Written Answers Nos. 101-120
102. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding to date allocated under the Rural Water Programme 2024–2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53745/25]
View answerMy Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme is the principal funding stream supporting investment in the rural water sector. The Programme provides capital funding to address priority challenges in areas such as water quality, resilience, and infrastructure for group water schemes and for locations not currently served by Uisce Éireann.
To date under the current cycle, which covers the period from 2024 to 2026, funding of €166 million has been allocated for more than 550 individual projects across the country.
Work is ongoing with local authorities, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and other stakeholders to support the effective delivery of the Programme.
103. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the co-funding contribution expected of local authorities for the provision of wastewater infrastructure; if his Department will assist Galway County Council with their contribution for the Craughwell and Clarinbridge projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53888/25]
View answerUnder my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, approval in principle of some €45 million in funding has been given to a number of projects addressing the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public wastewater services. This includes the Craughwell and Clarinbridge projects referenced in the Question.
The delivery of these projects is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities. However, they are required to work in consultation with Uisce Éireann, reflecting that the infrastructure being constructed will ultimately be owned by, and will fall to be operated by, Uisce Éireann.
Since the funding announcement, the local authorities and Uisce Éireann have jointly undertaken and completed a reassessment of the projects. This exercise confirmed the most efficient construction options and provided clarity to the local authorities on the level of co-funding contribution required from them for each project.
The local authorities concerned have been asked to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place and responses in this regard have been received by my Department. These submissions are currently under consideration, and any decisions regarding adjustments or assistance will be made in due course.
104. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the significantly increased housing targets for local authorities, if his Department will ensure that the local authorities are adequately resourced to deal with the expected increased volumes of planning applications. [53892/25]
View answerOn 15 October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. This Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for future needs. It sets out 14 high-level actions that provide a coordinated pathway to ensure a sustainable pipeline of planning and related expertise into the future, addressing the areas of education, recruitment and retention, as well as measures to encourage greater innovation and efficiency.
Funding was secured in Budget 2025 to support delivery of the Action Plan and a Steering Group was established to coordinate and oversee the development of this Action Plan. This group remains in place to oversee the implementation and ongoing review of the Action Plan. Five Working Groups, the members of which are key stakeholders, have been established to progress grouped actions in the areas of education, national recruitment, international recruitment, system reform and innovation and efficiency. All of these working groups have met a number of times and the work of the groups is progressing well.
A copy of the Action Plan can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/51194-ministerial-action-plan-on-planning-resources-october-2024/.
In October 2023, my Department conveyed approval to the filling of an initial 100 additional posts, subsequently increased to 101 posts, in the local authority planning sector under the first tranche of a programme of supports for planning resources. A further approval issued in January 2025 for 112 additional posts - 56 graduate planner posts and 56 staff officer posts - to support the Planning function within local authorities. Local authorities were notified of their allocation for Phase 2A graduate planner posts on 17 April 2025. A graduate planner recruitment campaign was launched on 13 May 2025 to attract graduate planners into Ireland’s Local Authorities (Action 4), which was supported by my Department.
The occupation of town planner has been added to the Critical Skills Occupation List (Action 9) which will allow eligible non-EEA professionals from outside of Europe to benefit from streamlined employment permit processes, making it easier for Irish employers to recruit and retain international talent in this vital sector.
My Department is currently working on a number of measures to increase staffing levels in the local government planning sector. In this regard, my Department is collaborating with the Local Government Management Agency on the delivery of a third tranche of supports to planning authorities. These supports include the provision of staffing resources and expertise to enable planning authorities to perform their functions efficiently and effectively.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible.
106. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will reconsider his stance outlined in Parliamentary Question Nos. 384, 385 and 386 of 23 September 2025 (details supplied) regarding the regulation of licensee arrangements in rental accommodation in view of the exploitation outlined in Threshold's ‘Renting at the Frontier’ report launched 30 September 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53902/25]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 (the RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The RTA apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions.
The dwellings to which the RTA does not apply are set out in section 3(2) of the RTA, and include for example, a dwelling within which the landlord also resides.
Traditionally, rent-a-room arrangements are entered by students and others residing in ‘digs’ or family homes where goodwill exists to ensure that both lodgers and home owners are happy with the arrangement. It is possible for rent-a-room arrangements to be formalised by way of a licence agreement between the parties to a rent-a-room arrangement, including in respect of student digs, but this is a matter of choice for the parties themselves to agree on.
Digs accommodation and licence arrangements, generally, are an integral housing solution for students and other renters as well as an important source of revenue and, in some circumstances, social interaction for homeowners. Any attempt at regulating ‘digs’ or licence arrangements could well impact negatively on the supply of this traditional and important source of accommodation for students and others.
I have no plans at this time to alter this position; however, the RTA is kept under constant review to ensure that they are fit for purpose.
107. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support short term rental/family run self-catering businesses, and the rural tourism sector, by putting an exemption in place from planning for existing operators and treat those with four or less units in the same manner as B and Bs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53821/25]
View answerThe 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 Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) have 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. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026.
Following the approval received from Government on the 15 April to generally preclude new planning permissions for STLs in cities and towns with a Census population in excess of 10,000 people, at the most recent Census of Population, my Department is working to give effect to this decision. This involves a review of the current Planning Acts with a view to remove references to Rent Pressure Zones in respect of short-term lets.
My Department is currently developing a National Planning Statement 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.
A review of the current Exempted Development Regulations is ongoing and a four-week public consultation period on the matter concluded on 26 August 2025. The consultation on exempted development regulations generated a significant response from the public, with over 900 submissions received via the online consultation portal.
These submissions are currently being reviewed and will inform new draft Exempted Development Regulations, which must then be subject to screening for Environmental Assessment, before being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This will also necessitate engagement with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
It should be noted that homesharers are currently allowed to sub-let their entire principal 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.
108. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he intends to take to address the failure of some local authorities to implement national planning and rezoning recommendations in a timely and consistent manner; if he will publish details of the councils which are not complying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53756/25]
View answer113. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the alignment of county development plans with the National Planning Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53885/25]
View answer121. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department intends to exercise its powers to directly rezone land where local authorities fail to do so in line with national housing and planning objectives; the legislative basis for such intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53757/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 113 and 121 together.
The 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 Planning and Development Act 2024, which is being commenced on a phased basis, includes updated arrangements for the issuing of national planning policy, through the replacement of section 28 Ministerial Guidelines with Government-approved National Planning Statements, along with revised arrangements for the issuing of draft and final directions to regional assemblies and local authorities to ensure consistency throughout the hierarchy of plan making. The provisions relating to National Planning Statements commenced on 2 October 2025.
National Planning Statements will include two distinct elements: (a) National Planning Policies and Measures, with which planning authorities will be required to be consistent in the exercise of their functions; and (b) National Planning Policy Guidance’, which planning authorities will be required to have due regard to. Where a new National Planning Statement is issued, regional assemblies, and in due course, planning authorities, will be required to submit a report to the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) setting out their view as to whether the RSES or development plan is materially consistent with the national planning policies and measures set out in the National Planning Statement.
Where the OPR is satisfied that there is a material inconsistency, and the steps proposed by the regional assembly or planning authority are sufficient to remove the material inconsistency, the expedited amendment procedures set out in the Act of 2024 may be invoked. If not satisfied, the OPR can make a recommendation to the Minister that a draft direction under the Act of 2024 should be issued. Furthermore, the OPR can make a recommendation to the Minister that such a draft direction should be issued where it does not receive a report from the regional assembly or planning authority and the OPR is of the opinion that there is a material inconsistency.
The Minister will be required to consider the OPR recommendation, statement of reasons and proposed terms for the draft direction and make a decision as to whether to accept that recommendation or not.
110. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes delivered and approved in County Laois under both the affordable purchase scheme and the first home scheme from 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the proposed numbers for 2026 and subsequent years; the measures being taken to expand affordable housing options for working households above the social housing income threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53590/25]
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. Overall, over 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, including nearly 320 in Laois.
My Department publishes programme-level statistics on affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and delivery partners in each local authority area. Data for the years 2022 up to Q1 2025 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/?#affordable-housing-delivery]
Under Housing for All, a very strong affordable housing pipeline is already in place across our delivery partners, including Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and the First Home Scheme.
Building on this progress, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners, including Laois County Council, to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline for 2026 and beyond, and to ensure that the affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at a local level.
Other measures such as the Local Authority Home Loan, the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Scheme, the Help to Buy Incentive and the Ready to Build Scheme are also available to help make home ownership more affordable.
114. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of pilot sewage schemes in small villages that is being led by his Department; if his Department is open to the possibility of new developments using package sewerage treatment plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53443/25]
View answerThe details sought on the pilot projects approved for funding in principle under my Department's initiative are set out in the table below:
|
Location |
Local authority |
Number of existing houses |
|
Ballygawley |
Sligo |
53 |
|
Broadford |
Clare |
90 |
|
Cooraclare |
Clare |
64 |
|
Clarinbridge |
Galway |
130 |
|
Craughwell |
Galway |
285 |
|
Ramsgrange |
Wexford |
86 |
|
Beaufort |
Kerry |
88 |
This funding measure is provided for pilot wastewater projects in seven locations, with the intention of helping to inform a long-term, evidence-based national policy for small-scale treatment.
The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating wastewater discharges to the aquatic environment. Uisce Éireann is required to apply to the Agency for a discharge authorisation for any new wastewater treatment plant.
It is a matter for Uisce Éireann in the first instance therefore to determine what technology is most appropriate in any specific location and the final decision on the grant of an authorisation is for the Agency.
I understand that Uisce Éireann is evaluating the options for locations that require treatment of comparatively small volumes of wastewater.
115. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has had with a board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53941/25]
View answerI have not had any engagement with the mentioned board.
118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of Phase 3 of the Ulster Canal; when works on this phase are expected to commence; and the estimated date of completion. [53807/25]
View answerThe restoration of the Ulster Canal is a major cross-border project principally funded by the Shared Island Fund and my Department. The project is being delivered by Waterways Ireland, in three phases:
• Phase 1 from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson (completed in 2019)
• Phase 2 from Clones to Clonfad (completed June 2024), and
• Phase 3 Castle Saunderson to Clonfad (underway).
Phase 3 is the longest stretch at 10km and includes 10km of new and refurbished navigable canal and towpath, bridges, locks, marina and service blocks. Phase 3 has four sub-phases of which three (sub-phases 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4) will be progressed first:
• Sub-phase 3.1 from Castlesaunderson to Gortnacarrow
• Sub-phase 3.2 from Gortnacarrow to Clonoony
• Sub-phase 3.3 Clonoony to Derrynure
• Sub-phase 3.4 Derrynure to Clonfad
Substantial preliminary work is underway on Phase 3. Waterways Ireland has appointed a dedicated project lead for this phase and detailed design tenders for sub-phases 3.1 and 3.2 issued in April this year.
Waterways Ireland continues to liaise with relevant stakeholders including affected landowners in relation to the project. Waterways Ireland has corresponded with all affected landowners, providing a project update, and more detailed engagement has commenced recently with land owners in sub phases 3.1 and 3.2.
Estimated completion of all elements (subject to land acquisition and the necessary planning consent for sub-phase 3.3) is 2029.
119. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant or derelict properties registered in Cork county from 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53282/25]
View answer130. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of registered derelict or vacant housing properties in Dublin Rathdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53386/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 130 together.
Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for Government.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in January 2023, set out the various actions being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In March, I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/ .
Data in relation to vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as the CSO, Census 2022 and GeoDirectory.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has recently developed a new statistical release on residential vacancy. The release, published on 24 September 2025, provides information on the extent of residential vacancy in 2022 and 2023, using ESB data on metered residential electricity consumption, with future regular publications planned.
In the release, the CSO note a national vacancy rate of 3.3% at the end of Q4 2023, down from 3.6% in Q4 2022. Data is provided at a national, local authority and local electoral level, including for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Cork County. This release will further inform our understanding of vacancy and the development of policy and measures to address it.
In the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report for Q2 2025, the average vacancy rate across Ireland had dropped to 3.7%, the lowest rate recorded since 2013; a local authority breakdown is also provided.
My Department has also supported local authorities to collate data on vacant and derelict properties in their administrative areas. Almost all local authorities, including Cork County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, 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.
Under section 8 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, a local authority is obliged to maintain a Derelict Sites Register and shall enter on to the register the particulars of any land in their functional area which, in their opinion, is a derelict site. Under Section 23 of the Act, local authorities may apply a Derelict Sites Levy (DSL), on an annual basis, for sites entered on the derelict sites register on the 1 January of that year. Data is provided on the number of properties on Derelict Sites Registers in Cork County and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in 2022 and 2023. My Department is currently engaged with all local authorities in the process of collecting and collating the 2024 annual returns.
|
Local Authority |
No. of Derelict Sites on Register at 31 December 2022 |
No. of Derelict Sites on Register at 31 December 2023 |
|
Cork County |
59 |
71 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
11 |
10 |
While varying levels and rates of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are declining.
