Results 1,101-1,120 of 14,657 for speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Just so I am clear, in addition to the testimony we heard earlier, I can testify directly to the committee that I deal with cases from a number of local authorities where people who do not have a social housing eligibility but do have an emergency accommodation need are at times initially refused. We have to fight the refusal and eventually we might have it overturned. People may come to us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: That is why I said in and of itself not having an active social housing file would not be a ground to refuse. Obviously there may be other grounds such as income or access to alternative properties. In case Ms Neary feels left out, I have two questions on Part 4 because this is really important, if that is okay Chair?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: This question is for Ms Neary or Mr. Kelly, whoever is most appropriate. In terms of the explicit powers for the Minister to prevent a building from being used, it might be useful to articulate that to the committee in summary form. My second question concerns the following: "The amendments also provide a legal remedy for the uncommon situation whereby works have commenced or been completed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: How will it function? The current situation is that if somebody allows a building to be occupied without a completion certificate he or she can be prosecuted, and on securing a conviction there is a pretty hefty fine or custodial sentence. I think it is a sentence of up to six months and a fine of up to €10,000. This would be for each individual breach of this aspect of the Act....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: So the Minister could prosecute if the planning authority does not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Basically it is just putting the statutory instrument on a primary legislative footing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: What is the benefit of this? I am not against anything that strengthens building control.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: This is very helpful. On Ms Neary's final point, the briefing note speaks about there being no process of rectifying an oversight or error at present. The two words used are "oversight" and "error". The opening statement of the Department spoke about either "act" or "omission". I much prefer the language in the briefing note because it would mean, for example, if I was able to demonstrate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: It is important that we have very effective building control sections. Dublin City Council in particular has a very strong building control section, as Ms Neary knows. It would be a real shame if, by virtue of a sensible regularisation function, we undermined the ability of building control sections to take robust action against those people who are wilfully abusing the system. If there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: This would be for the extreme cases.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: I know I am speaking about real-life cases but if we take the case of Larkfield House one thing the developer has been able to do, and this is a matter of public record, is use the planning permission retention process to prolong the period under which the building is illegally occupied. As Ms Neary knows, it has been fully occupied since 2018. This has created a mechanism by which through...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: If a local authority building control section wanted to proceed to prosecution, this would not in any way limit its ability to do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: In fact, it could do them in parallel. It could be regularising the building and prosecuting for bad behaviour.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: Is Mr. Kelly saying that it is not the Department's intention nor Government's intention to restrict access to social housing support as a consequence of these rules being put into primary legislation? So the system should make the same types of decisions albeit on a statutory basis rather than a circular basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Eoin Ó Broin: They do.