Results 41-60 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Legislation is currently being drafted to establish the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Scheme on a statutory basis and subject to the legislative process, the Statutory Scheme is expected to be in place later this year. The Statutory Scheme will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent Electoral Commission, was established on 9 February 2023 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. An Coimisiún's research, advisory and public information function will see it carry out research on electoral policy and procedure. An Coimisiún is also empowered to advise...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Support for local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need has since 2023, included the category of tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The Cork Events Centre (CEC), which will provide a venue for concerts, conferences, community events and contribute to the economic and social development of Cork and the Southern Region, was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Apr 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 enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.The Act also provides for the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Social Homes Scheme. This is a scheme for the purpose of enabling a designated local authority or an Approved Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 636 together. Whilst the Planning and Development Act 2024 was enacted in October 2024, it is not yet commenced and the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 remain in force. A review of the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing and engagement with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Apr 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: Rental Sector (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Maximum rent limits for HAP were set for each housing authority area in 2016 in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DSP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Projects (8 Apr 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: Rental Sector (8 Apr 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. To address the rent affordability challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Question No. 441 of 18 February 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The Programme for Government 2025 commits to several measures regarding the Local Authority Home Loan, one of which is ensuring that the maximum house price limits allowed under the scheme take current house prices into account. My Department has commenced work on reviewing the maximum income and property price limits to ensure the scheme remains accessible and relevant for aspiring...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (8 Apr 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 Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: My Department fully supports many flat regeneration projects which ensures that complexes with historic disadvantages are placed at the forefront of regeneration. My Department is making a number of funding channels available to Local Authorities (LA) and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) for such regeneration, including for redevelopment of Flat Complexes: Social Housing Investment Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The project plan for the regeneration of Pearse House is a matter for the Local Authority and I am advised by Dublin City Council (DCC) that they are further developing proposals to advance the regeneration of this complex. The initial proposal for the regeneration of blocks L, M, N and P was to reduce the number of homes from 78 to 44. This would result in DCC having to find permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I can confirm that effective from 1 January 2024 that, Uisce Éireann, as the national water authority, has responsibility for the remediation of Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure (DPI). As regards the maintenance and operational roles required for this infrastructure, there are a variety of arrangements in place across the country. It is not the intention that Uisce...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: In order for a household to qualify for HAP, they must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support by their local authority. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: A Transport Orientated Development (TOD) Working Group was established under the Government’s Housing for All Plan in December 2021 to consider opportunities for TOD in major urban centres. The group is jointly chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Department of Transport (DOT), and includes representatives from the National Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: In my role as majority-shareholding Minister for Gas Networks Ireland, I met with its Acting CEO on 4 March 2025 to discuss a range of issues about the company including the various projects underway, its financial performance and reputation, the gas network, recent emergency exercises, Storm Éowyn and risks and challenges ahead.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: EU Member States are required to designate areas as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect a variety of habitats and species under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011). SAC sites are part of a European network of Sites of Community Importance, known as the...