Results 15,381-15,400 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme is designed to enable credit worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties. The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first-time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not otherwise have been able to afford at a higher interest rate....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 Dec 2020)

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: Fire Stations (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a national footing, is designed to provide this response, by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are responsible for the provision of social housing in their areas, and, as such, decide on the number and specific types of dwellings to provide in their developments, based on identified need. My Department works closely with local authorities to support the delivery of social housing. This includes the delivery of new social homes through local authority and Approved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Persons who are renting accommodation in the private market who are unable to meet the costs of their rent are entitled to apply for housing supports in the same manner as other citizens. Those with short term income support needs may apply for Rent Supplement through the Department of Social Protection and those with longer term accommodation needs can apply to their local authority for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Allowances (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The rent allowance of €4,500 was incorporated into the basic pay scale from 1st July 2017. There are no plans at present to extend the rent allowance payments.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Lending (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. In relation to the Deputy's first question each commerical lender would have their own lending policies in place and the treatment of firefighters' income would be a commercial decision for each bank. Commerical lenders are a matter for the Minister for Finance. However, under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed quarterly breakdown of all social housing output on its website. This includes a full breakdown by local authority area, delivery type and funding programme. These statistics can be accessed at: In 2019, 6,074 of the total of 10,007 social homes delivered were new build social homes, including 2,840 delivered by local authorities directly. Final output...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments under the heading of Planning and Reform. Specifically these include the introduction of a "use it or lose it" condition for all planning appliations of 10 housing units or more and review and reform of the judicial review process. My Department is working on the development of legislative proposals on both these elements. ...

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Previous documents will not be made available as per the advice of the Attorney General.

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: To which amendment is the Deputy referring?

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I just had to check the details. It is inherent in references in the drafting. We can issue further clarification on that and we will do so in writing.

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 20: In page 6, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 177H of Act of 2000 5. Section 177H of the Act of 2000 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1): “(1) Any person (other than the applicant for substitute consent) or a planning authority may make submissions or observations...

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 21: In page 6, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 177K of Act of 2000 6. Section 177K of the Act of 2000 is amended by— (a) the substitution of the following subsection: “(1) Where an application is made to the Board for substitute consent in accordance with this Act and regulations under this Act—...

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendment No. 1 to Government amendment No. 21, as tabled by Deputy Ó Broin, seeks to insert provisions into section 177K(1D) which would require the board, in the case of applications pending before the board upon such commencement, to make the following available: all information considered by the board in making a decision to grant or refuse leave to apply for substitute consent under...