Results 1-20 of 11,348 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. The Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. It is understood...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Public ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has given its full commitment to holding a referendum on ownership of water services. It should also be noted that the establishment of Uisce Éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022. I have previously committed to bringing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Office of Public Works (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My function under the National Monuments Acts, 1930-2014 is to ensure the long-term conservation of national monuments. I have no direct role in requesting the OPW to recover the remains of anyone from their burial place. The question of exhuming and reburying the remains of the Invincibles - should they be locatable - has also been the subject of a number of calls supported and raised by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 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: Solar Energy Guidelines (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 226 together. It is the case that, as with the vast majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy developments. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise and setback distance as well as shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Local Authority Energy Efficiency 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/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (7 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 including 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. Funding under the various affordable housing streams is made...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. Monaghan County Council's Plan has been published on its own website at this link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 241 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. Local authorities also have a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 242 together. The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012. It offers households with acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears who have little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the chance to surrender a property to a lender and in turn become a social housing tenant whilst staying in their own home and community. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 2 2024. All Construction Status Reports are available at the...