Results 641-660 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. The Act of 2024 introduces a range of measures to streamline the planning process for critical infrastructure projects. The Act of 2024 introduces statutory time periods for decision making for An Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún) for the first time. The...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1579 and 1582 to 1584, inclusive, together. Building on the work of the previous Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The DCB...

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

James Browne: While the NDP review 2025 does not specify detail to the level of individual projects, the allocation to Nature and Heritage under the renewed National Development Plan will support renewed investment in Ireland’s rich natural and cultural heritage and the objectives of Heritage Ireland 2030, building on the increased allocations to the NPWS in recent years. Some examples of the...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1585 and 1586 together. The existing Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) and new Construction Products Regulation (CPR (EU) 2024/3110 which will come into force in January 2026, set out rules for the marketing of construction products, including concrete blocks and aggregates for concrete, in the EU. Where a construction product covered...

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

James Browne: Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it...

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

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025 was signed into law on 19 June 2025. The Act came into operation on 20 June 2025 to immediately extend and expand the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to cover the entire country until 28 February 2026. Further legislation is being prepared and will be published later this year to give effect to the policy proposals recently announced by...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1589 and 1590 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as...

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

James Browne: 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 local authority including data on social homes acquired where tenants had been issued a Notice of Termination. This data is available to the end of Q1 2025 and is published on the statistics...

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

James Browne: My Department is working hard to achieve our shared Climate Action goals. My Department had no new actions to report on in Quarter 1 but has continued to work on delivering legacy actions carrying over from Climate Action Plan 2024. In Quarter 1 2024 two legacy actions were completed:The publication of a report on exploring investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the...

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

James Browne: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context...

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

James Browne: Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end,...

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

James Browne: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets ambitious goals for energy efficiency and renewables in buildings by requiring Nearly Zero Energy Building or “NZEB” performance for new buildings from 31 December 2020. All new dwellings are now A2 rated and electrical heating systems, which are mainly renewable heat pump, are installed in nearly all new dwellings. The CSO...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1598 and 1599 together. Group Water Schemes (GWS) are community-owned and community-run organisations supplying drinking water to their members. My Department's Rural Water Programme provides funding to the Rural Water Sector. An annual subsidy is available under the Programme to support the operational and management costs of group water schemes...

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

James Browne: Group water schemes are community-owned and community-run organisations supplying drinking water to their members. My Department does not compile the information sought on these schemes. My Department's Rural Water Programme provides funding to the Rural Water Sector including to group water schemes. The administration of the Programme is devolved to local authorities. Each local...

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

James Browne: Storm Éowyn was named by the UK Met Office on Tuesday 21 January 2025, the fifth named storm of the 2024-25 windstorm season. Widespread red and orange weather warnings were issued across Ireland and the United Kingdom ahead of the rapidly strengthening storm. Ireland experienced one of its most damaging, dangerous and destructive weather events with gale force/storm force winds,...

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

James Browne: Part 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 provides for protection of both individual structures and areas of special architectural heritage interest. The provisions largely restate those in Part 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2020, with some amendments to content and planning authority procedures. It remains the case that structures and parts of structures are protected by...

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

James Browne: As set out in Part IV of the Planning and Development Act (2000), the planning authority - in this case Dublin City Council - has primary responsibility for the protection of architectural heritage within its functional area. The mechanisms through which it can exercise this function include designating architectural conservation areas and protected structures, adding relevant objectives to...

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

James Browne: The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) within my Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are administered in the main by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). The BHIS provides grants of between...

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

James Browne: Our built heritage is an important public good, enhancing the character and amenity of our cities, towns, villages, and countryside, providing employment for skilled building professionals, and helping to abate our carbon emissions by reducing the need for new construction. In my view it is a matter of significant public interest that the provisions of the Planning and Development Act (2000)...