Results 1-20 of 11,316 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. 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 is available where the property is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (6 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 92 and 93 together. The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 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: Homeless Accommodation (6 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. A homelessness...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Cork Event Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. The Government decision of 22 October...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Investment in water and waste water services in the State is delivered through the national utility, Uisce Éireann. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 provided for over €243 million funding over the period 2021 to 2025 for non-Uisce Éireann investment in rural water infrastructure and services. My Department’s Multi-Annual Rural Water Rural Water Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Records inform that there are no applications for refurbishment funding currently with my Department for approval for the organisation referenced.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: House Prices (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department published the Total Development Cost report in September 2024. This study provides a complete overview of development costs including construction costs and soft costs. It defines soft costs as being made up of a range of indirect costs which are incurred in the process of development and can include indirect costs including statutory fees, professional fees, finance and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Development Contributions (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541, 579 and 610 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 361 of 15 October 2024, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Support from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to deliver affordable purchase and cost rental homes where an affordable housing need is evidenced. Approvals for funding are now in place to support delivery of over 4,300 affordable homes by 21 local authorities. Mayo County Council has AHF approval to support the delivery of 13 affordable purchase homes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Expenditure (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political financing and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of inter-related issues such as, among other matters, the reimbursement of election expenses; the establishment of election expenditure limits and the disclosure of election expenditure. Under section 3 of the Electoral Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Under electoral law, postal voting is available for a number of different categories of people including the following: whole-time members of the Defence Forces, members of An Garda Síochána, Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, electors living at home who are unable to vote because of an illness or a disability, electors whose occupation, service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As part of its ongoing workforce planning processes my Department keeps staffing matters under constant review in order to ensure all priority vacancies are filled in a timely manner and that resource allocations are balanced across the Department to meet key priorities as necessary. My Department's latest round of formal workforce planning will get under way in the coming months following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Through Housing for All (September 2021) and the two annual updated action plans (November 2022, November 2023, respectively), the Government has set out its plan to address housing, bringing forward a range of short, medium and long-term actions to stimulate housing supply. Croí Cónaithe (Cities), the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) Investment Scheme, and Project Tosaigh,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 554 together. The Interim Remediation Scheme for the funding of eligible emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes has been in place since December 2023. The Scheme, which is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications from apartment Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs) via the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023 provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the temporary use by or on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to accommodate or support displaced persons or persons seeking international protection and set out the class of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I refer to the reply to Question No. 430 of 22 October 2024, which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: The 2024 Framework Implementation Plan provides for the various options available to existing Local Authority Water Services employees, including reassignment to suitable vacancies in other local authority service areas. I understand that Kerry County Council, similar to other local authorities, is currently engaging with the representative union in relation to terms and conditions of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Development Projects (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department currently supports a programme of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Dublin and Cork These regeneration projects target the country’s most disadvantaged communities, and seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. The Limerick Regeneration Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (5 Nov 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Through the 15 recommendations set out in the report which have been accepted by Government, an evidence-based coastal change management strategy facilitating key decisions to be taken to address and manage...