Results 281-300 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 809 and 829 together. The drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill is progressing. Various issues requiring legal advice are under consideration. The Bill is included in the Government Legislation Summer Programme 2025 and I intend to seek Government approval to publish shortly. Subject to this approval, the General Scheme will be made...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 811 and 812 together. The Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. The revised NPF recognises that investment in high quality, affordable early learning and childcare is critical both as an educational support for children, and as an enabler of parental labour market participation. National...

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

James Browne: In keeping with the aims of the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) demonstrates a tailored approach to the provision of Government support for urban development projects. Over its planned duration to 2030, URDF funding support in excess of €2 billion will be targeted to support the regeneration and development of...

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

James Browne: The main objective of the is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the Building Regulations in the construction sector which will benefit consumers and the general public. The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) was appointed in January 2023 as the statutory registration body for the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI). The...

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

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is progressing this matter and will proceed with all the required investigative works prior to the award of contract. It has engaged locally with representatives of the relevant stakeholders and positive discussions about the issues have taken place. The scale of the works are significant, and made more complex by the site location being within...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) plays a vital role in safeguarding Ireland's marine environment. This includes responsibilities such as designating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)*, conserving marine habitats and species under EU directives, and overseeing licensing and research activities related to marine biodiversity. Some 580 staff are employed in the NPWS, of whom 549 are...

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

James Browne: The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. This is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness, and that unquestionably must be the priority for all local authorities including Fingal County Council. My Department is continuing to providing substantial...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 865 together. The Programme for Government commits to a new national housing plan to underpin delivery of more than 300,000 houses between 2025 and end 2030, including delivery of an average of 12,000 and 15,000 social and starter homes per annum over the period. Work to translate these national targets to local authority, tenure-specific targets...

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

James Browne: My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q4 2024 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link:...

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

James Browne: On 15 October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. This Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for future needs. It sets out 14 high-level actions that provide a coordinated pathway to ensure a...

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

James Browne: The matter raised is one in which, in my role as Minister with responsibility for Housing, Planning and Local Government, I have no statutory function. Local authorities have no role in the regulation of commercial drone operations. This is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), which is under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Transport, whose Department has responsibility...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 860 together. Cost Rental housing is a key tool in the Government's efforts to make rents more affordable and renting more secure. It is a new form of tenure in Ireland, established in 2021, where the tenant pays a rent which is set to cover the cost of delivering, managing, and maintaining the home. Cost Rental is targeted at people within the...

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

James Browne: A contribution towards relevant education and training programmes at QQI Level 6 and higher is only one of a number of supports available to elected members to assist them in carrying out their role. Councillors can also avail of allowances including for conferences, seminars and training by recognised bodies in order to enhance their knowledge and skills. Councillors are not employees of...

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

James Browne: The Marine Protected Areas Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. It is intended to finalise this draft as soon as possible and seek government approval to publish the Bill this year. This draft Bill is intended to be a Bill in its own right and is not amending legislation. It will need revision to reflect new Ministerial responsibilities and transfers of functions between Departments...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí is Ireland’s eighth and largest National Park, with more than 77,000 acres of lands and seas in public ownership included within its boundaries. The Páírc brings together a suite of renowned sites of iconic natural, cultural and archaeological value centred around Corca Dhuibhne, the Dingle peninsula and nearby Kerry...

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

James Browne: The functions of my Department are broad and complex, and following Government formation earlier this year, there is now an additional Minister of State assigned to the Department. We are working collaboratively with other Government Departments on Transfers of Functions arising from the formation of the Government. The process of assessing which specific functions and responsibilities...

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

James Browne: In line with the Programme for Government, the Government is fully committed to delivering social and affordable housing at scale, and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. The Government’s ambition is to build on the progress made to date under Housing for All, and deliver over 300,000 homes in the period from 2025 to 2030 equating to an annual average of over...

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

James Browne: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross...

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

James Browne: The Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. The revised NPF recognises that investment in high quality, affordable early learning and childcare is critical both as an educational support for children, and as an enabler of parental labour market participation. Ensuring an appropriate supply of early learning and childcare is an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Land Development Agency (LDA) is a statutory body under the aegis of my Department and in line with section 12(4) of the Land Development Agency Act 2021 is independent in the performance of its functions. Arrangements have been put in place by my Department to ensure that public bodies under it aegis have a dedicated email address in place to facilitate the provision of information...