Results 17,061-17,080 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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 agree that it is an issue.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of national level response to flooding emergencies, where warranted. This includes preparation of review reports into the response to flooding emergencies where national level coordination is activated, including the Review...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Licence Applications (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. Applicants for deer hunting licenses are always advised to apply before July to ensure that they get their licenses before the beginning of the deer hunting season. At this stage all applicants who had applied before July will have received their licenses. Over 3,100 licenses have been issued since 1 August this year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration Authority (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I am informed that the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is currently operating a high level of service.  In this regard, applications for registration can be lodged as usual through the post or DX and are being processed in order of priority.  Urgent applications are processed expeditiously upon request, on a case by case basis. For the month of August 2020, the following is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities receive central government funding for both current and capital expenditure by means of Government grants and subsidies.  This information can be seen in the audited annual financial statements (AFS) of each authority. The table below details the total payments to each authority from central government covering the years 2014 to 2018. 2019 data is not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 166 together. The protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athone is determined by the ESB. If the sluice gates are closed in Athlone, Waterways Ireland will carry out an appropriate sluice operation in the Meelick area. Waterways Ireland as the Inland Navigation Authority, operates the sluices and weir boards in the Meelick area. There are 30...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Promotion (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The Heritage in Schools programme is not run by my Department but rather it is administered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. The scheme provides a panel of 160 heritage specialists who visit primary schools throughout the country.   The aim of the Scheme is to encourage awareness of the natural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: This is an operational matter for individual local authorities in the Shannon basin.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes under section 58 is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The provisions in relation to proposed local authority "own development" projects - commonly referred to as Part 8 projects - are provided for in Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Under these provisions, a planning authority is required to advertise its proposals for such...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authority "own development" projects, commonly referred to as Part 8 projects, are provided for in Section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations).  Under Article 82(3)(v) of the Regulations, a local authority is required to send notice of a proposed Part 8 development to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (1 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. I intend to consult with my colleagues in Government as to the proposal that should be put to the electorate and the appropriate timeframes that should apply to the process.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no plans with regard to the Anti-Evictions Bill 2018. With effect from 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 provides protections for those tenants who are facing rent arrears and, as a result, are at risk of losing their tenancy. If a tenant’s ability to pay rent has been impacted by Covid-19 and the tenant meets specific criteria, new procedures and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (1 Oct 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 Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has held statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation, including the employment of staff and the engagement of external contractors, at national, regional and local level. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In order to qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list, an applicant household must be assessed by the local authority concerned as meeting all of 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. Regulation 16 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The arrangements in relation to the taking in charge of housing estates by planning authorities are provided for in section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act). Under section 181(1) of the Act, where a planning authority is satisfied that a development has been satisfactorily completed in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is engaging with representatives of the local government sector and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the financial challenges facing local authorities as a direct consequence of the pandemic, both in terms of additional costs incurred as part of the local government response and declines in local authority income streams. These matters are under active...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (1 Oct 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another as a result of their size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources. There are significant variances in their abilities to raise revenue locally and they therefore require differing levels of financial support. Until the introduction of local retention of Local Property...