Results 16,421-16,440 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together. In his speech at the Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth Summit in 2018, the then Minister with responsibility for the 1933 Foreshore Act, Minister Damien English T.D. clarified that certain rights, of both a formal and informal nature, to harvest seaweed exist and must be respected in the context of determination of applications to hand...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 429 together. Section 24A of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Services (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: A proposal for the construction of new social housing in the area referred to is progressing and has received approval to Pre-Statutory Planning and Design stage. My Department is awaiting further information on the proposal and I understand that a follow up submission is being prepared by the local authority.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Issues (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is my understanding that it was intended, in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, to enact a provision which would allow a local authority to enter into an agreement with a lending institution as regards priority of charges to facilitate an equity release “top-up” mortgage in the case of affordable housing under the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2002 and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The operation of planning offices should be in accordance with the terms of the Government's Roadmap for Re-Opening Society and Business, as published on 1 May 2020, and with all relevant public health and health and safety advice and protocols. Under Article 22(3) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, a planning authority already has the power to consent to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Home Loan Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, a new loan offering was introduced, from 1 February 2018, known as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. In line with the previous schemes, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is designed to enable credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2020 provide for minimum notice periods to be served by tenants and landlords for tenancy terminations – for example, a student must provide 28 days notice to end a tenancy of less than 6 months duration or 35 days to end a tenancy of more than 6 months but less than 1 year. The Acts do not prescribe specific terms and conditions regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage to Rent Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: There are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes funded by my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (Local Authority Mortgage to Rent). The second scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body or Private Company...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disability Support Services (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The design, planning and implementation of mobility plans is a function of each of the thirty-one Local Authorities.My Department, and the Department Transport, Tourism and Sport have provided some guidance in this area recently to local authorities entitled‘Interim Advice Note - Covid 19 Pandemic Response’ . This was issued by joint circular (RW 07/2020 and NRPPS 01/2020) in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Area Plans (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have attached for the Deputy a table outlining the current Development Plan timeline for each Local Authority, the anticipated date of the next phase of Public Consultation for the Development Plan Reviews, and the estimated earliest date that each Plan or Variation may be made. As the anticipated adoption dates are largely estimates based on statutory timeframes that can vary, these are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (8 Sep 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. Under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 a Homeless Consultative Forum exists for each region and it is the role of the Management Group of each of these fora to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Mayo County Council submitted applications for funding support for two projects under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. The final date for the submission of applications under Call 2 was 29 May. A large number of proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support. Because of the nature of the URDF programme the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: With effect from 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 introduces 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 protections apply. Tenants who follow these procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Undefined (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: There are a range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver social housing supports in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). The funding is provided directly to local authorities, who in turn, advance the funding to AHBs, as appropriate. Sue Ryder Homes are provided by the Sue Ryder Foundation, which receives funding from local authorities, as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fuel Poverty (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together. My Department has operated an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority social housing since 2013, under which over 72,000 social homes have been insulated to date with funding support of some €151 million. The programme improves the insulation standards and overall energy performance of local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 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: Departmental Offices (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The civil service accommodation facilities allocated to my Department outside of Dublin City are situated at office locations in Wexford, Ballina and Cork. In addition, Met Éireann has weather stations located throughout the country. The number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to my Department in civil service accommodation outside of Dublin City is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Louth County Council submitted applications for funding support for two projects under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. The final date for the submission of applications under Call 2 was 29 May. A large number of proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support. Because of the nature of the URDF programme the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Advisers (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 447 together. The recently published guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on Ministerial Appointments allow for 2 Special Advisers to be appointed to each Minister by Government, in accordance with overall staffing limits. At this stage, no Special Advisers have been formally appointed, either directly or by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (8 Sep 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Delivery of social housing is achieved using a range of different delivery programmes and financing arrangements. This includes supporting both local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to engage with contractors for the construction of new social housing homes. In recent years, the main source of funding to AHBs for social housing delivery, including turnkey projects, is through...