Results 1,901-1,920 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I received Government approval on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024. The purpose of this legislation is to place the apartment defects scheme on a statutory footing. The scheme will establish supports for the remediation of relevant and eligible fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local Authority Fire services management and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have continued to engage with SIPTU representatives following on from a Labour Court hearing and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in 2023 with regard to the application of a range of policies and the implementation of fortnightly pay to retained firefighters. The implementation of all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a key support, introduced by this Government, to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 566 together. I am satisfied that my Department properly implements the provisions of Circular 4/2013 in respect of staff returning from career breaks. Staff returning from career breaks are included in workforce planning considerations with a view to filling any appropriate existing or forthcoming vacancies in my Department. The information...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have met with and visited the residents in the Burrow, Portrane on a number of occasions, most recently in the Summer of this year. I remain in contact with them directly. Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Ireland’s coast faces...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Earlier this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme for the period 2024 to 2026 and invited local authorities to submit applications for funding. I am pleased to say that I have now approved funding of some €47.1 million for 256 individual capital projects, which will improve water services in rural areas across the country. Details in this regard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I received Government approval on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024. The purpose of this legislation is to place the apartment defects scheme on a statutory footing. The scheme will establish supports for the remediation of relevant and eligible fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local Authority Fire services management and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) have continued to engage with SIPTU representatives following on from a Labour Court hearing and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in 2023 with regard to the application of a range of policies and the implementation of fortnightly pay to retained firefighters. The implementation of all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a key support, introduced by this Government, to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: On 5 June 2024 , I received Government approval to introduce the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan (LAPR). The Statutory Instrument underlying the scheme came into effect on 22 July 2024. The LAPR is an expansion of the Local Authority Home Loan, and supports the purchase and/or renovation of homes which are eligible for the existing Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides the Minister with the power to declare qualifications of such classes and descriptions as he or she thinks fit for a specified employment under a local authority or for such of the employments as belong to a specified class, description or grade. The declared qualifications for engineering posts in the local government sector specify that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department has been actively engaging in the negotiation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive since the Commission published its proposed recast Directive in Q4 2022, and the detailed discussions began in January 2023. Alongside the proposal, the Commission issued a detailed impact assessment. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) established an expert...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Area Plans (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Meath County Council Housing Delivery Action Plan, which sets out the Council’s annual social and affordable housing targets to 2027, can be accessed at the following link: www.meath.ie/system/files/media/file-uploads/2022-08/Meath%2 0County%20Council%20Housing%20Delivery%20Action%20Plan%20202 2-2026.pdf Government has recently approved new national housing targets up to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 373 of 15 October 2024, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (5 Nov 2024)

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 local 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 local authorities. My Department currently...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Development Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Event Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. The Government decision of 22 October...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Pollution (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department’s priority is to ensure that people’s health is protected and that adequate water is available for all consumers. I am keen to see this Boil Water Notice lifted without undue delay – but only when the HSE and EPA have confirmed the water supply is safe. As the public health authority, it is the HSE’s decision regarding issuing a Boil Water Notice or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes comprehensive programme level data on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery and spend activity including information in relation to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which can be found on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provis ion/

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. The information requested is not held by my Department. Determination of planning appeals and...