Results 7,381-7,400 of 8,138 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (13 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 777 and 778 together. The detailed advancement of housing and other works under the Cork City North West Quarter Regeneration (CNWQR) Programme is a matter, in the first instance, for Cork City Council. The CNWQR Masterplan & Implementation Report was published in 2011. The strategy outlined a departure from previous policy, with a proposal to...

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

James Browne: The project referred to is intended to be developed as a mixed-tenure residential scheme comprising both social and affordable housing. The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to support local authorities to deliver affordable housing and my Department welcomes proposals which respond appropriately to identified affordability needs. Subject to the outcome of the procurement process,...

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

James Browne: 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 had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow persons/families to...

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

James Browne: For 2025, I have made €325 million available to our local authorities for targeted social housing second-hand acquisitions, including for Tenant in Situ situations, following on from similar programmes in 2023 and 2024. The detailed administration of social housing acquisitions including those for Tenants in Situ, is delegated to the local authorities, accordingly the precise details...

Biodiversity Week: Statements (21 May 2025)

James Browne: As we conclude this important discussion, I express my sincere thanks for the opportunity to mark National Biodiversity Week in the Dáil and to reaffirm my Department's enduring commitment to the protection and the restoration of Ireland's natural heritage. I acknowledge and thank all Members who contributed, both today and at last week's debate in the Seanad. The quality of debate and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364 and 365 together. 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. Government...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Planning (27 May 2025)

James Browne: The Framework for Major Emergency Management was adopted by a Government decision in 2006. Its purpose is to set out common arrangements and structures for the preparation for, and management of Major Emergencies by the Principal Response Agencies. The local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE are designated as the Principal Response Agencies with the lead agency for each...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (27 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together. 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 local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (27 May 2025)

James Browne: The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. This is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness, and that unquestionably must be the priority for all local authorities including Fingal County Council. My Department is continuing to providing substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (27 May 2025)

James Browne: The EU Directive on the Conservation of Habitats, Flora and Fauna (92/43/EEC), commonly known as “the Habitats Directive” requires Member States to select sites, for the protection of habitats and species which are considered threatened in the EU territory and listed on the Annexes to the Directive. Annex I of the Habitats Directive includes priority habitats such as Active...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (27 May 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock, which will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is a continuous process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to vacant local authority owned homes is not routinely collated by my Department. Notwithstanding that, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 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: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 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: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 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: Housing Provision (27 May 2025)

James Browne: Applications for social housing support are assessed by local authorities 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, as amended. Applicants applying on medical or disability grounds must complete the medical/disability HMD-Form 1 specifying the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourism Industry (27 May 2025)

James Browne: The EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (27 May 2025)

James Browne: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils which represented just 14% of the population. The previous town council system also led to duplication both in administrative and electoral terms. Instead, the Act saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts, representing 100% of the population, in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, while area committees would...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (27 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 391 together. Gweedore waste water treatment was originally included in proceedings against Ireland taken by the European Commission but this was withdrawn in 2017. In July 2022, Uisce Éireann, in partnership with Donegal County Council, completed an innovative project for wastewater treatment in Gweedore. This new scheme led to a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (27 May 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 & 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Monitoring Missions (27 May 2025)

James Browne: Sections 98 of the Electoral Act 1992 specifies the persons who shall be admitted to polling stations while section 113 of that Act explicitly sets out who may be present at the counting of the votes. No other persons may be present without the consent of the relevant returning officer who is independent in the performance of his or her functions under the Act. Notwithstanding the...