Results 841-860 of 9,174 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context...

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

James Browne: The Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) and Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department, usually on an annual basis, with the most recent update being issued to all local authorities in Q2 2025. The ACGs provide cost guidelines for the acquisition by housing authorities, of second-hand properties for the provision of social housing, including where there...

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

James Browne: Supporting individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to addressing homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. For 2025 I have made €325 million available to our local authorities for their social housing second-hand acquisitions activity including tenant-in-situ. To date, local authorities have only drawdown 36%...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1712 and 1713 together. In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications. It calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a minimum B2 BER standard by 2030, of which...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1714 and 1715 together. The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025 “the Guidelines” were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000). Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the...

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

James Browne: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.In line with the obligations of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, the organisation specified publish information about their engagement with public officials, including myself and the designated officials in my Department, as laid down under the act. This information is...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1717, 1718 and 1719 together. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in different bands according to the area concerned, with income defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards and local...

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

James Browne: The 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 let....

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

James Browne: The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, published in July 2019, reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, has 32 recommendations across 4 categories, one of which is strengthening governance arrangements. A Programme Board was established to...

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

James Browne: The Land Development Agency (LDA) recently published its 2nd Report on Relevant Public Lands, which is a statutory report in accordance with Section 52 of the Act, and is available on the LDA's website at the following link: . This edition provides an update on the 83 parcels of land identified in the 1st report, published in 2023, which focused on the ten main urban locations (five...

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

James Browne: The ‘Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ were issued in January 2024 under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2001 (as amended). Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions....

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

James Browne: The Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. The revised NPF recognises that investment in high quality, affordable early learning and childcare is critical both as an educational support for children, and as an enabler of parental labour market participation. National Policy Objective 41 of the NPF in particular prioritises...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1725 and 1726 together. The 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...

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

James Browne: Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. The...

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

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1730 and 1738 together. The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society including older people. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for our...

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

James Browne: 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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1733 and 1741 together. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021 is a Private Members’ Bill which lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Dáil on 8 November 2024.

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

James Browne: The First Home Scheme, which was launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and self-builders. The Scheme is designed to help bridge the gap between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home. The price of the new home must be within price ceilings established across the country. The First Home Scheme Designated...