Results 16,261-16,280 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flood Relief Schemes (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are designated as lead agencies for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006). The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked extremely well, in particular the responses led by local authorities to flooding and other severe...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area. The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) carried out annually since 2016 captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support to better inform policy and to allow local authorities, such as Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 provide that where a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months, with no valid notice of termination having been served during that time, a 'Part 4 tenancy' is established to cover the next 5 years and 6 months. Section 34 of the 2004 Act provides that a landlord must state a reason for the termination in any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government provides that: The Government will establish a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality of life issues in the provision of housing. Further scoping is necessary as to the most appropriate type of structure for the Commission and to flesh out the issues that it will be tasked with examining. The establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gas Networks Ireland (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: A reply to the representation in question issued on 6 November 2020. The subject matter of the representation remains under active consideration. Subject to the consent request be approved, the timing of payment will be a matter solely for Ervia.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Adaptation Grant (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The detailed administration of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme in respect of private houses, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The framework for the operation of the scheme is laid down in statutory regulations, namely the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme is designed to enable credit worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties. The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first-time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not otherwise have been able to afford at a higher interest rate....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (17 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: Fire Stations (17 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 Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a national footing, is designed to provide this response, by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are responsible for the provision of social housing in their areas, and, as such, decide on the number and specific types of dwellings to provide in their developments, based on identified need. My Department works closely with local authorities to support the delivery of social housing. This includes the delivery of new social homes through local authority and Approved...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Persons who are renting accommodation in the private market who are unable to meet the costs of their rent are entitled to apply for housing supports in the same manner as other citizens. Those with short term income support needs may apply for Rent Supplement through the Department of Social Protection and those with longer term accommodation needs can apply to their local authority for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Data (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Allowances (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The rent allowance of €4,500 was incorporated into the basic pay scale from 1st July 2017. There are no plans at present to extend the rent allowance payments.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Lending (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. In relation to the Deputy's first question each commerical lender would have their own lending policies in place and the treatment of firefighters' income would be a commercial decision for each bank. Commerical lenders are a matter for the Minister for Finance. However, under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Dec 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed quarterly breakdown of all social housing output on its website. This includes a full breakdown by local authority area, delivery type and funding programme. These statistics can be accessed at: In 2019, 6,074 of the total of 10,007 social homes delivered were new build social homes, including 2,840 delivered by local authorities directly. Final output...