Results 2,321-2,340 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 79 together. Increasing the supply of new homes is key to addressing many of the challenges in the housing market. Supply has increased significantly in recent years, with some 125,000 new homes delivered since July 2020. This includes 92,500 homes delivered from 2022 to 2024, exceeding the combined target for new homes for the period by 5,500...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants. A further Government decision extended such acquisitions into 2024 with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department, as approving authority, assesses each project application for suitability, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the applicable funding scheme. No applications submitted by Carlow County Council are awaiting approval. Kilkenny County Council submitted two proposals for social housing projects in late...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Under planning legislation, enforcement of planning control is a matter for the relevant planning authority, which can take action if a development does not have the required permission, where the terms of a permission have not been met, or if development has otherwise been undertaken in breach of planning control. There are extensive enforcement provisions provided for in Part VIII of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: It should be noted in the first instance that the zoning of land within a statutory city or county development plan or a local area plan is not broken down on the basis of individual sites or parcels of land by individual ownership. My Department therefore does not have the requested details for local authorities available. However, the Land Development Agency (LDA) has developed the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 46, 49, 72, 76 and 113 together. Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Strategy and Implementation Plan may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 92 together. I understand that the Question is referring to housing estates which have not, as yet, been taken-in-charge by local authorities that are not connected to the public Uisce Éireann network but instead rely upon infrastructure provided by the developers of the estate for their water services. This infrastructure is called Developer...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: House Sales (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department does not collect the data sought. That said, the Central Statistics Office publishes data in respect of residential property transactions by non-households, including international investment funds. The latest data available are for 2023 and can be accessed on the CSO website (data.cso.ie/table/HPA10). The data are broken down by NACE classification of the purchasers, i.e....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed under Housing for All, the Government plans to deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 2030. A comprehensive implementation strategy is in place to support the various affordable housing schemes now being delivered by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: An Implementation Steering Group for the current Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme has been in place since 2023. The Group comprises of officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowner's Liaison Officer. This Group meets regularly (every 4-6 weeks) and keeps the operation of the scheme under review and is tasked with working through...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 64 and 96 together. The National Planning Framework (NPF) (2018), together with the National Development Plan 2021 (NDP), combine to form Project Ireland 2040, the overarching planning and investment framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. The NPF sets out high-level national policies and objectives, which are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. In October 2024 the Scheme Cap was increased by 10% to €462,000 and an increase in the scheme rates of between 7.4% and 8.7% was approved on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act of 2000) prior to making applications for planning permission for certain types of development the prospective applicant is required to engage in pre-application consultation with the relevant planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) as appropriate. In relation to residential development, Large scale...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 53, 78 and 81 together. Tenant in Situ Acquisitions were introduced by way of Government decision in 2023 as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants. A further...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy (HMP). It was revised in March 2021 and comprehensive guidance was provided to local authorities at the time. Social housing is a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 47 and 54 together. 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 NPF published in 2018) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: ‘Town Centre First – A Policy Approach for Irish Towns’ was launched in February 2022 as a joint initiative of my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). Town Centre First (TCF) supports a more strategic and co-ordinated approach to the regeneration of Ireland’s urban areas. It includes a particular focus on measures to tackle...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock, to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Typical works include adaptations such as stair-lifts, level deck showers, ramps and grab rails, widening door opening widths and improving circulation spaces....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 75 together. Addressing homelessness is a key Government priority. Ireland signed the Lisbon Declaration in June 2021, which committed all signatories to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. The Government reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to the Lisbon Declaration in the Programme for Government. Housing for All, which was published...