Results 541-560 of 8,310 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Correspondence (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department has received no correspondence relating to the ratification and circulation of the National Planning Framework from either the chief executive of Roscommon County Council or Galway County Council as of 27 June 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Tenant in Situ Scheme was introduced in 2023 and was operated at that time as set out in Circular 08/2023, Arrangements for Social Housing Acquisitions in 2023. The programme was developed and implemented to provide consistent and clear support to individual LA's in their approach to acquiring properties in line with the parameters and operation of the Circular. I am not aware of any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: In 2023, with the introduction of the Tenant in Situ Scheme, a steering group was established to embed the process within local authorities and monitor progress. Tenant in situ requirements are now well established within local authorities and the work of the steering group is now managed by the Social Housing Investment Programme teams within my Department. The individual teams work directly...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: On 10 June 2025, the Government approved stronger tenancy protections rent controls as part of a suite of measures to boost the supply of new homes and secure and grow the availability of rental accommodation. The proposals announced by Government will apply to tenancies created (i.e. first time tenancies between parties) from 1 March 2026. With the exception of new build apartments,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Commission (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Chapter 7 of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 provides for the review of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies by An Coimisiún Toghcháin while Chapter 8 of Part 2 of the Act sets out the framework for future reviews of local electoral areas also by An Coimisiún Toghcháin. In the case of reviews to Dáil and European Parliament constituencies,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock, which will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is a rolling process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to vacant local authority owned homes is not routinely collated by my Department. Notwithstanding that, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Communications (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: A list of the email and phone numbers for the key offices within my Department is available on my Department's website at this link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-governm ent-and-heritage/organisation-information/contact-the-dept-o f-housing-local-government-and-heritage/  Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: On 10 June 2025, the Government approved stronger tenancy protections and greater certainty for the rental sector, including the introduction of a national rent control, as part of a suite of measures to boost the supply of new homes and secure and grow the availability of rental accommodation. For new tenancies (i.e. first time tenancy between parties) created from 1 March 2026, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (1 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 and Cork County Council. My Department is continuing to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was established in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the restrictions on turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. I have met with officials from An Coimisiún Pleanála once since taking up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure all their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2024, the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and certain other Acts. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is currently engaging with potential stakeholder groups that will be invited to participate in a soon-to-be established Countryside Forum for Nature. The purpose of this Forum is to engage with, and to take on board the views of, a cross section of relevant and appropriate stakeholder interests. Once the membership of the Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Legislation (1 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is currently undertaking an important project to update wildlife legislation. This includes the Wildlife Act 1976, the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and significant regulations made under these provisions. The project is examining closely the effectiveness of our...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (26 Jun 2025)

James Browne: A review of the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing and a wider public consultation on exempted development regulations will be undertaken shortly. Members of the public, State bodies and other concerned parties will be able to make submissions in writing as part of the consultation process. The Government cannot pre-empt the outcome of any consultation and therefore no...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. They set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (26 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. However the Bill will need revision to reflect new Ministerial responsibilities and transfers of functions between Departments once these have taken place. It should be noted that, in the context of this forthcoming transfer of the marine environment function...