Results 741-760 of 7,010 for speaker:James Browne

Response to Storm Éowyn: Motion [Private Members] (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "commends the rapid response by local authorities, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Networks, Uisce Éireann, Community Welfare Officers and others, following Storm Éowyn; and this response, supported by the Defence Forces, Government agencies, Civil Defence and the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I assure the Deputy that the URDF, like the RRDF, is crucial to towns and villages across the country. The programme for Government provides for an expanded URDF programme under what would be known as the towns and cities infrastructure investment fund. The programme is very important and will be launched as soon as we can get it ready.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020 are responsible for determining if a property is rateable or not and entering the details on the Valuation Lists. 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. The levying and collection of rates are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The main instrument used to regulate and control development within a Local Authority’s functional area is the City or County Development Plan. These Plans, the development of which is a reserved function of the elected representatives of respective local authorities, state the policies for land use and for development control and promotion in the functional area of that local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2024 (“Act of 2024”) was enacted 17 October 2024 and represents a significant reform of the planning system, consolidating over 20 years of planning legislation. A key aim of the Act of 2024 is to put plan-making at the centre of the planning system by bringing increased clarity to the legislation and improving the functioning of the planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349, 351, 366, 375, 378 and 382 to 384, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Building Regulations (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: All new dwellings must comply with building regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations set out the minimum requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires that the energy performance for new buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Protection (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 365 together. Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Through the 15 recommendations set out in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy, which have been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The briefing material I received on commencing my role is published on my Department's website. The documents and links are set out below: 1.Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - Overview of Activities and Structure is available at: 2.Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - Overview of Housing Division Business Units Activities and Priorities is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 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. Section 51 of the Act mandates that I commence a review of the operation of the Act by June 2026 (three years after the Act's commencement) and make a report to each House...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 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. The Housing Agency acts as agent on behalf of the local authorities under the grant scheme. Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance as well as noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Climate, Environment, and Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The National Planning Framework (NPF) 2018, the long-term strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040, provides support for renewable energy development, including wind energy developments. The NPF, which is currently undergoing it's first revision, informs a spatial hierarchy of plans that cascade to regional and local levels. The draft Revised NPF includes enhanced policy...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mining Industry (11 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) both 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: Legislative Process (11 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: Weather Events (11 Feb 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 gale force/storm force winds, including severe damaging and destructive gusts of over 183 km/h, a record...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Public Sector Pay (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The pay scale that applies to the Secretary General of my Department is the Secretary General Level 1 PPC. There is one point on this scale which is currently €269,968 per annum. This scale is subject to increases under the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (11 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Expenditure relating to IT external services for 2023, 2024 and to date, February 2025, is outlined at the following link: ">Service Provision