Results 6,281-6,300 of 7,384 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, is the most ambitious and comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Housing Commission was established to consider housing policy post-2030 and to make proposals building on Housing for All. Recommendation number 44 refers to the introduction of a Social Housing Act that would provide for a range of reforms recommended by the Commission in relation to operation of the social and cost rental housing systems. My Department is currently assessing the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (12 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. The Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Community Development Projects (12 Feb 2025)

James Browne: A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion, the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF programme to 2030. To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (12 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185 and 186 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (12 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations (S.I. 605 of 2022) were introduced to assist the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (MCEDIY) in meeting Ireland’s legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (12 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 Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (12 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 which came into effect on 1 July 2019. Under this legislation applicable in RPZs:Short term letting is defined as the letting of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mining Industry (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. I can confirm that I will arrange for the information requested to be forwarded directly to the Deputy. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU), as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU), and the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: An Bord 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. The information requested is not held by my Department as this is a matter for An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are funded by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In April 2024, I published an...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: 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. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: All applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The prescribed social housing application form seeks various information about the applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 211, 212 and 218 together. On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. Following updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter, a further increase...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. As Ireland’s official Standards Body, The National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) has been tasked with the review of I.S. 465. The NSAI have published an update...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213, 214, 215 and 216 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (13 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, is the most ambitious and comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for...