Results 441-460 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: Data for the Q4 2024 social and affordable housing delivery figures is currently being collated and validated and is due be published at the end of this quarter in line with previous years. My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each...

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

James Browne: Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were introduced under Part 3 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Planning and Development Act 2024, extended the operation of these rent controls until 31 December 2025. The Residential Tenancies Board and the ESRI...

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

James Browne: Promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water is a central component of effective water policy. The Water Services Policy Statement 2024-2030 sets out the range of policy objectives across the key thematic areas of quality, conservation and future proofing that will be pursued between now and 2030. While water sustainability systems (e.g. rain water recovery systems, grey water...

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

James Browne: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. As Minister, I have no role in operational matters. Uisce Éireann...

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

James Browne: Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) play a critical role in the management of urban water run-off, protecting surface water quality and controlling the volume of water entering urban drainage networks and water bodies during heavy rainfall. This is particularly important given changing weather and rainfall patterns driven by climate change. SUDs also play a key role in place making...

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

James Browne: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provided for the introduction of municipal districts in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, while area committees would operate in the 3 city authorities of Cork, Dublin and Galway, and the 3 Dublin county authorities. The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future contains a commitment to convene a Local...

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

James Browne: Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. As Minister, I have no role in operational matters. Uisce Éireann...

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

James Browne: 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. Proposals for measures to help scale up delivery further are being considered in the context of the development of the new national housing plan, to follow Housing for All, as committed to in the...

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

James Browne: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations...

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

James Browne: Through a number of social housing funding programmes, local authorities are supported by my Department to purchase and renovate vacant/derelict properties to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes. The Buy & Renew Scheme allows local authorities to acquire and refurbish such properties and since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 950 properties have been delivered...

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

James Browne: I understand that the Question is referring to housing estates which have not, as yet, been taken-in-charge by local authorities and their water services are not connected to the public Uisce Éireann network but instead these locations rely upon infrastructure provided by the developers of the estate. The table under provides the information of such locations. It is important to state...

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

James Browne: Increased supply is key to meeting need and addressing the challenges in the housing market. 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. The overall capital funding available for housing in 2025 is now over €6.5 billion. With this...

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

James Browne: Ongoing Data in relation to vacant local authority owned homes is not routinely collated by my Department. Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. Vacancy levels naturally vary over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is a continuous and ongoing process. Notwithstanding that, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point...

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

James Browne: In 2024 my Department consulted with Ernst and Young Business Consultants on the potential use of a Microsoft AI product, specifically Copilot for Power BI, to assess if this could enhance the flexibility and capability of the Housing For All reporting service that is available through the Insights data platform. My Department does not currently conduct any operations using artificial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (6 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 (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 303 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 and for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. Registration of all...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: It is important that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to what the policy approach to determining planning applications for Short Term Lets should be. Any policy approach should consider numerous complex factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long-term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed Short-Term Let...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (6 Mar 2025)

James Browne: My Department collects, collates and publishes data on social housing delivery on a quarterly basis. The Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. It also includes details on when they were...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Statutory Instruments (6 Mar 2025)

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