Results 121-140 of 8,310 for speaker:James Browne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2025: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach and the other committee members for the opportunity to present these proposed planning regulations. The regulations consist of the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2025, which waive section 254 street furniture licence fees for the remainder of 2025 and for tables and chairs associated with outdoor dining until 30 September 2026....

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I thank Deputy McGrath for his questions. The Department of housing is now spending approximately 30% of all capital funding, which is close to about €1 in every €3 of all capital funding that has been made available by the Government. Obviously, there is only a certain amount of funding and this has to be split between schools, hospitals, transport and other important areas....

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The national development plan is very much focused on infrastructure and the understanding we are very challenged where it is concerned, especially water infrastructure, our electricity grid and also roads, for example. On rural areas, I come from a provincial town in a rural constituency and am very conscious that in those towns you are never going to get the big developers, so what we have...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: As the Deputy alluded to, it relates to EU directive 2024/1275, which was implemented on 1 January last. People are allowed to repair an existing oil or gas boilers and replace it with a second-hand model if they can locate one. It can be replaced by a hybrid boiler, that is an oil boiler combined with a heat pump. These are not very common but apparently they do exist. Of course, there...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy. There is approximately €20 million this year allocated for the apartment defects scheme. We will keep future funding under consideration in the context of the national development plan and the budget.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 16 - Tailte Éireann (Revised)
Vote 23 - An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Revised)
Vote 34 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Uisce Éireann has non-voted funding as well, so it is often about the balance between the different funding streams. I assure the Deputy that Uisce Éireann will be getting a very substantial increase in funding through the NDP. It is essential and we will be ensuring that happens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2025: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: On storage and the general question around disabilities, obviously, we have universal design guidelines. Also, under section 254, the licensing authority should ensure that any of these grants are being properly controlled, that they do not have an impact on accessibility or hinder people with disabilities from using the footpaths and public areas, and that they are returned appropriately....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2025: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I am not 100% certain, but I will find out.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Government remains committed to the target of achieving 30% of Ireland's maritime area being protected by 2030 in terms of at risk species, habitats or ecosystem services. Ecosystem services can be described as the benefits we derive from our marine environment. At present, around 10% of our marine environment is protected under the Birds and Habitats Directives, designated as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 545 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is aware of the strategy document published in 2006 by several councils in relation to the creation of a Liffey Valley Park. The Steering Group for this strategy involved the OPW, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Kildare County Council and South Dublin County Council. The NPWS is not a member of this group, nor is it engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544, 604, 605 and 606 together. Project Díon is a large scale digital transformation project being led by my Department with relevant stakeholders (including the local authorities) to introduce more streamlined, efficient and automated processes and enhanced reporting capabilities across over 30 housing programmes, which collectively channel billions of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turbary Rights (15 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 53 raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.  Eligible applicants on raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) where turf cutting ceased in 2011 will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The details requested form an integral part of security arrangements in my Department's facilities. Accordingly, I am not in a position to provide the details sought as disclosing such information relating to CCTV systems and their capabilities could potentially compromise the security of the buildings, Department staff and visitor safety. Regarding dissemination of recorded footage, any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Regulations (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 566 together. The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is being commenced on a phased basis. The provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 (the RTA) to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Section 134 of the RTA requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (15 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 (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Signage (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The erection of authorised advertising structures/signage, other than road traffic signs, requires a licence to be issued by the relevant local authority under section 254 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 for a structure on, under, over or along a public road. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, as Minister I am precluded from exercising any power or control...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 554 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. Notwithstanding the legal obligation...