Results 17,041-17,060 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014 (as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015) set out the terms of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. The scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury: - A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish to inform the Deputy that there has been one lump sum fine imposed on my Department by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). This was in relation to the infringement on Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing. On 16 July 2020, the ECJ imposed a €2 million lump sum fine for failing...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Matthews as ucht an chuiridh. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as a phost nua mar Chathaoirleach an choiste. Tá áthas orm a bheith ar ais anseo leis an gcoiste mar Aire ar a bhfuil freagracht as tithíocht, rialtas áitiúil agus oidhreacht. Is mór an onóir dom é. Tá a lán obair thábhachtach á...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is excellent. Perhaps the Deputy will get it right the next time. On a serious note, we are facing some significant challenges. A priority for all of us is to eradicate homelessness, and we must drive down the numbers of homeless. We need to deliver social and public housing on public land; ensure that there is affordable housing, both for purchase and rental; and also make changes...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not bad. I have covered a lot of ground. On energy efficiency and the health and well-being of those who live in social homes, it is very important that we seek to upgrade older social homes in particular. The Estimate provides €10 million for 400 social homes under the energy efficiency programme, which is a good start. More significantly, in conjunction with the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Will it be possible to come back in at the end?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In the July stimulus, we had a target for 2,500 and, so far, we have had submissions from local authorities of about 2,410 properties. That involved spending slightly less than €40 million, and that was in the July stimulus. An overall figure regarding some previous voids, dating from before I took over, is included. The full figure, therefore, is about 4,000 voids but, focusing...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The report from the fourth quarter of last year showed that a significant number of mortgages were in distress due to mortgage arrears. There is an issue with the mortgage to rent scheme that concerns both my Department and the Department of Finance. We are committed to expanding the scheme and there is money in the Estimate for this year for that purpose. However, we can do a lot better....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for her questions and will try to answer all three points. I am glad she raised the first issue because it has been brought to my attention that house calls are not happening in some local authority areas. That should not be the case. Adaptation work is deemed to be essential work and the workers carrying it out are essential workers. It goes without saying that it...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy can do that later.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: We can do that later.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Will I come back in now or take Deputy Gould's questions?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I can come straight back in because Deputy Ó Broin asked a few quick questions. With regard to underfunding and Covid losses not related to rates, we are working on that right now. We are in detailed negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I recognise that local authorities will have spent more because of bringing in Covid measures relating to the public...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be very quick as well because I was not trying to exclude Deputy Gould in any way. The homelessness task force has been very useful. I will report to the committee and we publish minutes of those meetings as well. We are tracking those numbers but we know that behind each number is a person and family. We are tracking it weekly and there is a monthly report. It has been very...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy and accept the point he makes on one-bedroom units but some of our focus in that context relates to homeless individuals who want single person accommodation. He has a point with regard to family breakdown where people might need extra space. The provision of one and two-bedroom units as well as larger homes is a big problem. I have already said to our partners,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I will answer very quickly on the national planning framework. Obviously we have to look at how it is being implemented on the ground. I have written to the local authorities and the planning authority about that. I have no oversight over the granting of permission for specific planning applications but if the Deputy writes to me-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps he could write again or I will seek out his letter. I get a few letters every day but I will track his down.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome that and that it is put forward in a constructive way. I will respond to each item. On voids, I have been around a while, including on local authorities, and have found that having a specific target for each local authority and allowing them make submissions has really focused delivery on that. I take the point and will respond to the other items, including dereliction.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In the small bit of spare time I have I chair a regional drugs and alcohol task force in north Dublin. I have seen the benefits of the Housing First approach, particularly for many homeless people who have addiction and also mental health issues. Housing First gives the wraparound supports to help people through homelessness. The programme for Government commits to a housing-led health...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (Revised) (6 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: That is true.