Results 261-280 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: My Department currently funds multi-year programmes of social housing regeneration projects. As set out in the Programme for Government my Department is working on updating the current regeneration strategy (circular N11/2007 Policy Framework for Regeneration of Local Authority Estates) to ensure that focus, resources and funding is available to Local Authorities for the acceleration of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Total expenditure from the CAS budget on domestic violence refuges in 2024 was €3,770,611 with the expenditure on such refuges in 2025 estimated to be c€4.5 million. The additional cost of increasing this expenditure by 25%, 50% and 100% would be €1.125 million, €2.25 million and €4.5 million respectively. Currently there are eighteen priority areas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: There are currently three defects remediation schemes operating; namely, the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, and the Interim Remediation Scheme. The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme applies to the owners of dwellings located in Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo which are damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks containing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 784, 785, 786, 787 and 788 together. The relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 791 and 810 together. The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment which is being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The scheme is now open to applications in five counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 795 together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 and 821 together. A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: There are currently 8 (7.5 WTE) staff serving in my Department's Vacant Homes Unit.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need, including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. For 2025, Government has increased the funding available for second hand social housing acquisitions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damage by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The scheme facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks. The grant awarded to an applicant under the Scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 801 and 842 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The 2011 Social Housing Regulations, as amended, contain the statutory basis under which local connection is determined. Under regulation 5, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only (the “housing authority of application”), which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or where the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damage by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities in the first instance and their role is set out clearly in the 2022 Act. Local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process. In order for a borrower to qualify for the MTR scheme, the mortgage, property, and household, must all meet detailed eligibility criteria, one of which is that the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 806, 845, 851 and 868 together. At present, the Minister for Justice and his Department continue to have responsibility for the oversight of Owner Management Companies. Under the Programme for Government my Department will take responsibility for the Multi-Unit Development Acts to streamline support for owners’ management companies and improve...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department provides funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. Projects supported through this fund cover a range of biodiversity related activities, including hedgerow work, invasive alien...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market. In this regard, supply has increased significantly over the last five years, with almost 140,000 new homes delivered since the beginning of 2020. From the launch of Housing for All to the end of Q4 2024, nearly 13,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered alongside schemes such as the...