Results 361-380 of 8,310 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: In January 2025 my Department received a Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) application from Wicklow County council on behalf of Tuath AHB for the development of 17 units at Parnell Court, Bray, Co. Wicklow. On 2 May 2025, my Department communicated with Wicklow County Council that they are unable to approve the proposed development due to the high costs of the proposed design and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The development of Blueways in Ireland to date has been led by a range of organisations including Waterways Ireland. Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The detailed information requested in relation to Blueways projects...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department's current Multi-annual Rural Water Programme covers the period up to the end of 2026. Under this cycle of the Programme, funding of more than €45 million is approved in principle for seven projects under measure A8 as a funding contribution to local authorities for projects to address the wastewater collection and treatment needs for villages without access to public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Valuation Office (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Valuation Tribunal is the independent statutory body with responsibility for hearing appeals against decisions of Tailte Éireann on the valuation and revaluation of commercial and industrial properties for rating purposes. As the Valuation Tribunal is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions, my Department does not hold the information requested in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) applies to land zoned for residential development, or for mixed use purposes including residential development and which is ‘vacant or idle’, which in both cases also has the necessary services in place to support the development of housing. The tax was introduced in the Finance Act 2021 and came into effect on 1 February 2025. The aim of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 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 persons...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities are empowered under a number of statutes to acquire land, by agreement or compulsorily, for the purposes of performing any of their functions. My Department does not hold data in respect of CPO applications made generally, apart from CPOs related to the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Specifically, the number of derelict sites acquired within their functional area by local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: There are currently eight staff assigned to my Department's Vacant Homes Unit, broken down by grade as follows. Grade No. Principal Officer 1 Assistant Principal Officer 2 Administrative Officer 1 Higher Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer 1 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: 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: Housing Schemes (3 Jul 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 Cork City Council. My Department is continuing to provide substantial financial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding provides up to 100% capital funding to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the construction and targeted acquisition of housing for priority needs categories to include homelessness, persons with a disability, age-friendly and care leavers. Funding provided under the CAS programme to AHBs in each of the past five years is set out in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Planning Framework (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: On 20 June 2023, Government gave approval to commence the process of undertaking the First Revision of the National Planning Framework. The National Planning Framework (NPF), is the whole-of-Government strategy for strategic planning and sustainable development of our urban and rural areas to 2040, with the core objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (3 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (2 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The local authority Development Plan is the principal planning strategy document which sets out the relevant policies and objectives to guide the physical development of each city and county over a six-year period and is required to be consistent with the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The Revised NPF was approved by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (2 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The detailed information requested in relation to the proposal to extend the Shannon Navigation from Lough Allen to Dowra is not held in my Department. However, arrangements have been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (2 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Decisions on the qualification of households for social housing support, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (2 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Corncrake LIFE is a five year (2021-2026) €5.9m project improving the conservation status of one of Ireland’s most iconic farmland bird species. Led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department, in collaboration with project partners, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Fota Wildlife Park, Atlantic Technological University and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wild Fires (2 Jul 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 Act 1981 & 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (2 Jul 2025)

James Browne: In line with a commitment in Housing for All, a review of the Private Rental Market was undertaken by my Department and published in July 2024. One of its recommendations was that a comprehensive examination of the current RPZ system should be undertaken. The key focus of the review, which was undertaken by the Housing Agency, was to assess the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (2 Jul 2025)

James Browne: There is currently no such obligation on any party, namely, Landlords, Local Authorities or Tenants to engage with the tenant-in-situ scheme.