Results 501-520 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Strategic Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department has not received any correspondence since March 2025 from Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council or the University of Limerick regarding the proposed development of an economic strategic development zone at Gillogue, Clonlara, County Clare.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Shannon Airport Facilities (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Details of staffing numbers of Met Éireann staff based in Shannon Airport in the years in question are set out in the table below. - Full Time Part Time 2019 12 1 2025 16 2 During the specified period Met Éireann invested in upgrading its aeronautical weather observations system at 5...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1395 and 1396 together. My Department's current Multi-annual Rural Water Programme covers the period up to the end of 2026. Under this cycle of the Programme, funding of more than €45 million is approved in principle for seven projects under measure A8 as a funding contribution to local authorities for projects to address the wastewater collection...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1397 to 1399, 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 identify suitable vacant sites in their ownership or purchase vacant sites in towns and villages and make them available for sale to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Supply (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1400, 1645 to 1654, inclusive, and 1659 to 1663, inclusive, together. My Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges faced by the Rural Water Sector. The overall purpose of the Programme is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1401, 1404, 1434, 1609 and 1621 together. My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the National Planning Framework) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legal Services Regulation (29 Jul 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: Water Supply (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme is the main funding stream providing capital funding to address the challenges faced by the Rural Water Sector. The overall purpose of the Programme is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where public water services are not available. I...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1406 and 1470 together. 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: Housing Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1407, 1412 and 1413 together. 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department has made €325 million available to our local authorities for their overall social housing second-hand acquisitions activity in 2025, with each local authority receiving an individual allocation. Local authorities have Delegated Sanction to purchase second hand acquisitions for the following priorities categories only:Tenancy Sustainment - Tenant in Situ (TiS) for HAP...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: European Parliament (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Section 19 of, and Part XIII of the Second Schedule to, the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (as amended) provides the legislative framework for the filling of a vacancy that may arise from among the persons who have been elected in Ireland to be Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). It is the Clerk of the Dáil who is the competent authority for the purpose of the filling of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (29 Jul 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Meteorological Services (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Met Éireann warnings are issued based on the best available data to reflect the conditions expected widely across an area and to support the protection of life and property. Status yellow warnings are issued for weather that does not pose a threat to the general population but is potentially dangerous on a localised scale. During a yellow warning, we advise that people be aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Architectural Heritage (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I am very much aware of the issues that are currently facing thatched properties. There are various schemes within my Department that provide financial support to owners of thatched structures. A dedicated Thatching Grant is available for thatched buildings in use as housing. Applicants can avail of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost (whichever is less) towards...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1416, 1441 and 1442 together. My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Programme (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1417 and 1596 together. The Marine Protected Areas legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation and is intended to be finalised as soon as possible. In light of the forthcoming transfer of the marine environment function from my Department to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment on 1 August, a review is being undertaken to identify...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2023 for tenants in private rental homes who are not in receipt of social housing supports, but 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...