Results 541-560 of 7,010 for speaker:James Browne

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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 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 grant...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 492 and 508 together. As part of the process for identifying land liable to Residential Zoned Land Tax, all local authorities published annual draft maps on 1 February 2024 that identified lands considered to fall within the scope of the tax, as well as lands which they proposed to exclude from the annual final maps for 2025. Landowners and other interested...

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

James Browne: My Department provides funding for a range of projects, including those related to the public realm, through a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040 known as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). This fund was one of four funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion, the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Consultations (25 Feb 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: Vacant Properties (25 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist Local Authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase homes, making them available for social housing. One such programme that Local Authorities and AHBs progress Social Housing projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Payment and Availability (P&A)...

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

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Question No. 569 of 5 February 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.