Results 18,301-18,320 of 26,886 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: What the Minister said about flexibility relating to criteria is welcome because this flexibility is needed. Selling State land is a flawed model. We should prioritise building affordable housing on State-owned land and doing that does not require selling off land. We will probably discuss the Land Development Agency's approach later because there are questions relating to it further down...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Before we start-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: That is a point of order I want to raise. I do not want to be obstructionist on the first day back but I wrote to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle before the recess about the grouping of Priority Questions. They should not be grouped. Deputy Collins's question has been grouped with mine. I do not have any issue with that but I get two Priority Questions, other Deputies get one and they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, and I have not received a response.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of that. I know officials have to abide by their rules. I respectfully say that it is irrelevant whether it is the same amount of time or the time is extended. The Minister has made a fair point. My point is that our questions are being grouped, as are his answers, and he is trying to fit many things into one answer. In some instances, they are not particularly relevant. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the issue. The Minister had eight minutes to outline a number of answers to three questions. It is now up to me to decide what I have to pick by way of a supplementary question. I refer to home ownership and affordable purchase. Home ownership levels in Ireland are now below the EU average, at 67%. In 1991, the home ownership rate was 82%. In 1991, private renters comprised...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: 32. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the affordable homes scheme; the amount spent to date; the amount anticipated to be drawn down by the end of 2019; the number of sites identified; the timeframe for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37684/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: 34. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the cost-rental scheme pilot project; the timeframe for its completion; the income criteria; the selection process to be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37685/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh, agus cuirim fáilte romhat ar ais freisin. I ask the Minister to give an update on the affordable housing purchase scheme, the amount spent to date, the amount anticipated to be spent by the end of this year, the number of sites identified, the timeframe for delivery, and any further relevant information he might have around the exact criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: 52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when new rural housing guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37698/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: 55. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the review of the income eligibility limits for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37697/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Minister and his officials. On social housing delivery, I note from the statement provided by the Minister that more than 6,400 homes are on-site. All present are acutely aware of the need to expedite the delivery of social housing. Has the Minister written to local authorities about raising the discretionary cap to €6 million, a measure negotiated for inclusion in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: The agency is buying whole estates.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I know that but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Because you have been buying second-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I have one final point. The Housing Agency is buying whole estates and large parts of estates. It is not buying estates that would not have been built were it not for the agency. It is doing that, and the Minister knows this is happening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise that I had to leave the meeting for a while to attend another meeting. I want to come back to two issues. On the discretionary cap, I do not accept the position the Minister has outlined. It will make a substantial difference in speeding up the delivery of social homes, which are badly needed. I do not believe it will leave the Department open to any undue risk because, as I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: Approximately 1,000 social houses have been completed in the year to date-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and the Minister's target is to build more than 6,000. It is a big gap. Is the Minister confident he will meet that target? Regarding private housing supply, I mentioned earlier the role of build-to-rent, cuckoo funds and the private rented sector, PRS. They are having a massive impact within Dublin. If we take Dublin as an example, according to the property price register there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (18 Sep 2019)

Darragh O'Brien: From the property price register. What I am saying is that more houses are being built and fewer are for sale. That is happening in many parts of the country and it is because we have a market that is being hoovered up by pension funds and investors who will now be able to set the rent prices in those given areas. That is a serious issue. We need to wake up to the fact that entire...