Written Answers Nos. 511-539
511. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to increasing local authorities powers to enforce minimum standards in private rented accommodation, including allowing local authorities to compulsory purchase order properties in an unliveable state, where the current owner has not taken steps to address issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32271/25]
View answerThe 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. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.
Responsibility for the enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority.
If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and appropriate. They can issue an Improvement Letter or serve an Improvement Notice. In most cases they opt for the former. Where a landlord fails to comply with an Improvement Notice, the local authority may serve a Prohibition Notice (which directs that a dwelling cannot be re-let until all contraventions are remedied) and may consider instituting legal proceedings.
Under Section 34 of that Act, any person who by act or omission contravenes the Regulations, fails to comply with an Improvement Notice, or re-lets a house in breach of a Prohibition Notice, will be guilty of an offence and will be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both. While the rental standards Regulations are kept under review, I have no plans to change local authority enforcement powers at this time.
The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. A total of €10.5 million in Exchequer funding is being made available by my Department to local authorities this year to help them meet their private rental inspection targets.
The number of rental inspections conducted by local authorities has increased significantly in recent years. Increasing from an average of 20,000 a year in the period 2005 to 2017 to over 49,000 in 2022, over 63,500 in 2023, and an all-time-high of over 80,000 in 2024. Annual data in respect of the level of inspections and enforcement actions carried out and legal actions initiated by each local authority is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.
512. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he will take to minimise any negative impacts of the new rent pressure zone changes on students, who due to scarcity of purpose built student accommodation, are left reliant on the private rental market. [32148/25]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos 512,517,518,519,520,521,527 and 544 together.
In line with a commitment in Housing for All, a review of the Private Rental Market was undertaken by my Department and published in July 2024. One of its recommendations was that a comprehensive examination of the current RPZ system should be undertaken.
The key focus of the review, which was undertaken by the Housing Agency, was to assess the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) since their introduction and consider their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, including the retention of landlords and new investment. It was also to consider whether RPZs should continue without change or be removed, modified or replaced.
The review involved engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the RTB. The Housing Agency submitted its report, ‘Review of Rent Pressure Zones and Potential Policy Options’ to my Department at the end of April and advised that its preferred recommendation was to modify the current RPZ rent controls.
Taking account of the Housing Agency report and its preferred recommendation, the Government has approved changes to rent regulation, which will be introduced nationally from 1 March 2026. The Government also approved stronger tenancy protections, which would apply to tenancies created from 1 March 2026. As new properties enter the rental market, and there is turnover of existing tenancies, the proportion of tenants who benefit from the protections will gradually increase over time.
In order to stimulate investment and keep existing landlords in the sector, rents for new tenancies may be reset to market value, unless a 'no fault eviction' occurs. Landlords will be able to reset the rent where a tenant voluntarily laves a tenancy. The Housing Agency Report indicates that the provision to reset rent between tenancies may see some rent inflation but that this will moderate as new supply comes on-stream. There will be no provision to reset rent within a tenancy. A tenant moving into a property will have certainty that their future rent can only increase by inflation, up to maximum of 2% in all tenancies, other than new build apartments.
I will continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science during the drafting of legislation on the tailored arrangements to apply to student specific accommodation. Increasing the availability of suitable, financially accessible student accommodation is a key policy priority for Government and will be addressed in the new Student Accommodation Strategy, being developed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for publication later this year. Affordability and equity will be at core of the Strategy.
513. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed update on the status of PPP bundles 4,5,6 and 7, given the withdrawal of funding for bundle 3; and whether there is a risk that costs will limit delivery of any projects in future, as happened with bundle 3. [32296/25]
View answer514. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the impact of delays to delivery of PPP bundle 3 on social housing delivery in Dublin northwest, where 183 social homes are now delayed, representing a significant proportion of projected delivery over the next two years. [32297/25]
View answerI 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 programme was announced in 2014 aiming to deliver circa 1,500 units in three phases (Bundles 1 –3) with 25-year maintenance and tenancy management commitments before transferring to local authorities. In 2021, the Housing for All plan extended the initiative, identifying Bundles 4 –7 to deliver approximately 2,850 additional units.
Bundles 1 & 2 completed in 2021 delivered 999 new social homes across 8 counties and Bundle 3 targeted the delivery of a further 486 social homes across 6 sites in 4 Local Authority areas.
After conducting a review of the proposed costs of Bundle 3 of the Social Housing PPP programme, my Department has decided not to proceed to contract award in the current procurement process for the Social Housing Bundle 3 PPP project. This is due to the overall costs of the Bundle 3 project, which are now considered too high.
All sites within the Bundle 3 project have full planning permission and all of them will be delivered by way of alternative procurement and delivery strategies.
In light of the costs on Bundle 3, I have asked my Department to initiate, with the help of the NDFA, a review of Bundles 4 -7 to determine the most appropriate procurement and delivery strategy in order to ensure these homes are delivered and the most efficient and effective use of the available public resources.
515. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed update on discussions between the LDA and Dublin City Council in relation to the Ballymun LAP site 1, a former shopping centre. [32298/25]
View answerAs 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 longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands making these available for housing.
The LDA is working with Dublin City Council to explore the possible development of affordable and social housing at the site of the former Ballymun Shopping Centre, which is a well positioned site within the Ballymun regeneration area.
Any potential partnership approach to the site would be progressed in line with other construction partnerships being advanced between the LDA and Dublin City Council such as at Bluebell Waterways, Cromcastle in Coolock, Cherry Orchard Point and the Donore Project at St. Teresa's Gardens.
I understand that engagement is underway.
522. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a report into Cork city’s fire cover; and if he will commit to fund the phased plan to deliver fire services in Cork city. [32475/25]
View answer523. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a report into Cork city’s fire cover; and if he will commit to fund the phased plan to deliver fire services in Cork city. [32476/25]
View answer524. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a funding application for phase 1 of Cork city’s upgrading of fire services has been received by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management; and when a decision will be made by same. [32477/25]
View answerI 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 authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
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, then Minister O’Brien announced the allocation of an additional 40 new fire appliances at a cost of €20.8m.
To date under the 2021 – 2025 Fire Services Capital Programme, Cork City Fire Service has received approximately €2.5 million in capital funding to support the purchase of,
• a hook loader,
• an Unmanned Ground Vehicle,
• funding for the purchase and fit out of several fire service support vehicles;
• funding for the allocation of a new Class B fire tender under the 2021 – 2023 Office of Government Procurement (OGP) framework.
Cork City Fire Service has also received funding approval of approximately €2.3 million to support the planned purchase of,
• a new high reach aerial appliance,
• a new Class B appliance from the 2023 – 2025 OGP framework,
• a new Water Tanker,
• a new Emergency Tender
• breathing apparatus sets and washing unit,
• battery operated RTC extrication tools,
• additional support vehicles and emergency response equipment.
My Department has been made aware of the recent independent strategic review report commissioned by Cork City Fire service but to date has not received a funding application for the outlined Phase 1 proposals.
My Department will be identifying new priority fire service infrastructural projects for the period 2026 – 2030 in the coming months. My Department will work closely with Cork City Council to progress identified priority infrastructural projects, within the context of the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for capital funding.
525. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department’s website employs analytics tools (details supplied) that track website traffic using UTM parameters (for example, utm_source); if so, whether any visits have been recorded with a specific parameter or similar identifiers indicating traffic from ChatGPT; and to provide the monthly number of such visits, if recorded, for each of the past 12 months, in tabular form. [32503/25]
View answerMy 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 find below the requested data relating to traffic from ChatGPT:
|
11-30 June 2024 |
Jul-24 |
Aug-24 |
Sep-24 |
Oct-24 |
Nov-24 |
Dec-24 |
Jan-25 |
Feb-25 |
Mar-25 |
Apr-25 |
May-25 |
1-11 June 2025 |
|
0 |
0 |
64 |
100 |
373 |
145 |
429 |
623 |
835 |
952 |
550 |
749 |
434 |
526. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32522/25]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 252 of 22 May 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.
527. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline, given that rents in Ireland are extremely high by European standards, how the Government expects a loosening of rent pressure zone rules to contribute to the lowering of rents given that the proposed reforms facilitate an increase in rents. [32530/25]
View answer528. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide available data on the impact of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2027's Implementation Plan on people with intellectual disabilities, including stakeholder feedback on housing accessibility, waiting times, and unmet needs; how the Government plans to improve data collection and consultation moving forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32596/25]
View answer529. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the 2024 interim review of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 Implementation Plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32597/25]
View answerI 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 Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027. It is overseen by the National Implementation Steering Group (NISG), which has responsibility for implementation and monitoring at national and local level of the actions and outcomes of the Strategy. The NISG includes broad representation from key stakeholders including local authorities, the Health Service Executive, Disabled Persons Organisations and umbrella Disability Organisations.
The first Progress Report on the Implementation of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027, including incorporating relevant data, will be published later this year.
The Midterm Review of the Implementation Plan is currently being progressed, including informed by a recent workshop with members of the NISG. The Midterm Review will result in a revised Implementation Plan which will also be published later this year.
530. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider changes to the vacant property grant (croí conaithe grant) to allow houses built but not completed from the 31 December 2007 deadline under the current regulations to 31 December 2009 (details supplied). [32598/25]
View answerPathway 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 of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for 2 years or more at the time of application.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
The objective of the grant is to support the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them back into use as homes. Works must relate to the refurbishment of an existing dwelling in keeping with the objectives of the scheme. The grant is administered and managed by local authorities, who process and decide on applications and issue grant payments on completion of approved refurbishment works.
A review of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was undertaken in 2024. That review has been completed and is under consideration.
The progress report on the Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2026, published in March 2025 provides an update on the progress being made by local authorities in addressing housing estates categorised as "unfinished" to minimise vacancy levels. The link to the report is contained here; https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026-progress-report-march-2025.pdf
531. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount levied, collected, owed, CPOed and cumulatively owed and the number of sites on the register on 31 December 2024 for the derelict sites levies, in the previous 12 months, as provided by all local authorities who have submitted returns to date, by local authority, in tabular form. [32615/25]
View answerThe 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 functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
Each local authority maintains a Derelict Sites Register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider are derelict under the Act. Sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register are subject to an annual derelict sites levy of 7% of market value which will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.
All local authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional areas in the preceding year. The table attached shows the levies outstanding to each of Local Authorities at 31 December 2023 based on the 2023 annual returns that were submitted by local authorities. My Department is currently engaged with the local authorities in the process of collecting and collating the 2024 annual returns.
532. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the costs incurred by his Department and bodies under its aegis from contracts awarded to communications and PR firms in 2024; the name of the contractor and a description of the work undertaken in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32643/25]
View answerPress 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 €100,206.38 including VAT - to advise the Irish Meteorological Service on communication issues including the development of digital material for met.ie, support with public and media campaigns, support with stakeholders engagement events and support on the development of communication and social media strategies.
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. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. 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 |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Electoral Commission |
oireachtas@electoralcommission.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@gasnetworks.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Oireachtas@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
oireachtasmemberqueries@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
oireachtas@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Tailte Éireann |
Oireachtas@tailte.ie |
|
Uisce Éireann |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
oireachtas@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
oireachtas@waterwaysireland.org |
533. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options open to a disability charity (details supplied) who have been refused CAS funding by two county councils to acquire properties for eight residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32661/25]
View answerApproved 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 authority and, as with all social housing projects, it is a matter for the housing authority to prioritise projects on the basis of how they meet the area's housing need.
Local authorities can approve the acquisition of second-hand homes by AHBs, including for People with a disability and older persons requiring urgent housing responses, using the CAS programme under delegated sanction as per conditions set out in Circular 11/2025 Social Housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme 2025, i.e. without Department approval.
Where a local authority requires Departmental approval, it is submitted by the local authority to my Department for consideration. To date, we have not received proposals or request for recoupment for the projects mentioned. Consequently, the case referred to may be pursued with the relevant local authorities.
534. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the third draft of the byelaws given to him in September 2024 by Waterways Ireland officials, without being reviewed with stakeholders, without restarting the 90 days of consultation period and effectively not complying with the recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing (details supplied). [32693/25]
View answerWaterways 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 using the waterways, blueways and greenways, and continue to provide a valuable recreational experience for everyone to enjoy.
Waterways Ireland undertook an extensive public consultation over two periods totalling 178 days between June 2023 and February 2024 on the proposed revisions to the Bye-laws.
More than 4,000 invitations to participate were sent to interested groups, public representatives, statutory bodies and the general public. Waterways Ireland held 10 public consultation meetings, facilitated 27 stakeholder meetings and received 1,799 submissions to its consultation. Waterways Ireland also addressed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on two occasions and the Public Accounts Committee on one occasion where the draft Bye-laws were discussed.
Having considered all contributions to the consultation, Waterways Ireland provided an initial draft of proposed revisions to the Bye-laws to my Department for consideration. Whilst acknowledging the comprehensive consultation undertaken, the dedication and effort that went into developing the proposals and the underlying imperative for the bye-laws to be updated, I requested that Waterways Ireland reflect further on the proposed fees and charges in light of inflationary and cost-of-living pressures on people day-to-day, and similar cost and pricing pressures in the leisure and tourism sectors.
Waterways Ireland has carefully considered its draft proposals in relation to fees and charges and I am pleased to say, has submitted a further revised draft of the Byelaws to my Department for detailed consideration and legal review. The outcome of this review will inform the next steps to be taken.
It is important to note that no changes can be made to the existing Byelaws, permits, or charges and fees until the legislative process associated with the formal adoption and signing of the Byelaws has concluded.
535. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 823 of 30 May 2025, if he will advise on a timeline for the required investigative works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32700/25]
View answerAs 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 determine the appropriate methodology to remove the silt/soil and what compliant methodologies are available for the disposal/processing of the removed soil. In order to meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive, and relevant regulations for works within an SAC, appropriate screening, permissions and licences will need to be obtained in order to progress these works.
In the meantime, I can confirm that, while it is not a long term solution, the NPWS has again cleared an entrance/exit route at the Bunrower end of the canal last month and this will allow for continued boat access to the canal while a longer term solution is put in place.
536. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of the projected €450 million allocated for the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme that has been spent to date; to provide a breakdown, by year, since 2022, and the projected spend in 2025; the number of contracts that have been entered into under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32716/25]
View answer537. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of completed apartments that have been delivered to date under the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32717/25]
View answer538. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number of approved applications under the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme, and the number of apartments in each and the location of each approved scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32718/25]
View answer539. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number of applications received under each call for expressions of interest in the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme; the number that were successful; and of those that were not successful, the number of units in total that those included, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32719/25]
View answer540. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that have been received under the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme seeking support for apartment delivery in Limerick since the scheme began, covering the number of units in total, and the number of same that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32720/25]
View answer541. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received under the croí cónaithe (cities) scheme seeking support for apartment delivery in Galway since the scheme began, covering the number of units in total, and the number of same that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32721/25]
View answer542. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received under the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) scheme seeking support for apartment delivery in Waterford since the scheme began, covering the number of units in total, and the number of same that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32722/25]
View answerI 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 the delivery cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater).
Since the Scheme launched, three calls for Expression of Interest have been completed, with a fourth call, which was launched on 11 June 2025, currently underway. My Department has also recently made changes to the Scheme to further enhance it and encourage greater participation from private operators. These include extending the Scheme's eligible geographical area to include the metropolitan boundaries of our cities and also allowing smaller developments to apply for the Scheme, with the minimum eligibility threshold for units reduced from 40 to 20.
The application process is managed and administered by The Housing Agency on behalf of my Department and consists of a three stage appraisal process covering
1. Eligibility of proposals
2. Ranking of suitable proposals and
3. A detailed due diligence process leading to formal approval.
In total, 50 eligible applications have been received across the first three calls, 19 under Call One, 11 under Call Two and 20 applications under Call Three. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details with regard specific proposals assessed are not released. However, I can confirm that to date, 10 developments, delivering 1,083 apartments have been approved. This represents a funding commitment of up to €132.6m. The Housing Agency continues to assess remaining applications under the previous calls which have the potential to deliver a further 1,600 units.
A breakdown of the 10 approved development is provided in the table below.
|
Scheme |
Local Authority Area |
No. of Units |
|
Dublin |
Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown |
53 |
|
Cork |
Cork City Council |
68 |
|
Cork |
Cork City Council |
274 |
|
Cork |
Cork City Council |
30 |
|
Dublin |
Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown |
157 |
|
Dublin |
Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown |
58 |
|
Dublin |
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown |
230 |
|
Dublin |
Dublin City Council |
52 |
|
Dublin |
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown |
78 |
|
Dublin |
Dublin City Council |
83 |
|
Total |
1,083 |
It should be noted that apartment developments typically take between 18 months and 2 years to complete and the first units completed with support from the scheme are presently on sale at Woodward Court, Glencairn Gate, Murphystown Way, Dublin 18 (53 units), Carr’s Hill, Castletreasure, Douglas in Cork (98 units) and Blackrock Villas, Blackrock in Cork (80 units).
In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, drawdown of approved funding occurs on completion of projects and following the sale of apartments to owner occupiers. A provision of €30m has been provided in 2025 in respect of this delivery.
