Results 181-200 of 7,615 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Environmental Policy (28 May 2025)

James Browne: Determining the cost of a task force to address biodiversity loss is inherently complex. Biodiversity spans ecosystems, species, and services that defy simple valuation. A task force must operate across research, policy, enforcement, and community action - each with variable and evolving costs. There are currently no plans to develop such a taskforce. My Department, through the National...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Parking Provision (28 May 2025)

James Browne: It is not clear which exact lands the Question refers to in the details supplied, but it is assumed it is a parcel located within the Castlemaine Harbour Special Protection Area (SPA). The primary species of conservation interest in this SPA is wintering waterfowl and waders. Chough is also listed for the site and may use this field for foraging post breeding and/or fledging. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Compulsory Purchase Orders (28 May 2025)

James Browne: Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to maintain a Derelict Sites Register, which includes the name and address of each owner and occupier, where these can be ascertained by reasonable enquiry, of any land which, in the opinion of the local authority, is a derelict site. A property can be placed on the Derelict Site Register where it is deemed by a local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (28 May 2025)

James Browne: The introduction of any specific compensation schemes, is primarily an operational matter for Uisce Éireann, operating under the regulatory oversight of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). As Minister, I have no function in such operational matters. Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261, 270 and 281 together. The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a minimum BER rating of B2. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme out to 2030. €90m is available to the programme in 2025 to upgrade approximately 2,500 homes. The table...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 263 and 271 together. An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. As of April 2025, there were...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264, 265 and 266 together. There are currently 38 Biodiversity Officers in place across 29 of the 31 local authorities. The remaining two local authorities currently without a Biodiversity Officer (Cork County Council and South Dublin County Council) are currently at an advanced stage in the recruitment process. Of the Biodiversity Officers currently in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (28 May 2025)

James Browne: Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Policy (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. The works eligible under my Department's revised Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. These funded measures achieve a minimum B2 BER rating. My Department does not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (28 May 2025)

James Browne: The capital allocation to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for 2025 is €44 million. If this allocation were to be increased by 25% per annum over a five-year period, the projected capital funding would be as follows:Year 1 (2026) - €55 millionYear 2 (2027) - €69 millionYear 3 (2028) - €86 millionYear 4 (2029) - €107 millionYear 5 (2030) -...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (28 May 2025)

James Browne: The information requested is set out in the table below and refers to the staff serving in the NPWS at the end of April 2025. The estimated increase in pay costs is based on a combination of salary and the employers’ PRSI charge, and does not include any potential costs arising from allowances or overtime payments. Grade Stream Grade FTE Headcount ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 279 together. Under the 2025 Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, my Department will fund costs of up to €48,850 plus project management fees, on individual local authority homes. The actual cost of retrofitting works on each home will depend on its pre-works BER. The programme calls for local authorities to retrofit a variety of house...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department provides funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions in the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan. Projects supported through this fund cover a range of biodiversity...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Energy Rating (28 May 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 278 and 280 together. The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a BER of B2. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme out to 2030. An annualised breakdown of the total funding provided and the number of properties upgraded, including those homes...

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...