Results 101-120 of 7,615 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Remediation of Dwellings Damage by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023. The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities in the first instance and their role is set out clearly in the 2022 Act. Local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process. In order for a borrower to qualify for the MTR scheme, the mortgage, property, and household, must all meet detailed eligibility criteria, one of which is that the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 806, 845, 851 and 868 together. At present, the Minister for Justice and his Department continue to have responsibility for the oversight of Owner Management Companies. Under the Programme for Government my Department will take responsibility for the Multi-Unit Development Acts to streamline support for owners’ management companies and improve...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department provides funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. Projects supported through this fund cover a range of biodiversity related activities, including hedgerow work, invasive alien...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market. In this regard, supply has increased significantly over the last five years, with almost 140,000 new homes delivered since the beginning of 2020. From the launch of Housing for All to the end of Q4 2024, nearly 13,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered alongside schemes such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 809 and 829 together. The drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill is progressing. Various issues requiring legal advice are under consideration. The Bill is included in the Government Legislation Summer Programme 2025 and I intend to seek Government approval to publish shortly. Subject to this approval, the General Scheme will be made...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 811 and 812 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: In keeping with the aims of the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) demonstrates a tailored approach to the provision of Government support for urban development projects. Over its planned duration to 2030, URDF funding support in excess of €2 billion will be targeted to support the regeneration and development of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The main objective of the is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the Building Regulations in the construction sector which will benefit consumers and the general public. The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) was appointed in January 2023 as the statutory registration body for the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI). The...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is progressing this matter and will proceed with all the required investigative works prior to the award of contract. It has engaged locally with representatives of the relevant stakeholders and positive discussions about the issues have taken place. The scale of the works are significant, and made more complex by the site location being within...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) plays a vital role in safeguarding Ireland's marine environment. This includes responsibilities such as designating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)*, conserving marine habitats and species under EU directives, and overseeing licensing and research activities related to marine biodiversity. Some 580 staff are employed in the NPWS, of whom 549 are...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. This is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness, and that unquestionably must be the priority for all local authorities including Fingal County Council. My Department is continuing to providing substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 865 together. The Programme for Government commits to a new national housing plan to underpin delivery of more than 300,000 houses between 2025 and end 2030, including delivery of an average of 12,000 and 15,000 social and starter homes per annum over the period. Work to translate these national targets to local authority, tenure-specific targets...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q4 2024 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: On 15 October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. This Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for future needs. It sets out 14 high-level actions that provide a coordinated pathway to ensure a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The matter raised is one in which, in my role as Minister with responsibility for Housing, Planning and Local Government, I have no statutory function. Local authorities have no role in the regulation of commercial drone operations. This is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), which is under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Transport, whose Department has responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 860 together. Cost Rental housing is a key tool in the Government's efforts to make rents more affordable and renting more secure. It is a new form of tenure in Ireland, established in 2021, where the tenant pays a rent which is set to cover the cost of delivering, managing, and maintaining the home. Cost Rental is targeted at people within the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: A contribution towards relevant education and training programmes at QQI Level 6 and higher is only one of a number of supports available to elected members to assist them in carrying out their role. Councillors can also avail of allowances including for conferences, seminars and training by recognised bodies in order to enhance their knowledge and skills. Councillors are not employees of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Legislative Measures (10 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Marine Protected Areas Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting. It is intended to finalise this draft as soon as possible and seek government approval to publish the Bill this year. This draft Bill is intended to be a Bill in its own right and is not amending legislation. It will need revision to reflect new Ministerial responsibilities and transfers of functions between Departments...