Results 121-140 of 7,753 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (17 Jun 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: Public Private Partnerships (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together. The clear focus of this 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. The social housing PPP...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Development Agency (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: As a key partner in the Government’s delivery of affordable and social homes, the Land Development Agency (LDA) is activating and securing the delivery of social and affordable homes in stalled planning consented developments, managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes and partnering with local authorities to unlock housing delivery at scale on their lands. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Service (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522, 523 and 524 together. 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 Act 1981 & 2003. My Department supports the fire...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Websites (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: My Department employs analytic tools that have the facility to track website traffic. In late 2024 the government analytics provider changed for operational reasons. The data for the period 11 June 2024 to 30 November 2024 is from Google Analytics 4 (GA4). The data supplied for the period from 1 December 2024 to 11 June 2025, is from our current analytics provider, Matomo. Please...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 529 together. My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The Implementation Plan sets out 107 Actions, across the themes of the Strategy, to achieve the vision of the joint...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Jun 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 top-up grant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site as defined in the legislation. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Press and public relations functions are generally undertaken by my Department's Press Office and Communications Unit. My Department has not had any contracts with public relations agencies or consultants to assist with Department public relations in 2024. Separately, Met Éireann, which is currently a line division of my Department, engaged MKC Communications, last year at a cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) can avail of Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding to provide for specific target groups, including age-friendly housing, housing for individuals and families who are homeless, for people with a disability, for care leavers, and for Domestic Violence Refuges. Applications to deliver new social housing under CAS are made by AHBs to the relevant housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Ireland (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: Waterways Ireland proposes to update the Shannon Bye-laws and Canal Bye-laws which are more than 30 years old. The needs of users have changed, environmental landscape and health and safety considerations have developed significantly and the waterways themselves have been transformed over the past thirty years. The purpose of updating the Bye-laws is to make the waterways safer for those...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Waterways Issues (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: As this is a complicated process dependent on the outcome of investigations, it is not possible to provide a timeframe at this stage. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is endeavouring to progress this issue as soon as possible, and tenders have issued for assistance in conducting the required testing/investigations. The results of these investigations will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541 and 542 together. The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments in urban cores for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to activate the supply of units which otherwise would not be delivered due to viability challenge by providing funding support to bridge the current "Viability Gap" between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: I am aware of the Kilmainham Mill restoration project being undertaken by Dublin City Council (DCC) and of the stabilisation work carried out so far, which has weather-proofed the site and ensured its ongoing security. DCC have informed me that a detailed conservation study and master vision exercise were completed in 2023 while a programme of events was run with the Dublin City Council...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: National Monuments (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 (the Act) was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and enacted on 13 October 2023. While the Act is now law, its provisions are being brought into force on a phased basis, by way of a series of Commencement Orders. When fully commenced, the Act will introduce a range of measures designed to bolster the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Judicial Reviews (17 Jun 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 Data (17 Jun 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: Housing Schemes (17 Jun 2025)

James Browne: There is a record level of investment being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. Government's main emphasis remains on constructing new homes and that unquestionably, is the correct approach and must be the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

James Browne: While the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024, it is in the process of being commenced. The provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Regulations of 2001) remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (12 Jun 2025)

James Browne: The EU Nature Restoration Regulation entered into force on 18 August 2024. It sets out a framework for EU Member States to restore nature, with binding targets for a wide range of ecosystems including rivers, forests, oceans, urban and agricultural areas, as well as protected habitats and species throughout the State. Ireland has until 1 September 2026 to draft and submit a draft National...