Results 16,141-16,160 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Estates (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On 21 September, I announced allocations under the new multi-annual capital investment programme for the progressive resolution of housing estates with “developer provided water services infrastructure”, to enable the taking in charge of these estates. The announcement followed an independent Expert Panel review of all valid bids. The Panel’s recommendations are based on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Boardand 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 pyrite in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The “Call for Housing 2020” was launched on 21 July 2020 as a short-term intervention to stimulate interest in social housing delivery, through acquisitions and leasing from opportunities arising in the property market. The campaign is being run on behalf of my Department by the Housing Agency, in consultation with the local authorities. Up to 30 September 2020, the total...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has no record of receiving an application to deliver an integrated constructed wetland as a treatment system for the village of Glen, Co. Donegal under the current Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 369 to 371, inclusive, together. A key commitment of the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future" is ensuring that affordable, quality homes are available to everyone in Irish society. The 2019 Summary of Social Housing Assessments shows that 3,386 households were qualified for social housing support from Kildare County Council, which represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Measures such as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and the Help to Buy Scheme are available to eligible purchasers nationally to support home ownership. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage which is for first-time-buyers nationwide to purchase a new or second-hand home or to self-build. This scheme offers loans on competitive terms to those who are unable to secure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and 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 been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, while the local authorities remain responsible for private water supplies. Given the legacy of underinvestment in water services infrastructure in Ireland, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Schemes (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 to 375, inclusive, together My role with regard to the protection and management of our archaeological and architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, including the Planning Acts and the National Monuments Acts, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. My Department provides financial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Leasing delivery data for Q1 and Q2 2020 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. Data in relation to leased dwellings delivered in 2018 and 2019, broken down by local authority, is published on my Department's website at the following link: My Department does not publish details of individual homes; however, the average annual cost of standard and enhanced leases,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act) introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments (SHDs) of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála for determination. In the period...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not engaged a third-party company to conduct online and/or social media monitoring or to provide reports on social media coverage.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014 (as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015) set out the terms of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. The scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury: - A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to inform the Deputy that there has been one lump sum fine imposed on my Department by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). This was in relation to the infringement on Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing. On 16 July 2020, the ECJ imposed a €2 million lump sum fine for failing...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Matthews as ucht an chuiridh. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as a phost nua mar Chathaoirleach an choiste. Tá áthas orm a bheith ar ais anseo leis an gcoiste mar Aire ar a bhfuil freagracht as tithíocht, rialtas áitiúil agus oidhreacht. Is mór an onóir dom é. Tá a lán obair thábhachtach á...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is excellent. Perhaps the Deputy will get it right the next time. On a serious note, we are facing some significant challenges. A priority for all of us is to eradicate homelessness, and we must drive down the numbers of homeless. We need to deliver social and public housing on public land; ensure that there is affordable housing, both for purchase and rental; and also make changes...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not bad. I have covered a lot of ground. On energy efficiency and the health and well-being of those who live in social homes, it is very important that we seek to upgrade older social homes in particular. The Estimate provides €10 million for 400 social homes under the energy efficiency programme, which is a good start. More significantly, in conjunction with the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Will it be possible to come back in at the end?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In the July stimulus, we had a target for 2,500 and, so far, we have had submissions from local authorities of about 2,410 properties. That involved spending slightly less than €40 million, and that was in the July stimulus. An overall figure regarding some previous voids, dating from before I took over, is included. The full figure, therefore, is about 4,000 voids but, focusing...