Results 8,161-8,180 of 9,174 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Programmes (17 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The current cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) runs until the end of 2026. My Department has commenced preparatory work on the next phase of the Programme. This includes a review of the current programme and engagement with stakeholders to ensure the new framework is responsive to the specific needs of the rural water sector. It is intended that the new framework...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department operates a decentralised procurement model where procurement activity is the responsibility of the budget holder, who is usually the head of the business unit. My Department does not hold a central list of procurement competitions that did not result in a contract award due to insufficient submissions, legal challenges, disqualification of bidders, or internal cancellation. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Private Partnerships (17 Jul 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 (17 Jul 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: Departmental Projects (17 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The lands purchased at Dowth in December 2023 form the new National Park, Brú na Bóinne National Park. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), in partnership with the National Monuments Service (NMS) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) are working together to prepare a Masterplan for the entire property. This comprises a suite of important archaeological monuments, Dowth...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Town Councils (17 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils which represented just 14% of the population, including those in Killarney, Tralee and Listowel. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department has not procured services from the company referenced. My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Tailte Éireann Act 2022, which was enacted in December 2022, led to the establishment of Tailte Éireann on 1 March 2023 following the merger of the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland. Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Government remains committed to the target of achieving 30% of Ireland's maritime area being protected by 2030 in terms of at risk species, habitats or ecosystem services. Ecosystem services can be described as the benefits we derive from our marine environment. At present, around 10% of our marine environment is protected under the Birds and Habitats Directives, designated as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 545 together. The Marine Protected Areas Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. It is intended to finalise this draft as soon as possible. However the Bill will need revision to reflect new Ministerial responsibilities and transfers of functions between Departments once these have taken place. It should be noted that, in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is aware of the strategy document published in 2006 by several councils in relation to the creation of a Liffey Valley Park. The Steering Group for this strategy involved the OPW, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Kildare County Council and South Dublin County Council. The NPWS is not a member of this group, nor is it engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544, 604, 605 and 606 together. Project Díon is a large scale digital transformation project being led by my Department with relevant stakeholders (including the local authorities) to introduce more streamlined, efficient and automated processes and enhanced reporting capabilities across over 30 housing programmes, which collectively channel billions of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turbary Rights (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was established in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the restrictions on turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.  Eligible applicants on raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) where turf cutting ceased in 2011 will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The details requested form an integral part of security arrangements in my Department's facilities. Accordingly, I am not in a position to provide the details sought as disclosing such information relating to CCTV systems and their capabilities could potentially compromise the security of the buildings, Department staff and visitor safety. Regarding dissemination of recorded footage, any...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Regulations (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 566 together. The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is being commenced on a phased basis. The provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Bodies (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 (the RTA) to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Section 134 of the RTA requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (15 Jul 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 Schemes (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Road Signage (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The erection of authorised advertising structures/signage, other than road traffic signs, requires a licence to be issued by the relevant local authority under section 254 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 for a structure on, under, over or along a public road. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, as Minister I am precluded from exercising any power or control...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 554 together. 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. Notwithstanding the legal obligation...