Local Minister Darragh O’Brien TD has committed to setting up a working group to examine potential solutions for homeowners impacted by construction defects.
Minister O’Brien said the working group, made up of officials, stakeholders and those whose homes have been affected, will seek to establish how widespread the issues are. He said, “Having met with homeowners impacted by construction defects - some to a major extent, I know that it is a major problem that we need to get a handle of. I will be meeting with the Construction Defects Alliance later this month to further discuss this issue. “The programme for government commits to examining options for those impacted within the first 12 months and this is an issue which crosses a number of Departments and will require collaboration. “I know Minister Helen McEntee has also committed to bringing forward law reform to improve the legal remedies for homeowners who are dealing with defects and there is also a provision in the Programme for Government to identify options for those impacted by defects, to access lowcost, long-term finance. “I have asked officials in my Department to draw up a terms of reference for a working group. I look forward to the working group beginning their task and once the options and recommendations are made, the Government will then decide on the best course of action,” concluded Minister O’Brien. Voids Stimulus Programme to bring 238 units back into social housing stock in Dublin Fingal15/9/2020
Local Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, has praised Fingal County Council for their response to the 2020 Voids Stimulus Programme.
As part of the July Stimulus Minister O’Brien announced over €40 million for the refurbishment of voids, the largest single amount ever announced under the voids programme. Nationally 2,398 applications from Local Authorities across Ireland have been approved at a cost of €39.8 million, with further applications anticipated. Fingal County Council has been allocated €3,125,215 which will go towards the refurbishment of 238 voids which will then be re-let to individuals and families, struggling with homelessness or on the social housing list. Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I am very glad to see such an uptake in the scheme and at such a swift pace. The Department is now in a position to approve applications and Fingal County Council can get to work in bringing vacant social housing units back into use. “I have made it very clear that I want to see works carried out and all units allocated by the end of this year and local authorities will be providing status updates to the Department. “We know that COVID-19 has had an impact on housing delivery targets this year so the refurbishment and re-letting of voids is vitally important. I would like to thank Fingal County Council for their engagement with this programme and urge them to refurbish and re-let their units as soon as possible,” he concluded. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien has reconvened the High Level Homelessness Taskforce this week. The Taskforce, established immediately following Minister O’Brien’s appointment, reconvened this morning, and will continue to meet weekly to input on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government (PfG).
Commenting on reports that a man believed to be homeless had been killed overnight in Dublin 8, Minister O’Brien said, “As we reconvened our homelessness taskforce this morning our thoughts were with the man killed under horrific circumstances last night in Kilmainham. This is now a matter for investigation by the Gardaí and I would urge anyone with information to please come forward.” Minister O’Brien continued, “Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for this Government. In the PfG we have committed to reducing and preventing homelessness and to delivering immediate solutions. “The High Level Homelessness Taskforce has met a number of times already and I have found the meetings extremely beneficial and solution driven. As we approach the Winter, while still navigating through COVID-19, protecting those who are experiencing homelessness is one of our key priorities. “Key to the COVID-19 response is the ongoing and close collaboration between local authorities, their NGO service delivery partners and the HSE. The provision of health and mental health supports in general is of particular importance and I recently met with Minister Donnelly on the need for strong collaboration between our two Departments. “My Department is working to ensure that the individuals in emergency accommodation are protected from the threat of COVID-19 while simultaneously seeking long-term housing solutions. We are focussed on measures to help rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation and to reduce single adult homelessness through increasing the delivery of one-bedroom homes. In July a ‘Call for Housing’ issued with a particular emphasis on the need for one beds and the void refurbishment scheme will mean 2,500 additional social homes will be allocated this year. “This morning the Task Force also considered measures to address long-term family homelessness. While the numbers of families in emergency accommodation has fallen by over 25% since February, we need to support all families in emergency accommodation to find a home. “Increasing the supply of housing is essential to resolve homelessness, but in the here and now a wider range of interventions are required to deliver solutions for many of the people experiencing homelessness. “The weekly meetings with those on the frontline of homelessness services, the people who are dealing with it each day, will help to drive solutions and inform decisions. I thank the group for their dedication and their time,” concluded Minister O’Brien. Local Minister Darragh O’Brien TD has welcomed the strong commitment given by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that the establishment of a National Food Ombudsman is an immediate priority.
Minister O’Brien said, “I was very glad to see Minister McConalogue, in his first week in the portfolio, give a clear commitment to establish a National Food Ombudsman as a matter of priority. I know this will be of major benefit to many of our food producers here in North County Dublin. “It’s something which I have been raising for a number of years now and in my time in Seanad Éireann I submitted amendments to the 2014 Competition and Consumer Protection Bill seeking the establishment of an Ombudsman to oversee fairness and transparency in the agri-food industry. “The Programme for Government commits to establishing a National Food Ombudsman which will be empowered to oversee the relationship between retailers, wholesalers and their suppliers, including the primary producer thus ensuring a more transparent and equitable food supply chain. “A fair return for primary producers is pivotal to the long-term survival of the industry. I want food producers here in Dublin Fingal to be protected. We need to see equity and transparency in the food chain. A National Food Ombudsman will be able to oversee and enforce this and that is to be welcomed,” concluded Minister O’Brien. €1,974,000 allocated to CHO 9
Local Fianna Fáil Minister Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the allocation of almost €2 million to CHO 9 which will go towards clearing the backlog for children’s Assessment of Needs and supporting the roll out of Children’s Disability Network Teams. Nationally €7.8m was announced with €1,974,000 being allocated to CHO 9 which takes in Dublin North, Dublin North Central & Dublin North West. Minister O’Brien said, “I’m very glad to see this allocation. It was a clear commitment in the Programme for Government that this issue be dealt with as quickly as possible. “Having highlighted the unacceptable delays in assessments of needs for children in Fingal many times over the years I know this will be a relief to many parents and children. “The allocation will go towards clinicians working overtime at weekends and evenings, vacant posts being filled, additional staff recruited and private assessments procured. “No child should have to wait for an assessment of needs, something which is needed so that they can access further care and supports and once these backlogs have been cleared I would expect that the HSE will meet its statutory obligations for all new referrals,” concluded Minister O’Brien. |
NEWSArchives
November 2023
|