Results 1,441-1,460 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I refer to my reply to Question No. 217 of 13 February 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, is the most ambitious and comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Coastal Erosion (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is aware of the long term and escalating issue of coastal erosion in the vicinity of Courtown, including its impact on Courtown Woods, part of which is managed by NPWS. The coastal erosion problem extends along a significant stretch of the coastline in the area. While some coastal protection infrastructure has previously been...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021. It assists first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a significant discount. For the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, each local authority will...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022 confirm Uisce Éireann as the national authority for water services and detail its functions and responsibilities. These Acts additionally secure the public ownership of Uisce Éireann. The government is committed in its aim to deliver a world-class public water services utility which brings best practice, cost effective water services and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (18 Feb 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 (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 436 together. Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented market. HAP rent limits are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment above the prescribed maximum rent limit. Since July 2022 this discretion level was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 Feb 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. 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 of up to €20,000 is available where the property is...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Derelict Sites (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) 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. 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 functional area does...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Construction Industry (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Government is committed to increased adoption of Modern Methods of Construction to support housing delivery. A range of initiatives have been put in place to support MMC and digitalisation including the MMC Leadership and Integration Group, led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and its publication the Roadmap for Increased Adoption of MMC in Public Housing Delivery;...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a broad national plan for strategic planning and sustainable development of urban and rural areas, with the objectives of securing balanced regional development and a sustainable approach to the form and pattern of future development. The NPF targets the five cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford) for 50% of overall national growth...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Land Issues (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) is an independent public body which was established on 3 April 2019 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended to perform the following functions:independent assessment of all local authority forward planning and regional assembly forward planning, including development plans, local area plans and regional spatial and economic...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Planning and Development Act 2024 (the 2024 Act) was signed into law on the 17 October 2024 and represents a significant reform of the planning system, consolidating over 20 years of planning legislation. The Act will be commenced on a phased basis from 2025 and will be accompanied by new regulations which will replace the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (2001...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Meteorological Services (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Based on the first point of the Meteorologist scale, with the addition of Employer’s PRSI, the full-year cost of salaries of 4 recruited Hydrometeorologists is €174,319. Where the nature of a particular post requires assignment to an operational roster, a shift allowance is paid, in addition to the officer’s basic salary.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: Housing for All targets the delivery of 18,000 new Cost Rental homes to 2030. A strong pipeline is in place and under continuous development by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies the Land Development Agency, and now also private providers under the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme. The Cost Rental model ensures that rents are based on the costs of delivering,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (18 Feb 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. A review mechanism is provided within the Act, which provides for an increase or decrease the overall grant scheme cap a year after the Act has been commenced by no more...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Gender Balance (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The information requested is set out in the table below. I have also included for completeness sake, a gender breakdown for each of the professional & technical Principal Officer and Assistant Secretary equivalent grades in my Department. Grade Grade Equivalent Female % Male % Total Secretary General ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Grant Payments (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 465 together. My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist people 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...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (18 Feb 2025)

James Browne: The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme to cover the period 2024-2026 was launched early in 2024 and local authorities were invited to submit applications for funding by 12 April, 2024. Given the large number of applications received, and in order to allow work to begin on projects as soon as possible, it was decided to take a phased approach to funding approval. I am pleased to say that...