Results 221-240 of 7,010 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (25 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department has no direct role in the provision of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, which is a matter that is under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (25 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities are supported by my Department to purchase and renovate vacant/derelict properties to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes. The Buy & Renew Scheme allows local authorities to acquire and refurbish such properties and since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 950 properties have been delivered under this arrangement, as new social homes. Buy and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (25 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Information in relation to Commercial Rates Income and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (25 Mar 2025)

James Browne: A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) supports a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan. As...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: In fairness, I think I was supposed to respond before Deputy Hearne, so if he wants to speak after me again, I have no difficulty with that. With the tenant in situ scheme, we believe that criteria need to be applied to it. It was introduced as a temporary measure. It is there as a last resort to prevent people from going into homelessness. I responded to all of this last night. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Their work should certainly not be treated as an add-on; it should be focused on ensuring compliance with the Disability Act. We have had a number of these officers in my local authority in County Wexford. They have been absolutely excellent in ensuring that the relevant requirements are met. I will certainly reach out to the local authorities to remind them of the importance of this role....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I certainly agree with the Deputy. As someone who has served on a town council and a county council, I am a great believer in local democracy. We will be strengthening the role of county councillors throughout the country. We will be setting up a task force soon which will report quickly to ensure that councillors have their role to be able to hold officials to account where they are not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Tenant in situ acquisitions were introduced by Government in 2023 in response to a reported uplift in sales by landlords under the HAP and RAS schemes. Such acquisitions have been an important measure in preventing homelessness. The Government therefore agreed to continue the programme in 2025. My Department has notified local authorities about the extension of the programme. A circular...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: It is not only families.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Charges (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for tabling this important question. I will address some of the issues that have arisen. The Government decided in 2017 that water charges would not be levied on domestic customers and that the funding of domestic water services would instead be met through general taxation and paid through my Department's Vote. This position remains unchanged. There is a provision...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Charges (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to reiterate the Government's position on it. I reiterate that there is no work being done on this issue. The measure is not in the current programme for Government. There are no plans to introduce it. We will not be taking any further action in relation to it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Charges (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: There will not be any return. That has always been clear. There was a proposal by the previous Government to bring in water conservation charges. It is noticeable that Sinn Féin did not table a Bill to change the legislation during the previous Government's term of office. It has now put forward a Bill that has made the front page of a newspaper. It is interesting that when it was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Water Charges (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: On Lismore, I do not have the information to hand. I will certainly raise the matter with Uisce Éireann, however. If the Deputy sends me the details, we will follow up on that. Of course, I am sure the situation in Cork is always kept under review by Uisce Éireann. However, I will again raise that matter with Uisce Éireann.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question on the role of accessibility officers in Dublin City Council and the oversight mechanisms that are place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards. These are issues in respect of which he has long campaigned, even before he came to the Dáil. Under the Disability Act 2005, each local authority is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Ardagh for raising this very important question regarding St. Michael's Estate in Inchicore. She has been pursuing a campaign and working extremely hard on the matter for some time. Under Housing for All, the Government set out plans to deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 2030. To deliver on this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I again thank Deputy Ardagh for raising this matter. I know how hard she has pursued it. I do not foresee any further delays. There should not be any further delays. As stated, €66.15 million has been approved for allocation from the fund. This is an exceptionally large amount of money that is needed. Such a large amount deserves to be granted in respect of a project of this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the management situation. In the context of Deputy Ó Broin's question, I will get an answer for that. I do not have the information to hand.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The tenant in situ acquisitions programme has been a key measure in the prevention of homelessness since its introduction in 2023. Therefore, Government has agreed funding to continue the programme for 2025. My Department has notified local authorities on the extension of the programme, and a circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. In 2023, Fingal County Council...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (20 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for this important question. I am very much aware of the housing crisis right across this country that causes very serious pain and suffering for individual families as a result. That is why I am determined to get our housing deliveries increased at a significant level. The tenant in situ scheme is a programme to ensure that people do not become homeless. That is why...