Written Answers Nos. 479-500
479. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the sports capital and equipment programme and large-scale sport infrastructure fund will open for new applications for much-needed funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64399/25]
View answerMy Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
In line with previous rounds of the Fund, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.
The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was established under the National Sports Policy, published on 25 July 2018, to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the CSFF. To date €297.5 million in funding has been awarded under LSSIF 2018 and LSSIF 2024.
My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. No decisions have yet been made regarding the next round of LSSIF.
480. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when he will publish the revised general scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023; if he will provide empirical data to back his statements that he will not be implementing all of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Communications and Sports recommendations on the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64400/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill was approved by Government on 8 April 2025 and subsequently published.
I would like to recognise the comprehensive pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill undertaken by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport and my Department is considering those recommendations.
The Committee recommended (Recommendation 79) that a content levy should be introduced in line with the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. As I have previously indicated in response to Parliamentary Question 52538 of 25, I will not be accepting that recommendation. I consider that the introduction of a content levy risks placing an additional financial burden on Irish households already experiencing cost of living pressures, particularly in the context of recent international developments.
It is for that reason the revised General Scheme includes an added layer of protection for the Irish consumer by providing that Coimisiún na Meán may only impose a content production levy on broadcasters and video-on-demand providers following a direction of the Minister. I have no intention of issuing such a direction until I am satisfied that a content levy would not constitute an undue burden on Irish households.
The Bill will be published when the necessary detailed drafting is complete, including those drafting changes necessary to incorporate recommendations made by the Committee.
481. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps being taken to support the recovery and growth of the live arts and events sector, which continues to face challenges related to rising operational costs and venue closures; if his Department will consider the expansion of grant or tax-relief supports for regional theatres and music venues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64647/25]
View answerTax reliefs are a matter for the Minister for Finance. My priority as Minister is to ensure that the arts and culture sectors are resilient, sustainable, forward reaching and accessible. To do this, we need to build capacity in all areas under my remit. I recently announced €384.1m in the 2026 budget for arts and culture, which provides a wide range of supports to artists and arts organisations that directly contribute to the live entertainment sector. The final detailed allocation will be in the revised estimates which is due to be published shortly.
My Department provides capital support for arts and culture infrastructure throughout the country while annual support, including programming and revenue supports, is provided by local authorities and the Arts Council. I have asked the Arts Council to contact the Deputy directly with a detailed response in regard to the support they provide. Please contact my private office if you do not hear from the Council within ten working days.
In addition and in support of a commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department continues to aid the development of a more vibrant and culturally diverse Night-Time Economy which many live entertainment businesses participate.
This year I launched the Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme, to support small established music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists. These venues play a vital role in Ireland’s cultural and creative ecosystem. The Scheme operated with a total fund of €500,000 and 34 grants of up to €15,000 were awarded to small independent venues to host events showcasing the talent of emerging, grassroots artists performing live music they have written or created themselves. Due to the success of this scheme and the importance of sustaining these venues, I recently announced an allocation of €1m towards a 2nd iteration of this scheme for 2026 to help further protect these venues against the backdrop of rising costs.
The work under the Night-Time Economy programme has made some impact on bringing the benefits of a vibrant Night-Time Economy into public discourse as well as affecting policy development across Government. We will continue to work across Government and with the live events and arts sector to address the challenges faced, to develop and sustain the sector.
482. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on investment in local sports facilities and community clubs across rural Ireland; whether the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme will be expanded or restructured to prioritise underfunded areas such as east Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64648/25]
View answerThe Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) is the primary means of providing Government funding to sport and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Fund aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and assists the purchase of non- personal sports equipment.
Among the Fund's objectives is to assist voluntary and community organisations, national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport, local authorities and Education and Training Boards and schools to develop high quality, accessible, safe, well-designed, sustainable facilities in appropriate locations and to provide appropriate equipment to help maximise participation in sport and physical recreation
Over 19,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.4 billion. Over €277 million was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. In the 2023 round of the CSFF over €17 million was allocated to 194 sporting projects in County Galway and over €32 million has been allocated to 492 sporting projects in County Galway over the last 3 rounds.
In line with previous rounds of the Fund, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026. It is anticipated that the next CSFF round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.
483. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if she is aware of the current underfunding of emergency medical services for the fire brigade (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to provide adequate funding to ensure that the brigade has access to needed equipment. [64666/25]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 263 of 6 November which sets out the position in this matter.
484. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Irish homeless families in emergency hotel accommodation do not have hot meals provided, when Ukrainians in the same hotel are provided with three hot meals a day; his views on whether this is discriminatory; his plans to end this discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64719/25]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988.
Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation and related services, including supports available at facilities, and the funding required in each region, are matters for individual housing authorities, in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. Fora were established in each of the nine homeless regions in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009.
It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area, and funding requirements are considered in this context. My Department liaises regularly with local authorities in relation to their funding requirements for homeless services, and all necessary funding to meet essential homeless accommodation and support services will be made available this year.
In September 2022, my Department published Guidelines for New Emergency Accommodation. These guidelines have been issued to all local authorities and set out the standards required in the development of emergency accommodation. Emergency accommodation services for families include onsite provision of meals, and adequate dining areas appropriate to the size of the facility and the number of meal sittings. Additional family support services are available through the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Tusla.
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority- and NGO-delivered services. The NQSF was developed to ensure a consistent approach by local authorities and service providers in their response to the needs of those experiencing homelessness, and to improve the quality of services provided. One of the key objectives of the standards is to promote the provision of person-centred services, which are safe and effective, and support the rights and equal treatment of persons at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The monitoring of services and the undertaking of site visits under the NQSF, and in respect of facilities not covered by the NQSF, are matters for individual local authorities.
Responsibility for the provision of accommodation and related supports for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine rests with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
485. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the determinants for the allocation made to each local authority through the local Government fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65015/25]
View answerThe Local Government Fund (LGF) was established in 1999 and now is used primarily to distribute Local Property Tax (LPT) to local authorities, which accounts for approximately 7% of the sector's revenue income. While a large portion of the LGF is made up of LPT yield, an annual contribution is made from the Exchequer towards LPT equalisation, increased Pay and Pensions costs associated with national pay agreements, miscellaneous schemes and any other exceptional allocations that may be required. The determinants of each allocation are as follows:
Local Property Tax; there are variances across the country in terms of LPT levels but it is important that all local authorities receive at least a baseline level of funding to help ensure they can deliver adequate levels of service. For this reason, all authorities receive a minimum amount of funding from LPT that is at least equivalent to their baseline, and the baseline is therefore a significant benchmark affecting the level of funding available to each local authority for its ‘own use’. Following a review in 2023, baselines for each local authority were adjusted in accordance with five criteria: population, area, deprivation levels, an authority’s locally raised income and achievement of National Policy Priorities, with every authority receiving a minimum increase of €1.5m. This led to an overall baseline increase of €75.4m in 2024. Building on the baseline increases of 2024, there will be a further increase of €42m in 2026, in line with the expected increased yield from revaluation, expected in each local authority area. In addition, the allocation model for 2026 is changed to allow those authorities with an LPT income above their baseline to retain a greater portion of the surplus for their own use, increasing from 22.5% to 31% of overall yield. Both changes together will lead to an increase in own use funding in the overall sum of €85.4m.
Two-thirds of local authorities need equalisation support to bring their income from LPT yield up to the baseline level. The remaining authorities receive an LPT allocation equivalent to expected LPT yield in that authority.
If a local authority decides to vary the LPT basic rate upwards; 100% of the resultant additional income is available for the authority's own use. Similarly, if an authority decides to vary the LPT basic rate downwards, the resultant loss in LPT income is reflected in reduced LPT funding to the authority.
Detailed information regarding the LPT allocations, including equalisation support provided, each year since 2020 is published by my Department at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ea27d-local-property-tax-allocations/.
National Pay Agreements; a large portion of the annual allocation from the LGF is towards assisting local authorities with the cumulative effect on pay costs arising from National Pay Agreements since 2016. The increase each year is calculated by assessing the cumulative impact of the pay agreements for the year, using the most recently available payroll data for the sector. The allocation in 2026 will be €517.8m, and the increase year-on-year is distributed based on the authority’s share of permanent employees. The 2025 and provisional 2026 allocations are attached.
Once Off Support; the Fund has provided once-off support for exceptional events that impact the sector. For example in 2020, 2021 and Q1 2022, the LGF supported local authorities and local businesses with the Covid rates waiver/credit in lieu scheme, and lost income and extra costs due to the pandemic, at a cost of €1.4bn to the Exchequer. In 2023, the Fund also assisted the sector with rising costs, in particular rising energy costs, providing €60m for this purpose. In 2024 and 2025, there were allocations of €90.4m and €85m respectively, to pay stranded costs in association with water sector transformation. The determinants for the allocations made to each local authority for once-off support depends on objectives and criteria of the individual schemes.
Miscellaneous Schemes; the Fund supports a number of smaller projects (i.e. Miscellaneous Schemes) across the local government sector, with €26.7m being provided for this purpose in 2025, and 2026 figure to be confirmed shortly. The allocation is demand-led, and supports initiatives such as Creative Ireland, compensation for loss of commercial rates under Just Transition and Local Government Management Agency Innovation and Reform Projects.
486. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding allocation provided to each local authority under the local Government fund for 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65016/25]
View answerThe Local Government Fund (LGF) was established in 1999 and now is used primarily to distribute Local Property Tax (LPT) to local authorities, which accounts for approximately 7% of the sector's revenue income. While a large portion of the LGF is made up of LPT yield, an annual contribution is made from the Exchequer towards LPT equalisation, increased Pay and Pensions costs associated with national pay agreements, miscellaneous schemes and any other exceptional allocations that may be required. In 2024 and 2025 there were allocations of €90.4m and €85m respectively to pay for stranded costs in association with water sector transformation.
See below the total funding allocation provided to each local authority under the Local Government Fund in 2024 and to date in 2025.
487. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available to families with a child that is a wheelchair user and who are seeking accessible housing, but do not qualify for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64654/25]
View answerDelivering Homes, Building Communities, published 13 November 2025 commits to ensuring that the increased supply of social homes includes homes that reflect universal design principles, fostering inclusivity.
My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. The Strategy and Implementation Plan may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/. The Strategy and Implementation Plan sets out the actions to achieve the vision of the joint Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027 operating under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
A range of affordable housing schemes are in place and being delivered by local authorities, Approved housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and by retail banks via the First Home scheme.
The Affordable Housing Fund enables local authorities to develop Affordable Purchase Schemes whereby homes are sold at a price below the market value in return for a commensurate equity stake retained by the local authority, which can be redeemed by the purchaser at any time, subject to certain conditions. Relevant homes are advertised on each local authority’s website as they become available and eligible applicants may apply for affordable homes in all local authority areas operating the scheme.
Similarly, the First Home Scheme uses an equity share model to support first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market. Full details of the First Home Scheme are available on the scheme website: www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build and is available to fresh starters as well as first time buyers. Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.
Other affordable options include the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. A further option, available under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, is the Ready to Build scheme whereby local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discount on the market value. The purchaser may then use the site to build their own home.
For those whose circumstances may be more suited to renting a home, the Government has introduced a new form of long-term sustainable home rental in the form of Cost Rental tenancies. This scheme aims to provide households who are above the threshold for social housing and cannot afford to purchase or rent their own home, with secure affordable tenancies in sustainable, long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of delivering, managing and maintaining the homes.
Further information on affordable housing schemes currently advertised can be found on the websites of respective delivery partners, as well as on the Affordable Homes website, www.affordablehomes.ie.
My Department also provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of the local authority.
488. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local service sites acquired by each county council for each of the past five years. [64669/25]
View answerThe Ready to Build Scheme, funded by the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, to support addressing vacancy, was launched in September 2022. Under the Scheme, local authorities can make vacant serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build a home.
Under the scheme, local authorities identify suitable vacant sites in their ownership or purchase vacant sites in towns and villages and make them available for sale to individual purchasers for the purpose of building a principal private residence. Once serviced, the local authority will make the site available for sale at a discount on the market value of the site. The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site, up to a maximum of €30,000.
The scheme is managed and administered by local authorities on behalf of my Department. To date 32 sites have been made available for sale by 4 local authorities, 5 sites in Wicklow, 16 sites in Laois, 4 sites in Tipperary and 7 sites by Kildare County Council. The relevant local authority assesses the applications they receive based on the framework of priorities contained in the scheme outline.
A further 100+ sites have been identified by various local authorities for possible inclusion in the scheme. These sites are at various stages of consideration to determine the costs involved to service the sites and ascertaining the potential level of interest in site purchase. All sites that have been made available under the scheme to date have been in local authority ownership though some local authorities are investigating the potential to acquire privately owned sites. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department is continuing to engage with local authorities in relation to these sites.
489. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the proportion of Irish land which has been sold to individual and investment firms outside the State of Irish land is owned by foreign investors; to provide a list of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64718/25]
View answerMy Department does not collect the data sought.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published data in relation to residentially zoned land sales disaggregated by vendor and purchaser on it's website at: data.cso.ie/table/RZLPA04.
This CSO release is categorised as a CSO Frontier Series Output (www.cso.ie/en/methods/ourpublishingformats/). Particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics in this release as it may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources.
490. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider proposals (details supplied) to alter the vacant property refurbishment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64733/25]
View answerThe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022, 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 two years or more at the time of application.
The objective of the grant is to support the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them back into use as homes. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
The grant is currently available for the conversion of former commercial or public use buildings as well as "Above the Shop" type conversions.
The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030 reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction. The plan includes a commitment to provide additional support under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant for the refurbishment and conversion of above the shop vacant floors for use as homes. My Department is currently progressing this work.
491. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensuring that all advertised vacancies for clerks of works and building control inspectors are in line with updated qualifications for those roles. [64937/25]
View answerSection 160 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides the Minister with the power to declare qualifications of such classes and descriptions as he or she thinks fit for a specified employment under a local authority or for such of the employments as belong to a specified class, description or grade. Qualifications for Clerk of Works / Building Inspector were most recently declared on 29 April 2021 and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/building-surveyor-services-in-local-authorities-qualifications/.
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 or she is responsible. The recruitment and filling of Clerk of Works / Building Inspector posts in the local authority sector is undertaken by individual local authorities. Section 160(1)(c) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that a person is not be appointed to any employment under a local authority for which qualifications are for the time being declared under section 160 unless he or she possesses those qualifications.
492. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on work being carried out by his Department in conjunction with Inland Fisheries Ireland and an organisation (details supplied) to improve the flow of the River Slaney at Clohamon, County Wexford and to assist the passage of fish, including salmon on the River Slaney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64939/25]
View answerThe National Barrier Mitigation Programme (BMP) is being delivered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). It is being funded through my Department as part of the programme of measures under the 2024 Water Action Plan. The aims of the BMP are to increase the habitat available for migratory fish and restore natural sediment processes in rivers that provide important habitats for a range of native species on a national scale.
The Barrier Mitigation Division in IFI has been working to procure a consultant to undertake an options and feasibility study for the River Slaney at Clohamon. The tender assessment is now complete, and letters of intent have issued to the successful tenderer. The next step is to formally appoint the consultant.
Over the coming weeks, IFI will schedule kick off meetings with the consultant to fully brief on the scope and expectations for the project. Following this, IFI intend to meet with interested parties to brief them on progress and also to obtain feedback from stakeholders.
The Chair of the IFI Board has written to the Slaney River Trust to inform the organisation of this development.
493. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will give consideration to the introduction of gender quotas for political parties in local elections, in advance of the 2029 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64940/25]
View answerSince 2019, my Department has undertaken a wide variety of initiatives aimed at increasing the numbers of women and candidates from diverse backgrounds participating in local government.
The Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Act 2022 established, for the first time, an entitlement to maternity leave to local authority members, equivalent to the current entitlement for employees under the Maternity Protection Act 1994.
Regulations made in 2023 introduced a maternity administrative support allowance to support councillors on maternity leave, or who are eligible to take maternity leave, to employ a part-time assistant to help them fulfil their role.
My Department has funded gender-specific research, allocated financial supports to facilitate hybrid meetings in council chambers, and funded our partner organisations, like See Her Elected, to deliver capacity building and training for women interested in local government.
My Department has also allocated funding to political parties which provides for schemes such as the appointment of Diversity Officers; recruitment campaigns targeting new members from migrant backgrounds; webinars on political engagement, and, work shadowing programmes for young people interested in engaging in local politics.
Meanwhile, my Department's annual calls for funding to local authorities provide funding for innovative projects, which support inclusivity and diversity across local government structures, and aim to address the imbalances in local politics, in terms of both gender and diversity.
In 2025, we will allocate over €1m in funding towards such gender and diversity initiatives.
As a result of such efforts, a record numbers of female candidates participated in the 2024 local elections, with female candidates making up 26% of all councillors elected.
The Local Democracy Taskforce, which was established in June of this year, will examine the sector with a view to bringing forward further recommendations of reform, including proposals for mechanisms to make the role of councillor more attractive to a greater number of people, in particular women and people from diverse backgrounds.
The Taskforce's recommendations are due to be submitted to me in the first half of 2026, after which it will be considered by Government.
494. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the proposed new fire station in Clara, County Offaly. [64955/25]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Fire station project consideration stages from a Department perspective include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of a site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of a preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
Offaly County Council previously indicated the replacement of Clara fire station as a priority for the local authority. The Clara fire station project was not initially included in my Departments Fire Services Capital Programme 2021 - 2025, however, all projects in the capital programme may be reassessed on an annual basis to maximise available capital funding, taking account of the state of the readiness of proposed projects. Following a capital reappraisal, my Department took the decision to bring forward the Clara fire station project for inclusion in the fire services capital programme 2021 - 2025.
Offaly County Council subsequently submitted a design brief and invitation to tender documents for the design of the proposed fire station. Following the evaluation of this information, my Department issued approval to the Council to proceed to the tender stage for provision of design services. Offaly County Council is currently progressing the project through the detailed design stage of the project.
My Department will continue to support Offaly County Council to progress the new Clara fire station project.
495. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total allocation of funding provided to each local authority in 2024, 2025 and 2026 for change of tenancy works in their housing stock, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65018/25]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities are also statutorily required to ensure all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019.
The programme has provided €31 million to local authorities in 2024 and 2025 respectively to support the refurbishment and re-letting of a minimum of 2,300 homes and 1,900 homes in each year, and continue the transition from a reactive, voids approach to a Planned Maintenance approach.
This funding will increase to €40m in 2026 to continue support for the prompt turnaround of casual vacancies in local authority social homes.
An annualised breakdown by local authority of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme is available on my department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme.
Data on delivery under the 2025 Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme, and local authority allocations for 2026, will be available early next year.
496. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service have purchased land (details supplied). [65069/25]
View answerAs set out in the Programme for Government, this Government recognises the importance of continuing to support the ongoing expansion and resourcing of our National Parks. To this end, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department occasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes. Such acquisitions are always carefully considered on a case by case basis and in line with public procurement requirements.
In light of the commercial sensitivity of these considerations and the strategic implications of bringing same into the public domain, I am not in a position to comment on any individual sites that are offered for sale.
497. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planning policy and guidance in place to ensure that new residential and commercial developments, including multi-storey and surface car parks, are designed to accommodate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including any requirements in development plans or parking standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65081/25]
View answerThe Energy Performance of Buildings Directive provides for the installation of electric vehicle recharging infrastructure. The Directive includes provisions to ensure that buildings’ car parks will be progressively equipped with recharging points, allowing electric vehicle owners charge their vehicles when and where needed. Ireland’s ambitious target under the Climate Action Plan 2023 is to achieve 30% of our private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.
The current Building Regulations requirements for the provision of electrical vehicle recharging infrastructure for buildings other than dwellings are contained in S.I. No. 393 of 2021 - European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2021 and for dwellings in S.I. No. 535 of 2022 - Building Regulations (Part L Amendment) Regulations 2022. Technical Guidance Documents provide practical guidance on how to comply with these regulations in practical terms.
• A new building other than a dwelling which has more than 10 car parking spaces, must have installed at least one recharging point and ducting infrastructure (consisting of conduits for electric cables) for at least one in every 5 car parking spaces to enable the subsequent installation of recharging points for electric vehicles.
• A new multi-unit building containing one, or more than one, dwelling must have installed ducting infrastructure (consisting of conduits for electrical cables) for each car parking space to enable the subsequent installation of recharging points for electric vehicles.
• A new dwelling, which is not part of a multi-unit building, where a parking space is located within the curtilage of the dwelling, must have installed appropriate electric vehicle recharging infrastructure to enable the subsequent installation of recharging points for electric vehicles.
Section 5.3.4 of the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines (SRDCSG) 2024 include a specific planning policy requirement (SPPRs) that addresses car parking in new residential developments. SPPR 3 sets out maximum rates based on accessibility to public transport services. The maximum rates do not include bays assigned for designated short stay on-street Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. It is for the planning authority to determine what is the appropriate requirement for car parking for a proposed development. This includes the quantum of parking spaces required for EV charging and the distribution of charging facilities throughout a development, in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Building Regulations.
498. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the maximum rents payable under the rent supplement scheme have remained unchanged since October 2019; his views that rents have risen substantially, by almost 40% in cities and commuter belts, to date; if he will revise maximum rents to reflect current rents and commit to a regular review given the consistent upward trajectory of rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64710/25]
View answerThe number of people availing of Rent Supplement has reduced significantly. The Housing Assistance Payment scheme and the Rental Accommodation scheme, administered by the local authorities, are now by far the largest schemes providing rental supports.
Accordingly, the issue of a review in the rent limits is a matter for my colleague, the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I understand the Minister has recently approved the commencement of a review of Housing Assistance Payment rent limits.
However, insofar as Rent Supplement is concerned, my Department operates a flexible policy on a case-by-case basis that allows for higher rent supplement payments in certain circumstances.
Additional Needs Payments are also available to assist those who have essential expenses, such as rent deposits, rent in advance and household bills, that they cannot pay from their weekly income.
499. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will consider an increase in the income threshold for participants on the farm assist scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65010/25]
View answerFarm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 3,400 claims in payment at present. The government has provided almost €47 million for the scheme in 2025.
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for Farm Assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances to ensure that the assessment reflects the current situation accurately.
Income from different sources is assessed in different ways, and various disregards are applied as set out in the examples below.
Income from a number of agri-environmental schemes attracts a disregard of €5,000, increased from €2,540 from January 2023, with 50% of the balance then being assessed as means.
There are also annual disregards for dependent children; €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children.
Remaining farm income and income from off-farm self-employment is then assessed at 70%, with 30% disregarded.
In line with the provisions for Jobseeker's Allowance, a disregard of €20 per day, up to a maximum of €60 for up to three days, applies to off-farm earnings from employment in the means test for Farm Assist, with 60% of the balance assessed as means.
Any changes to the Farm Assist scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and with consideration to other social welfare schemes.
500. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the history of and current status of the carer's allowance claim for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65036/25]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can confirm that the person concerned has been in receipt of CA since 14 February 2019.
Once claims are in payment, my Department undertakes periodic reviews to ensure that there is continued entitlement to payment. As part of a review of the entitlement to CA of the person concerned, a request for information issued on 29 August 2025.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.
As the information requested was not received, a further reminder issued on 23 October 2025.
As the person concerned failed to respond, it has not been possible to determine if they continue to satisfy the necessary conditions for continued receipt of CA from 03 December 2025.
Their last payment will be lodged to their bank account on 27 November 2025.
The person was notified in a letter dated 13 November 2025 of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
