Results 361-380 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home, within regional price ceilings. The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company is responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The First Home Scheme is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and self-builders, between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie/. The First Home Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 667 together. In December 2023 the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD announced the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme (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: Departmental Functions (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: At present, the Minister for Justice and his Department continue to have responsibility for the oversight of Owner Management Companies (OMCs). Under the Programme for Government my Department will take responsibility for the Multi-Unit Development Acts to streamline support for owners’ management companies and improve oversight. A timeline for the transfer of this function from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Child Poverty (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together. The Department acknowledges that for many economically vulnerable households, including those with children, housing is a primary expense. Many of the Department’s programmes and schemes work to shield and support vulnerable households from fluctuations in market conditions. As detailed under Housing for All, a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The Revised National Planning Framework April 2025, sets updated national and regional housing targets to 2040. These targets provide the basis for the local authority Housing Growth Requirements I issued to local authorities in July. These updated growth requirements will be incorporated into local authority development plans to ensure a balanced approach to housing growth across all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: In order for a household to qualify for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The Revised National Planning Framework, approved by the Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025 sets out updated national and regional housing targets to 2040. These targets provide the basis for the Housing Growth Requirements that I issued to local authorities in July. The updated growth requirements will be incorporated into local authority development plans to ensure a balanced...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 676 and 677 together. Under Housing for All, my Department engages frequently with other Government Departments and agencies towards increasing and strengthening residential construction sector labour capacity. Under Housing for All Governance structures the Secretary General Delivery Group includes a dedicated workstream on Industry capability which meets...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) advises Government on future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that impact on the national potential for enterprise and employment growth. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment provides secretariat support to the EGFSN Following the publication of the Modern Methods of Construction Action Plan in June...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Statutory Instruments (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: A list of Statutory Instruments that have been signed by my predecessor, Minister O'Brien, in 2024 and myself to date in 2025 is set out in the attached table.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: Decisions on eligibility for social housing support are a matter solely for local authorities with reference to 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. That said, I understand local authorities have internal complaints and appeals systems which may be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The Apartments and Duplex Defects Remediation Statutory Scheme is expected to be established shortly after the passage of the legislation, the timeline for which is subject to Oireachtas process but will be done as quickly as possible. The General Scheme will be made available to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny as soon as is practicable and I would anticipate this happening in the Dáil...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: I can confirm that my Department has received correspondence from Leitrim County Council requesting funding supports to deal with historic structural issues around an unfinished housing estate. My Department is currently examining the said correspondence and will respond in due course. However, it remains the case that there is no longer a dedicated funding scheme for unfinished...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 688, 689, 690 and 691 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2024, is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-ass...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 (RTA) regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial, independent statutory body under the RTA to facilitate the resolution of residential tenancy disputes and operate a national...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Student Accommodation (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: My Department, as part of our internal Housing Economics Research Programme and as part of our joint research programme with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), has published a number of research papers on the topics of housing costs and affordability. Housing Economics Research Papers published by my Department and in our joint research programme with the ESRI are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: 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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (17 Sep 2025)

James Browne: The project plan for the regeneration of Pearse House is a matter for the Dublin City Council (DCC). However, DCC has advised my Department that they are further developing proposals to advance the regeneration of this flat complex. Having first received Capital Appraisal approval from my Department in April 2021, the subsequent pre-planning proposal by DCC for the regeneration of blocks...