Results 61-80 of 6,997 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Estimates Publication (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The presentation of Voted Estimates to the Houses of the Oireacthas is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and a 2025 Further Revised Estimate for Vote 34, Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, will be presented by them in due course. All additional capital funding agreed to be provided to my Department in 2025, in addition to the allocation set out...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 629 together. 2024 Exchequer expenditure for Programme A - Housing amounted to €5.44bn, as follows: 2024 Expenditure* REV LPT Total Capital €3.63bn €78m €3.71bn Current €1.66bn €73m ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Question No. 3 of 20 March 2025 which provides details on the number of social and affordable homes approved for delivery. In addition, my Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The information requested is set out in the table below: Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024* Staff No. (FTE) at 31st December 1,207 1,366 1,560 1,675 1,738 Staff Cost - as published in the Appropriation Account €75.589m €81.060m €94.856m...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan Progress Report March 2025 outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy under Pathway 4 of Housing for All in 2024 along with the planned actions to return vacant properties into use as homes in 2025. The progress report is available on my Department's website at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mother and Baby Homes (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Following its research and consultation with survivors, their families and advocates, the Working Group is currently preparing a draft report on its deliberations, including accompanying guidelines for local authorities. The Working Group met last week to progress matters and drafting is now at an advanced stage. The Working Group will meet again in the coming weeks to agree a final...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Apr 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 current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted 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: Departmental Inquiries (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of social housing need including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Additional capital funding of €450m was agreed by Government for the approval of projects to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes. Under this funding, some 3,000 new homes are expected to be delivered over the period 2025-27, of which, 2,261will be delivered through the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) and the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). A further 1,325 new social...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The information requested is set out in the table below. Minister Role Payscale Minister James Browne Private Secretary1 Administrative officer Higher Scale PPC - €54,304 - €75,765 Special Advisor Principal Officer PPC - €104,971 - €122,054 Special...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: In accordance with the guidance provided by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for the 34th Dáil I have appointed two advisers as follows - John McDonald Mr. McDonald has previously served as a Special Adviser to Minister Eamonn Ryan in the Departments of Transport and Environment, Communications and Climate, as well as serving as a Secretarial and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I am pleased that the Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together. The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a minimum BER rating of B2. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme over the period 2021 to 2030 inclusive. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Energy Conservation (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a research paper in February 2025, which explores the investment requirements for energy efficiency upgrades in the private rental sector. The research was funded by my Department, under a joint programme the Department operates with the ESRI. The ERSI’s research is a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (8 Apr 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. In light of their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waste Management (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Waterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The detailed information requested in relation to the installation of public bins along the Grand Canal by Waterways Ireland is not held in my Department. However, arrangements have...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. The Planning and Development Act 2024, includes a number of new provisions relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (8 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together. The Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of social housing need including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for...