Results 1,541-1,560 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 791 and 810 together. The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These...

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

James Browne: Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment which is being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 794 and 795 together. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, funding...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 and 821 together. A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the...

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

James Browne: There are currently 8 (7.5 WTE) staff serving in my Department's Vacant Homes Unit.

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

James Browne: The Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need, including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. For 2025, Government has increased the funding available for second hand social housing acquisitions...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Inquiries (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 scheme facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks. The grant awarded to an applicant under the Scheme,...

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

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 801 and 842 together. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless...

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

James Browne: The 2011 Social Housing Regulations, as amended, contain the statutory basis under which local connection is determined. Under regulation 5, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only (the “housing authority of application”), which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or where the...

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...