Results 101-120 of 9,336 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Data Protection (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1046 and 1050 together. I am aware that an appointed data processor for the Housing Agency has experienced a cyber-incident, which has resulted in a personal data breach. My Department were informed of this on October 17th last. The data subjects affected currently appear to be applicants of the Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme, individuals who...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: My Department has had a number of engagements with the Banking and Payments Federation (BPFI) on specific issues raised by Defective Concrete Block (DCB) homeowners. As part of these discussions the BPFI has confirmed to my Department that, from their perspective, once a home has been certified as remediated under the DCB Scheme it will be treated by them in a similar manner to other...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The scheme is now open to applications in five counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Under Housing for All, the Government is committed to delivering housing at scale across all tenures to meet the needs in Wicklow and Wexford. To help achieve this, last year, Government approved new national housing targets up to the year 2030. 303,000 homes will aim to be delivered in the period from 2025 to 2030, equating to an annual average of 50,500 homes, building up to 60,000 in 2030....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1055 and 1071 together. Government is fully committed to delivering housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. Overall, over 16,900 affordable housing solutions have been delivered by our range of delivery partners since the launch of Housing for All, including 1,479 in Cork County Council, 318 in Wexford and 899 in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: 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 of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Since 2020, Government has provided substantial and sustained support to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as part of a comprehensive programme to strengthen Ireland’s capacity for nature conservation and biodiversity protection. Following the independent Review of the NPWS, completed in 2022, the Government approved the NPWS Renewal Programme, a multi-annual plan to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. The HAP application form does not request details of a HAP applicant’s nationality.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Property Registration (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide 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. I am aware of the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Funding for the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme will be agreed later this year, with individual allocations notified to local authorities as soon possible thereafter. That said, I expect the 2026 programme to maintain support for tenant in situ acquisitions as a last resort policy tool available to local authorities to prevent social housing supported households in the private rental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. It should be noted that, unlike many other jurisdictions examined, Ireland already has a well-established quasi-judicial dispute...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: I refer to my reply to Question No. 26 of 8 October 2025 which sets out the position in relation to the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments, their location and their funding programme that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 2 2025. The Q2 2025 CSR and all previous...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for Government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, set out the various actions being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In March, I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: The Repair and Leasing Scheme is one of a number of Government initiatives aimed at tackling vacancy. Under this scheme, a loan of up to €80,000 per unit is available to bring properties that have been vacant for over one year up to rental standards. The renovated home is then leased to the local authority or an AHB to provide social housing, with the loan repaid as a reduction in the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: The regeneration of social housing is a matter in the first instance for the local authority. It is the responsibility of local authorities to identify an opportunity to advance Regeneration Programmes in line with Circular N11/2007: Policy Framework for the Regeneration of Local Authority Estates in their respective administrative areas. Cork City Council has informed my Department that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for Government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, set out the various actions being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In March, I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (4 Nov 2025)

James Browne: The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available 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...