Results 15,841-15,860 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). The BHIS is a scheme for the repair and conservation of structures on the local authority Record of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Inland Waterways (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Phase 1 of the Restoration of the Ulster Canal was completed in 2019 comprising the opening of circa 2.5km of new navigation from Upper Lough Erne near Quivvy Lough along the River Finn to Castle Saunderson. This consisted of dredging of the River Finn, construction of a short length of new lateral canal together with a new navigation arch beside Derrykerrib Bridge on the River Finn and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (3 Nov 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 Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and progressing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Process (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Government Decision of 20 January 2015 approved the drafting of the Tailte Éireann Bill proposing the merger of the offices of the Commissioner of Valuation, the Property Registration Authority and Ordnance Survey Ireland into a new body to be known as Tailte Éireann. Work on this project was commenced by the Department of Justice and Equality, following Government approval to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I see a strong voter turnout at electoral events as being of key importance in our society and there are a number of initiatives already in place to support this. In the first instance, my Department promotes greater awareness of the register of electors and encourages people to register to vote through an annual public awareness campaign. This entails the use of promotional posters, social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Control (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 and 603 together. It is my understanding that hunting, including deer hunting, is not an exempted activity under the regulations made by the Minister for Health in the context of COVID – 19 Level 5 Phase. While my Department does issue licenses for various activities under the Wildlife Acts, this does not in any way grant an exemption to any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Control (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 604 together. Senior Officials of my Department would be open to a meeting along the lines proposed, in the first instance. I would suggest that to facilitate a useful meeting, the organisation in question should submit any proposals it has in relation to a review of the legislation and administrative arrangements on deer licensing to my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Data (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authority housing scheme statistics are published on my Department's website, including data in relation to the Sale of Sites Scheme. Under this scheme, a local authority may make housing sites available at low cost. Data relating to activity under the Sale of Sites Scheme in the period 2004 to 2019 in tabular form is available on my Department's website at the following web link: .

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Oversight and management of housing waiting lists is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Specifically, section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 22 of the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 595, 597, 598, 600 and 635 together. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme remains open for business. All local authorities are receiving and processing RIHL applications and are incorporating increased flexibility to accommodate applicants during the COVID 19 Pandemic. There is no blanket ban on applications or drawdowns for RIHL applicants. As is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect information on the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans that have been drawn down by applicants who went on the wage subsidy scheme after having received mortgage approval in principal; or the number of applicants on the wage subsidy scheme who have received mortgage approval in principal on foot of an application submitted after they went onto the wage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Allotments Provision (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The designation of specific services and activities is set out in the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020 which were made by the Minister for Health on 21 October 2020. The Regulations set out the grounds on which a person may leave his or her place of residence and it is a for individuals to determine whether particular activities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Prevention Measures (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2018, officials from the National Parks & Wildlife Service of my Department attended a meeting with stakeholders, including OPW, Roscommon County Council, the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and public representatives relating to ongoing flooding issues at Lough Funshinagh SAC. I understand that the GSI have been monitoring water levels on Lough Funshinagh since 2016, and that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Rural Housing 2005, planning authorities are required to frame the planning policies in their development plans in a balanced and measured way that ensures the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing. A working group was established to review and, where necessary, recommend...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I recently wrote to, and also discussed this matter with, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and I understand that his Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students during this difficult time. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Commercial rates are the single biggest source of income for local authorities. Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, it was estimated that local authorities would collect €1.66 billion in rates in 2020 from approximately 150,000 commercial and industrial properties liable for payment, amounting to 29% of their overall projected revenue for 2020. The Local Government Rates and Other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Act 2020 was enacted and came into operation on 24 October 2020 to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on tenants and to support the efforts of Government in restricting the movement of people in order to suppress the spread of Covid 19. The Act modifies the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 to prevent any notices of termination served by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 established municipal districts as the fundamental sub-county level of governance and democratic representation in the State. The 2014 local government reforms saw the abolition of 80 former Town Councils and their effective replacement by 95 municipal districts within 25 of the 31 local authorities. Municipal districts are now a key decision-making...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The recruitment campaign for the position of Chief Executive of Mayo County Council was advertised by the Public Appointment Services (PAS) on the 30th October 2020.