Results 641-660 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The origin of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in Ireland is as philanthropic bodies of the nineteenth and twentieth century which built housing for the then working classes. The role of AHBs has been increasingly recognised in national housing policy documents. The publication of the Housing Policy Statement in 2011 committed to expand the role of the AHB sector. This policy intention...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department launched its blended working policy in June 2022, based on the centrally agreed blended working Framework. A phased rollout of blended working arrangements took place from September 2022 to March 2023. Staff with suitable roles, performance and remote workstations are eligible to apply for blended working. The current blended working model is 3 days per week in the office...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: As Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage I have a formal role as a prescribed body for heritage under planning legislation. The role of prescribed bodies for the purposes of heritage are set out in primary legislation in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). The various prescribed bodies are then listed in secondary legislation, the Planning and Development...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407, 408, 410, 414, 421, 449 and 473 together. The Tenant in Situ Acquisitions Programme was introduced by way of Government decision in 2023. It was originally intended as a short term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Development Contributions (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 411, 426, 429, 430, 434, 440 and 451 together. I refer to my reply to Dáil Question No. 211 of the 13 February 2025. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU), as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU), and the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) each set out the obligations of Member States/Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities or proposed development at an early stage of planning. They...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is committed under Housing for All to developing a roadmap to implement minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) standards, where feasible, for the private rental sector. This action is aimed at both improving the quality of housing stock available to rent and contributing to meeting our overall national climate targets in relation to emissions reduction. Research has been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Feb 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. Rent controls are applied on the basis of the objective evidence available via the RTB Quarterly Rent Index Report. Currently, approximately 82% of tenancies...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I refer to my reply to Question No. 217 of 13 February 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, is the most ambitious and comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is aware of the long term and escalating issue of coastal erosion in the vicinity of Courtown, including its impact on Courtown Woods, part of which is managed by NPWS. The coastal erosion problem extends along a significant stretch of the coastline in the area. While some coastal protection infrastructure has previously been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021. It assists first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a significant discount. For the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, each local authority will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022 confirm Uisce Éireann as the national authority for water services and detail its functions and responsibilities. These Acts additionally secure the public ownership of Uisce Éireann. The government is committed in its aim to deliver a world-class public water services utility which brings best practice, cost effective water services and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (18 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: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 436 together. Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented market. HAP rent limits are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment above the prescribed maximum rent limit. Since July 2022 this discretion level was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 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. 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 of up to €20,000 is available where the property is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is committed to increased adoption of Modern Methods of Construction to support housing delivery. A range of initiatives have been put in place to support MMC and digitalisation including the MMC Leadership and Integration Group, led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and its publication the Roadmap for Increased Adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a broad national plan for strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas, with the objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable approach to the form and pattern of future development. The NPF targets the five cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford) for 50% of overall national growth...