Results 17,681-17,700 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments for social housing use. Activity in this regard is largely delegated to local authorities so they can respond flexibly to all opportunities to provide new social housing. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities delivered over 550 new social homes under the Buy and Renew Scheme to date. The table below sets out details of the average cost of the Scheme, including estimated costs of refurbishment, for each local authority. Costs are shown as estimated in certain cases pending receipt of final claims from local authorities. Nationally, the average cost of the purchase element is...

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

Darragh O'Brien: In order to support the local government sector, my Department continues to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow generally under review and will work with all local authorities on both collective and individual issues arising. The County and City Management Association (CCMA) has estimated the loss of non-rates income for 2020 to be in the region of €91 million....

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

Darragh O'Brien: There are 32 recommendations in the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review Report, including proposals aimed at: - addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used; - removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery; - increasing resources and delivery capacity; and - strengthening governance arrangements. The...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Between 2005 and 2019, over €43 million was paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 298,000 inspections were carried out during this period. The Rental Strategy recognises the need for additional resources to be provided to local authorities to aid increased inspections...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 to 438, inclusive, together. The expenditure under HAP; RAS and SHCEP in 2019 and up to end June 2020 is set out in the table below. Scheme Total Expenditure 2019 Total Expenditure to End June 2020 HAP €382m €215.2m RAS €134.3m €47.2m ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The following table contains details of the 2019 exchequer funding drawn down by local authorities for housing adaptation grants up to 31 December 2019, and up to 30 June 2020. Each local authority provides an additional 20% own contribution. Local Authority Exchequer Drawdown to 31 December 2019 Exchequer Drawdown to 30 June 2020 Carlow ...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has provided funding for an Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority homes since 2013. The Programme has two phases: Phase 1- which covers the bulk of the work undertaken to date - focuses on delivering immediate improvements such as cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase 2 targets higher cost measures, such as fabric upgrades, window and door upgrades and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department and the Economic and Social Research Institute operate a programme of collaborative research principally focused on housing economics. Under this programme, researchers from the Institute and my Department prepared a research paper exploring the short-run implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the private rental market. The research paper is focused on rental payment...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. A National Quality Standards Framework for homeless services has been implemented to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2019 set higher building energy performance standards for dwellings, in accordance with the Nearly Zero Energy Building requirements (NZEB) contained in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. These Regulations apply to works in connection with the design and construction of a new dwelling, where the relevant works...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Department of Health provides guidance and advice on preventing the spread of COVID-19, which can be found at: . A Covid-19 public information booklet was delivered to all households as part of the Government efforts to suppress the spread of the virus. Stay Safe Guidelines at Home are available at the link above along with various Covid-19 information posters for use in homes, including...

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

Darragh O'Brien: At the end of Quarter 4 2019, there were more than 52,500 households having their housing needs met via HAP and over 30,000 landlords and agents in receipt of HAP payments. Under the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size...

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

Darragh O'Brien: My Department operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. As part of the eligibility criteria applicant(s) of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan must have...

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

Darragh O'Brien: There are no tribunals, public investigations or commissions of investigation currently underway in relation to functional areas relevant to my Department. There are still claims and payments being processed following the completion of the Tribunal into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (Mahon Tribunal) in 2012.It is estimated that this process will be completed in 2022. The Tribunal has...

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is misleading the House.

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future acknowledges that Covid-19 has presented the global community with a terrible set of challenges to add to the ongoing climate and biodiversity emergency; acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is wrong.

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “acknowledges the extensive range of measures included in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, building on the initiatives already undertaken and in progress, which will be brought forward to support individuals and families to access affordable housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Just Transition Fund (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of the Just Transition proposals for the midlands region, Budget 2020 made provision for €20 million to fund energy efficiency upgrades to local authority houses in the affected midland counties as a pilot programme. The programme also envisages the grouping of housing upgrades together so opportunities for retrofitting will arise for private housing with support from the...