Results 1-20 of 988 for at speaker:Alan Dillon

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Accommodation (30 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: The Traveller accommodation expert review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller community, has 32 recommendations across four categories. These are aimed at addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used; removing any potential delay and obstacle in the planning...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (30 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: ...vacancy officer in place, fulfilling one of the Housing for All commitments. Each local authority receives an annual fund of up to €60,000 to support the work of the vacant homes officers. That was an important step forward in addressing each of the issues within local authorities. A derelict and vacant sites register is in the ownership of each local authority. I am sure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (30 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 , 70 , 82 , 89 and 190 together. I thank the Deputy. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make effective use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2026, which was published in January 2023, builds on pathway 4 of Housing for All....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (29 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (29 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not...

Local Authority Housing Maintenance and Repair: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: ...being addressed through the various stock improvement programmes run by the Department and the steps being taken to move from a response based on repair and maintenance as problems arise to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to the management and maintenance of local authority social housing stock. I will make some general points. There are just over 146,000 local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (28 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of...

Housing Situation: Motion [Private Members] (21 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — that Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland, now in its third year of implementation, sets out a comprehensive suite of actions aimed at addressing affordability in the housing sector and that supply, which is critical to achieving this, has increased...

Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (21 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank all Members of the House for their input to this afternoon's statements. I welcome the opportunity to add to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's, opening statement and to highlight some of the key achievements. There is no silver bullet when addressing something as complex as the housing crisis. Through the Housing for All plan, we are confronting these challenges head on and we have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Sites (21 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (21 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Local Authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) in their functional areas. The information requested and provided in respect of 2023 is set out in the table at the link. /ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/202 4-05-21_pq347-21-05_en.xlsx">Levies

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (14 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362, 363 and 380 together. My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for raising the Whitegate boil water notice issue. The issue of safe drinking water has national and local importance. I appreciate Deputy Stanton's concerns for the communities affected. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of Whitegate regional public water supply is a matter for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I again thank Deputy Nolan for raising this important matter on behalf of Charleville National School and for giving me the opportunity again to reassure the House that the Department of Education is committed to the accelerated provision of this modular accommodation to meet the urgent school accommodation needs. It is important that the officials in the Department of Education continue to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for providing the opportunity to outline to the House the current position with Tubber National School on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. Deputy Crowe has been a real advocate in relation to the concerns and issues raised in his own constituency in County Clare. I refer to the current position of an...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I want to acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to this evening's debate. I want to echo the comments made earlier by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and reassert the Government's commitment to tackling the challenge in the housing sector. We know the challenges are having a real impact on people's lives and on the nation as a whole. We understand the urgency and the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: Thank you very much, a Chathaoirligh. I also thank Senator Burke for his warm welcome. I look forward to working with them and their colleagues in Seanad Éireann. This is an important matter and I welcome the opportunity to outline the current position on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth. Over the past two decades Ireland has made significant progress in moving...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health on this important issue for the people of the mid-west region. He recognises that there are significant pressures at UHL. He and the Government have undertaken sustained investment in this hospital and in capacity across the entire mid-west region's health system. There are currently two MRI scanners...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Garvey and recognise the concerns she has raised on behalf of people in the mid-west region who are trying to access these essential services. I will bring the questions she raised back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and his officials. As already advised, significant capital investment has been made by the Government to expand the radiology department at...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Immigration Policy (8 May 2024)

Alan Dillon: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. As the Senator will be aware, the Attorney General provides legal advice to the Government and this advice is subject to legal professional privilege in the same way as the legal advice provided to a private client by any solicitor or barrister. The proper operation of...