Results 361-380 of 7,010 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832, 841 and 893 together. 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 a further increase to the scheme was provided bringing the Scheme Cap to €462,000...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: 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. The grant scheme covers the costs of the remediation works approved subject to the grant rates and overall grant cap of €462,000. The grant and the grant rates as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 834 to 837, inclusive, together. The Building Regulations set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents (Parts A - M respectively)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2023 for tenants in private rental homes who do not qualify for social housing supports but who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord has served a valid Notice of Termination due to an intention to sell the property. The Local Authority conducts the initial assessment for eligibility of the tenant for this scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My reply to Question No. 426 sets out the process in place, timelines and responsibilities for the progressive remediation of Developer Provided Infrastructure nationally. The position remains the same as set out in that reply.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 842, 843, 859, 860, 882 and 883 together. The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: As with most Government Departments, the vast majority of staff recruited for my Department are recruited by the Public Appointments Service who carry out their own vetting and reference checks. My Department runs a small number of recruitment competitions, mostly for specialist professional and technical roles, as needs arise. My Department checks all references in respect of candidates...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Investment in our built heritage delivers broad public benefits. It enhances the character and amenity of our villages, towns, cities, and landscapes, and sustains centuries-old craft skills which would otherwise be lost. Where re-use of a historic building avoids the need for new construction (and its associated greenhouse gas emissions), investment in built heritage can also contribute to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (19 Mar 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 the local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. A...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: 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. The Action Plan Progress Report was published in April 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 849 to 853, inclusive, together. Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is underpinned by the recent decision by Government to provide additional capital funding of €450 million in 2025 to support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are important partners for local authorities in the delivery of social housing. My Department and local authorities administer a number of funding programmes to assist AHBs with the cost of building, acquiring and leasing new social housing units. The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government. In Pathway 4 of Housing for All on Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock, the Government set out a blueprint to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: The Cork Northwest Quarter Regeneration project continues to be supported by my Department and in February 2025, my Department issued approval for Cork City Council to proceed with the preferred bidder for the completion of the newly named project ‘Croppy Boy’, replacing Phase 2C. It is a matter for the local authority to advise on the particulars of that arrangement and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 861 to 864, inclusive, together. The Ready to Build Scheme, funded by the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, to support addressing vacancy, was launched in September 2022. Under the Scheme, local authorities make vacant serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build a home. Under the scheme, local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (19 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: Emergency Accommodation (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 867 and 868 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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Budgets (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 869 and 870 together. My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. Data in relation to HAP funding and tenancies to end of Q3 2024 can be found on my Department’s website at this link: ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (19 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 871 and 872 together. My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. Data in relation to my Department's annual Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) spend and the number of active tenancies for each of the last ten years can be found on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (19 Mar 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. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The...