Results 141-160 of 9,065 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum (AHBSF), established in December 2023, undertook a comprehensive review of the AHB sector throughout 2024, in line with commitments under Housing for All. The Forum was mandated to consult key stakeholders in order to develop a vision for the evolution of the sector over a 10yr+ time horizon, and to identify the principals and reforms that would...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: As provided for in Section 4 of the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) 2019 (the Act), a review of the effectiveness and operation of the Act shall take place not later than 6 months after a period of 5 years from the establishment of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA). AHBRA was established in February 2021, my Department is currently considering the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Regeneration Projects (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: My Department currently supports a programme of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Dublin and Cork. These regeneration projects target the most disadvantaged communities, and seek to address the challenges within these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan was adopted by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure all their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Project Díon is a large scale digital transformation project being led by my Department with relevant stakeholders (including the local authorities) to introduce more streamlined, efficient and automated processes and enhanced reporting capabilities across over 30 housing programmes. This very significant strategic digital transformation project will take years to fully implement....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: 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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: An Interim Remediation Scheme (‘Scheme’) has been in place since December 2023, to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings pending introduction of the Statutory Scheme and completion of the full remedial works. The Scheme is for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes constructed between 1991 and 2013. As of the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I recently secured an additional €50 million on foot of the recently concluded National Development Plan discussions to expand the social housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme for 2025, bringing the budget available to €375 million for the year. This funding is ring-fenced and separate from any allocation provided generally under the Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Artificial Intelligence (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: The AIMSIR Centre (Artificial Intelligence for Meteorological Services, Innovation and Research) is a UCD-Met Éireann research initiative funded by Met Éireann’s Weather and Climate Research Programme. Its primary aim is to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science to advance Ireland’s capabilities in weather and climate services. The AIMSIR Centre was...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Services (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Storm Éowyn was named by the UK Met Office on Tuesday 21 January 2025, the fifth named storm of the 2024-25 windstorm season. Widespread red and orange weather warnings were issued across Ireland and the United Kingdom ahead of the rapidly strengthening storm. Ireland experienced one of its most damaging, dangerous and destructive weather events with gale force/storm force winds,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 328, inclusive, together. 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 Q1 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (7 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 330 together. Local Property Tax (LPT) is administered and collected by the Revenue Commissioners and subsequently transferred into the Local Government Fund (LGF). The funds are ultimately redistributed, by my Department, to local authorities in accordance with the Government’s allocation policies. In overall terms, LPT broadens the tax...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

James Browne: I welcome the opportunity to discuss with the select committee my Department's Further Revised Estimate for 2025. I am joined by John Cummins TD, Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning, and the following officials from my Department: Ms Marguerite Ryan, assistant secretary for corporate support; Mr. Paul Benson, assistant secretary for social housing...

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

James Browne: It was just a technical decision to put it in there but I will get the Deputy a more detailed answer.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

James Browne: That is correct.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

James Browne: Our very clear intention is to deliver as many as possible and we are confident in that. If a situation arises where additional funding is needed, it will be sought but I do not expect or anticipate that will be the case.

Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Further Revised) (2 Oct 2025)

James Browne: That will be assessed as we get closer to the end of the year. It may the case that some funding will not be drawn down until we are into the new year. The key point is-----