodated are on the social housing waiting list, or loans to cover 95% of the capital...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Agency (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) is currently conducted through the Voluntary Regulation Code (the Code), "Building for the Future, A Voluntary Regulation Code for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland" underpinned by three standards - Financial, Governance and Performance. The Code is overseen by an Interim Regulatory Committee supported by a Regulation Office based in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Thatching Grants (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under my Department’s renewal or repair of thatched roof grant scheme, in general a grant of up to €3,810, or two thirds of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, may be payable in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of houses. In the case of medical card holders however, a grant of up to €6,350, or up to 80% of the approved cost, may be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (17 Feb 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this work as a priority. Homelessness is complex and causal factors and family circumstances vary considerably as do the responses needed. Homelessness is...