Results 6,201-6,220 of 7,384 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Water Services (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Under my Department’s Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026, no new Community Waste Water Connection (formerly called Group Sewerage Schemes) projects are being funded. I have no plans to make changes to the Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: A letter issued to the Executives of the four Dublin local authorities on 18 October 2024 to encourage the authorities to come together to commence work on a Strategic Plan to consider the balanced and sustainable use of amenity areas in Dublin by light-bellied brent geese. This Plan will gather the best available scientific information to inform an analysis of the current and future use...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Schemes (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: In line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable purchase schemes, including the processing of applications and the determination of eligibility for affordable housing opportunities, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in this case Galway City Council. Galway City Council has published detailed guidance on the supporting documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Reviews (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 628 together. The declaration of qualification for posts in the local government sector is a power given to me as Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage under section 160 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act. My Department keeps existing qualifications under review and will, where necessary, and in consultation with the local government...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The closing date for receipt of applications for the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) 2025 is 14 February 2025. Applications are assessed by an expert panel in my Department and each one is taken on its merits and awarded points under a number of criteria as set out in the CMF handbook. It is expected that the awards for 2025 will be announced in mid- April.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Provision (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Programme for Government commits to building on the momentum generated under Housing for All to achieve a target of delivering more than 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. Housing for All, the most ambitious and comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State, was published in September 2021. The Plan contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rental Sector (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Recent Governments have introduced significant changes to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 - 2024 (RTA) in recent years to enhance protections for tenants and increase the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). T he RTB was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) to regulate the rental sector; provide...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Policy (5 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2018 , S.I. No. 30/2018, currently provide for an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings, including vacant above ground floor premises, to residential use such as ‘above shop’ living. These Exempted Development Regulations were extended in 2022, to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Sports Facilities (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Cork Event Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. To comply with the requirements of the infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Met Éireann briefings presented at the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) meetings are designed to support the decision making of emergency response stakeholders including government departments and agencies. The weather information presented at the NECG meetings is all available on Met Éireann’s website and mobile applications as well as more detailed,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Met Éireann routinely reviews its Weather Warning process and such considerations are part of wider ongoing discussions with their colleagues in the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, and the local authority sector in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. In line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable purchase housing schemes is a matter for the local authority concerned, in this case Waterford City and County Council. This includes the determination of the minimum affordable price at which particular homes will be advertised and agreeing the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department granted funding approval-in principle to Waterford City and County Council's proposed development of 50 new build social homes at at Fairlane, Dungarvan on 23 March 2024. It is now a matter for the Council to advance the design of the project and take it through the planning process. The social housing element will be funded via the Social Housing Investment Programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department provided approval to Waterford City & County Council in April 2024 to advance this social housing project through the planning process and onto the preparation of the tender for the construction contract. I look forward to the Council's earliest possible advancement of this project and can confirm that funding is in place to support its construction. Further...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I understand that Waterford City & County Council commenced the construction of the new social housing development at Shandon, Dungarvan in December 2024. My Department has approved funding of €12.7m to the Council in respect of this 38 home project and I look forward to its completion as soon as possible. Further information on the project will be available directly from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were introduced under Part 3 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Planning and Development Act 2024, extended the operation of these rent controls until 31 December 2025. In 2024 my Department completed a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourist Accommodation (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) which came into effect on 1 July 2019. Under this legislation which is applicable in RPZs: Short term...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: An Interdepartmental Group (comprising the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of both Departments and Údarás na...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 relates to applicable developments of houses on any land that is zoned as residential (either exclusively or mixed use), or is granted planning permission for houses as a material contravention of the development plan. The purpose of Part V is for the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from the granting of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: There has been no outbreak of Bubonic Plague at Dublin Zoo in 2024, nor in any other Irish zoo. Bubonic plague is caused by a bacterium named ‘Yersinia pestis’. There is, in contrast, a common bacteria of world wide distribution that can infect and, on occasion, kill a range of animal species called Yersinia enterocolitica (previously known as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis). ...