Results 261-280 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

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...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 63 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 also agreed to increase the...

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

James Browne: My Department notes the commitment in the recently published Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments. In light of this commitment, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy development,...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 112 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes....

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

James Browne: The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes. My Department is currently exploring options for the setting aside of certain Cost Rental...

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

James Browne: Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that the Government may, by order, when proposed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, designate one or more sites for the establishment of a strategic development zone (SDZ) to facilitate development deemed to be of economic or social importance to the State. The legislation states that the Order shall specify...

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

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2024 ("Act of 2024") was enacted on 17 October 2024. A detailed Implementation Plan has now been published that includes a commencement schedule for the Act and a range of initiatives to support training and engagement for the planning sector in preparation for the phased transition to the new legislative framework. The Implementation Plan is a ‘living...

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

James Browne: My Department is currently engaging with other Government Departments on establishing the new Strategic Housing Activation Office. Generally, it is intended the new office will work to strengthen our approach to providing the enabling infrastructure needed for public and private housing development, and that it will be mandated to accelerate the delivery of necessary housing infrastructure...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 109 together. Legislation is currently being drafted to establish the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Scheme on a statutory basis and subject to the legislative process, the Statutory Scheme is expected to be in place later this year. The Statutory Scheme will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety...