Eoin Ó Broin
Question:66. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the increasing unaffordability of cost rental tenancies. [35825/25]
View answerRental Sector
Questions (66)
Written answers
Cost 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 only introduced in 2021, delivery is accelerating, with over 3,600 homes already delivered by the end of 2024, and a substantial pipeline is 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. All cost rental homes therefore present a significant saving to the tenant relative to new market rental properties.
Cost rents are different depending on the size of dwelling and location as these have different capital costs. As rents for cost rental homes are set according to the actual costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes, recent inflation in costs has proven challenging.
All delivery partners are actively managing costs to ensure that these new homes are provided at the best rent possible. For example, last week I was at the launch of new cost rental homes being provided by South Dublin County Council, with support of just under €20m from my Department, at Innovation Square in Tallaght, with rents starting at €950 per month.
Cost rental units provide a significant saving for the tenant and I know that tenants who benefit from cost rental homes are very appreciative of both the rents and the security of tenure that these homes provide.
Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 55.
Rental Sector
Questions (68)
Paul Murphy
Question:68. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he will take to ensure that existing tenants with pre-March 2026 tenancies cannot be evicted, either between now and March 2026, or post-March 2026, so that landlords can reset the rent to market rates for new tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35888/25]
View answerWritten answers
On 10 June 2025, the Government approved stronger tenancy protections and greater certainty for the rental sector, including the introduction of a national rent control, as part of a suite of measures to boost the supply of new homes and secure and grow the availability of rental accommodation.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025 was signed into law on 19 June 2025. The Act came into operation on 20 June 2025 to immediately extend and expand the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to cover the entire country until 28 February 2026.
Further legislation is being developed to provide stronger tenancy protections and allow rent resetting for new tenancies created (i.e. first time tenancies between parties) from 1 March 2026. With the exception of new build apartments, annual rent increases in all tenancies will be capped at the level of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to a maximum of 2%. For new build apartments, annual rent increases will be capped at the level of inflation (CPI).
For such tenancies, unless a 'no fault eviction' occurs, a landlord will be allowed to set the rent to market value at the start of the tenancy and at the end of every 6-year period that the tenancy continues to exist.
The risk of 'economic evictions' of tenants by landlords, motivated by a desire to reset the rent between tenancies, will be mitigated by the proposed stronger tenancy protections. Rent re-setting will only be allowed if the previous tenant leaves of their own volition, or has breached their tenant obligations or the dwelling is no longer suitable to the accommodation needs of the tenant household. This measure will also facilitate landlords to reduce rents for tenants if they wish, knowing they would be able to reset to the market rent at the start of a new tenancy.
In order to provide greater security of tenure to tenants, legislative changes will apply to significantly restrict ‘no fault evictions’. These changes will significantly enhance the current provision of tenancies of unlimited duration with the introduction of tenancies of minimum duration (TMD), involving rolling 6-year tenancies, for any new tenancy created on/after 1 March 2026 by a smaller landlord (with 3 or fewer tenancies) with a new tenant. For larger landlords, it is intended that 'no fault evictions' will not be possible.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial, independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2024 (the RTA) to facilitate the resolution of residential tenancy disputes and operate a national tenancy registration system. Along with the tenancy protection measures being introduced, my Department will engage with the RTB to identify any resource requirements to ensure the successful implementation of the new legal framework.
Legislation to give effect to these policy proposals is being prepared and will be published later this year.
Housing Policy
Questions (69)
Catherine Ardagh
Question:69. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives he is taking to unlock key strategic public lands for urban brownfield delivery through infrastructure investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35626/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government (PfG) recognised that more is needed to be done to coordinate and accelerate 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 (the 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.
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.
Furthermore, and in line with the agreed PfG it is also my intention to establish a new Towns and Cities Infrastructure Investment Fund. With this new fund it is the aim of my Department to continue and expand URDF-type investment in projects. This will allow for investment in infrastructure, the acquisition of land, assembly of sites and the de-risking of sites in existing towns and cities to maximise their potential growth.
The detailed arrangements for the implementation of these funding streams, including criteria for eligibility, will be clarified further following completion of the National Development Plan Review, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, and which will enable the level of additional capital funding for infrastructure investment to be determined. It is planned that the Review will be completed in line with the Summer 2025 timeline set out in the Programme for Government.
The Land Development Agency, as a key partner in the Government’s delivery of affordable and social homes, will be closely involved in this process. As part of their remit, they support local authorities, through partnerships, to master planning and deliver homes on local authority lands that are largely urban and brownfield in nature.. They also have a remit to masterplan, activate and deliver housing on other state lands transferred to the Agency, generally also urban and brownfield and in nature.
Question No. 70 answered with Question No. 55.
Housing Schemes
Questions (71)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Question:71. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the operation of the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35847/25]
View answerWritten answers
The First Home Scheme (FHS), which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home.
The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company is responsible for the operation and management of the First Home Scheme on behalf of its shareholders - the State, Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB and, as such, is responsible for First Home Scheme reporting.
Quarterly Reports are made available on the First Home Scheme website including the most recent report for Q1 2025 which is available: https://www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/z2enauzj/fhs_q1_2025_report.pdf.
Previous quarterly reports published by FHS can be found on their website: https://www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/quarterly-updates/.
Furthermore, the First Home 2024 Annual Report, including information in relation to the number of homes in each local authority area supported under the scheme, is also available:
https://www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/zxvdnk2a/fhs-annual-report-2024.pdf.
My Department also publishes quarterly data on overall affordable housing provision, with the delivery figures for First Home broken down by Local Authority area. This information is made available alongside other housing data on the Departments area of the Gov.ie website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/.
Question No. 72 answered with Question No. 50.
Rental Sector
Questions (73)
Michael Cahill
Question:73. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish a national planning statement on short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35619/25]
View answerWritten answers
The EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) has drafted the Short-Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. The proposed STLT Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU STR.
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 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.
Housing Provision
Questions (74)
Ryan O'Meara
Question:74. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he is taking to support modular housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35630/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department, working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and other relevant stakeholders, is progressing work to increase delivery capacity in the residential construction sector through promoting the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction or MMC. MMC is a collective term which describes innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, which includes modular housing.
In 2023, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in collaboration with my Department, published the “Roadmap for the increased adoption of MMC in public housing delivery” which was a priority deliverable under Housing for All.
The Roadmap set out a series of initiatives and policy interventions needed to advance the use of compliant MMC in public housing delivery and remove barriers to adoption. The publication of the MMC Roadmap set in train a live agenda for MMC development in Ireland.
Under Housing for All a range of initiatives have already been put in place to support MMC.
These include the Accelerated Delivery Programme to deliver over 1,500 MMC dwellings through Local Authorities led by my Department.
In addition, building on this experience Wexford County Council are currently tendering a 3D Pilot Project of 22 social housing units utilising offsite three dimensional construction methods which are essentially what are referred to as modular units.
The recent Programme for Government contains a further range of initiatives to support MMC, including modular housing. These initiatives include an MMC Innovation Fund to directly fund new and existing factories, targets for MMC use in at least 25% of all State-backed housing, resourcing the National Standards Authority of Ireland to ensure regulatory certificates are issued in a timely manner and increasing training programmes in MMC.
Housing Schemes
Questions (75)
Cormac Devlin
Question:75. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the croí cónaithe cities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35798/25]
View answerWritten answers
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 and a fourth call, which is presently underway, launched on 11 June 2025. To date, 10 developments, delivering 1,083 apartments have been approved. This represents a funding commitment of up to €132.6m. The Housing Agency, who administer the scheme on behalf of my Department, 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).
Solar Energy Guidelines
Questions (76)
Noel McCarthy
Question:76. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Programme for Government commitment to establish national planning guidelines for solar developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35775/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department notes the commitment in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future to introduce planning guidelines for solar energy developments.
In light of this commitment, my Department has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of planning guidelines for solar energy development, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, and the possible timeframe for publication of said guidelines.
Given this scoping process remains at an early stage, such guidelines, once completed, will likely issue as a National Planning Statement, subject to commencement of the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024.
In the interim, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy development. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments, with planning applications made to the relevant local planning authority, or An Coimisiún Pleanála on appeal.
Question No. 77 answered with Question No. 41.
Planning Issues
Questions (78)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:78. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when new rural planning guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35625/25]
View answerWritten answers
Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the National Planning Framework) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change have become more central to the operation of the planning system.
Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being considered by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 28 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, large towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 28 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 28 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
Burial Grounds
Questions (79)
Mark Ward
Question:79. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will carry out a feasibility study to assess whether the remains of the Invincibles (details supplied) can be reinterred in Glasnevin Cemetery from their unmarked graves in Kilmainham Gaol, where they were interred in 1883; if his office will engage with family members of the Invincibles on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35800/25]
View answerWritten answers
The question of whether any persons might be reburied in Glasnevin Cemetery is not one on which I can comment on as Glasnevin Cemetery is the responsibility of the Dublin Cemeteries Trust.
My responsibilities and indeed those of the Office of Public Works, in relation to Kilmainham Gaol, arise under the National Monuments Act 1930 as a national monument of which I am owner. These responsibilities relate to the maintenance and presentation of Kilmainham Gaol to the public and the consideration of any requests to me to grant consent under the Act of 1930 for works (including ground disturbance) to it.
Accordingly, it is not within my remit as Minister to carry out any feasibility study as referred to in the question. If any persons wish to carry out such a study and seek, for those purposes, access to Kilmainham Gaol, then I will of course consider such a request on its merits, having regard to my statutory responsibilities regarding the protection of this important national monument.
Housing Policy
Questions (80)
Pearse Doherty
Question:80. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the urgent need for housing in Gweedore and other Gaeltacht regions in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35829/25]
View answerWritten answers
The local authority Development Plan is the principal planning strategy document which sets out the relevant policies and objectives to guide the physical development of each city and county over a six-year period and is required to be consistent with the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy.
The Revised NPF was approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. This concluded the Revision process and allows the revised NPF to take effect in the planning system. The Revised NPF provides the basis for the review and updating of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and local authority development plans to reflect matters such as updated housing figures, projected jobs growth and renewable energy capacity allocations, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes.
Given the urgent need to ensure that the updated housing requirements can be incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible to address housing need and demand, local authorities will be required to update their current development plans, in line with a clear policy direction, which is intended to issue as soon as possible. It is intended that this will involve the variation of current development plans under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) in the first instance, with the steps associated with the variation process set out within section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
In addition, under section 10 of the Act, where there is a Gaeltacht area located within the planning authority’s administrative area, the development plan must include objectives for “the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht including the promotion of Irish as the community language”.
The Development Plans Guidelines for Planning Authorities published in July 2022 give further guidance to local authorities, including reflecting the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (Limistéar Pleanála Teanga – LPTs as required under the Gaeltacht Act 2012) as well as the inclusion of further policies such as ensuring that development proposals in Gaeltacht areas have a positive impact on the linguistic and cultural heritage that can be robustly assessed at planning application stage.
An Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and Údarás na Gaeltachta) continues its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of both Departments and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas, and bilateral Departmental engagement is ongoing.
Having regard to the need to consider the complex matters involved and further to engagement with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, finalised draft guidelines will be subject to mandatory screening under EU law for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). It is intended that, in consultation with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, subject to the outcome of the screening exercises, the draft guidelines will then be published for public consultation.
Housing Provision
Questions (81)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:81. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable homes in the Poolbeg West SDZ. [35824/25]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to my reply to Question No. 17 of 13 May 2025 which sets out the position in this matter.
A condition of the planning scheme for the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, as modified by An Bord Pleanála in April 2019, is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory social housing requirement under Part V arrangements.
My Department has been working with Dublin City Council and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress the delivery of social and affordable housing in this first phase of housing delivery, subject to agreement on the SDZ requirements and all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.
The parties are not in a position to comment further until an agreement is finalised.
Question No. 82 answered with Question No. 28.
Planning Issues
Questions (83)
Willie O'Dea
Question:83. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the new statutory timelines for planning decisions by An Coimisiún Pleanála, as mandated by the Planning and Development Act 2024. [35635/25]
View answerWritten answers
An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts including the Planning and Development Act 2024.
The Planning and Development Act 2024, includes a number of new provisions relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, as part of a significant restructure. Part 4 of the Act has introduced statutory time periods for decision making for all consent processes, including, for the first time, for An Coimisiún Pleanála. It is intended to commence Part 4 later this year. This brings increased certainty to the planning consent processes, for both the public and stakeholders involved in the delivery of key infrastructure such as housing and renewable energy.
For Coimisiún processes, timelines are being introduced for appeals as well as the various consents applications made directly to the Coimisiún.
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 Oíreachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
Housing Schemes
Questions (84, 105)
Shay Brennan
Question:84. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes he is making to enable smaller developers to apply for the croí cónaithe cities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35840/25]
View answer
Conor Sheehan
Question:105. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his plans to rework the croí cónaithe (cities) and STAR schemes to allow them to function more effectively for a wider cohort of developers. [35903/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 105 together.
The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme and the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) Investment Scheme are part of a suite of housing measures in Housing for All designed to increase social, affordable and private housing supply. Such measures also include local authority delivered affordable housing for purchase, the new cost rental tenure, Land Development Agency delivery of affordable housing and the First Home Scheme. The Department keeps all theses scheme under review and any changes required to optimise participation or improve efficacy as may be feasible are considered on an on-going basis
The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current viability gap between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). My Department has recently made a number of 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 STAR Scheme is intended to bring forward Cost Rental Units at scale and at rents which are more affordable, with the aim of assisting eligible households in the private rental sector, particularly in urban centres where prevailing rents are especially high.
One of the key housing commitments in the Programme for Government is to continue the STAR scheme while reviewing its criteria, to ensure greater take-up by the private development sector. This review is presently underway and my Department is evaluating the interface between STAR and private capital investment sector in order to identify any potential optimisations that could be made to enhance delivery under the scheme and encourage greater participation by private operators.
Housing Schemes
Questions (85, 92, 96, 475)
Grace Boland
Question:85. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with Fingal County Council in relation to the tenant-in-situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35779/25]
View answer
Emer Currie
Question:92. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide clarity on the funding provided to Fingal County Council for the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35777/25]
View answer
Louise O'Reilly
Question:96. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by Fingal County Council on the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2024; if he will provide a projection for the spending in 2025 (specifically the number of dwellings that will be purchased); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35376/25]
View answer
Robert O'Donoghue
Question:475. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated to the tenant in situ scheme in Fingal for the years 2023 and 2024; and the amount ring-fenced for 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35738/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 92, 96 and 475 together.
The clear focus of 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 including Fingal County Council.
Over the last three years, my Department has provided funding for second hand acquisitions for a number of priority categories, including Tenant -in -Situ, demonstrating a clear commitment to respond to shorter-term pressures that can arise. In 2023, my Department provided funding to local authorities to acquire 1,500 social homes nationally, an increase of 1,300 units over the number provided for under Housing for All. In 2024, funding was again provided for 1,500 acquisitions, with each local authority issued an allocation of units which may be acquired. Fingal was issued an allocation of 100 units.
This year we are providing €325 million to local authorities for second-hand acquisitions which has been apportioned across all 31 local authorities. Under revised arrangements for 2025, my Department has provided an individual funding allocation to each local authority. Fingal County Council has been given an initial capital funding allocation of €20 million for their acquisitions activity this year and this gives them the flexibility to respond to these acute situations, while we continue to support their construction programmes.
Local authorities were also issued a circular in April 2025 setting out the arrangements for 2025 and my Department continues to be in regular contact with Fingal County Council regarding the operation of the programme.
Details of the funding recouped by Fingal County Council for second hand acquisitions, including acquisitions by AHBs under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), from 2023 to 2025 are as follows:
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 (to end May) |
|
€11.7m |
€46.8m |
€8.6m |
Fingal County Council has recouped €8.6m of their €20m allocation from my Department by end May 2025. It is a matter for local authorities to decide on how they use their funding allocations within the priority categories supported by the programme and the decisions made by Fingal County Council will determine the final outturns for 2025. In making such decisions, local authorities will have regard to the scheme criteria and their funding allocation while at the same time supporting anyone who is in threat of homelessness via their Tenancy Sustainment and Placefinder services.
My Department continues to engage with all local authorities to address any challenges which have emerged in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue in 2025 where no other solutions exist for the affected households.