Written Answers Nos. 123-142
123. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the decision-making process concerning the retendering of the Cork event centre project, with particular emphasis on five detailed aspects (details supplied). [3808/25]
View answerThe Cork Event Centre was included as a Government commitment under the revised National Development Plan in 2021. This underlines the Government’s support for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre.
To comply with the requirements of the infrastructure Guidelines, my Department requested a Final Business Case (FBC) from Cork City Council and following completion of the detailed design work on the proposed Events Centre, the Council submitted the FBC on 23 February 2024. Following review of the FBC, the procurement process and state aid considerations were identified as project-specific risks which needed to be addressed.
The Government decision of 22 October 2024 re-affirms commitment to and ongoing Exchequer funding support for an Events Centre in Cork City, given its strategic alignment with the growth ambition for Cork City, as set out in the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan. This commitment has been further supported, in the draft Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future – “Work towards the completion of the Cork Events Centre to enhance Cork’s cultural landscape and boost the city’s regeneration”.
The Government decision requires that the procurement process begins afresh and that a Project Development Board (PDB), led by Cork City Council, be established to expedite the process.
The decision further requires that a wholly separate engagement process with the preferred bidder under the previous tender process be undertaken, for the purposes of determining a fair and proportionate response to their involvement to date.
My Department wrote to Cork City Council on 31 October 2024 outlining details of the Government decision and the next steps required of the Council in order to begin formation of the PDB.
The first meeting of the PDB took place in January 2025, with a further meeting of the Board set for February 2025. In the interim, the Council is progressing with two workstreams, one to procure a project management delivery team and the other dealing with the separate engagement process with the preferred bidder under the previous procurement process, as required by the Government decision.
The PDB is required to report on progress to Government every three months from the date of the Government decision.
124. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Met Éireann will undertake to publish in full the high-level weather briefings issued to local authorities and other agencies in advance of severe weather events, in order that members of the public can avail of full information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3632/25]
View answerThe Met Éireann briefings presented at the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) meetings are designed to support the decision making of emergency response stakeholders including government departments and agencies.
The weather information presented at the NECG meetings is all available on Met Éireann’s website and mobile applications as well as more detailed, localised forecast information designed to support the public in decision making.
Additionally, after NECG meetings this weather information is included in the public messaging and press releases issued.
125. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Met Éireann will review its system of warnings to allow for a more granular breakdown, by local electoral area rather than county, to take into account the difference in geography within counties, provide more accurate warnings and avoid discrepancies at county bounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3633/25]
View answerMet Éireann routinely reviews its Weather Warning process and such considerations are part of wider ongoing discussions with their colleagues in the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, and the local authority sector in Ireland.
126. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the price, including the equity stake held by Waterford City and County Council, of three-bed and four-bed units in a development (details supplied) in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3634/25]
View answer127. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the price, including the equity stake held by Waterford City and County Council, of two-bed and three-bed units in a development (details supplied) in Tramore, Co. Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3635/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
In line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable purchase housing schemes is a matter for the local authority concerned, in this case Waterford City and County Council. This includes the determination of the minimum affordable price at which particular homes will be advertised and agreeing the Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement, including the shared equity arrangement, with the approved affordable purchase candidates on the basis of their specific purchasing power.
The following table sets out the market value and the minimum affordable prices advertised in respect of the range of homes on offer at Brindle Close, Kilbarry and at The Courtyard, Ballycarne, Tramore:
|
Affordable Scheme |
House Type |
Open Market Value |
Minimum Affordable Price |
|
Kilbarry |
3 Bedroom |
€299,000 |
€224,000 |
|
Kilbarry |
4 Bedroom |
€349,000 |
€274,000 |
|
Tramore |
2 Bedroom Terrace |
€326,000 |
€251,000 |
|
Tramore |
3 Bedroom Terrace |
€356,000 |
€281,000 |
|
Tramore |
3 Bedroom End of Terrace |
€371,000 |
€296,000 |
|
Tramore |
3 Bedroom Semi-Detached |
€379,000 |
€304,000 |
The upfront price that purchasers availing of the local authority affordable purchase scheme pay for their new home is based on their purchasing power and means.
The gap between the market value of the home and the upfront price being paid by each purchaser sets the size of equity stake held by the local authority. The equity share will vary in accordance with the individual financial circumstances of each purchaser availing of the scheme, and in the case of the homes in Kilbarry and Tramore it will lie between 5% and 25% of the market value.
128. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the application by Waterford City and County Council for a mixed tenure development at Fairlane, Dungarvan to include affordable, cost-rental, and social housing units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3636/25]
View answerMy Department granted funding approval-in principle to Waterford City and County Council's proposed development of 50 new build social homes at at Fairlane, Dungarvan on 23 March 2024. It is now a matter for the Council to advance the design of the project and take it through the planning process. The social housing element will be funded via the Social Housing Investment Programme.
With regard to the mixed tenure element, my Department has yet to receive funding applications for Affordable Purchase or Cost Rental via the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), or Cost Rental via the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding related to this project.
129. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the application by Waterford City and County Council for a social housing development at An Sean Phobal, County Phort Láirge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3637/25]
View answerMy Department provided approval to Waterford City & County Council in April 2024 to advance this social housing project through the planning process and onto the preparation of the tender for the construction contract. I look forward to the Council's earliest possible advancement of this project and can confirm that funding is in place to support its construction.
Further information on the project will be available directly from the Council.
130. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the application by Waterford City and County Council for a social housing development at Shandon, Dungarvan, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3638/25]
View answerI understand that Waterford City & County Council commenced the construction of the new social housing development at Shandon, Dungarvan in December 2024. My Department has approved funding of €12.7m to the Council in respect of this 38 home project and I look forward to its completion as soon as possible.
Further information on the project will be available directly from the Council.
131. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the rent pressure zone scheme to assess if it has succeeded in achieving any of its stated objectives; if improvements can be made to address rent increases in districts where families and individuals are under severe pressure to pay rent or find affordable properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3639/25]
View answerRent Pressure Zones (RPZs) were introduced under Part 3 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Planning and Development Act 2024, extended the operation of these rent controls until 31 December 2025.
In 2024 my Department completed a review of the Irish rental sector. This review noted clear challenges with the current system of rent controls using RPZs while acknowledging the need to ensure the regulatory system for the rental market adequately balances the interests of landlords and tenants and supports a sustainable long-term model for rent price regulation.
My Department has requested the Housing Agency to undertake a review which will assess the operation of RPZs and it is expected that this review will be completed by end of Q1 2025. Any potential future policy options that arise from this review will be fully considered by the Government and implemented as required.
132. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure the adequate regulation of short-term letting operators by local authorities, including the provision of necessary powers and resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/25]
View answerLegislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (the Regulations) which came into effect on 1 July 2019.
Under this legislation which is applicable in RPZs:
• Short term letting is defined as the letting of a house or apartment, or part of a house or apartment, for any period not exceeding 14 days;
• Homesharing (the letting of a room or rooms in a person’s principal private residence) continues to be permissible on an unrestricted basis and is exempted from the new planning requirements;
• Homesharers are allowed to sub-let their entire principal private residence (house or apartment) on a short term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days where they are temporarily absent from their home;
• Where the 90 day threshold is exceeded, change of use planning permission is required.
If a person homeshares their principal private residence in a RPZ and wishes to avail of the new planning exemptions, they need to register this with their local planning authority and fulfil specified reporting obligations.
However, where a person owns a property in a RPZ which is not their principal private residence and intends to let it for short term letting purposes, s/he is required to apply for a change of use planning permission unless the property already has a specific planning permission to be used for tourism or short-term letting purposes.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, including change of use, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission.
In making their decision, planning authorities shall have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, the policies of Government, Ministerial Guidelines and any submissions or observations received on the application during the public participation process in accordance with section 34 of the Act.
Where an applicant wishes to question the decision of the planning authority made under section 34 of the Act, they may appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála under section 37 of the Act within four weeks of the decision of the planning authority. In addition, the decision of the Board may be subject to judicial review within 8 weeks of the decision of the Board under sections 50 and 50A of the Act.
If a person wishes to establish whether or not planning permission is required for a particular development proposal, they can seek a declaration in this regard from their local planning authority under Section 5 of the Act.
Local planning authorities are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the short-term letting planning arrangements and submit quarterly data returns to my Department.
133. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with officials in Údarás na Gaeltachta, Waterford City and County Council, and Rannóg Gaeltachta of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media regarding the development of affordable housing in Gaeltacht na nDéise, given the pressing need for tailored housing solutions in Gaeltacht communities. [3641/25]
View answerAn Interdepartmental Group (comprising the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of both Departments and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas. Interdepartmental Group and Working Group meetings took place in 2023 and bilateral Departmental engagement continued into 2024 and is ongoing.
Any finalised draft guidelines will be subject to mandatory screening under EU law for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). It is intended that, in consultation with DRCDG, subject to the outcome of the screening exercises, the draft guidelines will then be published for public consultation.
In relation to affordable housing, all local authorities have developed and published their Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out their plans to deliver social and affordable housing during the period from 2022-2026. This follows a comprehensive Housing Needs and Demand Assessment. Each local authority's Action Plan is available on their official website.
Affordable homes will be allocated according to the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and the Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 21/2023). Each Local Authority is required to prepare a Scheme of Priority (SoP), determining the order of priority to be accorded to eligible applicants.
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to assist towards the cost of developing affordable housing at locations where significant affordability needs have been identified.
My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist local authorities and other agencies in relation to ongoing development of their affordable housing delivery programmes.
134. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider enabling local authorities to acquire proportions greater than 20% for social and affordable housing under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 - 2021 in certain circumstances, such as in Ardmore, County Waterford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3642/25]
View answerPart V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 relates to applicable developments of houses on any land that is zoned as residential (either exclusively or mixed use), or is granted planning permission for houses as a material contravention of the development plan. The purpose of Part V is for the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from the granting of planning permission for residential development.
The Part V legislation provides for local authorities to acquire up to 20% of this land at existing use value and to use it to deliver homes to those households who qualify for social and affordable housing support.
My Department introduced changes to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 under Part 6 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, which was enacted on 3 September 2021. The contribution required for social and affordable housing, including cost rental housing, under Part V of the Planning and Development 2000 is now a mandatory 20% for planning permissions granted in respect of land purchased before September 2015 and since 1 August 2021. Previous to this the Part V contribution was 10% for social housing only. On foot of these changes a minimum of 10% of the overall contribution must be for social housing and in areas where there is no affordable housing requirement, the entire net monetary value may be applied to social housing. These changes are now in effect for land bought pre-September 2015 or post July 2021.
Local authorities are free to decide how the 20% Part V contribution is broken down in terms of social and affordable housing (with a minimum 10% social housing). This is done in line with the local authorities housing need as identified in its Housing Strategy made as part of its Development Plan. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with developers as part of the planning process where they can ensure that any dwellings procured as part of these agreements meet with local need. I have no plans to further review Part V at this time.
It is important to note that Part V is only one delivery stream. Record levels of funding are being provided to support the delivery of social homes by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. In 2025, over €6bn in investment is available to support the delivery of housing made up of €3.1bn exchequer funding, €1.25 allocated to the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €1.65bn for the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). Funding for 2025 includes over €2.3bn to support the delivery of affordable homes through a combination of Exchequer and other funding. This funding will support the delivery of affordable homes through the First Home Scheme, the Affordable Housing Fund, the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme and the Help-to-Buy initiative.
135. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service was informed of the deaths from bubonic plague (also known as the Black Death) of monkeys at Dublin Zoo in 2024; the steps that were taken to prevent and track any contagion to wild animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3697/25]
View answerThere has been no outbreak of Bubonic Plague at Dublin Zoo in 2024, nor in any other Irish zoo.
Bubonic plague is caused by a bacterium named ‘Yersinia pestis’. There is, in contrast, a common bacteria of world wide distribution that can infect and, on occasion, kill a range of animal species called Yersinia enterocolitica (previously known as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis).
It is the latter infection that has occurred at Dublin Zoo. This infection is a common occurrence in a range of animal species and it does not cause Bubonic Plague.
136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programmes or Department operations are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3711/25]
View answerMy Department has not allocated funding in the past fiscal year, or in the year ahead, towards artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research. My Department does not currently conduct any operations using artificial intelligence tools.
My Department is, however, currently conducting a program of work to assess if a Microsoft AI product, specifically Copilot for Power BI, could enhance the flexibility and capability of the Housing For All reporting service that is available through the Insights data platform. This scope of this work includes testing key publicly available datasets in a secure test environment and will involve a robust assessment of the results to identify any potential opportunities for the use of artificial intelligence tools. There is no decision on the use of AI beyond this initial testing and there is no associated financial cost to the Department.
137. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the contingency plan available for those with complex needs who cannot access existing hostel accommodation in Cork city. [3720/25]
View answer138. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the contingency plan available for those without access to accommodation when hostel services are at capacity in Cork city. [3721/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 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 persons rests with individual local authorities. Decisions on the assessment of households for homeless services, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter for the local authority concerned.
While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. The South West region includes Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Kerry County Council, for the purposes of homeless administration, with Cork City Council as lead authority.
A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region, and to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
Local authorities and their service delivery partners work closely with all households in need of emergency accommodation to provide appropriate emergency accommodation, and the ultimate aim is to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy.
An allocation of €303 million, an increase of €61m on the 2024 provision, has been made under Budget 2025 to provide homeless prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness. This is a 25% increase on the 2024 budget allocation. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and supports that households require to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy.
My Department will ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
139. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of requests his Department received from Tipperary County Council seeking funding to purchase additional fire appliances and or emergency fire-fighting equipment for Tipperary Fire Service in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025; and of the number of requests received, the number that were approved or pending, in tabular form. [3768/25]
View answerThe 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 Service Acts, 1981 and 2003.
My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects such as improvements to the network of fire stations and fire service training centres and the procurement of essential frontline fire appliances, ancillary vehicles and equipment.
In December 2020, Minister Darragh O'Brien announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.
The 2021 - 2025 Programme was projected to see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire appliances. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority; that is why, in October 2023, the Minister announced the allocation of an additional 40 new fire appliances at a cost of €20.8m.
Any proposal received by my Department requesting further support from the Fire Services capital programme is considered with regard to national priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide.
In 2024 Tipperary County Council made 8 applications for capital funding of fire service equipment/vehicles, 7 of which have been approved, receiving approval for funding in excess of €0.5 million. One application remains under consideration for capital funding.
To date in 2025 Tipperary County Council have made 1 application for capital funding of fire service equipment/vehicles, which currently remains under consideration for grant approval.
It should be noted that under the 2023 – 2025 OGP joint procurement framework, Tipperary County Council have also been allocated two new Class B fire appliances fully funded from the fire services capital programme for approximately €1.1 million with an expected delivery date in Q3 2025.
|
Year |
Status |
Number of Applications |
Total Value |
|
2024 |
Approved |
7 |
€509,950 |
|
|
Pending |
1 |
€20,000 |
|
2025 (To date) |
Approved |
0 |
- |
|
|
Pending |
1 |
€68,000 |
140. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3786/25]
View answerThe information requested in respect of my Department is set out in the following table.
|
Consultant |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Expenditure 2023 |
Expenditure 2024 |
|
Irish Centre for Diversity |
Diversity Policy Development |
15,990 |
|
|
Risk and Resilience |
Audit Support Services for Business Continuity Management Audit |
19,500 |
|
|
Waystone Compliance Solutions |
Audit Support for cyber reviews |
46,068 |
|
|
AECOM Ireland Ltd |
Cost Optimal Study for Energy Performance of Buildings Directive |
127,549 |
72,751 |
|
Mitchell McDermott Construction Consultants Ltd |
Residential Cost Study conducted under Action 19.1 of Housing for All. |
68,434 |
|
|
WS Atkins |
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) |
30,627 |
|
|
ESRI |
River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) - Research on behaviour, Water |
46,947 |
13,053 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Nitrates Action Programme: NIS (AA) and SEA |
104,231 |
44,447 |
|
UCC |
Policy development and guidance for 'out of season' bathing |
22,718 |
5680 |
|
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd (Consulting Engineers) |
Evaluation of the applicability of the Water Reuse Regulations in Ireland and Reporting to the EU Commission under the Water Reuse Regulations |
30,651 |
13,136 |
|
McCarthy Keville O'Sullivan Ltd T/A MKO |
Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in Coastal and Transitional Waters in Ireland |
49,200 |
|
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Research and report on local authority strategic policy committees |
62,900 |
|
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Guidelines on Offshore Wind Energy Marine Planning Guideline and Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAP) Guidelines - effects of a plan or project (in combination with other plans or projects) on Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. These sites are protected by National and European Law. |
33,748 |
|
|
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd (Consulting Engineers) |
AA Sustainable Compact Settlement Guidelines |
42,553 |
|
|
Land Use Consultants Ltd |
Strategic Environmental Assessment on Sustainable Compact Settlement Guidelines |
41,804 |
5,872 |
|
Roughan & O'Donovan Ltd |
Water Framework Directive guidance SEA |
25,443 |
|
|
Land Use Consultants Ltd |
SEA Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines |
8,940 |
|
|
RPS Consultancy Engineers Ltd. |
Environmental Assessment re National Planning Framework First Revision |
34,185 |
82,939 |
|
Version 1 |
Development of business case and plan for the Observations Processing and Storage Project |
59,170 |
|
|
Dr. Carol Westrik, Westrik Consultancy |
World Heritage Tentative List Review |
2,300 |
900 |
|
Jane Jackson |
World Heritage Tentative List Review |
1,598 |
|
|
Dr. William P Megarry |
World Heritage Tentative List Review |
1,300 |
300 |
|
Dr. Jill Alison Sheridan Skinner |
World Heritage Tentative List Review |
1,560 |
|
|
University College Dublin |
Expertise relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora |
51,014 |
|
|
KRC Ecological Ltd. |
Public Consultation Engagement process for proposed UNESCO Biosphere for Lough Ree & environs. |
42,172 |
|
|
Atlantic Technological University Galway (ATU) |
Develop high status catchments and Results Based Agriculture Payment Scheme (and guidance) |
18,696 |
|
|
Dr. Brendan Dunford |
Develop HS catchments RBAP scheme (and guidance) |
2,500 |
|
|
JBA Consulting Engineers & Scientists Ltd |
Land potential assessment mapping |
14,968 |
23,079 |
|
CBEC Eco Engineering UK Ltd |
Hydromorological assessment and restoration plan |
16,297 |
32,594 |
|
Donal Daly |
Development of catchment strategic plans |
1,170 |
|
|
Crowe |
Internal financial control framework. |
|
38,745 |
|
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Advise on the feasibility of using an SPV to alleviate high debt levels in the AHB Sector |
|
49,200 |
|
Mitchell McDermott Construction Consultants Ltd |
Examination of overall development costs across the four building types identified in the Residential Construction Cost report. |
|
87,600 |
|
Hawkins Brown Ireland Ltd |
Standardised Design Approaches Study |
|
201,537 |
|
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd (Consulting Engineers) |
Develop recommendations to promote the use of Mass Engineered Timber (MET). |
|
107,100 |
|
HavElan |
Develop and draft OSPAR Guidance on the interpretation of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) |
|
35,827 |
|
Aquafact International Services Limited |
Environmental guidelines to support the implementation of environmental targets under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the OSPAR Convention for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) |
|
60,024 |
|
Expleo Technology Ireland Ltd |
Development of a Quality Management System (QMS) in the organisation. |
|
46,740 |
|
Dr Mona O'Rourke |
Provision of Community Heritage Facilitator Services for Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Property |
|
29,804 |
|
University College Dublin |
Expertise relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora |
|
26,260 |
|
Crowe Advisory Ireland Ltd |
Report on Audit processes as regulator of Enhanced Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS). |
|
29,520 |
|
PFH Technology Group |
Cyber Security Testing |
|
23,370 |
|
Dr. Eimear Fallon |
Report on residential development – profile and operational practices |
|
49,200 |
|
Maynooth University |
Radon in NZEB (nearly zero energy building) dwellings |
|
7,500 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd |
SEA/AA for the third cycle of the River Basin Management Plan |
|
18,136 |
|
Ernst & Young Ireland |
Business analysis for guidance on steps to deliver Seanad Electoral Register Expansion |
|
48,139 |
|
Crowley Research |
Evaluation of socio economic impact of the LIFE on Machair project actions |
|
3,800 |
|
Indecon Economic Consultants |
Review and examine existing and future debt of all local authorities |
|
45,867 |
|
Aon Consulting |
Analysis of costs in Local Government Sector |
|
12,000 |
|
Barry Gamble |
Brú na Bóinne management plan |
|
3,600 |
|
Mizen Archaeology |
Develop proposed actions under the draft Underwater Cultural Heritage Strategy |
18,081 |
72,324 |
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
Bodies under the Aegis of DHLGH |
Oireachtas email |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce |
oireachtas@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
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141. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount paid out in tenant-in-situ funds to local authorities for the year 2024; the date of the last allocation made to local authorities in 2024; if there have been any subsequent allocations and payments made since October 2024, specifically in November 2024, December 2024, and January 2025; if not, what is the outstanding amount due to each local authority to fulfil the obligations of tenant in situ purchases; and the reasons for any delays that may have occurred in these allocations. [3805/25]
View answer147. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to restore the tenant-in-situ scheme; if so, when finance will be provided to local authorities to re-start the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 147 together.
The Tenant in Situ Acquisitions Programme was introduced by way of Government decision in 2023. It was originally intended as a short-term response to the reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes which were within the HAP and RAS schemes in order to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions could not be found for the affected tenants.
A further Government decision extended the programme into 2024 with approval granted for 1,300 Tenant in Situ acquisitions in addition to the 200 priority acquisitions target for 2024 contained in Housing for All.
Any decision in relation to a further extension of the Tenant in Situ scheme into 2025 is a matter for the new Government.
It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. Local authorities take appropriate steps to ensure that their first response will be to support households to prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served with a notice of termination by their landlord. A local authority will assess the options available in each case and decide the appropriate action.
In discussions with individual local authorities in the closing weeks of 2024 every effort was made to ensure that each authority was facilitated in completing and recouping the costs of their 2024 acquisitions in line with the Government decision and their individual allocations which were notified to them in March, 2024. My Department is currently working with local authorities to collate the Q4 2024 social housing statistical returns.
Comprehensive programme-level statistics are published by my Department on a quarterly basis, including data on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is published on my Department's website up to Quarter 3 2024, including completed acquisitions: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
142. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of homes sold in the State under the affordable purchase scheme in 2022, 2023 and 2024. [3810/25]
View answerIn line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 the administration of affordable purchase housing schemes is a matter for each local authority who will have the specific information sought relating to sale of affordable purchase homes in their functional area.
Affordable Housing statistical reports are based on the delivery of affordable homes which have been completed and publicly advertised to eligible affordable housing applicants. Comprehensive programme-level statistics are published by my Department on affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and delivery partners in each local authority area. As is the case with house sales generally, the time between the completion and delivery of an affordable home and the close of sale will vary from property to property.
Data for the years 2022 and 2023 and quarters 1, 2 and 3 of 2024 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?#affordable-housing-delivery
This published data will be updated to include the final quarter of 2024 once returns from local authorities have been received and verified in the usual way.
