Results 16,181-16,200 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: This is an operational matter for individual local authorities in the Shannon basin.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes under section 58 is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The provisions in relation to proposed local authority "own development" projects - commonly referred to as Part 8 projects - are provided for in Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Under these provisions, a planning authority is required to advertise its proposals for such...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authority "own development" projects, commonly referred to as Part 8 projects, are provided for in Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).  Under Article 82(3)(v) of the Regulations, a local authority is required to send notice of a proposed Part 8 development to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The commitments in relation to Constitutional reform in the Programme for Government provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should be put to the electorate and the appropriate timeframes that should apply to the process.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no plans with regard to the Anti-Evictions Bill 2018. With effect from 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 provides protections for those tenants who are facing rent arrears and, as a result, are at risk of losing their tenancy. If a tenant’s ability to pay rent has been impacted by Covid-19 and the tenant meets specific criteria, new procedures and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (1 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 also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has held statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation, including the employment of staff and the engagement of external contractors, at national, regional and local level. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list, an applicant household must be assessed by the local authority concerned as meeting all of 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. Regulation 16 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The arrangements in relation to the taking in charge of housing estates by planning authorities are provided for in section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act). Under section 181(1) of the Act, where a planning authority is satisfied that a development has been satisfactorily completed in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is engaging with representatives of the local government sector and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the financial challenges facing local authorities as a direct consequence of the pandemic, both in terms of additional costs incurred as part of the local government response and declines in local authority income streams. These matters are under active...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another as a result of their size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources. There are significant variances in their abilities to raise revenue locally and they therefore require differing levels of financial support. Until the introduction of local retention of Local Property...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Prevention Measures (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My role and responsibilities as Minister do not extend to the maintenance, clearance, or dredging of rivers. I understand that the Office of Public Works is the statutory body responsible for Drainage Maintenance on water bodies where capital works have been carried out under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995; and for flood risk management in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 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 line...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (30 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The review is addressing a number of key...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (30 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Farm Plan Scheme, administered by my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, is an important instrument that allows for proactive engagement with farmers in designated sites, to trial and deliver bespoke measures that support biodiversity. Plans delivered through the Scheme have been used to inform the development of national Agri-Environment Schemes under the Rural Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Telecommunications Infrastructure (30 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Consequently, I may not seek to influence the outcome of, or comment on, any individual planning cases. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (30 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department offers a range of funding programmes to assist the voluntary sector with the delivery of new social housing projects, including the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF).  Management and maintenance of existing social housing developments are a matter for the property owners. Putting in place adequate maintenance budgets and a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (30 Sep 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.  The Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project has been in development since the mid-1990s, originally under Dublin City Council and under Irish Water since January 2014. It is the first comprehensive upgrade of...