Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
292. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of towns and villages which are deemed eligible by his Department for 'The Ready to Build Scheme'; whether his Department plans to extend the list to other rural settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72727/25]
View answer293. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a schedule of all 'Ready to Build' applications received by his Department from local authorities, specifying the location; the number and the cost at which the sites listed were or are on offer for sale to eligible applicants, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72728/25]
View answer294. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider whether Údarás na Gaeltachta can seek his approval for recognition under the Croí Cónaithe 'Ready to Build Scheme' and apply for funding to his Department in order to deliver serviced sites in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72729/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 to 294, inclusive, together.
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 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.
Local authorities can be supported to make vacant sites available in towns and villages throughout the country with sufficient provision of services and amenities.
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.
|
Local Authority |
Location |
No. of sites |
Advertised Sale Price |
|
Wicklow |
Tinahely |
5 |
€35,000 - €50,000 |
|
Laois |
Durrow |
8 |
€40,000 |
|
|
Ballyroan |
4 |
€30,000 |
|
|
Clonaslee |
2 |
€35,000 |
|
|
Doonane |
2 |
€30,000 |
|
Tipperary |
Boherlahan |
4 |
€25,000 |
|
Kildare |
Clogherinkoe |
7 |
€45,000 |
A further c.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. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department is continuing to engage with local authorities in relation to these.
A review of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, including the Ready to Build Scheme, was undertaken in 2024. That review has been completed and is under consideration.
The new housing plan Delivering Homes, Supporting Communities further commits to extending the operation of the Ready to Build Scheme with a new support for local authorities to 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. My Department is currently progressing this work.
Neither I nor my Department have been approached by Údarás na Gaeltachta to advance projects under this scheme. The scheme is administered by local authorities who have an ongoing working relationship with Údarás na Gaeltachta in their various areas. It would be open to Údarás na Gaeltachta to explore working with the relevant local authority to make sites available in Gaeltacht areas. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, under the aegis of which Údarás na Gaeltachta operates, may also have an approval role.
