Results 16,761-16,780 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I intend to continue to support measures taken by my Department to assist local authorities, including Cork City and Cork County Councils, with the financial challenges they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset and to minimise cash flow challenges, my Department arranged for the early payment of Local Property Tax (LPT) to all local authorities. As...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Efficiency (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has been providing funding support under the Social Housing Insulation Retrofitting Programme to local authorities since 2013, for insulation and energy efficiency works to their social housing stock. The programme is implemented in two phases: Phase 1 is a shallow retrofit and ensures that the entire social housing stock has, as a minimum, cavity wall and attic insulation....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 45(5) of the Local Government Act 2001 states that a local authority may, by standing orders, regulate the right of members of the public and members of the media to be present at meetings. This includes the making of rules in relation to recording or relaying the proceedings as they take place or at a later stage. It is therefore a matter for the elected members of each local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Investigations (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be examining this report and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. In this regard, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The brief that was prepared for me upon taking up my role was also provided to the Ministers of State when they were appointed to the Department. It is my intention to publish the briefing paper, subject to any redactions made in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The brief will be available on the Department's website shortly and we will advise the Deputy when...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In July 2019, my Department launched the multi-annual Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021. Bids were sought from local authorities for funding under the programme and nineteen local authorities with Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure in estates in their areas made applications for funding. Kerry County Council included the estate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future (2020), identifies the following specific legislative reforms in the wider planning area: - drafting a General Scheme of a new Planning and Development Bill providing for the introduction of a ‘use it or lose it’ condition for all planning applications of ten housing units or more; - review and reform the judicial review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: An Bord Pleanála (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and certain other Acts. Under section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, An Bord Pleanála has a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government - "Our Shared Future" - commits to several electoral reform initiatives. These include: - Putting in place an Electoral Commission by the end of 2021. The Electoral Commission will provide independent oversight of electoral events. It will be empowered to regulate online political advertising and will be mandated to examine the use of postal voting with a view...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Call 1 in July 2018, bids were invited from all public bodies for funding support from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). A total of 189 applications were received. The application process was competitive. All proposals went through a rigorous assessment including consideration by a Project Advisory Board, which consisted of representatives from my Department, other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (14 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In making a decision on a planning application or appeal, a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned while having regard to the provisions of the relevant development plan, relevant Ministerial or Government policies and guidelines, as well as the views of members of the public on the proposed development....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". The Programme commits to increasing the social housing stock by over 50,000 over the next five years, with an emphasis on new builds. It also pledges to put affordability at the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (14 Jul 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: Pyrite Remediation Programme (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave. The full conditions for eligibility under the Scheme are available on the Pyrite Board’s website at www.pyriteboard.ie. The latest figures available indicate that 2,680 applications have been received under Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 402 together. I am currently considering the matter of the delegation of particular functions to both Ministers of State who have recently been assigned to my Department. Responsibility for Heritage matters has been assigned to my Department as part of the formation of the new Government. Once the transfer of functions in respect of Heritage matters...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Members (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403, 416 and 418 together. The report of the Independent Review of the Role and Remuneration of Elected Members, led by Ms Sara Moorhead SC, was brought to Government on Friday, 19 June 2020, and then published. The Report was circulated on that date to all local authority elected members and to members of both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Report is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I acknowledge that the Foreshore Act needs reform and my Department published in January, 2020 the finalised General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, which will provide the legislative basis for Ireland’s new marine planning regime. The commitment in the Programme for Government to enact this legislation in nine months reflects the priority it has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Help-To-Buy Scheme (14 Jul 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. The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. Single...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homelessness Strategy (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have established a Top Level Homelessness Group, to provide a forum for engagement with key organisations working to address homelessness. The Group will input on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government. I chaired the first meeting of the Group which took place on 13 July 2020.