Written Answers Nos. 524-537
524. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on available supports for pension-age homeowners in County Louth affected by pyrite damage in homes built before 1990. [65678/25]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) was commenced on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The scheme is now open to applications in five counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
When a local authority that is not designated under the Scheme determines through the established mechanisms that homes within their functional area have been damaged by defective concrete blocks, they can seek to have the scheme extended to include any such county or part of such county.
Section 5 of the Act contains details on this process. This statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, to the Housing Agency. The Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings in a given local authority administrative area. As soon as practicable after the completion of any testing, the Housing Agency shall make a recommendation to me whether an order to designate the whole or part of a local authority's administrative area should or should not be made by the Government.
I understand that Louth County Council, in accordance with Section 5(7) of the Act, were in contact with the Housing Agency on 25 April, 2024 stating they would be writing to the Housing Agency regarding three properties potentially affected by defective concrete blocks. I understand there has been some engagement on this matter between Louth County Council and the Housing Agency in February 2025 but that as of yet, no formal request has been made to the Agency for inclusion in the Scheme.
525. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will work with the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to establish residential construction productivity indicators aligned with the targets in Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65727/25]
View answerMy Department is involved in regular collaboration with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE), alongside other government departments, in developing indicators relating to housing data. One such recent area of collaboration is in relation to developing insights on the scale and variance of use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) for new residential dwellings. This will be an important measure of productivity in the sector, as MMC has the potential to transform the efficiency of house building in Ireland.
526. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way his Department treats construction products that hold valid European Technical Assessments or CE marking issued in other EU member states when such products are proposed for use in Irish housing projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65733/25]
View answer527. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of construction products that have been refused acceptance for use in housing schemes in each of the past five years despite holding European Technical Assessment or equivalent EU-recognised certification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65734/25]
View answer528. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if British Board of Agrément certification continues to be recognised as evidence of fitness for purpose for construction products post-Brexit when used in Irish housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65735/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 526, 527 and 528 together.
The Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011) lays down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. The Regulation provides a common technical language to assess the performance of construction products. It ensures that reliable information is available to professionals, public authorities, and consumers, so they can compare the performance of products from different manufacturers in different countries.
Harmonised European standards provide a technical basis to assess the performance of construction products. They enable manufacturers to draw up the Declaration of Performance as defined in the Construction Products Regulation, and affix the CE marking.
Under the Construction Products Regulation, manufacturers are required, when placing a construction product (which is covered by harmonised European standards or European Technical Assessments) on the EU market, to make a Declaration of Performance and affix the CE mark.
The Construction Products Regulation offers a voluntary path for CE marking products not covered by harmonised standards. This process involves a technical assessment body and the issuance of a European Technical Assessment. This complementary approach supports a strong single market and promotes innovative products.
The Building Regulations 1997, as amended, set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. The related Technical Guidance Documents (Parts A - M respectively) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with the relevant regulation(s). The Building Regulations are set out in functional terms. They are performance based and technology/material neutral. They do not set limitations on the materials used.
Part D (Materials and Workmanship) of the Building Regulations sets out the requirements in relation to materials and workmanship and Technical Guidance Document D (TGD D) provides guidance on how to demonstrate compliance. Part D sets an overarching objective of achieving compliance with the Building Regulations by requiring that “All works to which these Regulations apply shall be carried out with proper materials and in a workmanlike manner.”
Part D defines proper materials as materials which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used. The Regulation goes on to say that proper materials include materials which:
bear a CE mark in accordance with the provisions of the Construction Products Regulation,
comply with an appropriated harmonised standard or European Technical Assessment in accordance with the provisions of the Construction Products Regulation, or
comply with an appropriate Irish Standard or Irish Agrément Certification or with an alternative national technical specification of any State which is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which provides in use an equivalent level of safety and suitability.
The process of Agrément certification applies to those products and processes which do not fall within the scope of existing construction standards, either because they are innovative or because they deviate from established norms. Part D makes reference to Irish Agrément Certification (now known as NSAI Agrément Certification). NSAI Agrément certificates confirm that new building products, materials, techniques and equipment are safe and fit for purpose in accordance with the Irish Building Regulations and with the terms of the certificate. Such certificates may be in addition to, but not conflict with, CE marking.
The primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Interpretation of the legislation is ultimately a matter for the Courts and implementation of the Building Control system is a matter for the local Building Control Authority.
Enforcement of the Building Regulations is delegated under the Building Control Act 1990 as amended to the local building control authorities (i.e. the 31 local authorities) who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers.
My Department does not have an approval function and does not approve products or assess whether any particular proposal, or any completed works comply with the Building Regulations or standards.
529. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if in the instance of a social housing assistance income assessment being undertaken and that the decision is disputed by the applicant after appeal with the local authority, would the applicant have any recourse by way of appeal to his Department or other sources. [65756/25]
View answerDecisions on eligibility for social housing support are a matter solely for local authorities with reference to eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
Currently, there is no statutory provision for the appeal of decisions taken concerning social housing assessments. Local authorities have long established internal complaints and decision review systems, which may be used to appeal cases. Such arrangements are a matter for the local authority concerned. If a household considers they have been unfairly treated or are not satisfied with the decision at that stage of the appeal, they could contact the Office of the Ombudsman. By law the Ombudsman can investigate complaints about any of the Local Authorities administrative actions or procedures.
The Government approved the priority legal drafting of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which amends the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 by making provision for residency and habitual residency as an eligibility criteria for social housing support. Government has recently approved my proposal for the development of further amendments to provide for a statutory appeals process for decisions relating to assessments for social housing. Drafting of the Bill is ongoing and I intend to seek Government approval to publish the Bill once this process is completed.
530. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal or policy basis for local authorities for refusing adult children, returning to the family home due to the housing crisis, permission to be added to the rent book. [65757/25]
View answerThe day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including the oversight and practical management of existing tenancies is a matter solely for each local authority.
It is, however, my understanding that adults who wish to move into an existing tenancy may apply to the local authority for permission to reside in a local authority dwelling and to be added to the rent account, for example if the person is in a relationship with an existing tenant. It is a matter for the local authority to assess this application, and approve or refuse it, as appropriate, in line with the assessment criteria it has in place including the control of anti-social behaviour, avoiding overcrowding and good estate management.
531. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing in Cavan and Monaghan will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65796/25]
View answer535. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are plans for the threshold for social housing to be increased. [65914/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 535 together.
The baseline income thresholds increased by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds thus increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for Bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. These thresholds are net income thresholds, i.e. gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. Income is defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities also have discretion to disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income.
My Department has been examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and household income conditions, including the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced. This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department and this work is ongoing.
534. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government's retrofitting targets across public housing, have been set for 2026; when the 2026 targets will be set for local authorities' stock retrofitting; the estimated budget for retrofitting of social housing stock in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61065/25]
View answerThe Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit local authority social homes to a minimum BER rating of B2. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme between 2021 to 2030 inclusive.
Annual targets and the funding provided under the EERP are subject to the funding available through the annual Estimates process in any given year. The 2025 EERP is providing €90m to local authorities to retrofit approximately 2,500 local authority owned homes, with the selection of homes and nature of works for inclusion in the programme a matter for each individual local authority.
Through Budget 2026 the Government has provided very significant additional funding for housing and this is expected to result in a big increase in the funding available for retrofitting of LA homes in 2026. The final allocation for 2026 will be determined as part of the REV which will be published shortly. Local authorities will receive their individual allocations early in Q1 2026. In the meantime, and to keep this important work going in advance of formal allocations issuing, correspondence will issue shortly notifying local authorities that they can commit to works for 2026 up to a maximum of 65% of their 2025 allocation.
536. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Part V obligations that have been satisfied through land transfer offsite in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65915/25]
View answerPart V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires private developers to ensure that a specified percentage of land zoned for residential and other uses is reserved for social and affordable housing. Local authorities negotiate Part V agreements with the developer in line with a range of guidelines and supports aimed at assisting them in maximising the benefits of Part V in the context of its housing needs. Local authorities have a range of options available when negotiating with developers including the transfer of land, the building and transfer of houses or the transfer of houses off-site.
Subject to the legislative provisions, local authorities are free to decide how the 20% Part V contribution is broken down in terms of social and affordable housing (with a minimum 10% social housing) and by dwelling type. This is done in line with the local authorities housing need as identified in its Housing Strategy made as part of its Development Plan. Part V arrangements are a matter for the relevant local authority operating within the Guidelines.
Local authorities have delegated sanction for Part V delivery and do not require prior approval from my Department. Part V negotiations are solely a matter for the relevant local authority.
The table below sets out the number of land transfers under Part V in 2023 and 2024.
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
|
Local Authority |
No. of land transfers |
No. of land transfers |
|
|
|
|
|
Carlow County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork City Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Donegal County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Dublin City Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick City and County Co |
1 |
1 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Louth County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Wexford County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
0 |
0
|
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Part V delivery. This data is available to the end of Quarter 2 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics/
