Tuesday, 8 Jul 2025

Written Answers Nos. 499-507

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Planning Issues

Questions (499)

Colm Burke

Question:

499. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on a review of planning regulations in relation to a new and separate exempted development threshold for stand-alone nutrient storage, in view that the thresholds and conditions associated with the exemption are practical and enable farmers to make the necessary investment to deliver the required nutrient storage capacity to mitigate agriculture pressure on water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36359/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

While the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024, it is in the process of being commenced and 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until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed.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 the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing and a wider public consultation on exempted development regulations is due to commence later this month. Members of the public, state bodies and all other parties will be able to make submissions in writing as part of the consultation process.

The Government cannot pre-empt the outcome of any consultation and therefore no final decision has been made in respect of revision to current exempted development provisions. This includes agricultural exemptions for storage of slurry, effluent or soiled water collected from agricultural farmyards. Any update to Exempted Development Regulations will require positive resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas before it can be signed into law.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (500)

Conor D McGuinness

Question:

500. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his expenditure on media training in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the firms contracted to provide training; and the position or grade of those availing of training, for example, Minister, Secretary General, principal officer and so on. [37052/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Table below contains the details of expenditure, training providers and grade of staff availing of media training, by my Department from 2015 to date in 2025, funded by the Training budget of my Department.

Table

Year	Training Budget Expenditure	Firms	Grades Availing
2025	Nil
2024	€1,892.30	Europa Media Training	1 Executive Officer
2023	€5,925	PRII – Public Relations Institute of Ireland	2 Assistant Principal Officers   1 Executive Officer
2022	€750.	IPA - Institute of Public Administration	1 Executive Officer
2021	€4,707	DCU – Dublin City University   Drury Communications	1 Assistant Principal Officer   Minister Of State
2020	€198	OneLearning	2 Higher Executive Officers   1 Clerical Officer
2019	Nil
2018	€2,297	Irish Times Training	2 Principal Officers   6 Assistant Principal Officers   2 Executive Officers
2017	Nil
2016	Nil
2015	Nil

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (501)

Conor D McGuinness

Question:

501. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's expenditure on media consultancy in each of the years 2015 to 2025; the consultancy firms involved; and the nature of each contract, in tabular form. [37070/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)

Press and public relations functions are generally undertaken by my Department's Press Office and Communications Unit. My Department has not had any contracts with public relations agencies or consultants to assist with Department public relations  from 2015 to 2025.

Separately, Met Éireann, which is currently a line division of my Department, has had a contract with MKC Communications since end February 2023. Prior to that Met Éireann didn’t use any other PR/media consultancy firm.

MKC was hired by Met Éireann to advise the meteorological service on communication issues including the development of digital material for met.ie, support with public and media campaigns, support with stakeholders engagement events and support on the development of communication and social media strategies.

A table of the cost of the service to Met Éireann is supplied below.

-	Cost
2023	€63,666.76
2024	€107,118.98
2025 January-May	€30,656.25

Housing Schemes

Questions (502)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

502. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the croi cónaithe cities scheme, by a list of the schemes that have or are coming to market under this scheme; the cash value of the CCC subsidy being applied to the purchase of the homes in each of these schemes; and the way in which the grant and attached clawback is being applied. [37084/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments in urban cores for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current "Viability Gap" between the delivery cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). Since the Scheme launched, three calls for Expression of Interest have been completed, with a fourth call, which was launched on 11th June 2025, currently underway.

I can confirm that to date, 11 developments, delivering 1,182 apartments have been approved. This represents a funding commitment of up to €144.4m. The total cost of all successful applications is dependent on the final open market selling price of each home. This open market price, along with the open book delivery cost determines the final subsidy amount. The maximum subsidy available for each apartment is €120,000 (Dublin), and €144,000 (all other regional cities, where the viability gap is greater). It is therefore only possible to determine the actual Croí Cónaithe (Cities) subsidy after each apartment sale has fully closed.

Details of the approved schemes are available on the Housing Agency website: www.housingagency.ie/CroiConaitheCities

  The Housing Agency continues to assess remaining applications under the previous calls which have the potential to deliver a further 1,500 units.

With regard to the clawback, the scheme is administered by the Housing Agency. Details of how the clawback operates, including a worked example, is included in schedule 2 of the sample contract which is also available on the Housing Agency website at the link provided above.

Defective Building Materials

Questions (503)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

503. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the considerable expense that homeowners have to incur to be admitted to the pyrite remediation scheme; if he will provide details of any supports available for homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37120/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of the Pyrite Remediation Scheme. The Scheme was established to remediate dwellings damaged as a result of pyritic heave caused by the swelling of hardcore under ground floor slabs.

In making an application to the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, an applicant is required to submit a Building Condition Assessment report, as explained in the Pyrite Remediation Scheme document, a copy of which can be found on the Pyrite Resolution Board website at the following link: www.pyriteboard.ie/Pyrite/media/Pyrite/Updated/22-10-27-Pyrite-Remediation-Scheme-Adopted.pdf

If an application is approved for inclusion in the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, a scheme participant may recoup the vouched cost of the Building Condition Assessment report, subject to a maximum limit of €500 (including VAT).

In addition, there are two other owner supports provided by the Pyrite Remediation Scheme.  These include vouched costs for the removal, storage and return of furniture, equipment and effects following dwelling remediation and the vouched costs for alternative accommodation during the remediation works which can be recouped by scheme participants, subject to the limits set in the scheme document.

The Pyrite Remediation Scheme also permits a scheme participant to reassign unspent storage allowance towards rental costs.

Waterways Issues

Questions (504)

Emer Currie

Question:

504. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the specific environmental and infrastructural factors that led to the River Tolka’s consideration as a heavily modified water body; whether alternative restoration options will be considered prior to its designation; the reason the river’s ecological potential was assessed as ‘poor’ with ‘medium confidence’; whether further public consultation will take place prior to any final designations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37152/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)

The 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. However, some of our water bodies have been physically modified in the past to serve a beneficial specified use to society, e.g. flood protection and the provision of drinking water. The modifications required to achieve these benefits may alter the natural flow, form or function (hydromorphology) of the water body, such that it is no longer in a natural state. These modified water bodies may not be capable of achieving the same environmental targets as their natural counterparts, e.g. if the river is constrained by urban area. In these 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).

The River Tolka has been proposed for designation as heavily modified due to both the presence of engineered flood defences in Meath and Dublin and being partly in an urban setting. A significant level of flood protection is provided by the flood relief schemes to both rural and urban lands (e.g. Blanchardstown and Mulhuddart), including the protection of over 1,600 properties, public infrastructure and public realm facilities.

The flood relief schemes were implemented across three local authorities (Meath, Fingal and Dublin City) by the Office of Public Works. A range of alternative options were considered at the design stage of the River Tolka Flood Study, which was carried out in 2002. There is no known alternative solution that can provide the extent of flood defences required at this point in time and the removal of these schemes would also result in a risk to public safety. In addition, as the river corridor is confined by an urbanised ‘city’ environment, it is considered that the removal of these defences would not achieve significant environmental benefit (i.e. the river does not have space to return to its natural state).

The environmental objective for HMWBs is not a lower standard. Designation of water bodies as heavily modified acknowledges that there has been a modification for the purposes of a beneficial specified use, and that different, more appropriate environmental standards need to be applied. The proposed designation of the River Tolka would require it to be assigned a target of ‘Good Ecological Potential’. This reflects the best environmental target that the water body is capable of achieving while the modifications to support the specified use (in this case flood protection) are still in place.

As part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Water Quality Monitoring Programme, the sections of the Tolka in question have been assessed as having ‘poor’ status. The EPA may provide any additional information required regarding their assessment protocol.

The EPA completed a public consultation on the designation process in 2022 and my Department undertook a further 8-week public consultation which closed on 23 May 2025. There will be no further public consultation prior to final designation. All submissions received during the consultation period will be considered.

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.

Vacant Properties

Questions (505)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

505. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for an ‘above the shop’ living refurbishment grant by topping up the vacant and derelict refurbishment grant so as to help make spaces above retail premises liveable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37171/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for 2 years or more at the time of application.

The grant is currently available to individuals for the conversion of former commercial or public use buildings as well as "Above the Shop" type conversions.

More information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can be found on my Department's website here- www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/

In conjunction with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, other supports and grants may be used to bring these properties in towns and villages into use. The Conservation Advice Grant is designed to support owners of traditional buildings where the building is a protected structure or located in an architectural conservation area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes qualify for the grant where the intended use is a single dwelling over the shop.

Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes were extended to the end of 2025. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’. The exemptions support the reuse of vacant commercial buildings as homes, increasing housing supply and regenerating communities. From 2018 to the end of 2023, almost 1,200 notifications had been received from developers which could result in over 2,700 new homes being provided.

Funding is also available under the Repair and Leasing Scheme which provides support for the refurbishment of vacant properties to be used for social housing.  This scheme provides an interest free loan of up to €80,000, including VAT, for each individual unit completed in a formerly vacant property. For example, where a vacant former shop is converted into 4 apartments, a loan of up to €320,000 is available. The scheme is increasingly being used to convert vacant commercial properties into social housing units.

The new Programme for Government includes a range of commitments to tackle vacancy, including a commitment to create an ‘Above the Shop’ living refurbishment grant by topping up the vacant and derelict refurbishment grant. My Department is currently progressing work on this.

Housing Schemes

Questions (506)

Aidan Farrelly

Question:

506. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the cost to the exchequer of the first home scheme (aka shared equity scheme) in each of the years since its creation in 2022, in tabular form; and an estimation of the cost for each year from the last year for which final numbers are available until 2030. [37192/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and self-builders, between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.

The Exchequer expenditure for the years 2022 to 2024 are indicated in the table below.

Year	2022	2023	2024
Exchequer Funding	€40m	€40m	€49.4m

It is projected that the State will be providing €80 million in 2025 to the First Home Scheme.

In May 2025, all Shareholders agreed their continued support of the Scheme until 1 June 2027 and to provide the required capital to meet this commitment. This extension is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to extend the First Home Scheme out to 2030.

The projected total State commitment to the Scheme up to June 2027 is €370 million. This will be matched 50:50 by the participating banks, and will bring the projected total commitment to the scheme to €740 million. The First Home Scheme is a demand led Scheme and funds is drawn down as and when required.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (507)

Aidan Farrelly

Question:

507. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the cost to the Exchequer of the croí cónaithe scheme in each of the years since its creation, in tabular form; and an estimation of the cost for each year from the last year for which final numbers are available until 2030. [37193/25]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy James Browne)

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. A key action under Pathway 4 was the introduction of the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund in July 2022. The Fund provides for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for 2 years or more at the time of application.

My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#:~:text=A%20grant%20of%20up%20to,property%20up%20to%20%E2%82%AC70%2C000

Under the Ready to Build Scheme local authorities make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites are available at a discount on the market value of the site for the purposes of building a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.

The Exchequer expenditure for Croí Cónaithe Towns for the years 2022 to 2024 are indicated in the table below.

Year	2022	2023	2024
Exchequer Funding	€2.526m	€5.80m	€50.792m

The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme, which launched in May 2022, 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).  The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes. Full details are available on the Housing Agency website, www.housingagency.ie/CroiConaitheCities.

The Programme for Government committed to continue the Croí Cónaithe Cities scheme to support the construction of apartments for owner occupiers. To date, 11 developments, delivering 1,182 apartments have been approved. This represents a funding commitment of up to €144.4m. The Exchequer expenditure for Croí Cónaithe Cities for the years 2022 to 2024 are included in the table below.

Year	2022	2023	2024
Exchequer Funding	€93,327	€376,582	€144,013

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, drawdown of approved funding occurs on completion of projects and following the sale of apartments. It should be noted that apartment developments typically take between 18 months and 2 years to complete from first approval. The first units completed under the scheme went on sale in May of this year.

As such, expenditure to date has been limited primarily to administrative and legal costs in respect of these contracts but is expected to accelerate in the coming months as funding is drawdown in respect of completed units.

The Programme for Government contains an objective to continue both the Croí Cónaithe Cities and Croí Cónaithe Towns schemes and, in alignment with the ongoing National Development Plan review, the funding envelope for both schemes out to 2030 will be determined as part of the NDP process.

• Written Answers Nos. 476-498
• Written Answers Nos. 508-527