Results 21-40 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: ------with URDF funding and that we are not doing other projects in Balbriggan, but that is what we are doing. This happens every time I come in.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I know it upsets the Deputy's social media plan when I start to say the positive things that are happening, so she likes to talk over me to ensure there is no possibility of anybody being able to hear anything I am saying that is positive. It is an ongoing tactic from the Opposition benches.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: It is really disingenuous.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: My time is up but the reason I am still talking is the Deputy will not give me an opportunity to say anything.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The Deputy really gave the game away when she talked about government. Sinn Féin is obsessed with getting into government instead of providing solutions. It has abandoned all attempts now in terms of providing solutions for housing. The public rejected its proposed solutions in the last general election.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: We hear very little about those proposals anymore because it does not want to talk to them-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: "A home you will never own" simply did not work with the people.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Here we are again. I am back on my feet, trying to give an answer and once again, the Deputy is trying to talk over me. Getting into government for government's sake is not going to work. The Deputy has to provide solutions. We are providing solutions. I turned the sod only a few weeks ago on 817 affordable, cost-rental and social homes and more homes will be delivered in Balbriggan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The Deputy is right that there were differing views on the commission, and well-reasoned views I think on both sides among the commission members as set out in the various reports. While it was a majority it is not that straightforward either due to the different views. We are keeping this under review but my priority is actually delivering on housing. It is a basic necessity, one of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: It is important to set out that putting it into the Constitution is not going to deliver one more house. This Government has set out that housing is a priority. This is evidenced by the fact that almost one in three euro in our national development plan is going towards housing delivery. This is not even including the funding for grids and roads, which are all prioritised towards housing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The Deputy’s party does not support those schemes but we will continue as a Government to support those individuals and couples to be able to get their foot on the property ladder.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to affordable homes in Dublin for 2025 and 2026. More than 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, including over 5,200 in Dublin. Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale in Dublin and the affordable housing delivery programme continues to be expanded and developed year on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: As the Deputy is well aware, the Government has long acknowledged that there is an affordability problem in this country. There are two issues - a viability issue and an affordability issue - and both of these are driving supply difficulties. That is why we have taken measures on viability and affordability. Many of the affordability measures have been opposed by Sinn Féin's good...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I am not sure if the Deputy listened to my last answer. The Government has long acknowledged that there is a serious affordability issue in this country. That is why we brought in significant measures such as the first home and help to buy schemes to address the affordability issue. Supply is the only answer so that people can afford homes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: That is on the rental side and the purchase side as well. What I do not hear from Sinn Féin is how it is going to drive supply.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: What I hear are objections to almost everything we are doing. That is Sinn Féin's right, but I am not seeing any solutions coming forward, just constant criticisms. I continue to make decisions to address the viability issue and the affordability issue. Ultimately, this is about driving supply right across this country including Dublin, which is a crucial part of that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy. The question I have in front of me from the Deputy relates to a housing referendum.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I am happy to get the Deputy a written answer on the other question but-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I will answer the question on the housing referendum now. The Housing Commission was established in December 2021 to consider housing policy post 2030 and make proposals building on Housing for All. It was also tasked with advising the Government on the critical factors to be considered regarding a referendum on housing and, if appropriate, to recommend wording for a constitutional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (8 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The housing activation office is just one piece of an important set of measures we will take to ensure we can unlock housing delivery. We have our State agencies, but the housing activation office will be able to work with those Stage agencies where they identify that land can be freed up very quickly for housing delivery to ensure that utilities are in place. The HAO itself has that fund...