Results 141-160 of 8,310 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan closed for new applications when it was replaced by the Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) on 4 January 2022.  Applications for a Local Authority Home Loan are made through the individual Local Authorities and the final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis.  ...

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

James Browne: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 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 Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) applications made generally, apart from compulsory acquisitions related to the Derelict Sites Act, 1990. Specifically, the number of derelict sites...

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

James Browne: My Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act in November 2021 and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. Discussions on the review are ongoing and it is intended, in the context of related policies, legislative amendments and funding schemes that have been developed since the...

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

James Browne: The qualification criteria for social housing support are set down in Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. A household may apply for social housing support to one local authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 561 together. The Design Standards for Apartments, Guidelines ("The Apartment guidelines") for Planning Authorities (2025) were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2001 ( as amended) on 8 July 2025. Planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála are required to have regard to the Guidelines and are also required...

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

James Browne: It is expected that a resolution to the legislative complexities that exist between the Local Government Acts and Official Languages Act may require primary legislation to resolve. The matter will be considered further by my Department in consultation with the relevant officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. There are a number of policy decisions...

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

James Browne: Uisce Éireann are in the process of developing new capital investment plan to address the Programme for Government commitment to expediting, expanding and prioritising delivery of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme. Uisce Éireann has submitted a request for additional funding to support this new capital investment, which is being considered as part of the ongoing...

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

James Browne: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.   The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 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 Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) applications made generally, apart from compulsory acquisition related to the Derelict Sites Act, 1990. Specifically, the number of derelict sites...

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

James Browne: I refer my reply to Question No. 826 of 10 June 2025 (composited with Question No. 865) and advise that the position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (15 Jul 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 have been working collaboratively with other Government Departments on Transfers of Functions also arising from the formation of the Government. The process of assessing which specific functions and...

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

James Browne: The turnaround period for Stage 1 SHIP applications can vary depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the development, suitability, value for money, information outstanding, additional information sought by the Housing Advisory Unit in my Department and compliance with the various requirements of the funding scheme, a further consideration is the possibility of revisions by the...

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

James Browne: The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) Funding Scheme does not have a staged approval process; rather, it is a single stage approval. The average processing time for CALF applications in the past 12 months stands at 41 working days. While my Department makes every effort to process CALF applications within a six-week time frame, applications from the AHB Sector have increased in both...

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

James Browne: The turnaround time for Stage 1 CAS applications can vary depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the development, suitability, value for money, information outstanding, additional information sought by the Housing Advisory Unit in my Department and compliance with the various requirements of the funding scheme, a further consideration is the possibility of revisions by the...

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

James Browne: The Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) Funding Scheme does not have a staged approval process; rather, it is a single stage approval. The average processing time for CREL applications in the past 12 months stands at 60 working days. While my Department makes every effort to process CREL applications as quickly as possible, applications from the AHB Sector have increased in both size and...

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

James Browne: Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 empowers the Minister to direct a planning authority to take such measures as he or she may require to ensure that its development plan, or any local area plan made by it, complies with the requirements of the Act. The use of this power is conditional on the Minister first receiving a formal recommendation on the matter from the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (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: Planning Issues (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I refer to my reply to Question No. 1262 of 29 April 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

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

James Browne: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. Tailte Éireann...