Results 15,221-15,240 of 26,971 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the recent publication of the EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, and am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters highlighted in the report, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements. It is important to note that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Tribunal is an independent appeal body established and operating under the Valuation Acts of 1988 and 2001. It deals with appeals against decisions of the Commissioner of Valuation on the valuation of commercial properties for rating purposes and appeals against determinations of market value on derelict sites or vacant sites made by local authorities under the Derelict Sites...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. The innovative website vacanthomes.ie was developed by Mayo County Council in July 2017 on behalf of the local government sector to serve as a central portal for individuals to anonymously log possible vacant homes. It is a key tool in the effort to identify and bring long-term vacant homes back into use, and this source of locally...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (19 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2016 my Department sought to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the process of taking in charge residential estates including those with developer provided water services infrastructure. This was done through a pilot initiative called the National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI). Following the NTICI process my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Further to work commissioned by the Housing and Planning Divisions of my Department, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a report into structural housing demand in Ireland to 2040, in December 2020. The ESRI research report “Regional Demographics and Structural Housing Demand at County Level” projects an annual new household demand figure for each county...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next important step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts. In relation to the activation of these lands I understand that, having decided to embark on the competitive tendering process, on 22 December 2020, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department issued guidance to all local authorities regarding the treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) when assessing and/or reviewing income eligibility for social housing support to all local authorities through Circular 38/2020. A copy of the Circular has been issued to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 May 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: Water Services (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The table below sets out project progress status, amount of funding recouped by my Department (DHLGH) and the projected completion date by year, as estimated by the local authority, for schemes/projects under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) for Mayo County Council as referred to in the details supplied. GWS(Group Water Scheme), CWC (Community Water Connection),LA(Local Authority)

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society. The Affordable Housing Bill 2021, which commenced Second Stage in the Seanad on 17 May 2021, will ensure that affordability is put at the heart of the housing system. The Bill will underpin the new local authority led scheme of affordable homes for purchase, an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Charges (18 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, published on 12 April 2017, has definitively addressed this matter. The Committee recommended, amongst other things, that the cost of domestic consumption of water services be met from general taxation rather than by means of direct charges on households, with the exception of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (18 May 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. State funding provided to Irish Water over the past 7 years is set out in following table: Year  2014 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (18 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 361, inclusive, together. I welcome the recent publication of the EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, and I am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters highlighted in the report, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (18 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362, 363 and 388 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 tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining potential increases to the frequency of bathing water monitoring...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (18 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested by the Deputy is not collected by my Department. The approval or confirmation of proposals for the compulsory purchase of land or property by statutory authorities is a matter for An Bord Pleanala. Local authorities are encouraged to adopt a proactive approach in utilising their available legislative powers for compulsory purchase, where necessary, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand from Donegal County Council that the housing project referred to by the Deputy, was developed by Respond Housing Association and provides 21 apartments for older people.  I also understand that some accommodation that was planned by the Housing Association as a 'Group Home' within the overall development, requires some additional work to make it fit for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The oversight of social housing provision in any area is the responsibility of the relevant local authority which has statutory responsibility for these matters.  This responsibility includes housing provided in the operational area of a local authority by an Approved Housing Body (AHB), as the local authority will hold the mortgage for such AHB housing.  Local authorities have...