Results 681-700 of 7,010 for speaker:James Browne

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/...

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

James Browne: My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to the coordination of national level responses to severe weather and flooding emergencies, where warranted. My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management undertakes this role and works closely with local authority Severe...

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

James Browne: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020. The amount of rates liable on a property is determined by multiplying the valuation of the property set by Tailte Éireann by the Annual Rate...

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

James Browne: The Strategic Action Plan for the Renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 2022-2024, approved by Government in May 2022, committed to establishing a Stakeholder Forum. No such commitments were made to establish a Nature Advisory Council and in that regard, the Government has no plans to establish one. An Independent Advisory Committee to guide the drafting of the Nature...

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

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2024 was enacted on 12 July 2024 and came into operation on 19 July 2024. The Act amends the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 with the key aim of limiting to not more than 41 weeks, the duration of a tenancy or licence in student specific accommodation, other than at the request of the student. My Department and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)...

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

James Browne: The ongoing management and maintenance of Approved Housing Body (AHB) properties is a matter for the each AHB in conjunction with the relevant local authority, in this instance South Dublin County Council. AHBs are regulated by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority and fall under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board. AHBs are subject to the Residential Tenancies Acts...

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

James Browne: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. Each...

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

James Browne: Homeless HAP is an adjunct to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme rather than a separate scheme in itself. It comprises additional financial supports and access to the Place Finder service. The administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times may vary across local authorities. Once a HAP...