Written Answers Nos. 456-480
457. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider establishing a dedicated scheme as part of budget 2026 for local authorities to access funding for the retrofitting or replacement of substandard historical housing stock, perhaps with a trial in Dún Laoghaire and Dublin city, where older stock is widespread; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35439/25]
View answerThe Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a minimum BER rating of B2. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme over the period 2021 to 2030 inclusive.
The programme has been devised so as to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit, ranging from those requiring minor works to those properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2 BER rating. The selection of homes for inclusion and prioritisation of works to comply with the terms of the programme are a matter for each individual local authority.
Works eligible under my Department's revised Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works.
There are no plans to change this approach at present.
458. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned about the level of access to training available to planners and associated staff in local authorities with regard to the standards and frameworks used in the assessment of biogas plant developments nationally, especially considering a national planning framework would be seen as the typical practice internationally, rather than leaving it to individual local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35454/25]
View answerMy Department established the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) in April 2019. In accordance with the provisions of Section 31Q(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act), as amended, the OPR conducts education and training programmes for members of planning authorities and regional assemblies in respect of the role of such members under the Act in relation to matters associated with proper planning and sustainable development.
The OPR, in conjunction with the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG), is currently involved in delivering a planning training programme, which is specifically tailored for the elected members of planning authorities. The OPR intends that this programme will provide enhanced knowledge of the planning process, with a specific focus on the role and responsibilities of the democratically elected members.
The OPR’s training programme focuses on facilitating the delivery of Continuous Professional Development for decision makers in the planning process, in tandem with driving national research and public information programmes. Working in conjunction with other bodies the OPR identifies training knowledge gaps and plans relevant training events, enabling local authorities to demonstrate compliance with Domestic and European Legislation.
With regard to biogas developments, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has advised that while Anaerobic Digestors (AD), used to produce biomethane, can bring significant benefits to the communities and local environment in which they are located, they are also significant infrastructure, with impacts on the environment, biospheres, and local communities. Priority deliverables under the National Biomethane Strategy include actions 5f and 5g, which will see the development of planning guidelines to support local authorities when assessing AD plants with planning applications, and a review of resourcing requirements of key Government Agencies to support development of the industry. These actions will be delivered through collaboration among key Departments and Agencies.
459. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of the Land Development Agency in relation to the purchasing of vacant sites and units that have the potential for significant residential development; the arrangements that exist for the purchase of such sites prior to them being placed on the open market in circumstances in which the ownership is under the control of the State or a State agency or in cases in which the State has a long standing relationship with the owner; and the plans of the Land Development Agency in relation a site (details supplied). [35473/25]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) was established under the Land Development Agency Act 2021 with the immediate focus of managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. The Agency is also tasked with unlocking stalled private planning-consented developments via its market engagement and partnership initiative, Project Tosaigh.
Government maintains a strong focus on the use of vacant and under-utilised public land for housing having agreed to transfer 37 state owned sites to the Land Development Agency (LDA) for the development of affordable and social housing.
In this regard, the Act requires the LDA to establish and maintain a Register of Relevant Lands, and as required by Section 52 of the Act, furnish to Government at two yearly intervals its Report on Relevant Public Land, with the 2nd Report published earlier this year. The Register and Report facilitate and support the identification and assessment of the potential of relevant public land for the provision of affordable and social housing both now, and in the future. Section 6.6 of the 2nd Report sets out the lands that were offered to the LDA, including information on the owner of the land, and its location.
Furthermore, in accordance with Section 53 of the Act, a relevant public body is not permitted to dispose of relevant public land unless the body has given prior notice, and offered the land for sale to the LDA. This requirement ensures that any relevant public land being disposed of is assessed to determine whether it is suitable for the purposes of the Act, primarily the provision of affordable and social housing.
The Department and the LDA have regular and ongoing engagement with relevant public bodies in respect of relevant public lands. Beyond this, any further engagements by the LDA in relation to the potential acquisition of sites is a matter for the agency itself, which, in line with Section 12(4) of the Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.
Arrangements have been put in place by each State body 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. For further information in relation to its site acquisition programme the Land Development Agency may be contacted by email at oireactas@lda.ie.
460. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list all the public services contracts worth €10 million or more, which have been granted by himself or the forerunner for his Department, or other State bodies in the past five years; the value of each contract; the length of term of each; the expiration date of each contract; and whether any contract was discontinued during its term and for what reason. [35488/25]
View answerA list of contracts awarded by my Department in the past five years whose value equals or exceeds €10 million is set out in the table below. Neither of these contracts was discontinued during its term.
My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the state bodies under its aegis. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department 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. These bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table at the link below.
|
Contract |
Value(excl. VAT) |
Contract Duration(Months) |
Contract AwardDate |
Contract End Date |
|
Provision of a Housing Programme Management Software as a Service (SaaS) Solution |
€10,475,040 |
60 |
28 March 2023 |
27 March 2028[1] |
|
Services to support Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership, aimed at securing existing breeding wader populations and supporting their recovery through landscape management and policy development |
€17,500,000 |
60 |
02 April 2024 |
01 April 2029 |
[1] The contract includes an option to extend. The total contract length shall not exceed ten years in total.
461. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine the cases of persons (details supplied) regarding their application for housing aid for older people grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35496/25]
View answer483. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of any supports and grants for people of limited means or with disabilities to fix damaged driveways in instances where these fall outside the council’s roads and footpaths remediation works programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35907/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 483 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are funded by my Department, with a contribution from the resources of the local authority.
The Housing Aid for Older People Grant scheme provides grants of up to €10,700 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Qualifying works include structural repairs or improvements, upgrading unsafe electrical wiring, drylining, repair or replacement of windows and doors and the repair or provision of central heating (where no central heating exists or the existing system is broken or beyond repair).
Regulations issued by my Department, namely the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People Scheme (S.I. 612 of 2024) prescribes that the Housing Aid for Older People Grant Scheme only applies to applicants residing in owner occupied housing. This grant is not available to applicants residing in private rented accommodation or accommodation provided by Approved Housing Bodies.
The Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People is available for the carrying out of works of adaptation that, in the opinion of the local authority, are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for a member of the household who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability. In general, these grant schemes can be used for works such as level access showers, accessible bathrooms, access ramps, stair lifts, fixed track hoists or extensions and any other works that, in the opinion of the local authority, are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a disabled person.
The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications under the various measures, is the responsibility of each local authority. Having considered all of the circumstances in any particular case, it is a matter for the local authority to determine grant eligibility. Local authorities, in administering the scheme, work with qualifying applicants to secure the most beneficial outcome possible in line with the applicants' financial circumstances and within the parameters of the grant scheme.
462. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify several queries in regard to rent pressure zones (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35506/25]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 257 (composite reply) of 26 June 2025, which clarifies the interaction between the operation of Rent Pressure Zones and the regulation of short term letting.
463. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is the long-term policy of his Department to reclassify further water bodies within Lough Corrib SAC as heavily modified water bodies (HMWBs) under the EU Water Framework Directive in a deliberate manner to undermine the integrity of the SAC for the commercial development of the lake and its tributaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35544/25]
View answerThe Water Action Plan 2024 published by my Department sets out a roadmap to restore Ireland’s water bodies to ‘good status’ or better and to protect water from any further deterioration.
In some instances, water bodies have been physically modified in the past to serve a beneficial specified use to society. In the process of modifying a water body, the natural flow, form or function (hydromorphology) have been altered to the extent that it has impacted the natural aquatic ecology of the water body. In such cases, the water bodies may be designated as Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs), as provided for under Article 4(3) of the Water Framework Directive (WFD - 2000/60/EC).
Action 3.10 of the Water Action Plan 2024 explicitly states:
“The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will undertake a short public consultation before deciding whether to designate or de-designate water bodies as HMWBs. There were 466 water bodies, which the EPA has found to meet the criteria for designation. The Minister will take into account the recommendations of the EPA and the key concerns raised in the submissions to the consultation process.”
The environmental objective for HMWBs is not a lower standard. It is a more accurate target, accounting for the modifications necessary to provide the societal benefit of their specified use, e.g. provision of drinking water or prevention of flooding. The purpose of designating water bodies as HMWBs is to provide certainty regarding the environmental objectives under the Water Framework Directive to be applied to those water bodies for management and regulatory purposes.
Be assured that it is not the intention of my Department, in any way, to undermine the integrity of the Lough Corrib Special Area of Conservation. The designation of water bodies as HMWBs will, however, provide certainty regarding the environmental objectives under the Water Framework Directive to be applied to those water bodies for management and regulatory purposes.
It is important to note that this is an iterative process; HMWB designation is revisited in each river basin management planning cycle (every 6 years) taking into account new information, changed circumstances and the technical feasibility for restoring to natural conditions. Where these factors are favourable, HMWBs have the potential to be de-designated in future planning cycles.
464. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the transfer of responsibility for OMCs from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to his Department will happen before the summer recess; if the regulations concerning sinking funds and service charges will be in place by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35583/25]
View answerAt present, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and his Department continue to have responsibility under the Multi Unit Development Act 2011, for the oversight of Owner Management Companies (OMCs) and related regulations.
Under Housing for All, so as to ensure that OMCs are financially sustainable, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, in collaboration with my Department is committed to making regulations under the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (MUD Act), with regard to both sinking funds and service charges. I understand that these Regulations are now at an advanced stage of preparation within that Department.
Under the Programme for Government my Department will take responsibility for the Multi-Unit Development Acts to streamline support for owners’ management companies and improve oversight.
A timeline for the transfer of functions from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is being advanced and engagement between our Departments is ongoing to ensure this happens in a well-managed and efficient manner.
465. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to review or increase the current planning exemption threshold for playgrounds, presently set at €127,000, when undertaken by a local authority, to account for rising construction costs and inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35603/25]
View answerThe Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. The provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Regulations of 2001) remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed.
A review of all associated planning regulations has been ongoing. This is a sizeable task, with over 100 regulations, amounting to approximately 1,200 pages, needing to be scrutinised and updated. This review of regulations is being progressed in line with appropriate transitional arrangements for the commencement of the new legislation.
Regulations relating to local authority 'own development' including article 80 of the Regulations of 2001, which sets out a €126,000 threshold for the development of playgrounds, will be considered under the aforementioned ongoing review and revised if considered appropriate.
466. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 515 and 516 of 25 February 2025 and No. 448 of 25 March 2025, all of which sought basic procurement-related data, including the number of public tenders that came in over, on, or under the awarded value, and the total procurement spend by his Department and its agencies in recent years, the reason his Department was unable to provide this information, stating in each case that “the information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work”; and how it can be considered consistent with good governance that one of the State’s largest and most strategically important Departments cannot state in precise terms the amount it has spent on public procurement in recent years.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35555/25]
View answerMy Department operates a decentralised procurement model, where procurement and contract management is the responsibility of the budget holder, who is usually the head of the business unit. The heads of those eighty-one business units are responsible for ensuring compliance with my Department's Procurement Policy and all applicable national and EU rules and regulations and Office of Government Procurement guidance.
Compiling five years of records of procurement activity, including total expenditure; the number of public tenders that came in over, on, or under the awarded value; and any spend in excess of contract award value, from the eighty-one business units of my Department, would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. Parliamentary Question Nos. 515 and 516 of 25 February 2025 and No. 448 of 25 March 2025 were exceedingly broad in scope. The information requested is held at a business unit level but compiling the information would require an immense amount of time and staff resources. Relevant information held centrally and readily available was provided in the replies.
To ensure transparency and in accordance with the Freedom of Information Publication Scheme, my Department maintains and publishes a central Contracts Register of all contracts awarded that exceed €25,000 (excluding VAT). Circular 40/2002 requires the preparation of an annual report of all contracts awarded without a competitive process, including an explanation as to why a competitive process was not undertaken. The 40/2002 report is signed by the Accounting Officer and sent to the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General. My Department also publishes quarterly reports of procurement related payments over €20,000. The Contracts Register and quarterly reports are available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/organisation-information/procurement/
My Department maintains an environment of good corporate governance, ensuring an effective system of internal financial control as set out in its Corporate Governance Framework which can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/organisation-information/corporate-governance-framework/ Financial responsibilities are managed through a system of delegation and accountability. Reporting arrangements have been established at all levels where responsibility for financial management has been assigned and there is an Audit Committee to provide advice on discharging responsibilities for the internal financial control system.
467. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of hectares of land zoned under the residential zoned land tax that is currently undeveloped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35623/25]
View answerAs part of the process for identifying land liable to Residential Zoned Land Tax, all Local authorities published annual draft maps on 1 February 2024 that identified lands considered to fall within the scope of the tax, as well as lands which they propose to exclude from the annual final maps for 2025. Landowners and other interested parties had until 1 April 2024 to make a submission to the relevant local authority about whether or not land on this annual draft map meets the criteria for being subject to the tax. Further to determinations relating to these submissions and any related appeals to An Bord Pleanála, the maps were finalised and a final map indicating land liable to the tax for 2025 was published on 31 January 2025, in advance of the tax coming into effect on 1 February 2025.
Overall, circa 46,300 hectares of land comprising residential and mixed use including residential zonings are identified on the maps. Under the legislation, local authorities are required to publish the total area of land in hectares contained on their maps.
It should be noted however that a significant quantum of the overall land included on the maps is land that is zoned for existing residential development and is occupied by existing housing, including housing estates. Where a residential property is subject to Local Property Tax (LPT), the relevant land is not liable for RZLT, which excludes a significant amount of the 46,300ha from liability to the tax.
While it is not possible to provide a definitive figure in light of the above, it is estimated that approximately 7,100ha of land that may be considered ‘undeveloped’ is identified on the 2025 maps. This includes greenfield residentially zoned land, undeveloped infill land and mixed use ‘vacant and idle’ land. The aim of the tax is to activate this zoned and serviced land for development of housing.
468. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the tenant in situ scheme for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; the number of houses purchased under this scheme to date; if any future funding is proposed to be allocated to this local authority under this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35691/25]
View answerThe Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need, including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination.
For 2025, Government has increased the funding available for second hand social housing acquisitions from the €60m allocated under Housing for All to €325m through the allocation of an additional €265m. The €325 million allocation has been made available to our local authorities for their social housing second-hand acquisitions activity in 2025, and this is part of almost €2 billion in total which is supporting local authorities and approved housing bodies to deliver new social homes in 2025.
It is a matter for the local authorities to decide how they use their funding allocation within the priority categories being supported by the programme. To date local authorities have only drawn down 25% or c.€80m of the €325m funding allocated to them for second hand acquisitions in 2025. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council has been allocated €12m under the programme of which only €1.3m (11%) has been drawn down to date.
I have asked our local authorities to use the full range of options for tenants-in-situ who have received a Notice of Termination and while acquiring the landlord’s property is one option, it is not the sole option. In some cases, local authorities might use the thousands of new social allocations that they make each and every year, to provide a new tenancy for the families they are supporting.
There is a record level of investment which is being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. Our main emphasis remains on constructing new homes and that unquestionably, is the correct approach.
My Department continues to work with all local authorities, including Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, to address any challenges which have emerged in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions remain an option in 2025 where no other solutions exist.
471. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received a report from the CCMA on the review of section 10; and to provide an update on whether he intends to review the current deficit funding and competitive tendering that is used to award section 10-funded services. [35716/25]
View answerMy Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by local authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
Under the funding arrangements, my Department recoups up to 90% of the costs of regional homeless services programmes with local authorities providing at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Local authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the funding arrangements with my Department.
Significant progress has been made in addressing concerns raised within the NGO homeless services sector in relation to the adequacy of funding. My Department continues to work closely with local authorities and the NGO sector on these issues and regularly engages with the sector, on all aspects of homeless policy including funding arrangements.
In addition, a recent review conducted by the City and County Managers’ Association (CCMA) examined the current Section 10 funding model with a view to ensuring greater consistency and addressing concerns raised by service providers. This review, conducted by a sub-group set up under the auspices of the CCMA and including representatives from my Department and local authorities has now concluded.
The CCMA report was presented to my Department in March 2025 and I have instructed officials to initiate a project to progress implementation of the recommendations, including those related to funding and the competitive tendering process for awarding Section 10 funded services.
472. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline Uisce Éireann’s current borrowing limits; its total borrowings; the source of these borrowings, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35725/25]
View answerUisce Éireann has a statutory borrowing limit of €2 billion as per section 35 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. In June 2020, the Minister for Finance provided a term loan facility to Uisce Éireann to the end of 2024.
Uisce Éireann Debt Draw Down by Year
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
€372m |
€130m |
€112m |
€201m |
€184m |
€999m |
The NTMA provides a €350 million credit facility to Uisce Éireann to fund short-term working capital funding requirements. The facility is not intended as funding for long-term capital investment with the loan balance cleared at year end.
Uisce Éireann no longer has any commercial borrowings other than a €10m bank overdraft facility.
473. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has plans to conduct an audit of Waterways Ireland; if so, how long will this take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35731/25]
View answerWaterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement 1998 and operates under the overall policy direction of the North South Ministerial Council. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
As a North South Body, Waterways Ireland is audited jointly by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
The North South Ministerial Council on 12 May 2025 noted that Waterways Ireland’s 2024 Annual Report and Accounts have been submitted for audit to the Comptrollers and Auditors General in both jurisdictions. Once certified by the Comptrollers and Auditors General North and South, Waterways Ireland’s 2024 Annual Report and Accounts will be laid simultaneously before the Northern Ireland Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas. This has already been done for prior Annual Reports and Accounts of the Body up to and including 2023.
474. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant residential properties in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35736/25]
View answer476. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant residential properties in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35739/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 476 together.
Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. The Action Plan Progress Report was published in April 2024 and is available here on: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/
Data in relation to vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as the CSO Census and GeoDirectory publications. In the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report for Q4 2024, the vacant rate in Kerry was 7.1%, while the average vacancy rate across Ireland had dropped to 3.8%, the lowest rate recorded since 2013.
My Department has also supported local authorities to collate data on vacant and derelict properties in their administrative areas. Almost all local authorities now have a database of vacant properties which they can update on an ongoing basis. The database is not intended to be a comprehensive count of every vacant and derelict property in their administrative area. It is used by the local authority to engage with property owners and work with them to bring those properties back into use.
While varying levels and rates of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.
477. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cofunding contribution expected of local authorities for the provision of wastewater infrastructure; if any support is provided to local authorities to meet these contributions given the significant financial implications for them; if his Department will assist Galway County Council with their contribution for the Craughwell and Clarinbridge projects; if this expected contribution will be reviewed given that these investments will not generate any identifiable return for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35750/25]
View answerThis Government is committed to continued and ongoing sustained and strategic investment in rural water services across Ireland.
As part of this commitment my Department is investing in rural water infrastructure to deliver improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where Uisce Éireann services are not currently available.
More than €243 million is provided under the National Development Plan 2021-2030, over the period 2021 to 2025, for investment in non-Uisce Éireann water infrastructure. Included in this is €50m specifically for projects to address the requirements for villages without public wastewater infrastructure.
In April 2022 under my Departments Multi-annual Rural Water Programme a dedicated funding programme was announced for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public wastewater services.
The measure was designed to support an initial portfolio of demonstration projects that could inform a longer-term strategic approach to the issue of wastewater infrastructure in small villages not currently served by Uisce Éireann.
In December 2023, approval in principle of some €45 million of funding was given by my Department for a number of projects under the programme including €10.4 million and €8.9 million for the Craughwell and Clarinbridge projects in Galway.
The local authorities are responsible for the delivery of the projects and under the terms of the scheme they are designated as co-funders for all projects and are responsible for contributing circa 15% of total project costs, with circa 85% of costs falling to the Department.
The local authorities are required to work in consultation with Uisce Éireann on these projects, reflecting the fact that the infrastructure being built will ultimately fall to be owned and operated by Uisce Éireann.
Since the funding announcement, each local authority and Uisce Éireann have jointly undertaken and completed a reassessment of the projects to collectively confirm the most efficient construction options and to provide certainty to the local authorities on the funding contribution required from them for each project.
Galway County Council and the other local authorities concerned have been asked to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place and responses in this regard have been recently received by my Department. These responses will be considered over the coming weeks and decisions will be made in due course.
478. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine concerns in respect of persons in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35752/25]
View answerIn 2019, my Department brought in Regulations, (SI 235/2019), to provide for new arrangements for Short Term Lets within Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ). The regulations provided for the following:
• 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) will continue to be permissible on an unrestricted basis and be exempted from the new planning requirements.
• Homesharers will be allowed to sub-let their entire principle 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 will be required.
• 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 will be 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.
Short term letting in areas outside of the designated RPZs were not impacted in any way by these regulations. With the nationwide extension of RPZs, the legislative requirement for Short Term Letting vis a vis planning permission, as outlined above, will also extend nationwide.
It is important therefore, that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for Short Term Lets.
The Government has recently agreed a policy to generally preclude new planning permissions for Short term letting in cities and towns with a Census population in excess of 10,000 persons, at the most recent Census of Population. It was further agreed that local authorities should have discretion to develop policies for other locations having regard to relevant local criteria to be set out in the guidance. This guidance will be introduced in the form of a National Planning Statement (NPS).
My Department is currently developing a NPS for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. It will consider a variety of factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long-term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed Short-Term Let and balancing housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development.
My Department has met with various stakeholders such as booking platforms and industry representatives and will continue to do so during the development of the NPS for the Short-Term Letting sector. The legislative basis for a NPS is contained within the Planning and Development Act 2024. The relevant provision governing NPS's is due to be commenced later this year.
479. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to review the current tenant purchase scheme to allow council-owned housing secured under the Part V agreements and or AHB properties to be sold as part of any future tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35760/25]
View answerThe Tenant Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications for the schemes must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation.
The regulations provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people in need of social housing support.
Furthermore, the schemes provide only for the purchase of local authority properties and do not extend to properties owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). AHBs (also called housing associations or voluntary housing associations) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. Any sale of an AHB property must be in compliance with their Memorandum and Articles of Association and it is also advisable for the AHB to consult with the Charities Regulator in this regard if it is a registered charity. However, as not-for-profit bodies, AHBs are limited in their ability to sell any property on the open market at a value which is less than the market value of the property.
My Department monitors schemes such as these on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable, however, there are no plans to amend the schemes at this time.
480. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, under the March 2026 legislation, a tenancy in shared rental accommodation can be considered to have ended for all tenants if one tenant leaves; if the rent can then be reset to market rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35886/25]
View answerSection 139(7) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (the RTA) provides that a landlord may, at any time, notify the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) in writing of any changes in respect of particulars entered in its register of tenancies, and of any additional particulars to be entered in that register in respect of a tenancy. Such a change in particulars could include changes to tenant information.
Section 139(1) of the RTA requires a landlord to furnish the RTB, by a notice in writing in the prescribed form, with the following information -
(a) the amount of rent as it stands altered and the date from which that alteration took effect, and
(b) so far as any of other matter in respect of which particulars were entered in the register in respect of the tenancy have changed in any material respect since, as appropriate -
(i) the tenancy was registered in the register, or
(ii) information in respect of them was last previously furnished to the RTB.
Such a material change in particulars could include changes to tenant information and the prescribed form is contained in Part 3 to the Schedule to the RTA - www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/152/made/en/print.
Section 143 of the RTA provides that a person who, in purported compliance with section 134 (Obligation to apply to register tenancy) or section 139 (Updating of particulars entered in the register), furnishes information to the RTB which is false or misleading in a material respect knowing it to be so false or misleading or being reckless as to whether it is so false or misleading is guilty of an offence.
Section 144A of the RTA provides for the enforcement of the requirement under section 139(1) to update particulars of a tenancy. Alternatively, the commission by a landlord of a contravention of section 139(1) may be sanctioned as improper conduct by the RTB under Part 7A of the RTA.
The operation of the aforementioned provisions will be examined with a view to providing any necessary amendment during the development of legislation to introduce the policy changes to rent regulation and security of tenure on 1 March 2026.
