Results 521-540 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Consultations (27 Feb 2025)

James Browne: A transboundary EIA notification was received by my Department on Thursday 30 January 2025 from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in Northern Ireland. This notification concerns a number of development applications related to the proposed Dalradian Gold Mine Project, at Greencastle, Co Tyrone. My Department accepted the invitation from DfI to engage in transboundary consultation in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, provide that households may apply for support to one local authority only. Usually, this will be the local authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which the household has a local connection. Local authorities may also, at their discretion, assess households with no link to the area for support. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland's Future commits to introducing a new, all-of-government national housing plan to follow Housing for All. Any proposals for new measures will be considered in this context.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (27 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My views in relation to a tourism accommodation levy, in the context of the recommendation in the Dublin City Taskforce report, are broadly similar to those outlined by my Ministerial colleagues in their recent replies to the parliamentary questions referred. My Department is participating in a working group of senior officials from across Government, under the leadership of the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Properties (27 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations were introduced to assist the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (MCEDIY) in meeting Ireland’s legal obligation to provide accommodation to international protection applicants. The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (2001...

Seanad: Response to Storm Éowyn: Statements (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I very much welcome the opportunity to speak to the Seanad on the response to Storm Éowyn. It allows me to bring some clarity to the co-ordinated response led by my Department. First, I will clarify the role of my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is the lead Government Department for the response to severe weather events. This means it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Local Elections Regulations 1995 provide that a Local Authority Returning Officer, appointed by the Chief Executive of a local authority, is responsible for the conduct of a local election. This includes ascertaining and declaring the results of an election, and furnishing to the local authority a return of the persons elected to be members of the local authority. The Returning Officer is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. Following updated cost reports from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and advice from the Expert Group established to consider the matter, a further increase was provided for on 23 October 2024 through S.I. 577 of 2024. The Scheme Cap has risen by 10% to €462,000. An increase in the scheme grant rates of between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 Feb 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 ensure that vacant properties can be used to the fullest extent possible. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 186 together. The declaration of qualification for posts in the local government sector is a power given to me as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under section 160 (1) (a) of the Local Government Act. The currently declared qualifications for engineering posts in the local government sector are available on my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 182 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together. Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The detailed information requested in relation to planned development by Waterways Ireland of berthing, seating and picnic areas...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Investigations (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 834 of 9 September 2024 which was provided by my colleague, Minister Darragh O’Brien TD, regarding the situation at Somerton Park, Ballinlough Road, Cork and I can confirm that the position remains unchanged. The established policy and legal framework governing Somerton Park remains in effect. Somerton Park, Ballinlough Road, Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: 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 conjunction with the Department of the Climate, Environment, and Energy (DCEE) which has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Housing Commission was established to consider housing policy post-2030 and to make proposals building on Housing for All. My Department is currently assessing the Report of the Housing Commission, which was published by Government in May last year. The assessment is complex given the breadth of housing policy areas covered in the Report, the quantum of recommendations and actions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (26 Feb 2025)

James Browne: 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 properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hedge Cutting (25 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 566 together. The dates for the cutting of hedges are set down in primary legislation. Section 40 of the Wildlife Act prohibits the cutting of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. There is provision in the legislation for certain exemptions in respect of cutting vegetation in the ordinary course of agriculture or...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (25 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Following the receipt of preliminary results from scientific research into damaged dwellings in Donegal my Department announced changes to the way the scheme works for certain homeowners in November 2024. All homeowners who have been given a non-demolition option (options 2 to 5) will now be offered a choice of continuing with the work on their dwelling under the option determined or the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist eligible people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants includes the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant are funded...