Results 16,761-16,780 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: I recently approved a once off allocation of €1m for Galway County Council. This funding is linked to the operation of municipal districts and is subject to a small number of requirements, including that the funding be divided equally among the municipal districts. The allocation in question is for 2021 and the payment will be made in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (3 Nov 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: Hare Coursing (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). My responsibility relates to the conservation status of the hare. In 2020 to date, the RHD2...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme remains open for business. All local authorities are receiving and processing RIHL applications and are incorporating increased flexibility to accommodate applicants during the COVID 19 Pandemic. As is the case with any lender, local authorities must lend mortgages on a prudent basis, taking into account the most recent income and employment data...

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

Darragh O'Brien: As indicated in the previous reply of 14 October last on this matter, in light of the impacts of the Covid-19 emergency, the Government, on 29 March 2020, made an Order under section 251A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), which resulted in the extension of time for a range of specified or appropriate periods and timelines in the Planning Acts and associated...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's National Monuments Service has been engaged with for some time with the Health Service Executive (HSE), as owner of the site, in relation to the HSE's proposals to undertake certain conservation works. On foot of those discussions, also involving Dublin City Council, the HSE commissioned a condition assessment and conservation report of the graveyard last year. This...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (3 Nov 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. The SHD...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I plan, with Minister of State Noonan to establish this dedicated Unit during 2021. Details in relation to the functions, location and staffing resources of the Unit have not been determined at this time.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Twelve personal data breaches were identified by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in 2019. All were dealt with in line with the Department’s Data Breach Management Policy, and as required under Articles 33-34 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All twelve have been closed/resolved.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (3 Nov 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Community based CCTV schemes fall under Section 38 of the Garda Síochana Act 2005, as amended, which is under the remit of the Department of Justice. Matters relating to environmental enforcement are a matter for the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Local authorities are data controllers in their own right, with their own data protection officers appointed. My...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property determined by the Valuation Office to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (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. Separate town councils are not provided for under the Act. Municipal districts are a key decision-making component, with specified reserved powers, of plenary councils and each municipal district can include several towns and their...

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

Darragh O'Brien: New buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2019. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out...

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

Darragh O'Brien: An examination of records indicates that my Department has not engaged in any capital project costing €20 million or more in the period from 2016 to date. Local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department enter into capital contracts in the course of their work, some of which is funded through the Department's Vote. As regards contracts for which local authorities are...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am grateful to this House and Dáil Éireann for facilitating the passage of this critical legislation through the Oireachtas. I am conscious that the Seanad has been given limited time to examine the Bill and table amendments for debate. As colleagues know, I am a strong supporter of the Upper House, having been leader of the Opposition here for five years - in the other Chamber,...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: How long do I have?

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I hope I get back those ten seconds. As I have not had an opportunity to do so in person, I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his elevation. I thank Senators for their support and queries and I will deal with as many of them as possible in the short space of time I have. I assure Senators that I spoke with the Leader a number of weeks ago and I intend to come here for a specific...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This issue arose previously, and there is one element that is relevant to the rent-a-room aspect. It was mentioned by Senator Seery Kearney as well. It is not for a landlord to decide if it is a rent-a-room situation or a real tenancy. The RTB can adjudicate on that point. Regarding this amendment, I cannot accept it. The Residential Tenancies Acts do not apply to licensing arrangements,...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: To answer Senator Burke's question, later this afternoon the Seanad will debate the Health (Amendment) Bill that deals with the fines aspects. In terms of a breach due to exceeding the number of people allowed in a home, the person legally responsible in that instance is the tenant if he or she is in charge of the house. That is something for later this afternoon when the health legislation...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is the tenants' problem. I try to do things that are realistic.