Results 6,501-6,520 of 7,384 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (5 Mar 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: Departmental Inquiries (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department notes the commitment in the recently published Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments. In light of this commitment, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy development,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 303 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: Departmental Inquiries (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide 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. Registration of all...

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

James Browne: It is important that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to what the policy approach to determining planning applications for Short Term Lets should be. Any policy approach should consider numerous complex factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long-term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed Short-Term Let...

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

James Browne: My Department collects, collates and publishes data on social housing delivery on a quarterly basis. The Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. It also includes details on when they were...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Statutory Instruments (6 Mar 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: Departmental Data (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department does not hold data in relation to solar PV developments. Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6e88b-planning-statistics/ The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy and progressing legislation,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Inland Fisheries (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: While my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for legislation and policy around invasive alien species in Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has the statutory responsibility for the protection, development, and management of Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources.. My Department would have consulted widely when drawing up the...

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

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is currently considering tenders for a single-year Hen Harrier nest protection service for the Slieve Bloom Mountains Special Protection Area, during the 2025 breeding season. This is required in an effort to improve the fledging success of the local Hen Harrier population. A number of tenders were received and are currently...

Report of the Housing Commission: Statements (Resumed) (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the House for the debate on the report of the Housing Commission and the views put forward throughout it. I once again express my appreciation to the commission members for their time, effort and commitment. It is clear from the views expressed during the debate that there is much we agree upon about where we must get to. That said, it is unsurprising that we are not all agreed,...

Social Housing Tenant In Situ Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Some €325 million is being made available-----

Social Housing Tenant In Situ Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. As my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan, has stated, it is a clear focus of the Government to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and preventing, and ultimately eliminating, long-term homelessness. This being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for his question. We recognise the need to address the short-term letting sector in areas of housing need, especially in areas of high demand such as Dublin city, and where properties are not compliant with planning requirements. The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is committed to introducing a short-term letting and tourism Bill that will provide the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Ó Broin again for raising this important question. We know that short-term lets are a problem, not just in Ireland but right across the world, particularly where properties are taken over and used. It is an increasing problem in Ireland, putting significant pressure on areas of high demand, such as Dublin city. I am working with the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: It is unacceptable that there are commercial entities profiteering from situations where people are in breach of the law. We want an approach where we can enforce the law in such a way as to ensure these properties are brought back into use and are available for long-term renting in high pressure zone areas, while ensuring the impact on more rural areas that rely on short-term lets for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The programme for Government commits to delivering more than 300,000 houses between 2025 and the end of 2030, an average of over 50,000 per annum. Delivery over the period will need to rise incrementally to 60,000 homes per year by 2030. This target of reaching an annual average of over 50,000 homes is both ambitious and credible. It is drawn from the work done by the ESRI in 2024 on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The Department never makes projections of what housing delivery will be. We have heard in the past number of weeks everything from 30,000 to 40,000 through different sectors in terms of various projections for completions. The outcome will be what will be. My intention will be to maximise the delivery of housing over the next 12 months and, indeed, over the next number of years. As...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I agree, in that apartment delivery has collapsed. That is very clear. We need to have radical thinking in terms of how we get that supply of apartments moving again. That is where the significant shortfall in reaching our targets has happened, particularly in Dublin city but also in our other cities, including Limerick. Apartments need to be delivered. I intend to take significant...