Written Answers Nos. 309-323
309. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a waiver on commercial rates, or a portion of commercial rates or taxes, for the owners of commercial properties with defective concrete blocks who have no government scheme available to them to remediate their properties and have to constantly spend money on necessary maintenance. [68537/25]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by Tailte Éireann under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020. Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions under the Valuation Acts.
The amount of rates liable on a property is determined by multiplying the valuation of the property set by Tailte Éireann by the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) set by the local authority. The ARV is decided by the elected members of each local authority in their annual budget and its determination is a reserved function of a local authority.
Commercial rates income makes a significant and stable contribution to the funding of local government, providing between 13% and 43% of total funding for local services at individual local authority level, averaging 24% nationally. Rates income is a very important contribution to the cost of services provided by local authorities such as roads, footpaths, the public realm, litter management, public lighting, development control, parks and open spaces; all essential elements to create the environment in which businesses can prosper.
As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of rates is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal credit control procedures. My Department encourages local authorities to engage with ratepayers. In practice, it is understood that most local authorities promote the use of direct debit payment facilities and work with businesses to put in place flexible payment options that reflect capacity to pay.
The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 Act contains provisions to add to the suite of options already available to local authorities to support local businesses and ratepayers. These include new rates waiver schemes, to be decided by local authority members. It provides for local authorities to make schemes, as part of the annual budget process, to support local and national policy objectives, by waiving the paying of commercial rates in certain circumstances. It is open for a local authority to design a waiver scheme as long as it supports county development plans, local area plans, local economic and community plans and the national planning framework. Rates waiver schemes are decided by the elected members of a local authority. Regulations to support the making of rates waiver schemes were made in July 2024. These regulations require a local authority to consult with the public in its administrative area in relation to its consideration of the making of (or change to an existing) rates waiver scheme.
310. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is aware of correspondence received by the National Parks and Wildlife Service from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council dated 1July 2025 in relation to the spreading of agricultural litter and manure on designated sites in the Republic of Ireland; and if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has responded to the correspondence. [68538/25]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has received a letter from the Shared Environmental Service in Northern Ireland seeking our views and guidance on specific matters relating to the impact of the spreading of agricultural litter and manure originating from Northern Ireland, on designated sites in the Republic of Ireland. The Shared Environmental Service is seeking clarification of their legal obligations in terms of assessing impacts in Ireland of such activities and inquiring to how such activities are regulated and assessed in Ireland.
A detailed response will issue as soon as all of the complex legal and technical issues raised are resolved. My Department has been in contact with colleagues in Northern Ireland and offered to meet with them to clarify any issues.
311. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether transport projects can lawfully proceed in an area where the planning authority has been found by the High Court to be in non-compliance with its mandatory duty to prepare a Local Area Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68544/25]
View answerThe interpretation of any judgment made against a local authority is a matter for the local authority concerned and, should the Deputy have queries regarding a specific judgment, he may wish to address his query to the relevant local authority.
Furthermore, specific 'transport projects' may constitute, from a planning perspective, planning applications that the Minister would be precluded from commenting upon in light of Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
312. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Office of the Planning Regulator received formal notifications about Local Area Plan non-compliance in a local authority (details supplied); the actions that followed from those notifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68545/25]
View answerThe Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) is an independent public body which was established on 3 April 2019 under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended to perform the following functions:
independent assessment of all local authority forward planning and regional assembly forward planning, including development plans, local area plans and regional spatial and economic strategies;
reviews of the organisation, systems and procedures used by any planning authority, including An Bord Pleanála, in the performance of any of their planning functions under the 2000 Act; and
conducting national education and training programmes for members and staff of planning authorities and regional assemblies in relation to proper planning and sustainable development; and also conducting research on matters relevant to the OPR’s functions and such other matters as may be requested by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The information requested is not held by my Department as this is a matter for the Office of the Planning Regulator.
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 the Office of the Planning Regulator in this regard is oireachtas@opr.ie.
313. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the commitments given to water services workers in June 2023, allowing them to remain in direct local authority employment until at least the end of 2026, preclude any requirement for those staff to undertake Uisce Éireann-led training or to engage with Uisce Éireann operational systems. [68571/25]
View answer314. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities have directed non-transferred water services staff to attend Uisce Éireann safety management system training; if he considers this compatible with Government commitments to those workers; and if he will intervene to ensure that any such directives are paused pending appropriate engagement. [68572/25]
View answer315. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safeguards in place to ensure that local authority water workers who chose not to transfer to Uisce Éireann cannot be subject to indirect or functional transfer through training requirements, system dependencies or other measures introduced without agreement. [68573/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313, 314 and 315 together.
The 2022 Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services was prepared following extensive consultation between my Department, Uisce Éireann, the County and City Management Association, the Local Government Management Agency and union representatives. The Workplace Relations Commission facilitated the dialogue. Inter alia, the Framework addressed concerns raised by water services staff and these clarifications remain.
Section 4 of the Framework details that local authority water services staff who decide not to transfer to Uisce Éireann can choose to remain in employment with their local authority maintaining their current terms and conditions of employment.
During the transition period, any arrangements put in place are in keeping with the Framework and are to help ensure the maintenance of a stable operational environment, as the water sector completes the transition to a national water services authority. I am informed that all water service workers have the opportunity to avail of Health and Safety or other training, so that they may participate fully and safely in their role. At the end of the transition period in 2026 local authorities will cease to be directly involved in the provision of public water services.
Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that the Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which they are responsible.
316. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to publish a comparative league table of local authorities’ performance with regard to housing delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68584/25]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, on a local authority basis. Data on social housing delivery and performance against target is also published.
This data is available to the end of Q2 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Further housing data, including data on planning permissions, commencements and new dwelling completions is published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on a quarterly basis and is available on the CSO website at: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/hubs/p-hh/housinghub/.
317. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planners currently employed by each local authority; the number of posts that are currently vacant; the measures which are in place to attract more planners to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68585/25]
View answerUnder 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. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the numbers of staff assigned to specific work areas or the number of vacancies in each local authority, is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from each local authority.
On 15 October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. This Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for future needs. It sets out 14 high-level actions that provide a coordinated pathway to ensure a sustainable pipeline of planning and related expertise into the future, addressing the areas of education, recruitment and retention, as well as measures to encourage greater innovation and efficiency.
Funding was secured in Budget 2025 to support delivery of the Action Plan and a Steering Group established to coordinate and oversee the development of this Action Plan will remain in place to oversee the implementation and ongoing review of the Action Plan.
My Department is currently working on a number of measures to increase staffing levels in the local government planning sector. In this regard, my Department is collaborating with the local government sector and key stakeholders on the delivery of a programme of supports to planning authorities. These supports include the provision of staffing resources and expertise to enable planning authorities to perform their functions efficiently and effectively.
In October 2023, approval was conveyed for the filling of an initial 101 posts in the local authority planning sector under the first tranche of a programme of supports for planning resources. A further approval issued in January 2025 for 112 posts - 56 graduate planner posts and 56 staff officer posts - to support the Planning function within local authorities.
Currently, engagement is taking place regarding a business case received by the LGMA for phase 3 of supports for further planning positions within the local government sector. Details of this third tranche should be finalised shortly.
On 13 May 2025, a national recruitment campaign was launched to attract graduate planners into Ireland’s local authorities (Action 4 of the Ministerial Action Plan), which was supported by my Department. Regional interviews were held in late July and the filling of these posts are nearing completion.
The occupation of town planner has also been added to the Critical Skills Occupation List (Action 9 of the Ministerial Action Plan) which will allow eligible non-EEA professionals from outside of Europe to now benefit from streamlined employment permit processes, making it easier for Irish employers to recruit and retain international talent in this vital sector. This addition is a decisive step to addressing planning resource shortages and reinforcing the capacity of our planning system to help meet current and future needs.
318. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the discretion local authorities will have to develop policies under the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025; when local authorities will be expected to publish these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68613/25]
View answerThe EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has drafted the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short-term lettings. The proposed STLT Bill will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for short-term lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU STR.
To ensure that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for short-term lets, my Department is currently developing a National Planning Statement (NPS) for the short-term letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. It will consider a variety of factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed short-term let and balancing housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development.
A NPS will contain two distinct elements that have a different status in terms of the obligations attaching to each element and the particular planning function being exercised. The first element - ‘national planning policies and measures’ - will be a high-level statement to be integrated into regional and local plan making. The second element - ‘national planning policy guidance’ - will be more discretionary practical guidance that will afford flexibility to planning authorities as to how to implement the principles of national planning policy and measures.
My Department has also established a Working Group, consisting of members from my Department, Department of Enterprise Tourism and Employment, and the County and City Management Association, in advance of finalising the NPS on short-term letting. The group will provide a forum for input into proposed policy formulation and guidance documentation development by my Department.
In advance of the publication of the NPS, local authorities can continue to make decisions on applications for change of use in respect of short-term letting properties. The decision of the local authority will be informed by local policy contained in the City and County Development Plans and Local Area Plans where applicable.
On issuance of the NPS on short-term letting, the decision making of local authorities in respect of material change of use applications for short-term let properties will be informed by the policy contained within the NPS. This will allow for consistency in decision making throughout all local authorities areas, including in respect of the general preclusion of permission for short-term lettings in large towns and cities.
319. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application has been received for a homeless day centre in Cork city. [68625/25]
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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each of the nine homeless regions in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the type and range of emergency accommodation services, and the funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Each region is required to submit an annual expenditure programme to my Department and my Department approves a funding allocation. It is open to regional authorities to submit new services proposals for funding to my Department over the course of the course of the year.
I understand that a proposal for an integrated homeless services hub is currently being further developed by Cork City Council. My Department will evaluate the proposal once submitted.
320. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the eligibility criteria under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) 2024–2026 to allow communities with fewer than 25 houses, such as Glensaul, Tourmakeady, County Mayo, to access funding for community water connections; and if he will consider the urgent health and safety concerns for residents who currently rely on makeshift river connections for water supply despite being located less than 0.5 miles from the Lough Mask Uisce Éireann network. [68626/25]
View answer321. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the full eligibility criteria for each measure under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) 2024–2026, with particular reference to the minimum number of houses required for new community water connections; and whether any exceptions apply in cases of public health risk. [68627/25]
View answer323. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if new applications for funding under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme are currently being accepted; if not, when the next application window will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68629/25]
View answer324. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the framework for the next Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme beyond 2026 will be published; and if he will ensure that the new programme addresses the needs of smaller rural communities that do not meet the current eligibility threshold. [68630/25]
View answer325. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce an exceptional case mechanism within the MARWP to allow funding for communities with fewer than 25 houses where there is a significant health and safety risk and proximity to an existing Uisce Éireann network. [68631/25]
View answer327. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the alternative supports or emergency measures that are available for rural households that cannot access MARWP funding due to the 25-house minimum requirement. [68633/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 320, 321, 323, 324, 325 and 327 together.
The current cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) covers the period 2024–2026. The Programme Framework, which sets out the eligibility criteria for each funding measure, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/a2436-circular-l124-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2024-2026-applications-for-funding/.
Under the MARWP 2024- 2026, a number of individual measures support specific rural water activities including source protection, water treatment, network improvement, and Community Water Connections (Measure A7), where these are technically and economically viable.
For Community Water Connections, a minimum threshold of 25 households is required to ensure that projects are viable and represent value for money. Very small-scale schemes result in disproportionately high per-household costs and are not sustainable in the long term. I have no plans to change this requirement.
It is important to note that the MARWP already provides a mechanism to address exceptional or urgent needs. Local authorities may apply to my Department at any time for emergency or once-off funding where exceptional circumstances arise; it is not necessary to await the next Programme cycle.
In addition, my Department also provides private well grants to support improvement works to individual rural water supplies.
Further information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/private-wells/.
Extensive preparatory work has been undertaken and continues on the next Programme, which will run from 2027 to 2029. Applications will be sought in mid-2026, a significant improvement on previous cycles where applications were only invited at the start of a new cycle of the Programme. This change allows for earlier engagement, better planning, and a seamless transition when the new Programme begins in 2027.
I remain committed to ensuring that funding, including under the next Programme, continues to support the needs of rural communities.
322. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the current stage of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2024–2026; the number of projects approved; the total funding allocated to date; and the measures still under consideration. [68628/25]
View answer326. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to publish a breakdown of funding allocations under the MARWP 2024–2026, by county and measure; and to confirm whether any unallocated funds remain available for urgent cases. [68632/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 326 together.
The Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) 2024–2026 is the primary capital funding stream addressing the challenges faced by the Rural Water Sector, particularly group water schemes. Its main focus is ensuring the supply of safe drinking water to existing households.
There are nine funding measures under this cycle of MARWP covering the period 2024 to 2026. To date, over €180.5 million has been allocated to more than 550 individual projects across these measures.
The Expert Panel, which is tasked with assessing all applications under MARWP 2024–2026, has concluded its assessment of the remaining 30 complex applications, which represent the last of all applications received. An announcement on these projects is expected shortly.
It is important to note that the MARWP already provides a mechanism to address exceptional or urgent needs. Local authorities may apply to my Department at any time for emergency or once-off funding where exceptional circumstances arise; it is not necessary to await the next Programme cycle.
The Framework document sets out procedures for urgent/emergency cases and is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/circulars/circular-l124-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2024-2026-applications-for-funding/.
Information on funding allocations, by measure and county, is published following each approval phase and can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/minister-obrien-announces-capital-investment-funding-for-rural-water-services/.
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/minister-browne-announces-74-million-capital-investment-funding-for-rural-water-services/.
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/minister-browne-approves-additional-funding-of-143-million-for-wastewater-improvements-in-local-communities/.
