Results 901-920 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 561 together. The Design Standards for Apartments, Guidelines ("The Apartment guidelines") for Planning Authorities (2025) were issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2001 ( as amended) on 8 July 2025. Planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála are required to have regard to the Guidelines and are also required...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Street Nomenclature (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: It is expected that a resolution to the legislative complexities that exist between the Local Government Acts and Official Languages Act may require primary legislation to resolve. The matter will be considered further by my Department in consultation with the relevant officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. There are a number of policy decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Uisce Éireann are in the process of developing new capital investment plan to address the Programme for Government commitment to expediting, expanding and prioritising delivery of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme. Uisce Éireann has submitted a request for additional funding to support this new capital investment, which is being considered as part of the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities are empowered under a number of statutes to acquire land, by agreement or compulsorily, for the purposes of performing any of their functions. My Department does not hold data in respect of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) applications made generally, apart from compulsory acquisition related to the Derelict Sites Act, 1990. Specifically, the number of derelict sites...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I refer my reply to Question No. 826 of 10 June 2025 (composited with Question No. 865) and advise that the position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Responsibilities (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The functions of my Department are broad and complex, and following Government formation earlier this year, there is now an additional Minister of State assigned to the Department. We have been working collaboratively with other Government Departments on Transfers of Functions also arising from the formation of the Government. The process of assessing which specific functions and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The turnaround period for Stage 1 SHIP applications can vary depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the development, suitability, value for money, information outstanding, additional information sought by the Housing Advisory Unit in my Department and compliance with the various requirements of the funding scheme, a further consideration is the possibility of revisions by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) Funding Scheme does not have a staged approval process; rather, it is a single stage approval. The average processing time for CALF applications in the past 12 months stands at 41 working days. While my Department makes every effort to process CALF applications within a six-week time frame, applications from the AHB Sector have increased in both...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The turnaround time for Stage 1 CAS applications can vary depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the development, suitability, value for money, information outstanding, additional information sought by the Housing Advisory Unit in my Department and compliance with the various requirements of the funding scheme, a further consideration is the possibility of revisions by the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) Funding Scheme does not have a staged approval process; rather, it is a single stage approval. The average processing time for CREL applications in the past 12 months stands at 60 working days. While my Department makes every effort to process CREL applications as quickly as possible, applications from the AHB Sector have increased in both size and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 empowers the Minister to direct a planning authority to take such measures as he or she may require to ensure that its development plan, or any local area plan made by it, complies with the requirements of the Act. The use of this power is conditional on the Minister first receiving a formal recommendation on the matter from the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme was established in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the restrictions on turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include 36 raised bog natural heritage areas. Eligible applicants on raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) where turf cutting ceased in 2011 will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I refer to my reply to Question No. 1262 of 29 April 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. Tailte Éireann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 Jul 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 an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 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. Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities, my Department provides funding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The information requested is set out in the table below. There is no specific grade of Ecologist in this Department, rather these posts are filled by the recruitment of Wildlife Inspector Grade 3 with the requisite qualifications. - 2023 2024 2025 Grade WTE WTE WTE Conservation Ranger 21 ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Local authorities may vary the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in their administrative area by up to 15% of the basic rate of the Tax. The decision to vary must be taken by resolution of the Council. While recent changes to the LPT legislation will allow elected members to adjust the Local Adjustment Factor (LAF) upwards to a maximum of 25%; due to the timing of the legislation, commencement...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (15 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Basking Shark was added as an animal to which Section 23 of the Wildlife Act 1976 applies under Statutory Instrument No. 485/2022, making it a “protected wild animal”. This makes it an offence to hunt, injure (unless under licence) or wilfully interfere with the breeding or resting place of this species. Tour operators or individuals who seek to photograph or research this...