Results 17,741-17,760 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: It is my intention to publish the briefing paper presented to me by my Department, 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.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. 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...

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

Darragh O'Brien: The Shanganagh site in is a good example of the type of major social and affordable housing scheme that we need to see built out in Dublin. This type of mixed-tenure major housing development on public land is a major priority for this Government and for myself as Minister. In January, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC), in partnership with the Land Development Agency,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As confirmed in the Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', this Government is committed to the introduction of Cost Rental housing in Ireland. This recognises that renters in Dublin and other major urban centres are facing significant housing access and affordability challenges. Cost Rental is a fundamentally different housing proposal and represents a new tenure option. It is defined...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Delivering social housing is a major priority for this Government as evidenced by the commitments made in the Programme for Government "Our Shared Future". My Department works closely with all Dublin local authorities to support them in this regard. To this end, funding is available to deliver additional social housing stock through a range of initiatives, including, where appropriate, the...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together. The delivery of social and affordable homes in Dublin, and other major urban areas, where people face the greatest access and affordability challenge is a top priority for this government. To this end, my Department works closely with all Dublin local authorities including Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. As housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State is Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 which was commenced in June 2018. Regulations in respect of the making of a Scheme of Priority were signed in March 2019, and were subsequently issued to local authorities. The Scheme of Priority sets out the affordable purchase arrangements at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration Authority (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that, as part of an escalated recovery plan, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is now providing a full range of registration services.  However, the PRA is currently experiencing an increased backlog due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, but as the number of applications being lodged is decreasing, response times will improve over time.  The PRA's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Safety (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The means for communicating bathing water information to the public are well established and include beach signage, print media and social media. In relation to the Dublin Bay Area, my Department is working with Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Environmental Protection Agency and the Health Service Executive to improve co-ordination of all matters related to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Telecommunications Infrastructure (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. In this regard, Class 31 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, provides that certain classes of development carried out by a statutory undertaker authorised to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: In June 2018 Ms Sara Moorhead SC was invited to carry out a review of the role and remuneration of local authority elected members. Her final report was recently published on my Department's website:  https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/ files/independent_review_of_role_and_remuneration_of_local_a uthority_elected_members.pdf  Ms Moorhead did not receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Health and Safety Regulations (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations. The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 873, 874 and 889 together. I intend to continue supporting measures taken by the Department to assist local authorities with the financial difficulties they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is recognised that some additional costs are being incurred by local authorities in relation to Covid-19. Local authorities have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (30 Jun 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 role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. Section 10...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: As housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area. The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) carried out annually since 2016 captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support to better inform policy and to allow local authorities, such as Dublin City Council, to develop...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 109 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that: (1) A housing authority may perform any of their functions under this Act outside of their functional area. (2) Where a housing authority intends to perform a function in the functional area of another housing authority, the authority by whom the function is intended to be performed and the other authority may make and carry out an agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: The statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State is Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 which were commenced in June 2018.  Regulations in respect of the making of a Scheme of Priority were signed in March 2019, and were subsequently issued to local authorities.  The Scheme of Priority sets out the affordable purchase...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Renewal Schemes (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: A number of actions have been taken in recent years, to address vacancy and dereliction in part of our towns and city.   A core principle of the Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework (NPF) published in 2018, is the promotion of compact urban growth and the re-use of brownfield sites.  This builds on the particular actions set out in Rebuilding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal  and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (30 Jun 2020)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 881 and 882 together. The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing funding assistance for applicant-led proposals that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.  Projects...