Results 15,421-15,440 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: We can do that. Amendment No. 2 amends the definitions for the Bill to reflect that new Parts 2 and 3 amending the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, respectively, provide for their own definitions for the purposes of those Parts. Therefore the definitions of general application to the Bill itself are that: "Act of 2020" means the Health...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise. Amendments Nos. 29 and 30 are in the grouping and are technical, supplementary and drafting amendments made to the Preamble and Title of the Bill to reflect the Government's amendments in the Bill as introduced today on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 29 provides for the recital in Preamble of the Bill. Recitals 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the end of the Bill set out the policy...

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Instruction to Committee (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: First, I wish to address a point on process. No one wants to come in to the House with significant pieces of legislation in a short space of time. It is not my intention to do that on a regular basis, nor have I done so, but there is an urgent imperative to extend tenancy protections to tenants who need them. Let us remember as well that thankfully only 2% of tenancies end up in dispute....

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Instruction to Committee (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I responded to those points in the Deputy's absence.

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Instruction to Committee (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 187, it be an instruction to the Dáil in Committee on the Planning and Development Bill 2020, that it has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill, in relation to: (a) amendments to Part XA of the Planning and Development Act 2000, for the purpose of requiring An Bord...

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is hardly a dictatorship. I would say to the Deputies that these provisions relate to the pre-draft stage of a development plan process. They are nothing whatsoever to do with other public consultations. Local planning and zoning issues are not dealt with at the pre-draft stage. It is a development plan provision and there are some Covid-related provisions that are absolutely needed....

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am happy to. I have listened to colleagues intently in quite a detailed debate. There has been some misinterpretation around public consultation. That relates to the pre-draft stage of a development plan only. The joint committee received detailed briefings. It is complex legislation but it is urgent and important. The tenancy protections that we are bringing through are an...

Planning and Development Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Tairgim: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois". I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the Bill before the House. As flagged in the Seanad and to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I intend to table further urgent legislative amendments on Committee Stage later this evening. The amendments relate to the operation of the Residential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rent Increases (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Section 3 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides that those Acts apply to every dwelling the subject of a tenancy, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 129 together. Leagtar amach rúin mo Roinne i dtaca le seirbhísí a sholáthar trí Ghaeilge i gcúigiú Scéim Teanga na Roinne, a foilsíodh i mBealtaine i mbliana ar aon dul le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Tugtar léargas ginearálta sa Scéim ar an Roinn agus tugtar cuntas inti ar...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Foireann Roinne (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Níl aon phoist i mo Roinn i láthair na huaire a éilíonn go sonrach inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge. Coinnítear, áfach, an cás faoi léirmheas mar chuid den phróiseas Pleanála d’Fhórsa Oibre. Tá an deis ann d’fhoireann iomlán na Roinne a gcuid cumas sa Ghaeilge a fheabhsú agus cuirtear oiliúint teanga ar...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (16 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: Social and Affordable Housing (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary, conducted in June 2019, shows that 68,693 households were assessed as qualified for and being in need of social housing support. The total number of households qualified for social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (16 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not have a specific budget for social media advertising. Decisions to advertise on social media normally form part of individual communications campaigns’ planning. The table below sets out provisional details for one campaign planned in 2021. My Department recognises the role of social media (and advertising on it) in creating awareness of campaigns among certain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (16 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 Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation,...

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will reply to the Deputy on that.

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is on Monday. It was on yesterday.

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy will find all the minutes are available on the website, as Deputy Ó Broin has done.

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: They are on at least every couple of weeks, and sometimes weekly.

Homeless Prevention Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: They started off weekly. All the other agencies have work to do and it does not suit to meet on every Monday either. They are all on board with it.