Results 7,161-7,180 of 7,384 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Cycling Policy (7 May 2025)

James Browne: Details of the number of Cycle to Work Scheme applications processed by my Department in the timeframe requested are set out in the table below. Each application is administrated through the National Shared Services Office (NSSO). The scheme formed part of the July Stimulus Package 2020. Year Applications Processed 2020 36 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 May 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 grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The main emphasis of the Government remains on constructing new homes and that unquestionably, is the correct approach, however I am pleased that the Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need, including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The Government, on 29 April 2025, agreed to the establishment of a new Housing Activation Office (HAO) in the Department of Housing. This Office will engage and align key stakeholders in a practical way to address infrastructure barriers and enable housing development. It is envisaged that the Office will manage a multi-annual housing infrastructure budget under the new Towns and Cities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) formally referred to as Unit Cost Ceilings, specifically relate to social housing build projects developed directly by local authorities or approved housing bodies on their own land, using Public Works forms of contract. While not a record of actual delivery costs, the BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes and act as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 May 2025)

James Browne: My Departments Capital Assistance Scheme provides up to 100% capital funding to Approved Housing Body for the construction and acquisition of homes for priority categories of housing need to include persons with a Disability and a budget of €156 Million is available under the programme in 2025. Spending limits do not apply to housing provided under the Scheme with each project...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 May 2025)

James Browne: I understand that the question relates to my Department’s Design Manual for Quality Housing and the H15 unit type contained therein, which is a design approach for a Group Home or Community Dwelling usually used in the provision of housing for people with intellectual disability. There are currently three variations of the H15 design in the Design Manual for Quality Housing and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (7 May 2025)

James Browne: Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is a capital support provided exclusively to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), through local authorities, to facilitate the financing of the acquisition and construction of social housing units, predominantly for general social housing needs. The resultant housing units are provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support in 2025 for targeted social housing second-hand acquisitions, including for Tenant-in-Situ situations, following on from similar investments in 2023 and 2024. I have made €325 million available to our local authorities for this activity in 2025 and I've asked that they prioritise Tenant-in-Situ acquisitions, but...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (7 May 2025)

James Browne: My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. To assist in ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (7 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. Ten public bodies under the aegis of my Department are required to submit quarterly prompt payment reports in accordance with Government Decision S29296 of 19 May 2009, 2 and 8 March 2011, and 28 March 2017. The bodies in question are listed below:An Bord PleanálaApproved Housing Bodies Regulatory AuthorityHeritage CouncilHousing and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (7 May 2025)

James Browne: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Furthermore, section 254 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The legislative provisions regarding Section 181 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000) and Part XA of the Act dealing with substitute consent are set out below. The Department of Justice has indicated to my Department that certain legislative amendments to these provisions may be required in relation to Ministerial Orders made in respect of sites for IP applicants and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The project plans for the regeneration of estates and flat complexes are a matter for the Local Authority (LA) concerned. In order to support LAs in progressing such regeneration plans, my Department is making a number of funding channels available to LAs and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) including:Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP)Affordable Housing Fund (AHF)Capital Advance Leasing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (7 May 2025)

James Browne: 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. Regulation 12 of the 2011 Regulations prescribes the timescales for the processing of applications by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 May 2025)

James Browne: My Department notes the commitment in the 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, including any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (7 May 2025)

James Browne: The main objective of the is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the Building Regulations in the construction sector which will benefit consumers and the general public. CIRI will operate in a similar way to statutory registration schemes for other professions. An Admissions and Registration Board was appointed in September 2023 and an Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (7 May 2025)

James Browne: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the National Planning Framework) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and...

Housing and Critical Infrastructure: Motion [Private Members] (13 May 2025)

James Browne: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I echo the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and reassert the Government's commitment to tackling challenges in the housing sector and with regard to critical infrastructure. We know these challenges are having a very real impact on people's lives. We understand the urgency and the need to ensure sufficient homes are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 May 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for his question on departmental approvals for social and affordable housing. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost-rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall...