Results 781-800 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q4 2024, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: gov.ie - Overall social and affordable housing...

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

James Browne: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Harbours and Piers (29 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1348, 1349, 1350 and 1356 together. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out arrangements for the protection of our architectural heritage. The planning authority is responsible for adding buildings and features to the Record of Protected Structures; primary responsibility for preventing endangerment of protected structures then rests with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (29 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Funding for the provision or maintenance of memorials, erection of monuments, plaques, busts or statues is not provided for under my Department's heritage allocation. Local communities or organisations seeking support for the erection or maintenance of monuments and other memorials are advised to contact their relevant local authority to see if such funding is available.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Urban Development (29 Apr 2025)

James Browne: In keeping with the aims of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (UDRF) demonstrates a new and more tailored approach to the provision of Government support. Over its planned duration up to 2030, URDF funding support in excess of €2 billion will be targeted to support the regeneration and rejuvenation of our key...

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

James Browne: The most recent Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) and Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) were issued in Q2 2024. A copy of the BUCs and ACGs have been provided to all local authorities and can be made available to public representatives on request.

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

James Browne: The Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in conjunction with my Department, undertook a Review of Social Housing Delivery and Spend in January 2025. This has been published and is available at this link: review-of-social-housing-delivery-and-spend.pdf

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (29 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The EU Directive on the Conservation of Habitats, Flora and Fauna (92/43/EEC), commonly known as “the Habitats Directive” requires Member States to select sites, for the protection of habitats and species which are considered threatened in the EU territory and listed on the Annexes to the Directive. Annex I of the Habitats Directive includes priority habitats such as Active...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1361, 1362 and 1363 together. 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...

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

James Browne: The relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders

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

James Browne: Social Housing is delivered through a range of Local Authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes. Capital expenditure on the delivery of new social homes is also supported by current funding provided through the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). In respect of Affordable Housing delivery, Housing for All provides for a number of important affordability...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (29 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Commercial rates are levied on occupiers of rateable property in accordance with valuations provided by Tailte Éireann. These valuations are based on the rental value of properties assessed at a point in time. The basis for this approach to valuation is provided for in the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020. In accordance with the Valuation Acts some classes of properties such as pubs,...

Uisce Éireann: Statements (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I welcome the opportunity to reflect on the tremendous progress that has been made in water services in Ireland and the ongoing efforts of the Government and Uisce Éireann in this area. I assure the House that securing a safe and reliable water supply is a top priority for the Government, as is securing water services to facilitate housing development in all parts of the country. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Expenditure Reviews (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The Community Car Initiative (CCI) was put in place as a temporary measure to support the Offer a Home scheme, which sought the use of unoccupied homes to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine (BoTPs). An underlying principle of the Offer a Home scheme was to minimise the number of properties offered that would be declined due to their location and possible lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Conservation (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The EU Water Reuse Regulations, came into effect in June 2023, these Regulations seek to facilitate and encourage the practice of reusing treated wastewater for irrigation in agriculture. My Department undertook an ‘Evaluation of the Applicability of the Water Reuse for Agricultural Irrigation in Ireland’. The evaluation concluded that water reuse for agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment which is being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: The Government is providing ongoing, 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 received a valid, no-fault Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow persons/families...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: 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 homes. In March I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides funding to local authorities on an ongoing basis as housing projects are progressed and claims fall due for payment in line with the relevant scheme conditions. Funding only becomes owed to a local authority once all of the necessary documentation has been received and checked and the claims involved are deemed to be in order for payment. As such, the position in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Apr 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together. My Department is working to progress the housing actions in the Programme for Government, including the commitment to establish a new Strategic Housing Activation Office in my Department to help coordinate and accelerate home building by unblocking infrastructure delays. The establishment of the Strategic Housing Activation...