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

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The application of sewage sludge and biosolids to land is regulated under S.I. No. 148 of 1998 – Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 as amended by S.I. 267 of 2001, which is within the remit of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. The timing of the application of organic fertilisers to land, and the amount of nutrients permitted to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Policies (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: My Department is responsible for the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 (SI 113 of 2022, as amended). Under these Regulations the closed period for applying slurry to land now commences on the 1st of October annually. In 2022 my Department, following consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the scientific...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Services (21 Oct 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 Acts, 1981 & 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 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 Reviews (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q1 2025, almost 127,000 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 52,657 households actively in receipt of HAP support. Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Social and affordable Housing is delivered through a range of Local Authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes. Capital expenditure on the delivery of new social homes is also supported by current funding provided through the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). In 2025, Government has allocated almost €7.5 billion in capital investment for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Under the 2025 Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP), €90 million is available to local authorities to retrofit a minimum of 2,500 social homes to a B2 BER rating post works. While work under the 2025 programme is still progressing, I expect the target to be achieved this year. Full details of delivery under the 2025 EERP, including progress against target, will be available...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register. It is the duty of each authority to ensure, as far as possible, and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and completeness of the Register in respect of its own administrative area. The Electoral Reform Act 2022 provided for significant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Conservation (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The National Water Conservation Working Group was established in mid-June 2025. The first meeting of the Working Group took place in person on 18 June of 2025. Membership of the NWCWG comprises representatives/nominees from the following organisations - my Department, The Environmental Protection Agency, The Water Forum - An Fóram Uisce, National Federation of Group Water Schemes;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Directives (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) (EPBD) is the European Union’s main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings. The recast Directive, which was adopted by the European Parliament and Council, came into force in May 2024. The Directive requires transposition of the relevant Articles by 29 May 2026. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together. In December 2023, the then Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD announced the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme (the Scheme) for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes. The Scheme provides for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works within the scope and defined...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (21 Oct 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. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (21 Oct 2025)

James Browne: At present, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and his Department continue to have responsibility for the oversight of Owner Management Companies (OMCs) and related regulations. Under Housing for All, to ensure that OMCs are financially sustainable, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (DJHAM) in collaboration with my Department is committed to making...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (22 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. In accordance with the Freedom of Information publication scheme, my Department maintains a contracts register for contracts with a value in excess of €25,000 (excl. VAT). The register is published on an annual basis at:...