Results 15,301-15,320 of 26,971 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increased rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016. These limits were agreed in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. The HAP rent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318, 337 and 340 together. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out once every three years, with the last Summary...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 321 together. My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 322 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: A recruitment competition for Conservation Rangers being run by the Public Appointments Service is currently at an advanced stage. A panel will be formed shortly and I have asked my Department to accelerate appointments from this panel, with the recruitment of a further 60 Rangers planned. The new appointees will be allocated to fill vacant positions throughout the country. Any appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 325 and 326 together. The recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial reviews against the State, in which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and the Public Appointments Service. Such recruitment is undertaken in accordance with best practices and also in accordance with specific regulations or rules where these apply.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The responsibility to develop social and affordable housing within their operational areas, including offshore islands, rests with the individual local authorities, working in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies. Targets are provided to each local authority for social housing delivery and it is a matter for the authority to decide on locations for new social housing based on their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Implementation of national housing policy is a matter for individual local authorities in accordance with their Housing Strategy and based on their estimate of the different types and amount of housing need throughout their administrative area. In relation to social housing, responsibility for its delivery within their operational area, including on offshore islands, rests with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. The RTB Rent Index is published quarterly and reveals the actual rents being paid for rented properties, as distinct from the asking...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support and the scheme is operated by local authorities. Under the HAP scheme, monthly payments are made directly to landlords on behalf of the HAP recipient in respect of rent, subject to the conditions of the scheme. HAP is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities on an ongoing basis as housing projects are progressed and claims fall due for payment. As such, it is a matter for the local authority concerned to ensure that claims for recoupment of funds are submitted to my Department in a timely manner. The funding provided by my Department to Cavan County Council for the delivery of housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates a rolling three-year workforce planning process in line with guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This process assists my Department in making critical decisions related to its workforce over the short to medium term, ensuring it has the capability and capacity required to deliver on its strategic goals and objectives in the coming years. It...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has provided a total of €3.4m to An Taisce between 2015 and 2020. Some €720,000 has been budgeted for 2021. This funding supports a range of environmental education, awareness raising and citizen activation programmes operated by An Taisce. These programmes include: - The Blue Flag programme, which aims to improve bathing water quality by encouraging compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Records (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 795 of 21 April 2021. It is my understanding that a file that had been delivered to the Minister's Office during September 2014 was misplaced within the Office. The file was searched for by members of the staff of the Office of the then Minister and was found after a period of time among other papers, where it had been inadvertently placed.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 794 and No. 796 of 21 April, 2021 provided by my colleague, Mr Peter Burke TD, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning. The reviews state that, during October 2011, concerns over the CPO and loan application were the subject of representations to the former Minister from three named Wicklow public representatives. Similar concerns had...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) continue to be effective and secure forms of social housing support, and remain a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support. While the Department does not hold information on the number of HAP or RAS tenancies that moved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (11 May 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: Departmental Programmes (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public 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. This overall investment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Direct Provision System (11 May 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) recently published a White Paper on International Protection and policy in this area is a matter for that Department. The authorities and agencies under my Department's remit will support D/CEDIY as appropriate in implementation.