Results 821-840 of 9,174 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (29 Jul 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 properties...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1684 and 1685 together. 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 matters raised are operational matters for Waterways Ireland, who hold the relevant, detailed information in relation...

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

James Browne: In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment...

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

James Browne: Consistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the HAP scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that some households on the waiting list, who avail of HAP, may...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1688 and 1691 together. Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for...

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

James Browne: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant...

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

James Browne: Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1692 and 1698 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 homes. In...

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

James Browne: My Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act in November 2021 and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. Discussions on the review are ongoing and it is intended, in the context of related policies, legislative amendments and funding schemes that have been developed since the...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1695 and 1696 together. The link below to my Department’s website provides an annualised breakdown in terms of total funding provided and the number of units upgraded for the years 2013 to 2024: www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitti ng-programme-expenditure-output/ My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy...

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

James Browne: The 'macroprudential rules' by which regulated financial institutions must operate for mortgage lending, including loan-to-value ratio limits, are set by the Central Bank of Ireland. In making and reviewing these rules, the Central Bank operates independently of Government. The area of banking and mortgages generally falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Finance.

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

James Browne: Matters in relation to the regulation and conduct of the property services sector in Ireland are the responsibility of the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PRSA). The PSRA was established on 3 April 2012 pursuant to the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The PSRA, has a number of key functions including; the administration of a system of investigation and adjudication of...

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

James Browne: The granting of planning permission exemptions is a function for individual local authorities not a function of my Department. As I have no function in this regard my Department does not hold the information requested.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Apprenticeship Programmes (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 or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this...

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

James Browne: Government established the Land Development Agency for the purpose of developing affordable and social housing on State lands. The LDA also works to procure housing units more broadly for cost rental and affordable purchase. Plans have recently been announced for an enhanced LDA, to increase delivery of homes across the country, with the body working to deliver more private housing as...

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

James Browne: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is a collective term which describes innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, which includes modular housing. My Department, working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and other relevant stakeholders, is progressing work to increase delivery capacity in the residential construction sector through...

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

James Browne: A draft Stage 1 proposal regarding the regeneration of Noonan's Road and surrounding streets was received by my Department in May. This proposal was discussed at a dedicated meeting between Cork City Council and my Department's architectural/QS advisors in mid July. Cork City Council is now to develop their application further in advance of submitting a revised Stage 1 proposal. Once...

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

James Browne: Government is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. A comprehensive implementation strategy is in place to support the various affordable housing schemes now being delivered by a range of delivery partners. Overall, over 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1706 and 1729 together. 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....

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

James Browne: Based on the funding drawn down by the local authorities from my Department, the table below sets out the average costs for Part V properties acquired by each local authority as new social homes in 2023, 2024 and up to the end of Q1, 2025 . It does not include data on Part V properties for social housing acquired by AHBs. Individual local authority and annual data can be influenced by...