Results 15,541-15,560 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides funding to local authorities for the provision of new social housing units through the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP). Budgets are set through the approval process and costs are divided into the following categories SHIP Construction on LA-owned land: - Construction Contract - Professional Fees – include fee for design, site investigation, project...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, provide the basis for the current Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme, which came into operation on 1 January 2016, which allows local authorities to sell local authority owned dwellings to existing social housing tenants. The Scheme does not extend to houses owned by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (1 Dec 2020)

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: Hare Coursing (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that the Question is inquiring as to whether coursing may take place in the context of COVID-19 public health regulations and guidelines and I have no function in this regard. That is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Agriculture in consultation with the Minister for Health, Under the Open Seasons Order made under the Wildlife Acts, coursing at regulated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not received a submission or details on the project in question. Should we receive a formal application, it will be considered under the normal project assessment process.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together. There have been a number of deaths, in recent months, of people who had been sleeping rough or accessing homeless services. Each of these deaths is a tragedy and I extend my sympathies to the families concerned. In order to provide a better understanding on this matter, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the HSE have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department collects information on Shared Ownership Loans from local authorities. At the time of issue, all Shared Ownership loans combined a standard annuity loan with an equity component, which represented the local authority’s share of the ownership of the property. In pre-2003 Shared Ownership Schemes the equity component is indexed in line with the Consumer Price Index....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defence Forces (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The development or redevelopment of dedicated Defence Forces housing is not within the remit of my Department. Accommodation for defence forces personnel is funded through the capital expenditure of the Department of Defence. In relation to members of the Defence Forces with long-term housing needs, it is open to them to apply to their local authority for social housing support....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (1 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The retirement age for retained firefighters is 55, with provision for an annual extension up to the age of 58, subject to a formal application process, including a compulsory medical assessment. The retirement age for full-time firefighters is, in general, 55. The retirement ages reflect the legitimate requirement that firefighters should be capable of satisfactorily meeting the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government makes clear our commitments to provide measures for good-quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price and in Budget 2021, funding of €110 million was ring-fenced for two new schemes including a national Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme and aCost Rental Equity Loan facilityto help deliver Cost Rental homes. Both of these programmes will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including the cost of pre-letting repairs to vacant properties and the carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Since 2014 Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) and the Buy & Renew Scheme (B&R) are complementary schemes which were developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings. Delivery and funding data for the period 2017-2020, for both schemes, in relation to Cavan,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. With very limited exemptions, these apply to all private rented residential accommodation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect specific statistical information on the estimated number of overcrowded households, as sought by the Deputy. Housing statistics that are collected by my Department can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link: . However, the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) does collate information on the number of households...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be examining the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. In this regard, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (26 Nov 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: Proposed Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together. The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of each individual fire authority. This work of Local Authority Fire Services, has, to a large degree, been supported by the...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Second Stage (25 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senators for facilitating the introduction of the Planning and Development Bill 2020 and the urgent passage of this important legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas. For this reason, I will be requesting, in due course, that this House considers a motion to enable the President to sign the Bill earlier than would be routine. I am bringing forward the Planning and...