Results 641-660 of 9,173 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1431 and 1554 together. The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities in the first instance and their...

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

James Browne: 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 Regulations 2011, as amended. Policy in respect of residency related eligibility requirements is set out in Department Circular 41 of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (29 Jul 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: Homeless Accommodation (29 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1435 to 1439, inclusive, together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for...

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

James Browne: As Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I am unable to comment on individual cases, however, as detailed under Housing for All, a comprehensive implementation strategy is in place to support the various affordable housing schemes now being delivered by a range of delivery partners. These measures are primarily aimed at supporting affordability constrained households,...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1443 and 1448 together. Local authorities were asked to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans following the publication in September 2021 of Housing for All which set out the Government's target to deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes by 2030. In preparing these plans local authorities were...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1444, 1445 and 1447 together. Government is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures, including affordable purchase. As detailed under Housing for All, the Government plans to deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes,...

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

James Browne: The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is one of a number of funding streams the Government has made available to support the delivery of affordable housing. The AHF supports the provision of affordable homes by local authorities on a project by project basis and is open to all local authorities, via an ongoing, rolling programme, to assist in the development and delivery of suitable...

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

James Browne: Government is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. As detailed under Housing for All, the Government plans to deliver 54,000 affordable homes, including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost rental homes, by 2030. A comprehensive implementation strategy is in place to support the various affordable...

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

James Browne: Local authorities receive income from a variety of sources including grants from Central Government, Local Property Tax proceeds, commercial rates and other locally-raised charges. Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices for a variety of purposes. ...

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

James Browne: The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025 “the Guidelines” were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000). Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions. Where the Guidelines...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1453 to 1455, inclusive, and 1522 together. A standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing was introduced in every local authority on 1 April 2011, through the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. Prior to 2011, many local authorities did not have income limits. Of those that did, they varied from authority to...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1456 and 1457 together. Under the Programme for Government published in January 2025, the Government committed to introduce a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All. My Department is currently examining that commitment, its implementation and the potential timeframe. While work is being undertaken to progress a new plan...

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

James Browne: I can confirm that I and a senior official from my Department met with the RIAI on 26 March. The RIAI delegates included the President and CEO.

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

James Browne: I can confirm that I and a senior official from my Department met with the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) on 15 April. The IPI delegates included the President, the Hon Secretary and a Senior Planner.

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

James Browne: My Department has made €325 million available to our local authorities for their overall social housing second-hand acquisitions activity in 2025. To date, overall, local authorities have only drawdown 35% of the allocated funding available and no Local Authority has exhausted their individual allocated funding. Fingal County Council was allocated funding of €20 million for...

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

James Browne: The Drinking Water Directive was primarily transposed into national legislation by the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No 99 of 2023). A Letter of Formal Notice regarding Ireland’s transposition of the Directive has been received by my Department. The letter outlines three concerns that refer to specific sub-articles of the Directive. The view of the...

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

James Browne: A review of the Planning Design Standards for Apartments, Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2025, was undertaken which concluded the requirements for application of the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process was not met, as the Guidelines do not establish the framework for consent for apartment projects which may be subject to environmental impact assessment (EIA) and they also do...

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

James Browne: Section 29 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2025 (Act of 2025) provides for an amendment to Part III of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000) by inserting a new section 44B allowing for the modification of a permission for residential development in specific circumstances. Section 44B will provide for a certification procedure for modifications to a planning...