Results 941-960 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The rules and procedures of the High Court are set out in the rules of the superior courts and these are made by the Superior Courts Rules Committee in concurrence with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. If by good practice guidelines the Deputy is talking about practice directions, it is my understanding that these are issued by the President of the High Court under...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I am very strongly of the view that the operation and procedures of the superior courts is a matter for the Judiciary of the superior courts. It would be inappropriate for the Oireachtas to set down statutory timelines for the courts. The courts need to be able to manage their lists in the manner they see fit. That is my personal opinion and my position as an officeholder.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Amendment No. 8 seeks to introduce a use it or lose it principle into the Act of 2024. The amendment itself does not appear to amend a specific section of the Act of 2024 or to outline any details or criteria concerning the timeframes to be specified for commencement or what penalties may be applied. While it is, of course, important that we encourage holders of permissions to commence...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I will address amendments Nos. 5, 15 and 19 together. These amendments relate to the Bill's compliance with the Aarhus Convention. Amendment No. 5 seeks to provide for third-party observations as part of the suspension of duration of a permission while it is subject to a judicial review by amending section 13. Amendment No. 15 seeks to make similar provisions for third-party...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The amendment seeks to amend section 13, which amends section 180 of the Act of 2024. In relation to the suspension of the duration of permission while a judicial review is ongoing, the current provisions provide that where a person is seeking a suspension of duration in respect of a concluded judicial review, they must submit a declaration that the development did not substantially commence...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Obviously, the amount of time given will be up to the Business Committee, but I have no difficulty with substantial time being given for it.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I will address amendments Nos. 2 and 9 as tabled. Amendment No. 2 seeks to reduce the standard duration of a permission in the Act of 2024 from five years down to three years, while amendment No. 9 seeks to make the same amendment in respect of the 2000 Act. I cannot accept these amendments. The purpose of having a specified period for a planning permission to act upon is to balance the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I understand where both Deputies are coming from. Having examined it, there are some challenges around shortening the period. I understand the Deputies' intention. However, when we look at the necessity for bigger projects to secure finance, deal with compliance and complete the development, the five-year period is a more balanced approach to...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Amendment No. 1 seeks to provide for the zoning of land for the particular use of affordable housing. The amendment itself appears to amend a wrong section of the Bill, as section 4 of the Bill amends section 45 of the principal Act, which deals with the implementation and monitoring of regional spatial and economic strategies. In any event, I cannot accept this amendment as zoning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Conservation (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Irish hare is protected under the Irish Wildlife Acts and under the EU’s Habitats Directive. As such Ireland is required to ensure the favourable conservation status of the species. The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department undertakes regular monitoring surveys of hares nationally. From their work, and the results of surveys in other countries, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 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: National Archives (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Wildlife Act 1976 was sponsored by the Minister for Lands and came into operation on 1 June 1977. My Department is seeking to establish the custody of the files referenced, the extent to which those files have been archived and to ensure that these files are identified, archived and made available for inspection. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department (NPWS) has...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Government is firmly committed to honouring the men and women of 1916. The Government's countermotion to the aforementioned Private Members' Business, which is published in the Official Report of Dáil Éireann of 1 July 2025, clearly reaffirmed this. In this regard, it is worth recalling that the Government ran a hugely successful and inclusive Decade of Centenaries,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. The responsibility for the proper operation and maintenance of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, lies with the individual property owner. Owners must ensure that their systems are functioning effectively and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. Regular maintenance, desludging, and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: Under the current cycle of my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP), which covers the period to the end of 2026, almost 900 applications for funding were received from local authorities across the country. As part of the application process, an independent Expert Panel is tasked with evaluating all applications received and reviewing each individual project, assessing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2024, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Where there is a question regarding the appropriate level of rent paid, a dispute may be referred to the RTB under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2025)

James Browne: I refer to the reply to Question No. 500 of 8 July 2025, which sets out the position in this matter.