Results 741-760 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

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

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

James Browne: My Department notes the commitment in the recently published Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments. In light of this commitment, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy...

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

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, sets out mandatory objectives for local authorities, which must be addressed in the drafting of their Development Plan governing local development policies. Section 10(2)(m) of the Planning and Development Act includes a requirement that, where there is a Gaeltacht area within the planning authority’s administrative area, the...

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

James Browne: The Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes (‘Scheme’) provides for the funding, through Owner Management Companies (OMCs), of emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in affected buildings pending completion of the full remedial works. As of 31 January 2025, 195 applications to...

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

James Browne: In line with a commitment in Housing for All, my Department carried out a review of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) to consider the role of RAS in the private market, taking account of the impact of HAP and AHB participation. The review was carried out in consultation with key stakeholders (including all local authorities) and is published at the link below:

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

James Browne: The Housing Commission was established to consider housing policy post-2030 and to make proposals building on Housing for All. My Department is currently assessing the Report of the Housing Commission, which was published by Government in May last year. The assessment is complex given the breadth of housing policy areas covered in the Report, the quantum of recommendations and actions...

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

James Browne: The Gross Total allocations for my Department for 2025 are set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on 19 December 2024 and are available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/?referrer= http://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/#about-the-rev The allocations for A.7...

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

James Browne: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Schemes are open to eligible tenants of local authority homes that are available for sale under the various schemes. The Acts and Regulations underpinning these schemes remain in force at this time and the schemes have not been suspended by my Department. Information regarding the schemes may be located may be located on my Department’s website...

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

James Browne: As set out in Government Decision S180/20/2948 the following Ministers of State have been appointed to my Department : John Cummins, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Local Government and Planning; Christopher O'Sullivan, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage...

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

James Browne: The 1st Report on Relevant Public Lands, published by the Land Development Agency (LDA) in 2023, identified state owned land with potential for housing development in the five cities and five key growth towns. That potential identified is assessed by Government in light of existing and proposed uses and ongoing developments on those sites. Suitable sites for housing development that are...

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

James Browne: My Department does not collect data in respect of homes that are sale agreed. That said, data on the number of residential properties purchased are published monthly by the CSO and can be accessed on its website at . These data are disaggregated by type of dwelling (new or existing) and by buyer type (first-time buyer owner-occupier, former owner-occupier, household non-occupier, and...

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

James Browne: A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four new funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF to 2030. To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under...

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

James Browne: A hierarchy of settlements in Ireland is defined through planning policy at national, regional and local levels as part of the plan-led planning system operated under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and reinforced through Planning and Development Act 2024. The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a high-level framework for the planning and development of Ireland to...

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

James Browne: The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. ...