Results 6,481-6,500 of 7,384 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Local Elections Regulations 1995 provide that a Local Authority Returning Officer, appointed by the Chief Executive of a local authority, is responsible for the conduct of a local election. This includes ascertaining and declaring the results of an election, and furnishing to the local authority a return of the persons elected to be members of the local authority. The Returning Officer is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. 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 was provided for on 23 October 2024 through S.I. 577 of 2024. The Scheme Cap has risen by 10% to €462,000. An increase in the scheme grant rates of between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 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 properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government. In Pathway 4 of Housing for All on Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock, the Government set out a blueprint to ensure that vacant properties can be used to the fullest extent possible. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 186 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. The currently declared qualifications for engineering posts in the local government sector are available on my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 182 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together. Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The detailed information requested in relation to planned development by Waterways Ireland of berthing, seating and picnic areas...

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

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 834 of 9 September 2024 which was provided by my colleague, Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, regarding the situation at Somerton Park, Ballinlough Road, Cork and I can confirm that the position remains unchanged. The established policy and legal framework governing Somerton Park remains in effect. Somerton Park, Ballinlough Road, Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Climate, Environment, and Energy (DCEE) which has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Housing Commission was established to consider housing policy post-2030 and to make proposals building on Housing for All. My Department is currently assessing the Report of the Housing Commission, which was published by Government in May last year. The assessment is complex given the breadth of housing policy areas covered in the Report, the quantum of recommendations and actions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Feb 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 top-up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hedge Cutting (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The dates for the cutting of hedges are set down in primary legislation. Section 40 of the Wildlife Act prohibits the cutting of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. There is provision in the legislation for certain exemptions in respect of cutting vegetation in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, for health and safety reasons, the destruction...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department, as approving authority, assesses each project application for suitability, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the applicable funding scheme. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of specific proposals which are pending funding approval in my Department cannot be released. My Department continues...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: In 2024 my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) was launched to cover the period 2024 to 2026 and a total of 875 individual applications for funding were received from the local authorities. Given the large number of applications and the associated work load and in order to allow work begin on projects it was decided to take a phased approach to the approval of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Mar 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. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities with the Housing Agency acting as agents of the local authorities under the grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. Elected members have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget. Accordingly, it is a matter for each local authority...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Bhí líon foirne 1,818 ag mo Roinnse ag deireadh mhí Feabhra 2025. Cé nach bhfuil an t-eolas maidir leo siúd atá inniúlach sa Ghaeilge le fáil, soláthraíonn mo Roinnse maoiniú agus tugtar tacaíocht d’fhoireann a théann faoi Oiliúint sa Ghaeilge, arna éascú ag Gaelchultúr agus arna deimhniú ag...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Septic Tanks (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 together. My Departments’ Rural Water Programme provides grant support to households in specific circumstances where capital works are required to rectify defective Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks. There are currently three grants available and their purpose is to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (5 Mar 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 under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (5 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides a range of funding initiatives managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which aim to build on the substantial investment under the three year Strategic Action Plan to support local communities to help maintain and protect local habitats and species, including wetland areas. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) provides grant funding to Local...