Results 16,741-16,760 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (3 Nov 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. Under the Housing Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (3 Nov 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: House Purchase Schemes (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of Budget 2021, €110m was allocated for new affordable housing measures including a new national Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme and a new Cost Rental Equity Loan facility for Approved Housing Bodies. Of this amount, €75 million was allocated for the introduction of the affordable purchase shared equity scheme in 2021. To this end, significant preparatory...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 615 and 616 together. Section 24 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004-2020 defines market rent for the purposes of rent setting and rent review to mean, in relation to the tenancy of a dwelling, the rent which a willing tenant not already in occupation would give and a willing landlord would take for the dwelling, in each case on the basis of vacant...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020 and the setting of valuations for rating purposes, including those for renewable energy project related properties, is his sole responsibility. As Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I have no function in decisions in this regard. Local authorities are...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 620 to 625, inclusive, together. 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In accordance with Circular 40/2002, issued by the Department of Finance, my Department completes an annual return in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold which have been awarded without a competitive process. These returns are submitted annually to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General as part of the Appropriation Account process. The return for 2019 contained...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 627 and 628 together. As the question appears to refer to a particular (i.e 'the') An Bord Pleanála decision, it is important to clarify at the outset that under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, I am precluded from exercising and power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála...

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

Darragh O'Brien: It is a key objective of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the National Planning Framework (NPF), to encourage a shift in the pattern and format of future development towards more compact urban growth, as a mechanism to support proper planning and sustainable development and as a measure to address climate change. The National Planning Framework is endorsed in the current Programme for...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In Budget 2021, the total funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes is €3.3bn. This includes funding to deliver 12,750 social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. A major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes. The build target includes the delivery of 5,250 new homes by local authorities,...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Following the introduction of changes to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, effected through the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the relevant sections of which were commenced with effect from 1 September 2015), the range of options available through which Part V obligations might be satisfied was reduced. In particular, the payment of cash in lieu of homes or the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The average costs for the delivery of social homes through the local authority capital construction programme for 2018 and 2019 are set out in the table below. These averages reflect the full delivery or 'all-in' costs, therefore in addition to construction costs, they also include costs such as land, design team fees, utilities, legal and professional fees, etc. As averages, it's important...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The average costs for the delivery of social homes through the local authority turnkey programme for 2018 and 2019 are set out in the table below. As averages, it's important to note that a range of dwelling types at various price ranges are covered. In delivering new social homes under this programme local authorities are cognisant of the need to balance the delivery of a range of new homes...