Results 421-440 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: The current cycle of my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) covering the period to 2026 was launched in 2024. Almost 900 applications for funding for individual projects were received by my Department from local authorities across the country. Mayo County Council submitted an application under Measure A5 of the programme to fund an extension to an existing group water...

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

James Browne: The Government decided in 2017 that water charges would not be levied on domestic customers but instead the funding of domestic water services would be met through general taxation and paid through my Departments Vote. This position is unchanged. A provision for charging for excess use of domestic water services is contained within the Water Services Act 2017, and is known as the...

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

James Browne: The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) is an Agency under the aegis of my Department. The Department has responsibility for Corporate Governance of the HFA and performs this function in line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016. Furthermore, under Statutory Instrument No. 583 of 2024, the Housing Finance Agency became a designated body to NewERA, who provide financial...

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

James Browne: The 2005 ‘Faro Convention’ emphasises the important aspects of heritage as they relate to human rights and democracy. It promotes a wider understanding of heritage and its relationship to communities and society. The objective of Faro is to ensure that cultural heritage contributes to the social, cultural and economic dynamics of communities. While the Convention has not...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (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 detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities with the Housing Agency acting as agents of the local authorities under the grant...

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

James Browne: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 950 to 957, inclusive, together. The reply given to Question No. 238 of 24 September 2024 sets out the up-to date position in relation to the Serviced Sites Fund project at Ballymastone, Donabate. Funding approval-in-principle issued in writing from my Department to the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council on 27 April 2021. I will arrange to have a...

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

James Browne: 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 Government decision extended such acquisitions into 2024 with...

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

James Browne: Under the Programme for Government published in January 2025, the Government committed to introduce a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All. My Department is currently examining that commitment, its implementation and the potential timeframe. While work is being undertaken to progress a new plan, which will build on progress to date, the measures detailed...

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

James Browne: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services including planning, delivery and operation across national, regional and local levels. My Department does not hold data on the impact of water usage by data centres on water supplies, in addition my Department does not hold any data on water usage by local authority area. I understand from previous...

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

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. It should be noted that, unlike many other jurisdictions examined, Ireland already has a well-established quasi-judicial dispute...

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

James Browne: The Government is committed under Housing for All to developing a roadmap to implement minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards, where feasible, for the private rental sector. This action is aimed at both improving the quality of housing stock available to rent and contributing to meeting our overall national climate targets in relation to emissions reduction. The Economic and...

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

James Browne: My Department has been in touch with Kerry County Council to clarify the circumstances of this case and assist with this matter. However, the administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and your constituent should remain in contact with the housing section of their local authority to resolve the matter.

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

James Browne: The most recent Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) and Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) were issued in Q2 2024. The next update to both is due in Q2 2025. BUCs and ACGs are only applicable to social housing units. A copy of both can be made available on request. CREL projects must achieve at least a 25% discount to open market rents for their cost rental units in the relevant area where they are...

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

James Browne: Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding is available to AHBs to provide affordable rented accommodation to those on middle incomes. The nature of the cost rental model means that cost rental homes are made available at a certain rent level, which is needed to cover the costs of delivery and provision, and must be at least 25 per cent below prevailing market rents. Applications for CREL are...

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

James Browne: The Cost Rental Equity Loan funding Scheme is available to Approved Housing Bodies to provide affordable rented accommodation to those who meet the income eligibility requirements for cost rental homes. The nature of the Cost Rental model means that Cost Rental homes are advertised and made available at a certain rent level, which is needed to cover the costs of delivery and provision. Cost...

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

James Browne: Including additional funding made available as part of a Supplementary Estimate last year, the total 2024 budget provision for the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme was €435m, all of which was expended. 2024 Housing expenditure is currently being finalised as part of the annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and details of final out-turns will be published in due...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 968 to 970, inclusive, together. CALF funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction and purchase of new social housing homes. This loan facility can support between 25% and 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the remaining finance sourced by the...

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

James Browne: The Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social homes at scale, as well as new affordable and cost rental homes and we have a record level of investment being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025 with a capital funding provision of €6.5 billion supplemented by current funding of €1.65 billion. The number of new build social homes...

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

James Browne: In 2024, the Budget allocation for the Capital Assistance Scheme was initially €140m but due to strong activity under the scheme, an additional €20m was provided as part of the Supplementary Estimates process. Ultimately, the full year spend under the scheme for 2024 was €152.2m. The final social housing build delivery data for Q4 of 2024, including delivery under the...