Written Answers Nos. 121-137
122. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the work of the multistakeholder group under his Department in respect of developer provided wastewater treatment plants, commonly called DPI, in housing estates that are not in the charge of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53725/25]
View answerSince 1 January 2024, responsibility for the remediation of Developer Provided Infrastructure (DPI), including wastewater treatment plants in housing estates not taken in charge, has transferred to the national water authority, Uisce Éireann.
A dedicated multi-stakeholder group comprising Uisce Éireann, the local authorities and officials from my Department, continues to oversee this matter. Uisce Éireann is working closely with the local authorities to put in place a coordinated national plan for the progressive regularisation and remediation of these estates. Given the scale and complexity of the challenges involved, it is recognised that achieving resolution across all sites will necessarily take time.
In the interim, the existing local arrangements for the operation and maintenance of such plants remain in place until formal remediation or takeover occurs. My Department will continue to engage actively with Uisce Éireann and local authorities to support progress on this work.
124. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes built in the State in each of the past five years and to date in 2025. [53285/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing social housing delivery and the focus of the social housing programme is on increasing the number of new-build homes.
From the beginning of 2020 to the end of Q1 2025, 34,027 new homes have been delivered under social housing build programmes. This included delivery in 2023 and 2024 at levels not seen since the 1970s.
Social housing build delivery for the period in question is as follows:
• 5,064 homes in 2020
• 5,202 homes in 2021
• 7,433 homes in 2022
• 8,110 homes in 2023
• 7,860 homes in 2024
• 358 homes in Q1 2025
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q1 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. Data for Q2 2025 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 1 2025 and it shows that a total of 25,457 social homes were at all stages of design and build at the end of Q1 2025. All CSRs are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority, location etc. at this link: https://opendata.housing.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q1-2025. The Q2 2025 Construction Status Report is currently being compiled.
127. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is evaluating to reduce building costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53465/25]
View answerThe reduction of construction costs is a key priority of both the Government and my Department.
Under Housing for All, my Department has implemented a range of initiatives to reduce costs and improve productivity including promoting the use of modern methods of construction, standardisation, lean methods of construction and digitalisation. These include the Accelerated Social Housing Delivery Programme, Construct Innovate and Built-to-Innovate.
In addition to these initiatives, “The Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2025” (the Guidelines) were recently issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000). The proposed changes when compared to the previous Guidelines could, depending on the particular circumstances of a particular scheme, result in a c. €50k to €100k cost reduction per unit.
I have also recently published the Standardised Design Approaches study. This report identifies approaches to design, standardisation and MMC that have the potential to reduce costs in the range of 4.4% to 12.5% for different dwelling types.
My Department published a Residential Construction Cost Study in 2023 and Total Development Cost Study in 2024. A further Total Development Cost Study based on 2025 costs is planned to be published shortly. These reports provide an evidence base to inform policy.
I expect all of the above measures will allow projects and programmes to become more efficient and streamlined ensuring cost savings.
Further initiatives to reduce cost are being considered as part of the development of the new housing plan and will be announced when the plan is published
128. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on increasing the supply of cost-rental homes in Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53448/25]
View answerGovernment is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. A comprehensive implementation strategy is in place to support the various affordable housing schemes now being delivered by a range of delivery partners. Since the launch of Housing for All, over 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered nationally.
Under Housing for All, a very strong cost rental pipeline is already in place across our delivery partners, including Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency.
Funding approval is in place that will see Cork County Council delivery 169 cost rental units in key urban locations by 2027 with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund. 40 of these cost rental homes have been delivered up to and including Q1 of 2025. A further 79 cost rental homes are approved for delivery by Approved Housing Bodies with the support of the Cost Rental Equity Loan. In addition 21 Cost Rental Tenants in Situ solutions have been provided to date by Cork County Council.
Building on this progress, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline, including Cost Rental, for 2026 and beyond, and to ensure that the affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at a local level in Cork County and in local authorities generally.
132. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that local authorities are responding positively to the National Planning Framework and are complying with the objectives of the Revised National Planning Framework; if he will provide an update on the progress made on housing and infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53569/25]
View answerThe Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was finalised and approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. The Revised NPF identifies the need to plan for approximately 50,000 additional households per annum to 2040.
The Revised NPF provides the basis for the review and updating of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) and local authority development plans to reflect such critical matters such as updated housing figures or projected jobs growth, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes.
To ensure that local authority development plans reflect the requirements of the NPF in respect of housing as soon as possible, I issued the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in July 2025. These guidelines set out the housing demand scenario to 2040 for each local authority, by translating the NPF housing requirements into average annual figures and require planning authorities to commence the process of varying their development plan to meet the new housing growth requirements.
In addition to the baseline housing growth requirement, planning authorities have also been requested to address the scope for additional provision of up to 50% in excess of the baseline housing growth requirement, in light of the urgent need to increase housing delivery and to optimise the ability to deliver on the housing requirements of the Revised NPF. This approach recognises the fact that, for a variety of reasons, a relatively significant proportion of zoned lands are not activated over the period of a development plan.
Planning authorities are currently assessing their current development plan and undertaking a review of the adequacy of existing zoned lands to cater for the new Housing Growth Requirement figures and the potential for ‘additional provision’.
This review and analysis will inform the preparation of a Chief Executive’s report to be submitted to the elected members which will set out the position in respect of each local authority, and the Chief Executive’s recommendations to the members as to what variations to the Plan may be required in order to meet the requirements of the Guidelines. A copy of the Chief Executive’s report is required to be submitted to the Minister and to the Office of the Planning Regulator. Planning Authorities are currently undertaking this initial review and assessment and will be engaging with their elected members.
The zoning of land for particular purposes, including housing, is an exercise undertaken by planning authorities as part of their overall statutory plan function generally as part of a development plan under sections 9 to 13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), but can at present also be carried out as part of a local area plan (LAP) process. The making of a development plan or an LAP is a reserved function of the elected members of each authority.
Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 empowers the Minister to direct a planning authority to take such measures as he or she may require to ensure that its development plan complies with the requirements of the Act. The statutory procedures governing the issuing of ministerial directions are found in sections 31, 31AM and 31AN of the 2000 Act.
The power to issue a direction is conditional on the Minister first receiving a formal recommendation on the matter from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and thereafter forming the opinion that one or more of the criteria set out in section 31(1) of the Act apply. These matters include, but are not limited to, where a plan fails to set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, or a plan is not consistent with the objectives of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES).
Since its establishment in April 2019, the OPR has had statutory responsibility for the evaluation and assessment of local authority plans in accordance with section 31P of the Act. The Office is statutorily independent of the Minister in the performance of this function pursuant to section 31R of the Act.
The Programme for Government recognised the need for acceleration of home building by unblocking infrastructure delays and by coordinating investment in servicing zoned land.
Significant progress has been made on establishing the Housing Activation Office. Senior specialists from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector are now in place. In addition, senior staff from my Department are assigned to the Office, with expertise in Planning, Project and Programme Management. Further administrative support is in place and staff from the wider Department are continuing to support the Office across corporate functions. The appointment of a Head to the Office is also being progressed as a matter of priority.
The Office is actively engaged in identifying barriers to housing delivery and is coordinating with local authorities and infrastructure agencies to address these barriers. The Office is also developing a new Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund under the National Development Plan to support direct investment in infrastructure needed at a local level to unblock housing development.
In addition, I intend to convene the Housing Activation Delivery Group in the coming weeks, bringing together senior representatives from Government Departments and infrastructure agencies to support the work of the Office. I will also convene a Housing Activation Industry Group that will provide for regular engagement with industry. I look forward to engaging with all stakeholders through these forums and ensuring that infrastructure for housing is prioritised and accelerated.
133. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will examine measures to support the continued availability of rental accommodation to households in receipt of the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53827/25]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. Under HAP, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. At the end of Q1 2025, almost 127,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 52,657 households actively in receipt of HAP support.
Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit, and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. The additional discretion available to homeless households recognises the difficulty this cohort of households face in sourcing and securing properties in a highly competitive rental market. It is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
I have also recently approved the commencement of a review of HAP rent limits. My Department is now in the process of setting the parameters of such a review. It is intended that the review will consider the existing rent limits with a view to providing sufficient support to assist eligible households to access and maintain tenancies, and prevent homeless presentations.
In addition, for those in an existing HAP tenancy, the HAP Landlord Guarantee Scheme is in place. This scheme can be used when a HAP tenant defaults on their differential rent payment to the local authority and it allows the HAP payment to the landlord to continue. The tenant is offered the option of a payment plan to assist them in maintaining their tenancy. If the tenant defaults on payment of differential rent or the payment plan, the HAP payment to the landlord will be guaranteed for a maximum 12-month period.
135. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on if social housing applicants should be able to move their application from one local authority to another on personal or compassionate grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53634/25]
View answerThe qualification criteria for social housing support are set down in Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
A household may apply for social housing support to one local authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection. However, the local authority may agree, at its discretion, to assess the household for support without the need to meet the normally resides or local connection criteria.
A household meeting either the normally resides or local connection condition may specify up to three areas of choice for receipt of support in the areas of all local authorities in the county and city concerned and, if qualified, will be entered on the housing waiting list of each of those local authorities. Accordingly, under existing arrangements, the four Dublin local authorities have arrangements allowing social housing applicants apply for housing in up to two of the other Dublin authorities simultaneously. Similar arrangements apply in the two Cork and two Galway local authorities.
A household may, not less than 12 months after the date on which it is first entered on a housing authority’s housing list, notify the housing authority of application that it wishes to change one, or more than one, area of choice in the application area and a household may change one, or more than one, such area not less than 12 months after its most recent change of an area of choice. An applicant does not lose any time on the list by changing their area of choice.
Generally, is not possible for a household previously on one social housing waiting list to carry the time spent on that list when applying to another local authority. However, local authorities may provide for exceptional or emergency cases to qualified households, allowing immediate housing outside of normal waiting lists priorities, should circumstances require.
136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the trio procedure associated with Ireland's Presidency of the Council of Ministers works, specifically when Ireland's involvement in the trio begins and ends; whether particular policy initiatives have been identified; whether he expects Ireland to be guided by progress reports from the Danish & Cypriot presidencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54208/25]
View answerIreland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December 2026. This will be an important opportunity for Ireland to lead and shape the European agenda, and the Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency in 2026.
The Presidency of the Council is held by pre-established groups of three Member States, known as the 'Trio’, for a period of 18 months. The groups are established on the basis of equal rotation among the Member States, taking into account their diversity and geographical balance within the EU. The Irish Presidency of the Council will form the first part of a Trio which will also include the Presidencies of Lithuania (January to June 2027) and Greece (July to December 2027).
Ireland is working with its Trio partners, Lithuania and Greece, to develop a Trio Presidency programme which will ensure coherence in the work of the Council through the relevant 18-month Trio period from July 2026 to December 2027. This programme will be prepared in close cooperation with the President of the European Council, the European Commission, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Our Trio programme will take into account the EU's Strategic Agenda for 2024-29 and the legislative programme proposed by the European Commission. The evolution of the Council’s legislative agenda through the Danish and Cypriot Presidencies will also have a bearing on the definition of Trio priorities to be taken forward over the 18 month period of the Irish, Lithuanian and Greek Presidencies.
The Trio programme, as is usual practice, will be presented to the General Affairs Council shortly before the start of our Presidency term, in June 2026.
137. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department is taking to ensure the safety of Irish citizens participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla following their detention by Israeli forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54211/25]
View answerI can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel following their participation on the Global Sumud Flotilla have been released and are currently on their way home.
This welcome outcome was secured after a weekend of intensive efforts by officials from across my Department, including the Embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners.
I know that this has been a difficult time for both the Irish citizens and their families, and I pay tribute to their resilience throughout. Dublin-based officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade remain in close contact with family members who have requested our support, and will continue to update them.
I am aware of a number of Irish citizens participating in other Flotillas en route to Gaza and have instructed my Department to closely monitor that evolving situation. While my Department continues to advise against travel to the Gaza Strip, in this case our clear priority is to ensure the welfare of our citizens.
Over the past number of weeks, I have repeatedly stated that I understand that the peaceful efforts of those on board reflect an understandable desire by many people around the world to urgently address the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza. Ireland will continue to call for all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unhindered humanitarian access to the people of Gaza at scale.
