Results 16,921-16,940 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: One the main roles of the RTB is to increase compliance across all of its regulatory functions. A core part of protecting the rights of landlords and tenants and supporting a well-functioning rental sector is to ensure that people are aware of their legal obligations to avoid disputes and where they arise, that there is an effective Dispute Resolution Service and robust enforcement powers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Oct 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: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This Government is 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 putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing. Part of the Government's fulfilment of this...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is the only government-backed loan product currently available. It was introduced following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, from 1 February 2018. The loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Guidelines (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: With regard to onshore renewable energy, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of concerns in relation to the matter raised. This matter is now, I understand, the subject of a planning enforcement action and legal proceedings by Dublin City Council, and I am precluded from further comment on it at this juncture. With regard to the safeguarding of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Deer Hunting Licences (7 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: All licenses issued for the 2019/2020 deer hunting season automatically expired on 31 July last in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts. My Department can not locate any record of an application from the person in question in respect of the current 2020/2021 season.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will take the last question first. I agree with the Deputy. I have already met our delivery partners, the local authorities and the approved housing bodies. In any schemes that are brought to us, I want to see designs for community schemes that provide for a mix of units. I visited one such scheme yesterday with the Taoiseach in Balgriffin. More than half the units there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: On Deputy Ó Murchú's question on Housing First, our priority is to expand it into the rest of the country on a singles basis first. Where local authorities such as Louth County Council have other plans, they should bring them forward and we will have a look at them. Our focus must be on tackling homelessness and expanding Housing First as it exists.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Referendum Campaigns (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The commitments in relation to constitutional reform in the programme for Government provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. My Department has begun the initial work on scoping the complex issues involved and will in due course make recommendations on how we might progress such a referendum. I do intend to, and will, consult with my colleagues in government as to the proposal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Funding (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I would not want to ruin the surprise for the Deputy. To be serious, because this is serious, staff and services are being provided to our citizens across the Twenty-six Counties. A couple of points arise. The €600 million waiver provided is not insignificant. Colleagues will agree that significant work and negotiation were required to ensure a waiver of 100%. In early April,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Homelessness Strategy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 46 and 47 together. I thank the Deputies. The programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government will approach it as a priority. This year, we are seeing a reduction in the numbers of people in emergency accommodation. That is to be welcomed. Deputy Murphy's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Does the Deputy oppose the supply of 597 homes?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Does the Deputy oppose the provision of 597 homes?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his valid question. All of us hope that we do not have to move up further through the levels. Work is ongoing with regard to other measures that may have to be taken in the future, particularly if it was a level 5 event. I earnestly hope that will not be the case. I know the Deputy is aware of the protections that are in place under the Residential Tenancies and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, published its quarterly report on 2 October and within that are some of the facts that pertain to the positive effect within the market of the new protections and the new legislation the Government brought forward. As a result of the legislation we are now able to track the number of 28-day warning letters for rent arrears issued. We were not able to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: From the medical advice that we are given there is no question that people moving through society during a virus pandemic enhances the risk of its spread. That is the reason measures were taken by the previous Oireachtas and why further measures have been taken here to protect tenants. It is something that we will watch. Significant permanent changes were made in the Residential Tenancies...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Funding (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. Funding local government is a serious issue and something all of us want to ensure because they have had a very tough time. I take this opportunity to thank the staff in the 31 local authorities across the country who have gone above and beyond the call of duty during this pandemic. Our citizens saw the commitment of the women and men in local authorities to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Did Deputy Murphy ever vote for a development plan?