Results 661-680 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) is an independent public body which was established on 3 April 2019 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended to perform the following functions:independent assessment of all local authority forward planning and regional assembly forward planning, including development plans, local area plans and regional spatial and economic...

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

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2024 (the 2024 Act) was signed into law on the 17 October 2024 and represents a significant reform of the planning system, consolidating over 20 years of planning legislation. The Act will be commenced on a phased basis from 2025 and will be accompanied by new regulations which will replace the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (2001...

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

James Browne: Based on the first point of the Meteorologist scale, with the addition of Employer’s PRSI, the full-year cost of salaries of 4 recruited Hydrometeorologists is €174,319. Where the nature of a particular post requires assignment to an operational roster, a shift allowance is paid, in addition to the officer’s basic salary.

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

James Browne: Housing for All targets the delivery of 18,000 new Cost Rental homes to 2030. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies the Land Development Agency, and now also private providers under the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme. The Cost Rental model ensures that rents are based on the costs of delivering,...

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

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. A review mechanism is provided within the Act, which provides for an increase or decrease the overall grant scheme cap a year after the Act has been commenced by no more...

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

James Browne: The information requested is set out in the table below. I have also included for completeness sake, a gender breakdown for each of the professional & technical Principal Officer and Assistant Secretary equivalent grades in my Department. Grade Grade Equivalent Female % Male % Total Secretary General ...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 465 together. My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid...

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

James Browne: The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme to cover the period 2024-2026 was launched early in 2024 and local authorities were invited to submit applications for funding by 12 April, 2024. Given the large number of applications received, and in order to allow work to begin on projects as soon as possible, it was decided to take a phased approach to funding approval. I am pleased to say that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 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: Defective Building Materials (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. 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...

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

James Browne: The Cost Rental Equity Loan funding Scheme is available to Approved Housing Bodies to provide affordable rented accommodation to those who meet the income eligibility requirements for cost rental homes. The nature of the Cost Rental model means that Cost Rental homes are advertised and made available at a certain rent level, which is needed to cover the costs of delivery and provision. Cost...

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

James Browne: Staffing sanction requests for posts in local authorities submitted to my Department are considered in light of Government priorities and other requirements when received. Consideration is also given to the overall staffing levels of the local authority and its ability to meet the ongoing costs involved. In terms specifically of vacancies that arise for existing posts, the majority of local...

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

James Browne: Programme for Government 2025 gives a commitment to introduce a new, all of government national housing plan to follow Housing for All, targeting an ambitious delivery of more than 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030. The targets were informed by research and modelling of population growth, the flow of new households and projected structural housing demand to 2040, which work...

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

James Browne: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons....

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

James Browne: Programme for Government 2025 commits to introducing a new, all-of-government national housing plan to follow Housing for All. Any proposals for new measures will be considered in this context. Noting that my colleague, the Minister for Finance, has responsibility for taxation matters, my Department has not undertaken any research on the impact of taxation measures similar to those mooted...

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

James Browne: My Department is assigned the Lead Government Department role for seven specific emergency scenarios by the Government’s Strategic Emergency Management Framework, published by the Office of Emergency Planning in 2017. The seven scenarios for which my Department is designated to co-ordinate a response are listed below:Severe WeatherFloodingWater Supply/ InfrastructureFire/...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together. My Department is assigned the Lead Government Department role for seven specific emergency scenarios by the Government approved Strategic Emergency Management (SEM), published by the Office of Emergency Planning in 2017. The seven scenarios for which my Department is designated to co-ordinate a response are listed below:Severe...

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

James Browne: My Department is assigned the Lead Government Department role for seven specific emergency scenarios by the Government’s Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) framework, published by the Office of Emergency Planning in 2017. The seven scenarios for which my Department is designated to co-ordinate a response are listed below:Severe WeatherFloodingWater Supply/ InfrastructureFire/...