Results 481-500 of 23,871 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The 2022 Act sets out the role of the Housing Agency who act as agents on behalf of the local authorities under the terms of the Scheme. Once a home has met the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Official Engagements (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Consultations (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (1 Oct 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 from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department does not generally keep a record of the qualifications held by staff members, and accordingly there may be staff working in various roles in the Department who are qualified Conservation Architects but who have applied for different positions. However, please see the table below which sets out in FTE terms, the number of staff working as Architects as of the 31st August 2024....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Oct 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 most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2023, is available on my Department's website at In relation to the number of households on the social housing lists...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (1 Oct 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 (1 Oct 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Louth County Council has already delivered their first local authority led affordable purchase scheme. My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the Housing Agency, is continuing to advise and support Louth in developing further affordable housing schemes that are well-aligned with the local housing market...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Union (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Gweedore waste water treatment was originally included in proceedings against Ireland taken by the European Commission but this was withdrawn in 2017. In July 2022 Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Donegal County Council, completed an innovative project for waste water treatment in Gweedore. This new scheme will ultimately lead to a reduction in the reliance on septic tanks in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As provided for in the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019, the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. AHBRA is an independent body tasked with providing the regulation of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the purposes of protecting housing assets provided or managed by such bodies. The register of AHBs...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Solar Energy Guidelines (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is the case that, as with the large 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 as other proposed developments, with planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Generally social housing rents are linked a tenant’s income. My Department provides a range of funding streams, through local authorities, to assist Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) with the delivery of social housing, examples of which include the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) with a Payment and Availability Agreement, or the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). The Capital Loan...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to cover the period 2024 to 2026. The overall purpose of the MARWP is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available. An Expert Panel is currently looking at...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (26 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: In January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to cover the period 2024 to 2026. The overall purpose of the MARWP is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available. An Expert Panel is currently looking at...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators. It is good to be back with them again today. A comment was made concerning rushing this legislation or there having been no consultation on it and this being an attack on democracy. I again put on the record of the House that this Bill was approved by the Government in December 2022, published in January 2023 and underwent widespread consultation and pre-legislative...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sorry. I listened to-----

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I actually did listen to the Senator. I respect the points she has raised and I will endeavour to address them. I cannot, however, leave a charge she has made unanswered. I think it is appropriate that I give my opinion whether the Senator agrees with it or not. It is not just my opinion; there are the facts here too. We have had nearly 200 hours of debate in the Oireachtas on this...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have addressed them. I could actually-----

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.