Darragh O Brien said ( about John Moran ) : “I would like to take this opportunity to thank John for all his work on behalf of the LDA since his appointment in January 2019. John has played a key role in setting the strategic direction of the LDA, putting in place corporate governance structures for the organisation and overseeing the initial LDA projects and strategic initiatives. He has also performed a vital communications role in highlighting the central role that the LDA will play in delivering and implementing Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s plan to create sustainable communities and help reduce urban sprawl". "In particular, I would like to note the major contribution that John has made in developing the LDA’s regional city strategies and the various master-planning processes underway in our cities in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. In time, these processes will bear fruit in terms of balanced regional growth in Ireland. I know John is involved in other important initiatives and I wish him well in those ventures”

limerickleader Tuesday, April 13, 2021 3:01:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “It is vital that we continue to deliver the appropriate measures to ensure that all individuals experiencing homelessness are supported to exit into permanent housing solutions and that those with complex health and mental health needs are provided with the supports they need,”

thejournal Friday, April 2, 2021 2:56:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Any plans for the further advancement of this or any other proposed development for George’s Dock is a matter for Dublin City Council,”

dublinpeople Wednesday, March 31, 2021 9:13:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “My Department are currently making regulatory arrangements to facilitate new housing projects or new phases of housing projects, where commencement notices were submitted during the shutdown so that they can commence on site as promptly as possible,”

thejournal Wednesday, March 31, 2021 12:37:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien says : “I understand that point. That’s why I wanted at least some of the construction sector to open during this lockdown: I wanted data to show the impact of the decision,” “People can see the effect of it now. We’re down 800 homes per week. A family wrote to me to say they are building a house but currently they have to live in a mobile home on the site”

irishtimes Friday, March 26, 2021 3:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Any plans for the further advancement of this or any other proposed development for George’s Dock is a matter for Dublin City Council”

independent-ie Monday, March 22, 2021 12:13:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Waterways Ireland and the Local Authorities with Fáilte Ireland, have worked effectively to develop this Masterplan for the Shannon Region which will over the next 10 years, with the support of my Department, deliver a series of projects impacting on the economy and jobs whilst protecting and enhancing the valuable environmental, social and cultural values of the Shannon". "I welcome this launch, coming at a time when the tourism and hospitality industries need support to reboot and I look forward to working with my colleagues across government to support its implementation”

offalyexpress Monday, March 15, 2021 5:12:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “wildfires do not occur naturally in Ireland". "The main cause of such conflagrations is thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the emergency services, the local wildlife, habitat, communities or even private property close by”

leinsterexpress Tuesday, March 9, 2021 2:37:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said ( about River Shannon ) : “Waterways Ireland and the Local Authorities with Fáilte Ireland, have worked effectively to develop this Masterplan for the Shannon Region which will over the next 10 years, with the support of my Department, deliver a series of projects impacting on the economy and jobs whilst protecting and enhancing the valuable environmental, social and cultural values of the Shannon. I welcome this launch, coming at a time when the tourism and hospitality industries need support to reboot and I look forward to working with my colleagues across government to support its implementation”

longfordleader Tuesday, March 2, 2021 6:49:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "This revised programme will see a significant upscaling - from a ‘shallow’ to ‘deeper retrofit’ - on what has been completed by local authorities in previous years and will target 2,400 social homes in total for upgrade works in 2021. “We are being realistic in our initial allocation and taking account of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the works, which can take place. We are taking an equitable approach ensuring that allocations are calculated on the basis of the number of social housing units each local authority has, as a percentage of the overall national stock, as well as the ability of individual local authorities to complete the programme and draw down all funding in 2021. "

anglocelt Thursday, February 18, 2021 4:05:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “The other big piece [in the Bill] is around the Serviced Sites Fund…that we can develop affordable homes on State-owned land,”

thejournal Wednesday, February 17, 2021 1:58:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “we’re not setting any artificial timelines on this”

thejournal Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:34:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “We’re confident that we will be able to provide that certainty for people but I think setting a timeframe of Tuesday may not be helpful,” “If it happens by then, absolutely fine, but the priority for us is those students, many of whom have missed school last year and this year as well. We want to give that certainty and we will but we can only do that when we’ve agreement with our partners and the teachers,”

thejournal Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:34:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Rough sleepers are at the very sharp end of homelessness and are among the most vulnerable individuals in society. Rough sleeping is a persistent issue and is one that rightly demands a lot of attention and resources, especially during COVID-19. There should be a bed available for everyone who needs one. This was not always the case, but it is now and the Government has provided the resources to make sure that this is the case. Where issues have arisen and been brought to my attention, or where clarity was needed on the provision of emergency accommodation, I have acted as Minister. Nobody should be sleeping rough for want of a bed. Outreach teams have been enhanced and they operate into the night to interact with people on the street. They often have multiple engagements with individuals to encourage people to take up offers of a bed or to return to accommodation they may already have. I want to see this work continue, with the Government providing the necessary supports,"

irishsun Saturday, January 30, 2021 11:15:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "As part of our approach of using multiple policies across the short and long term to address the affordability crisis we are expanding direct state building of affordable homes to open up home ownership opportunities. This bill sets out a new legislative basis for direct state led construction of affordable homes for purchase”. The final details of the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity scheme are being advanced based on engagement with stakeholders and it is intended that when finalised it will be open to all new build homes, subject to regional price caps and targeted at first time buyers. Minister O’Brien said: “This is the first affordable housing scheme of its kind in Ireland. It is a specific and targeted measure to mitigate the affordability challenges faced by young working people, many of whom are caught in a rental trap. “The scheme will increase housing supply as it helps to improve viability by bridging the gap between the maximum mortgage that might be available to a household and the actual cost of a new home for ordinary income families. In Budget 2021 we have put aside an initial €75m for 2021 to start the scheme up and will boost this with additional private investment. “As a matter of course, when progressing a new scheme such as this, consultation takes place to examine potential range of consequences. My Department continues to work closely with stakeholders including partners in Government, the Housing Agency, pillar banks and our colleagues in the European Commission to advance this legislation,” he said. When finalised, the scheme will accommodate appropriate control mechanisms and it will be in accordance with Central Bank rules. Development of the scheme is informed by international practice for example in the UK where its scheme has increased supply by 14%. There is no obligation to repay the loan after a certain point until the house is sold but it will make financial sense for the owner to pay down the equity stake,"

donegaldemocrat Friday, January 22, 2021 2:06:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien concluded : “A ‘Call for Proposals’ to AHBs for the delivery of approximately 400 Cost Rental Homes, to be made available at a minimum 25% below open market values, has already been issued. Resulting homes will be used for Ireland’s first Cost Rental tenancies, a new sector of the rental market in which tenants pay rent that covers the costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes only,”

donegaldemocrat Friday, January 22, 2021 2:06:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Where they can be made public, they should be. I haven’t, and I don’t have any difficulty with that. I think we need to make sure that we, that our standards are the best they possibly can be"

leinsterexpress Monday, January 18, 2021 9:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Where they can be made public, they should be. I haven’t, and I don’t have any difficulty with that. I think we need to make sure that we, that our standards are the best they possibly can be"

dundalkdemocrat Monday, January 18, 2021 3:20:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Where they can be made public, they should be. I haven’t, and I don’t have any difficulty with that. I think we need to make sure that we, that our standards are the best they possibly can be"

longfordleader Monday, January 18, 2021 3:09:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “I believe the number of applications and permissions to date are comparatively high in the international context. Given the unprecedented nature of these developments, I have concerns that the scale of the developments is moving away from the niche quantity of units the concept originally aimed for to a significantly larger role in the housing system,” “I also believe the location of a substantial number of the potential co-living sites is not in keeping with the high density urban centres originally envisaged and that inappropriate locations away from the core city centre have undermined the concept”

thejournal Wednesday, January 13, 2021 10:35:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien added : “This is a clear demonstration of the government’s support for our fire service and the work they do in protecting people, communities, property and local infrastructure from fire and emergency situations,”

agriland Friday, January 1, 2021 6:07:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Now is the time to do it,”

thejournal Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “These are people above the social welfare threshold and who are working, and the rent will be a minimum, and I say a minimum, 25% below market price, with a long term lease. So this is a whole new model of housing delivery,”

thejournal Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Some will in 2021… but we need to accelerate the delivery fast, so I’m making some changes in this bill that I got approved today to the service sites fund, to make it easier for councils to deliver affordable homes,”

thejournal Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “I believe the number of applications and permissions to date are comparatively high in the international context. Given the unprecedented nature of these developments, I have concerns that the scale of the developments is moving away from the niche quantity of units the concept originally aimed for to a significantly larger role in the housing system,” “I also believe the location of a substantial number of the potential co-living sites is not in keeping with the high density urban centres originally envisaged and that inappropriate locations away from the core city centre have undermined the concept”

thejournal Monday, November 23, 2020 2:42:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes in their areas”

thejournal Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:41:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “My department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding,”

thejournal Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:41:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “This new Bill will ensure that in future, where severe restrictions on peoples’ movement are imposed, these protections would automatically kick in”

thejournal Friday, October 23, 2020 6:56:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020, which came into effect on 1 August, already protects tenants experiencing rent arrears due to Covid-19 from evictions and rent increases up to 10 January 2021. The protections under that Act apply nationwide, subject to the tenant making an appropriate declaration,” “This new Residential Tenancies Bill is now needed to protect all tenants from eviction while their movement is severely restricted. These protections will apply any time that severe restrictions are placed on people’s movement”

thejournal Friday, October 23, 2020 6:56:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said ( about John Moran ) : “I would like to take this opportunity to thank John for all his work on behalf of the LDA since his appointment in January 2019. John has played a key role in setting the strategic direction of the LDA, putting in place corporate governance structures for the organisation and overseeing the initial LDA projects and strategic initiatives. He has also performed a vital communications role in highlighting the central role that the LDA will play in delivering and implementing Project Ireland 2040, the Government’s plan to create sustainable communities and help reduce urban sprawl". "In particular, I would like to note the major contribution that John has made in developing the LDA’s regional city strategies and the various master-planning processes underway in our cities in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. In time, these processes will bear fruit in terms of balanced regional growth in Ireland. I know John is involved in other important initiatives and I wish him well in those ventures”

limerickleader Tuesday, April 13, 2021 3:01:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “It is vital that we continue to deliver the appropriate measures to ensure that all individuals experiencing homelessness are supported to exit into permanent housing solutions and that those with complex health and mental health needs are provided with the supports they need,”

thejournal Friday, April 2, 2021 2:56:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Any plans for the further advancement of this or any other proposed development for George’s Dock is a matter for Dublin City Council,”

dublinpeople Wednesday, March 31, 2021 9:13:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “My Department are currently making regulatory arrangements to facilitate new housing projects or new phases of housing projects, where commencement notices were submitted during the shutdown so that they can commence on site as promptly as possible,”

thejournal Wednesday, March 31, 2021 12:37:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien says : “I understand that point. That’s why I wanted at least some of the construction sector to open during this lockdown: I wanted data to show the impact of the decision,” “People can see the effect of it now. We’re down 800 homes per week. A family wrote to me to say they are building a house but currently they have to live in a mobile home on the site”

irishtimes Friday, March 26, 2021 3:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Any plans for the further advancement of this or any other proposed development for George’s Dock is a matter for Dublin City Council”

independent-ie Monday, March 22, 2021 12:13:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Waterways Ireland and the Local Authorities with Fáilte Ireland, have worked effectively to develop this Masterplan for the Shannon Region which will over the next 10 years, with the support of my Department, deliver a series of projects impacting on the economy and jobs whilst protecting and enhancing the valuable environmental, social and cultural values of the Shannon". "I welcome this launch, coming at a time when the tourism and hospitality industries need support to reboot and I look forward to working with my colleagues across government to support its implementation”

offalyexpress Monday, March 15, 2021 5:12:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “wildfires do not occur naturally in Ireland". "The main cause of such conflagrations is thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the emergency services, the local wildlife, habitat, communities or even private property close by”

leinsterexpress Tuesday, March 9, 2021 2:37:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said ( about River Shannon ) : “Waterways Ireland and the Local Authorities with Fáilte Ireland, have worked effectively to develop this Masterplan for the Shannon Region which will over the next 10 years, with the support of my Department, deliver a series of projects impacting on the economy and jobs whilst protecting and enhancing the valuable environmental, social and cultural values of the Shannon. I welcome this launch, coming at a time when the tourism and hospitality industries need support to reboot and I look forward to working with my colleagues across government to support its implementation”

longfordleader Tuesday, March 2, 2021 6:49:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "This revised programme will see a significant upscaling - from a ‘shallow’ to ‘deeper retrofit’ - on what has been completed by local authorities in previous years and will target 2,400 social homes in total for upgrade works in 2021. “We are being realistic in our initial allocation and taking account of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the works, which can take place. We are taking an equitable approach ensuring that allocations are calculated on the basis of the number of social housing units each local authority has, as a percentage of the overall national stock, as well as the ability of individual local authorities to complete the programme and draw down all funding in 2021. "

anglocelt Thursday, February 18, 2021 4:05:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “The other big piece [in the Bill] is around the Serviced Sites Fund…that we can develop affordable homes on State-owned land,”

thejournal Wednesday, February 17, 2021 1:58:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “we’re not setting any artificial timelines on this”

thejournal Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:34:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “We’re confident that we will be able to provide that certainty for people but I think setting a timeframe of Tuesday may not be helpful,” “If it happens by then, absolutely fine, but the priority for us is those students, many of whom have missed school last year and this year as well. We want to give that certainty and we will but we can only do that when we’ve agreement with our partners and the teachers,”

thejournal Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:34:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Rough sleepers are at the very sharp end of homelessness and are among the most vulnerable individuals in society. Rough sleeping is a persistent issue and is one that rightly demands a lot of attention and resources, especially during COVID-19. There should be a bed available for everyone who needs one. This was not always the case, but it is now and the Government has provided the resources to make sure that this is the case. Where issues have arisen and been brought to my attention, or where clarity was needed on the provision of emergency accommodation, I have acted as Minister. Nobody should be sleeping rough for want of a bed. Outreach teams have been enhanced and they operate into the night to interact with people on the street. They often have multiple engagements with individuals to encourage people to take up offers of a bed or to return to accommodation they may already have. I want to see this work continue, with the Government providing the necessary supports,"

irishsun Saturday, January 30, 2021 11:15:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "As part of our approach of using multiple policies across the short and long term to address the affordability crisis we are expanding direct state building of affordable homes to open up home ownership opportunities. This bill sets out a new legislative basis for direct state led construction of affordable homes for purchase”. The final details of the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity scheme are being advanced based on engagement with stakeholders and it is intended that when finalised it will be open to all new build homes, subject to regional price caps and targeted at first time buyers. Minister O’Brien said: “This is the first affordable housing scheme of its kind in Ireland. It is a specific and targeted measure to mitigate the affordability challenges faced by young working people, many of whom are caught in a rental trap. “The scheme will increase housing supply as it helps to improve viability by bridging the gap between the maximum mortgage that might be available to a household and the actual cost of a new home for ordinary income families. In Budget 2021 we have put aside an initial €75m for 2021 to start the scheme up and will boost this with additional private investment. “As a matter of course, when progressing a new scheme such as this, consultation takes place to examine potential range of consequences. My Department continues to work closely with stakeholders including partners in Government, the Housing Agency, pillar banks and our colleagues in the European Commission to advance this legislation,” he said. When finalised, the scheme will accommodate appropriate control mechanisms and it will be in accordance with Central Bank rules. Development of the scheme is informed by international practice for example in the UK where its scheme has increased supply by 14%. There is no obligation to repay the loan after a certain point until the house is sold but it will make financial sense for the owner to pay down the equity stake,"

donegaldemocrat Friday, January 22, 2021 2:06:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien concluded : “A ‘Call for Proposals’ to AHBs for the delivery of approximately 400 Cost Rental Homes, to be made available at a minimum 25% below open market values, has already been issued. Resulting homes will be used for Ireland’s first Cost Rental tenancies, a new sector of the rental market in which tenants pay rent that covers the costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes only,”

donegaldemocrat Friday, January 22, 2021 2:06:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Where they can be made public, they should be. I haven’t, and I don’t have any difficulty with that. I think we need to make sure that we, that our standards are the best they possibly can be"

leinsterexpress Monday, January 18, 2021 9:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Where they can be made public, they should be. I haven’t, and I don’t have any difficulty with that. I think we need to make sure that we, that our standards are the best they possibly can be"

dundalkdemocrat Monday, January 18, 2021 3:20:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : "Where they can be made public, they should be. I haven’t, and I don’t have any difficulty with that. I think we need to make sure that we, that our standards are the best they possibly can be"

longfordleader Monday, January 18, 2021 3:09:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “I believe the number of applications and permissions to date are comparatively high in the international context. Given the unprecedented nature of these developments, I have concerns that the scale of the developments is moving away from the niche quantity of units the concept originally aimed for to a significantly larger role in the housing system,” “I also believe the location of a substantial number of the potential co-living sites is not in keeping with the high density urban centres originally envisaged and that inappropriate locations away from the core city centre have undermined the concept”

thejournal Wednesday, January 13, 2021 10:35:00 AM EAT

Darragh O Brien added : “This is a clear demonstration of the government’s support for our fire service and the work they do in protecting people, communities, property and local infrastructure from fire and emergency situations,”

agriland Friday, January 1, 2021 6:07:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Now is the time to do it,”

thejournal Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “These are people above the social welfare threshold and who are working, and the rent will be a minimum, and I say a minimum, 25% below market price, with a long term lease. So this is a whole new model of housing delivery,”

thejournal Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “Some will in 2021… but we need to accelerate the delivery fast, so I’m making some changes in this bill that I got approved today to the service sites fund, to make it easier for councils to deliver affordable homes,”

thejournal Thursday, December 24, 2020 10:31:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “I believe the number of applications and permissions to date are comparatively high in the international context. Given the unprecedented nature of these developments, I have concerns that the scale of the developments is moving away from the niche quantity of units the concept originally aimed for to a significantly larger role in the housing system,” “I also believe the location of a substantial number of the potential co-living sites is not in keeping with the high density urban centres originally envisaged and that inappropriate locations away from the core city centre have undermined the concept”

thejournal Monday, November 23, 2020 2:42:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “in accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes in their areas”

thejournal Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:41:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “My department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding,”

thejournal Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:41:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “This new Bill will ensure that in future, where severe restrictions on peoples’ movement are imposed, these protections would automatically kick in”

thejournal Friday, October 23, 2020 6:56:00 PM EAT

Darragh O Brien said : “The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020, which came into effect on 1 August, already protects tenants experiencing rent arrears due to Covid-19 from evictions and rent increases up to 10 January 2021. The protections under that Act apply nationwide, subject to the tenant making an appropriate declaration,” “This new Residential Tenancies Bill is now needed to protect all tenants from eviction while their movement is severely restricted. These protections will apply any time that severe restrictions are placed on people’s movement”

thejournal Friday, October 23, 2020 6:56:00 PM EAT