Results 761-780 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay. Local discretion and flexibility are...

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

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Question No. 768 of 22 January 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

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

James Browne: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts in 25 of the 31 local authorities at sub-county level, while area committees would operate in the 3 city authorities of Cork, Dublin and Galway, and the 3 Dublin county authorities. The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future contains a commitment to convene a Local Democracy...

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

James Browne: I fully acknowledge the distress caused to those who were severely impacted by the recent storm and subsequent power outages and in particular those who were impacted for long periods of time. Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Network and they are independent in the exercise of their respective functions. ESB networks 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. 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: Sports Facilities (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Cork Event Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre. To comply with the requirements of the infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Met Éireann briefings presented at the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) meetings are designed to support the decision making of emergency response stakeholders including government departments and agencies. The weather information presented at the NECG meetings is all available on Met Éireann’s website and mobile applications as well as more detailed,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Weather Events (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Met Éireann routinely reviews its Weather Warning process and such considerations are part of wider ongoing discussions with their colleagues in the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, and the local authority sector in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. In line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable purchase housing schemes is a matter for the local authority concerned, in this case Waterford City and County Council. This includes the determination of the minimum affordable price at which particular homes will be advertised and agreeing the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department granted funding approval-in principle to Waterford City and County Council's proposed development of 50 new build social homes at at Fairlane, Dungarvan on 23 March 2024. It is now a matter for the Council to advance the design of the project and take it through the planning process. The social housing element will be funded via the Social Housing Investment Programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department provided approval to Waterford City & County Council in April 2024 to advance this social housing project through the planning process and onto the preparation of the tender for the construction contract. I look forward to the Council's earliest possible advancement of this project and can confirm that funding is in place to support its construction. Further...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I understand that Waterford City & County Council commenced the construction of the new social housing development at Shandon, Dungarvan in December 2024. My Department has approved funding of €12.7m to the Council in respect of this 38 home project and I look forward to its completion as soon as possible. Further information on the project will be available directly from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were introduced under Part 3 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Planning and Development Act 2024, extended the operation of these rent controls until 31 December 2025. In 2024 my Department completed a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Tourist Accommodation (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Legislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) which came into effect on 1 July 2019. Under this legislation which is applicable in RPZs: Short term...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Meetings (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: An Interdepartmental Group (comprising the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of both Departments and Údarás na...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 relates to applicable developments of houses on any land that is zoned as residential (either exclusively or mixed use), or is granted planning permission for houses as a material contravention of the development plan. The purpose of Part V is for the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from the granting of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Animal Diseases (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: There has been no outbreak of Bubonic Plague at Dublin Zoo in 2024, nor in any other Irish zoo. Bubonic plague is caused by a bacterium named ‘Yersinia pestis’. There is, in contrast, a common bacteria of world wide distribution that can infect and, on occasion, kill a range of animal species called Yersinia enterocolitica (previously known as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis). ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Artificial Intelligence (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: My Department has not allocated funding in the past fiscal year, or in the year ahead, towards artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research. My Department does not currently conduct any operations using artificial intelligence tools. My Department is, however, currently conducting a program of work to assess if a Microsoft AI product, specifically Copilot for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (6 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for...