Results 81-100 of 22,169 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Capital Assistance Scheme provides up to 100% capital funding to AHBs to support the delivery of housing for certain priority categories of tenants. To date the Castleblayney Care Group AHB has completed 18 new social units of accommodation for which my Department has provided over €2.5 million under CAS. The AHB had indicated an intention to deliver an additional 2 CAS units as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Research and Development (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Met Éireann a line division of my Department funds a broad range of research activities relevant to its mission “to monitor, analyse and predict Ireland's weather and climate. We do this to provide Irish society and decision-makers with world-class weather, climate, and flood services to protect life and property, and to promote wider societal and economic well-being”. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The 2015 regulations were amended by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It remains the case that the question of city status for Drogheda is not under consideration at the moment. As indicated previously, the National Planning Framework (NPF) published in 2018 sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040. The Framework recognises the strategic importance of Drogheda and aims to support its development and its economic potential...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366, 369 and 385 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All targets the delivery of 18,000 new Cost Rental homes to 2030. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies using the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL), and by the Land Development Agency. The core principle of Cost Rental is that the rents cover the development, management, and maintenance costs of the homes,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 Apr 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. Details of cases to be determined by the Board are a matter for the Board. Under section 30 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department continues to invest in water and waste water infrastructure to support the development of those rural villages that are not currently served by Uisce Éireann. More than €243 million of funding, over the period 2021 to 2025, has been provided under the National Development Plan for non-Uisce Éireann investment in rural water infrastructure. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 405 of 16 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Valuation Tribunal is an independent statutory body established under the Valuation Act 1988 and continued by the Valuation Acts 2001 to hear appeals against decisions on the valuation and revaluation of commercial and industrial properties for rating purposes. There are a number of options available to an occupier of a rateable property who is dissatisfied with a determination of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not collect the data sought in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation list prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2022. Tailte Éireann has independent responsibility for all valuation matters, except appeals of valuation procedures set out under the Valuation Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Fluoridation (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no function in relation to the matter raised in the Question. The Irish Expert Group on Fluorides and Health, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Health, advises on matters relating to water fluoridation. As such this Question is more appropriate for reply by the Minister for Health.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I currently have no plans to amend the requirement to assess household social housing income eligibility on the previous 12 months net average income. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 68 of 17 April 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Regulations (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No 306 of 2022) were introduced in response to the emerging Ukrainian crisis. The Regulations give effect to Council Directive No 2001/55 EC and Council Implementing Decision EU 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 (European Council Decision) to provide immediate protection in EU...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (23 Apr 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 homeless services rests with individual local authorities. Critical to addressing homelessness is an increased supply...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Statutory Instruments (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: All development proposals require planning permission unless they are specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) or the supplementary Planning and Development Regulations, 2001, as amended (the Regulations). In addition, national planning policy, guidelines and legislation do not dictate the methods of construction or materials that must be used...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (23 Apr 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As set out in the Programme for Government “Our Shared Future”, the Government is committed to continue investment in our rural communities and to support proportionate growth of rural towns and villages to help attract people to live in these locations. My Department continues to invest in water and waste water infrastructure to support the development of those rural...