Results 741-760 of 9,174 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government that a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All, underpinned by multi-annual funding will be published. This plan will take a whole of government approach, as Housing for All did, and my Department has been engaging across Government to agree the high-level measures that will be included in the plan. The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (29 Jul 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. The...

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. Overall, over 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All to end Q1 2025, including over 5,400 affordable purchase and cost rental homes delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land...

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

James Browne: In areas for which my Department has responsibility, there are 9 open infringement cases relating to transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation. Information on the infringement process, including information on Commission decisions is available The following table lists the relevant Directive or regulations and the stage of proceedings. Commission...

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

James Browne: 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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service...

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

James Browne: The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental...

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

James Browne: The Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) was opened in December 2023 for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The Scheme provides for the full funding of eligible interim measures in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the full remedial works under the forthcoming...

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

James Browne: 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 table below provide details in respect of the Defective Concrete Block Grant (DCB) schemes to 30 June 2025. The total grant amount recouped to four of the five designated local...

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

James Browne: The information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. My Department aims to meet government policy goals in relation to matters including (but not limited to) incorporating social considerations, environmental sustainability and SMEs when procuring. Social considerations have been incorporated into the specifications...

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

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. The Act of 2024 introduces a range of measures to streamline the planning process for critical infrastructure projects. The Act of 2024 introduces statutory time periods for decision making for An Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún) for the first time. The...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1579 and 1582 to 1584, inclusive, together. Building on the work of the previous Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The DCB...

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

James Browne: While the NDP review 2025 does not specify detail to the level of individual projects, the allocation to Nature and Heritage under the renewed National Development Plan will support renewed investment in Ireland’s rich natural and cultural heritage and the objectives of Heritage Ireland 2030, building on the increased allocations to the NPWS in recent years. Some examples of the...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1585 and 1586 together. The existing Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) and new Construction Products Regulation (CPR (EU) 2024/3110 which will come into force in January 2026, set out rules for the marketing of construction products, including concrete blocks and aggregates for concrete, in the EU. Where a construction product covered...

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

James Browne: Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it...

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

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025 was signed into law on 19 June 2025. The Act came into operation on 20 June 2025 to immediately extend and expand the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to cover the entire country until 28 February 2026. Further legislation is being prepared and will be published later this year to give effect to the policy proposals recently announced by...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1589 and 1590 together. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as...

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

James Browne: My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority including data on social homes acquired where tenants had been issued a Notice of Termination. This data is available to the end of Q1 2025 and is published on the statistics...

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

James Browne: My Department is working hard to achieve our shared Climate Action goals. My Department had no new actions to report on in Quarter 1 but has continued to work on delivering legacy actions carrying over from Climate Action Plan 2024. In Quarter 1 2024 two legacy actions were completed:The publication of a report on exploring investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the...

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

James Browne: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context...

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

James Browne: Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end,...