Tuesday, 25 Nov 2025

Departmental Inquiries

Questions (559)

Michael Collins

Question:

559. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities should be required, under the Social Housing Assessment Regulations and the National Household Means Policy, to deduct private-sector occupational pension contributions, PRSA contributions, or AVCs, when made through payroll on a pre-tax basis and functionally equivalent to public-sector additional superannuation contributions (ASC), when assessing income for social housing and HAP eligibility; when current local authority practice must be aligned with national policy, and that national policy should explicitly include private-sector pension contributions, as it already includes ASC, which only benefits public-service workers; and the steps which will be taken to ensure fair and consistent treatment of private-sector workers, particularly with compulsory pension auto-enrolment from January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66123/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the 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.

The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. Net income means that income tax, Universal Social Charge, PRSI and Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) are deducted from the relevant assessable gross income. With the exception of the specific payments listed in the Policy as being disregarded, all income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, and occupational and social welfare pensions is assessable.

More detail on what income is assessable and the full list of disregards is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/

My Department is currently in the process of reviewing the Household Means Policy to ensure it is consistent with the policy objectives of the introduction of the compulsory pension auto-enrolment scheme effective from January 2026.

Housing Policy

Questions (560, 587)

Pa Daly

Question:

560. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on retrofitting for local authority housing; the status of progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66128/25]

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Pa Daly

Question:

587. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 19 November 2025, the number of dwellings fitted with solar PV; the average cost per installation; the average kW installed; the targets that exist for solar PV under the EERP scheme, in each of the years 2020 to date 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66236/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 587 together.

A new holistic approach was adopted under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in 2021. Led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Government is targeting the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a minimum B2 BER Rating standard by 2030. This includes the retrofit of 36,500 local authority social homes supported by funding from my department through the EERP.

Some €90 million will be provided under the EERP this year to retrofit approximately 2,500 local authority social homes, with the homes selected and the nature of works included in the programme a matter for each local authority. Appetite remains strong in the sector and we anticipate close to 11,000 homes will have been retrofitted by end-2025. Government Is committed to meeting local authority retrofitting targets to 2030 and we expect a considerable uplift in output in the coming years.

An annual breakdown of the homes retrofitted between 2013 and 2024 is available at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/

In some circumstances, my Department supports the installation of 1kWp solar PV for small social housing with a floor area less than 55m2, with a maximum HLI (Heat Loss Indicator) of 2.6. In such cases, local authorities must work with SEAI on research monitoring the performance of heat pumps in these homes. Eligible measures under the programme aim to achieve a minimum B2 BER rating - accordingly, there is no target for PV installs.

Data on the number of PV installs funded by my Department in recent years are detailed in the table below:

Year	Total PVs Funded
2021	8
2022	22
2023	11
2024	1

Data on delivery under the 2025 EERP will be available early in 2026.

Notwithstanding measures funded by my Department, local authorities may also install PV Panels using their own resources. Details on such works can be sought directly from the respective local authorities.

Electricity Grid

Questions (561)

Pa Daly

Question:

561. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to address the impact of electricity grid constraints on housing targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66129/25]

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Written answers

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

I have established a Housing Activation Office in my Department to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development.

The Office includes experts seconded from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector who will support the work of the Office.

The Office is actively engaged in identifying barriers to housing delivery and is coordinating across local authorities, infrastructure agencies and Government Departments to address barriers in a coordinated way.

To support the work of the Office, I convened a new Housing Activation Delivery Group on 6 November 2025. This group brings together senior leaders from across government departments and infrastructure agencies, including the Secretary General of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the CEO of ESB Networks. The Delivery Group is central to ensuring that the State is working together towards a single shared goal of accelerating housing delivery.

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment published their Sectoral Capital Plan for 2026-2030 on 12 November 2025 https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/bd95ab8a/DCEE_Sectoral_Capital_Plan_2026_to_2030.pdf. As part of this, the Government has provided a total equity investment of €3.5 billion into ESB and EirGrid.

This funding will help to future proof Ireland’s electricity system. It will help to enable the delivery of over 500 capital network projects nationwide, support new housing connections and grid capacity for housing growth, integrate onshore and offshore renewables and strengthen grid reliability and decarbonisation.

My Department will continue to engage with officials in the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment in relation to the development of the electricity system to support housing growth. The Housing Activation Office will also work closely with ESB Networks to coordinate in relation to the investment needed to unlock key housing sites nationally.

Housing Policy

Questions (562)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

562. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the paperwork that should be supplied to Tailte Éireann/PRAI when registering an interest in a property by a loan servicing company/vulture fund; whether these bodies are legally bound to produce an exemption from stamp duty certificate; and the guidelines for these companies to establish a burden on a folio. [66140/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.

All applications lodged for registration on the Land Register are subject to the relevant legislation including the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, the Registration of Title Act 1964, the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 and the Land Registration Rules 2012 – 2021 as amended.

If an application is lodged for registration, and the application is in order, Tailte Éireann is statutorily obliged to register in accordance with the documents lodged and current legislation.

The minimum requirements for lodging an application are set out in the various checklists provided on www.tailte.ie. Each application type will have its own set of prescribed forms and required documents to be lodged in addition to the relevant application form and applicable fees.

Legal Practice direction Registration of Burdens (https://tailte.ie/legal-practices-practice-directions-burdens-registration-of-burdens/sets out the requirements for registration of a burden on the Land Register.

In regard to registration of charges on a folio, when a borrower secures a mortgage, an application is made to Tailte Éireann by the Registered Owner of the property who applies to register a charge over their Folio in favour of the lender. The borrower executes a deed of charge in one of the prescribed forms, consenting to the registration of the lender as charge owner on the property.

Once a charge has been registered on the property, the owner of the charge (the lender) is entitled to transfer the ownership of that charge under Section 64 (1) of the Registration of Title Act 1964 (ROTA) and 2006. An application to transfer the ownership of a charge may be lodged by the transferee of the ownership of the charge on Form 56 of the Land Registration Rules in accordance with Rules 52 and 105.

All applicants are subject to the same revenue stamp certificate requirements. Should evidence of stamping be required and not provided, then the application would not proceed to registration. Without knowing the specific application type referred to, it is not possible to state categorically whether a certificate of exemption would be required.

It may be noted that the Minister for Finance announced in his Budget Statement of 06 December 2006 that the Mortgage Head of Charge in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act, 1999, was abolished for mortgage deeds executed on or after 07 December 2006. All mortgage deeds including primary, collateral, additional and equitable mortgages together with transfers of mortgages are now exempt from stamp duty.

Housing Schemes

Questions (563)

Michael Cahill

Question:

563. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide affordable housing in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66144/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030. The new plan reinforces and expands upon the significant progress made under Housing for All, with nearly 16,900 affordable housing solutions having been delivered since its launch.

In order to drive the delivery of affordable housing, all local authorities will prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAP’s), replacing their plan made under Housing for All, which will set out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their administrative areas. This development of their HDAP’s will be undertaken in collaboration with delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency, Approved Housing Bodies and the development sector, and will be informed by local needs, taking account of the requirement to provide the right mix of homes within their area.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and other delivery partners. Delivery data up to end Q2 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/ .

My Department has also met with the Housing Delivery team in Kerry County Council to support their work towards the identification and development of appropriate proposals which may lead to the delivery of affordable housing, including with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund, in response to localised needs identified by the local authority at key urban locations such as Killarney and Tralee.

In support of regeneration policies, the Ready to Build serviced sites scheme is available, which supports local authorities to provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Other affordable supports, such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the First Home Scheme are also available to eligible applicants in Kerry.

My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist Kerry County Council in relation to the ongoing development of its response to meeting affordable housing needs in Kerry.

Site Acquisitions

Questions (564)

Michael Cahill

Question:

564. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide low cost sites in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66145/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The 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.

While there are currently no sites available for sale under the scheme by Kerry County Council, I understand that Kerry County Council is currently working to identify potential sites under the scheme.

The new housing plan Delivering Homes, Supporting Communities also commits to expanding the current Ready to Build Scheme through local authorities whereby they will service sites in, and close to, towns and villages to enable construction of clusters of homes. A mix of private, social and affordable homes can be delivered on the same site, creating new mixed tenure communities.

Planning Issues

Questions (565, 566)

Michael Cahill

Question:

565. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the fee paid to a Local Authority for objecting to a planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66146/25]

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Michael Cahill

Question:

566. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the fee paid to An Bord Pleanála for objecting to a planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66147/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together.

An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.

Under section 144 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended An Coimisiún is responsible for the setting of fees subject to the approval of the Minister.

Public participation is an important element of all substantive decision-making processes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000). It is also a requirement under the UN Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation on Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) and the European Union Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU in relation to specific types of developments.

In Ireland, it is open to any member of the public to make an observation or submission on a planning application, with the associated fee, within a specified period and the planning authority is statutorily obliged to consider such submissions before making a decision on the application. The contents of a submission are not prescribed under legislation.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.

Question No. 566 answered with Question No. 565.

Architects Register

Questions (567)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

567. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 25 February 2025, if he will act to address matters raised in correspondence regarding the architectural technologist statutory register (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66162/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Further to the update provided recently, I am aware of the essential work undertaken by architectural professionals and the existence of an architectural technologists register established on an administrative basis by CIAT. Work is being undertaken by my Department concerning the introduction of a statutory register of architectural technologists and subject to the outcome of this, future legislative proposals to amend the Building Control Act 2007, to provide for a statutory register of Architectural Technologists will be considered.

Departmental Inquiries

Questions (568)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

568. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will establish and publish an annual national Planning Performance Report, setting out average and median timelines for SHD and LRD applications, average and median timelines for planning appeals, and annual volumes and outcomes of judicial reviews of planning decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66199/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.

Annual statistics can be found on the Commission’s website here

www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/statistics/annual-statistics

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oíreachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.

Housing Policy

Questions (569)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

569. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the planning process assumptions used in setting the target to deliver 300,000 homes to 2030 under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, including assumed decision times for SHD and LRD applications, planning appeals, and expected judicial review volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66200/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

An Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.

The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024 and is in the process of being commenced. The Act of 2024 introduces a range of measures to streamline the planning process.

The Act of 2024 introduces statutory time periods for decision making for An Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún) for the first time. The headline time periods for An Coimisiún will range from 18 weeks for appeals of decisions of planning authorities to 48 weeks for larger-scale Strategic Infrastructure Developments. The varying timelines reflect the differing complexities of applications dealt with by An Coimisiún.

The Act of 2024 also makes important reforms in relation to Judicial Review (JR). It:

• removes the requirement to apply for leave to apply for JR proceedings which reduces time and removes unnecessary additional legal costs to all parties.

• requires that an application for JR may only be made on the grounds of challenge raised by the applicant in the statement of grounds filed with their application and sets out limited criteria by which the Court may allow subsequent amendments to that statement of grounds.

• provides that an applicant for JR will not be permitted to plead a ground in JR proceedings unless they have a sufficient interest in the matter to which the ground relates.

The Act of 2024 introduces a new procedure to deal with “spurious” planning submissions and appeals, set out at Section 588. Submissions on planning applications, appeals of applications and judicial reviews must be accompanied by a statutory declaration stating that the submission or appeal is not being done for the purposes of delaying a development or for receiving a payment. A declaration must also be made when withdrawing a submission, appeal or a judicial review. Penalties are also introduced in respect of anyone making a false declaration.

I am satisfied that the new statutory time periods for An Coimisiún, along with the JR reforms and mandatory declaration procedures set out at section 588 of the Act of 2024 will contribute significantly to the operation of the planning process

My Department is in the processes of commencing of the Act of 2024 on a phased basis to facilitate the transition to the new legislation across the planning system, taking into account the need to liaise with local authorities, planning bodies and other stakeholders. It should be noted that the existing provisions in the Act of 2000 will remain in place until repealed and the relevant provisions in the Act of 2024 are commenced. A detailed implementation plan is available at www.gov.ie/planning

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie

Housing Policy

Questions (570)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

570. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the approximately 7,100 hectares of undeveloped land identified on the 2025 Residential Zoned Land Tax maps is sufficient to support the delivery of 303,000 homes to 2030 when realistic density levels are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66201/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I refer to my reply to Question No. 682 of 18 November 2025 which sets out the position in relation to this matter.

Housing Policy

Questions (571)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

571. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the local authorities where the Housing Activation Office has identified barriers to housing delivery; the corrective actions recommended in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66203/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I have established a Housing Activation Office in my Department to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development. The Office includes experts seconded from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector who will support the work of the Office.

The Office is actively engaged in identifying barriers to housing delivery and is coordinating with all local authorities and infrastructure agencies to address barriers.

In the coming months I will be bringing forward a €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund to support direct investment in housing infrastructure. This new fund will complement investment by infrastructure agencies, such as Uisce Éireann and ESB Networks, as part of a more coordinated approach. It will also operate alongside existing investment programmes such as the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund and the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

While I cannot comment on individual areas in advance of the opening of the Housing Infrastructure Investment fund, the HAO is working closely with all Local Authorities, to identify infrastructure projects needed to unlock key housing sites.

Housing Provision

Questions (572)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

572. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing projects sanctioned above basic unit costs in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the reasons for the higher approval levels in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66204/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The information sought is not readily available as the systems used to track projects though the various lifecycle stages do not record the variance between Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) and approved construction budgets. Compiling the data requested would involve delivery teams mainly reviewing every project approved over the last three years, and this is not a feasible use of Department resources.

While my Department issues BUCs, which apply to social housing construction projects, these BUCs are not applied as absolute ceilings or limits. Rather, they are key benchmarks for developing and costing scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. BUCs are updated by my Department annually, based on an analysis of returned data, construction trends, and inflation.

Proposals for social housing construction projects are assessed by my Department on a case-by-case basis having regard to value for money, compliance with design guidelines, the Capital Works Management Framework, Infrastructure Guidelines, procurement procedures and most economically advantageous tender evaluations, as well as overall suitability, before budgets are issued to local authorities. As such any project that exceeds the BUCs has been thoroughly appraised and my Department has satisfied itself that the cost of construction is justified and necessary.

Housing Provision

Questions (573)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

573. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will provide the cost-per-unit figures for social and affordable homes delivered in Cork City and Cork County in 2023, 2024 and 2025, as referenced in Parliamentary Question 612 (ref. 63860/25); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66205/25]

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Written answers

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

I refer to my answer to Question No. 612 on 18 November 2025. The position remains the same and the relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

Housing Policy

Questions (574)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

574. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason his Department does not record disability status for households supported under the Housing Assistance Payment, and when such tracking will be introduced in line with the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66206/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP.

Under the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Decisions in relation to HAP, including the suitability of HAP accommodation, is a matter for the local authority concerned. Information regarding households with disabilities is not collected as part of the HAP application.

Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority.

My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 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 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. It supports the primary objective of the Strategy which is to facilitate disabled people to live independently with the appropriate choices and control over where, how and with whom they live, promoting their inclusion in the community.

My Department and the HAP Shared Service Centre does not hold data in relation to those with a disability supported under HAP, however this may be available directly from local authorities.

Housing Provision

Questions (575)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

575. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the first consolidated national report on housing delivered under the Town Centre First policy, including the number of units delivered in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66207/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I refer to the reply to Question No. 646 of 18 November 2025 which sets out the position in relation to this matter.

Energy Usage

Questions (576, 577, 578, 579, 580, 581, 582, 583, 584)

Some €90 million will be provided under the EERP this year to retrofit approximately 2,500 local authority homes, with the homes selected and the nature of works included in the programme a matter for each local authority. Accordingly, information on the specific locations of works may be available from Cork City and Cork County Councils upon request.

Appetite and capacity to implement the EERP remains strong in the sector and we anticipate close to 11,000 homes will have been retrofitted under the programme by end-2025. Government is committed to meeting the local authority retrofit targets to 2030 and we expect a considerable uplift in output in the coming years.

Cost inflation associated with social housing retrofit works is monitored through the society of chartered surveyors Ireland and SEAI published data, as well as through analysis of eligible spend submitted by local authorities in parallel with expert advice from my department's technical advisors. The level of funding available for works reflects inter alia cost considerations and the commitment to significantly increasing the number of homes retrofitted every year to 2030. Increasing delivery, coupled with demand for increased funding to support expanding local authority retrofit programmes, suggest capacity issues are not affecting the ability to achieve targets.

An annual breakdown of the homes retrofitted between 2013 and 2024, including for Cork City and Cork County Council, is available at:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/

www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/

Data on delivery under 2025 EERP will be available early in 2026.

The number of heat pumps fitted by Cork City and Cork County Councils in 2023 and 2024 are detailed below. While the 2025 programme is still ongoing, current indicators suggest the target number of heat pumps will likely be met over the lifetime of the programme.

Year	Cork City	Cork County
2023	37	185
2024	78	151

Details in relation BER ratings of social homes should be available directly upon request from the respective local authorities.

My Department does not track the level of energy poverty in social homes pre or post retrofit works.

Question No. 577 answered with Question No. 576.

Question No. 578 answered with Question No. 576.