Written Answers Nos. 1-25
9. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if statistics, by county, are available from local authorities on the number of refusals of first and second offers of social housing by applicants on the housing list, in tabular form; the impact such refusals have on local authority housing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35835/25]
View answerData returned to my Department from local authorities indicates that there were 934 refusals of offers of social housing in 2024, of which 693 were first refusals and 241 were second refusals. I will provide the Deputy with a breakdown of the data by local authority. There is some inconsistency in how this data is recorded at local authority level. My Department has been working closely with local authorities over the last number of months to improve data collection in this area, generally. Overall, the data returned by local authorities indicates that the levels of refusals of offers relative to the overall number of new social housing delivery and allocations to social housing, appears low.
From a local authority perspective, the refusal of offers can have an impact on administrative processes and ultimately, can prolong the period for tenanting properties. This can mean that properties can remain vacant which is not satisfactory. However, we must recognise that a decision to accept an offer of social housing home is an important life changing decision for the household and can require careful consideration.
Choice Based Letting allows applicants to respond to adverts and bid for homes that they would like to live in, rather than waiting for an authority to offer them a dwelling. There is evidence that local authorities that fully implement CBL experience a decreasing number of refusals, including in relation to properties which may otherwise be traditionally difficult to let properties.
My Department continues to work with local authorities to support the full roll-out of the Choice Based Letting model across every local authority.
Data returned by local authorities for 2024 first and second refusals
|
Local Authority |
First Refusal |
Second Refusal |
Total Waiting List Refusals |
|
Carlow |
10 |
2 |
12 |
|
Cavan |
16 |
5 |
21 |
|
Clare |
20 |
2 |
22 |
|
Cork City |
95 |
26 |
121 |
|
Cork County |
19 |
3 |
22 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
Not Returned |
Not Returned |
Not Returned |
|
Donegal |
29 |
7 |
36 |
|
Dublin City |
42 |
22 |
64 |
|
Fingal |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Galway City |
9 |
16 |
25 |
|
Galway County |
55 |
39 |
94 |
|
Kerry |
60 |
20 |
80 |
|
Kildare |
49 |
18 |
67 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
Laois |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Limerick |
20 |
4 |
24 |
|
Longford |
4 |
3 |
7 |
|
Louth |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Mayo |
11 |
4 |
15 |
|
Meath |
16 |
5 |
21 |
|
Monaghan |
12 |
5 |
17 |
|
Offaly |
15 |
0 |
15 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
5 |
13 |
|
Sligo |
22 |
7 |
29 |
|
South Dublin |
54 |
6 |
60 |
|
Tipperary |
26 |
8 |
34 |
|
Waterford |
34 |
15 |
49 |
|
Westmeath |
14 |
0 |
14 |
|
Wexford |
26 |
13 |
39 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Total |
693 |
241 |
934 |
17. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans to introduce a new local infrastructure housing activation fund-type scheme; if such a scheme could be made available for the St. Waleran’s site in Gorey, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35378/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government recognised the need for acceleration of home building by unblocking infrastructure delays and by coordinating investment in servicing zoned land.
Government has agreed to the establishment of a new Housing Activation Office, which will be the delivery mechanism for the PfG commitment, and my Department has already begun putting together a team of specialists in the areas of infrastructure, planning and housing who will work together to tackle barriers to housing development on the ground.
The Office will identify, and seek to address, barriers to the delivery of infrastructure projects required to enable housing development. It will engage and align key stakeholders, including local authorities, infrastructure providers, industry and others to address barriers in a coordinated way.
A new action focused Housing Activation Delivery Group is being established, which I will chair, and it will support the Office in developing a coordinated programme of public infrastructure investment. This group will comprise senior representation from key Departments, infrastructure providers, regulators, public housing delivery partners and other public sector expertise.
In addition, a new Housing Activation Industry Group will provide for regular structured engagement between the Office and industry representative bodies
It is also envisaged that the Office will manage a multi-annual housing infrastructure investment fund under the National Development Plan. The scope of this fund will be determined as part of the review of the National Development Plan, which is due to be completed in July. This will inform the programme of investment.
While I cannot comment on any individual sites in advance of the opening of that fund for infrastructure proposals, there will be engagement across the different stakeholders, including local authorities, to identify priority areas for investment.
18. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department made a submission to the EU's consultation on an Affordable Housing Plan for Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35896/25]
View answerFollowing the appointment of the EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Mr Dan Jørgensen, a Housing Task Force was established by the Commission with effect from 1 February 2025.
The EU Housing Taskforce is preparing the first ever European Affordable Housing Plan which is expected to be published by the Commission in early 2026.
Recognising that housing is a national competence, but also that most EU Member States are suffering critical housing shortages, it is intended that the European Affordable Housing Plan will support Member States in increasing the supply of affordable and sustainable housing by, for example, addressing structural challenges and unlocking public and private investment.
The Housing Task Force is led by Mr. Matthew Baldwin who is currently deputy director-general in DG Energy and my officials and I recently met with Mr. Baldwin, on 5 June at the recent International Social Housing Festival held in Dublin.
Noting the importance of the work of the Taskforce in addressing what is now a pan-European housing crisis, and the potential the new Plan may have to assist us in addressing our supply shortages, we have agreed to second an expert from my Department to the EU Housing Taskforce to work with Mr. Baldwin's team and a senior official from my Department will be deployed very shortly.
My officials will continue to engage with the Housing Taskforce over the coming months and my Department is currently preparing a response to a letter from Commissioner Jorgensen requesting our input to the new Plan, and that response will set out the high level priorities that Ireland would wish to see reflected in the EU Affordable Housing Plan. I intend to travel to Brussels to meet with Commissioner Jorgenson to further discuss these matters in the near future.
19. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a proportion of the Rathbourne Wharf development, where 326 social houses and 399 cost-rental homes funded through CALF and CREEL, as cost-rental homes for essential workers in line with commitments in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35776/25]
View answerCost Rental is a new form of tenure which was introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and since then we have been actively building a pipeline of cost rental homes, with nearly 4,000 homes delivered to the end of last year.
The Government has made a clear commitment in the Programme for Government to build more cost rental units through the LDA, local authorities and Cost Rental Equity Loan funding to AHBs, embedding cost rental as a category of tenure on a permanent basis.
The development at Rathbourne Wharf in Ashtown will deliver both social and Cost Rental homes with funding support from my Department. As it is still under construction, further information on types of unit, rents, and other details will be published closer to completion in the normal way.
At the moment, Cost Rental homes are not targeted at any specific occupation or class of worker. Any household which meets the eligibility criteria may apply for any available home. This includes households of those who may be categorised as essential workers. My Department continues to explore options around targeting of certain homes for key local workers.
In the meantime,amendments were made to the Affordable Housing Act 2021 last year to provide for Cost Rental landlords to propose 'Allocation Plans' to give priority to those with a link to an area through residence, place of employment, or children’s education. This will assist people to live and work in their local area. My Department is developing the required legal and policy framework, including new regulations, to implement this change to Cost Rental and I intend to make those regulations shortly.
20. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the recent changes to the local authority housing adaptation grants regarding central heating systems, and to allow the grant to fund the replacement of new oil or gas boilers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34599/25]
View answerMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority.
The European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2024 transposes into Irish law Article 17(15) of Directive 2024/1275 of the European Parliament on the energy performance of buildings. The Regulations provide that from the 1 January 2025 public bodies shall not provide any financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels, other than those already approved under EU funds.
As a result, grants under the Housing Aid for Older People Grant scheme can no longer be provided for the installation of new stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels. The grant scheme is still available for applications in respect of costs relating to the repair of an existing fossil fuel boiler, or the purchase and installation of a second hand fossil fuel boiler by a qualified contractor.
Grants under the scheme may also be paid in respect of the repair or replacement of all other parts of a central heating system such as new radiators, oil tanks or pipework, regardless of connection to an existing fossil fuel boiler. Grants continue to be paid in respect of non fossil fuel heating such as electric or biomass heating solutions, for example wall mounted electric heaters or wood pellet stoves, provided they are a suitable option given applicant’s circumstances. The detailed administration of the schemes is the responsibility of local authorities, therefore the qualifying works is a matter for consideration and decision on a case-by-case basis by the local authority within the scope of the grant scheme.
21. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the higher rates of homeless HAP are made available to people currently in rental accommodation so that they do not have to become homeless first to access the higher rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35891/25]
View answerA key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rental market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. Additional flexibility was also given, from this date, for local authorities to apply a couple HAP rate to single person households for new tenancies. Recognising that newer tenancies are at a higher cost than those tenancies already in place, the measure only applied to new tenancies. It is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
Additional supports are available under HAP for homeless households or households at risk of homelessness nationwide including financial supports and access to the Place Finder service. To qualify for these specific additional supports available to homeless households, a household must have been determined by the relevant local authority to be homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988.
Local authorities oversee a range of homeless prevention and tenancy sustainment measures, and are prioritising tenancy support services, prevention, and the use of the Place finder service for HAP tenancies.
22. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacancies in all local authority planning departments, by local authority, in tabular form; the steps being taken to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35845/25]
View answerUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible and the requested information would be available directly from each local authority.
On 15 October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. This Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for future needs.
Analysis conducted through the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) in conjunction with my Department, of resources in local government planning departments in 2022, identified a need for 541 new full-time permanent technical and non-technical posts in local authority planning departments. This represented an average increase of 35% on 2022 staffing levels. This is in addition to a vacancy rate at the time of established posts in planning departments of approximately 10%. This vacancy rate included administration grades, non planning staff as well as planners.
Funding was secured in Budget 2025 to support delivery of the Action Plan. In October 2023, my Department conveyed approval for the filling of a first tranche of 101 posts, in the local authority planning sector. A further approval issued in January 2025 for a second tranche of 112 additional posts - 56 graduate planner posts and 56 staff officer posts.
Numerous actions have been completed to date. A coordinated national graduate planner recruitment campaign was launched on 13 May 2025 to attract graduate planners into Ireland’s Local Authorities (Action 4). The occupation of town planner has been added to the Critical Skills Occupation List (Action 9) which will allow eligible non-EEA professionals from outside of Europe to benefit from streamlined employment permit processes, making it easier for Irish employers to recruit and retain international talent in this vital sector.
23. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on plans to deliver an affordable housing scheme in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35793/25]
View answerAffordability and the chance to own a home are at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.
The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist local authorities in responding to localised affordability need where it occurs. Roscommon has recently signalled to my Department that it is actively exploring potential opportunities to facilitate the delivery of affordable purchase housing with AHF support.
My Department, the Housing Agency and the Local Government Management Agency are available to advise and support with the development of suitable schemes.
Given the profile of the county, I anticipate that the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, will prove valuable in addressing overall affordability need in Roscommon.
The First Home Scheme also supports first-time buyers in purchasing new homes on the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, and is available nationwide.
24. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position on progressing a project (details supplied) under the multi-annual developer provided water services infrastructure resolution programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35870/25]
View answerThere are a number of housing estates across the country – including a number in the village in the details supplied - that rely on Developer Provided Infrastructure (commonly called DPI) for their water services. These estates have not been taken in charge and their water services are not connected to the Uisce Éireann network.
In June 2023 more than €3.3 million of capital funding was approved pursuant to my Department’s Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme for Cork County Council to deliver the project that will resolve the issues with the DPI in the location named.
I understand that the most up to date position regarding this project is that, the technical teams of Cork County Council and Uisce Éireann are currently working together on their collective approach to the project and are discussing the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding which will allow timelines for the project be finalized and agreed.
25. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his engagement with the Department of Finance on the tax treatment of Land Development Agency cost rental activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35636/25]
View answerCost Rental is a key element of the Housing For All strategy to improve affordability in the rental sector and to provide secure, long-term homes for moderate-income households. Though it was introduced in 2021, cost rental delivery is accelerating, with over 3,600 homes already delivered by the end of 2024, and a substantial pipeline now in place.
My Department is providing significant funding to delivery partners for cost rental. As well as making delivery viable, this State funding drives down rents. All cost rental projects must achieve cost-covering rents that are at least 25% below comparable market levels.
The LDA has delivered over 1,500 cost rental homes by end-2024 and is building a strong pipeline of homes through direct development and through engagement with the private sector to deliver cost rental homes on sites with active planning permissions where the development has stalled.
As part of a wider Government decision on the role and remit of the Land Development Agency, the Government has accepted a number of recommendations to better leverage the Land Development Agency to accelerate the delivery of housing including working with the Department of Finance in the context of Budget 2026 on exempting designated cost rental activity from corporation tax. Engagement on this issue is ongoing between officials of my Department and the Department of Finance.
