Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed)
139. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to collect the outstanding €26 million in derelict sites levies prior to the introduction of the derelict sites charge. [5325/26]
View answerWill the Minister provide the House with an update on his plans to collect the outstanding €26 million in derelict site levies before the derelict sites charge comes in? I believe he is providing an amnesty to speculators and land hoarders while buildings are rotting in every town, city and village in the State.
I thank the Deputy. He will be aware that dereliction is front and centre of what I am trying to tackle as Minister for housing. The introduction of a derelict property tax, DPT, was announced in budget 2026 and the collection of this new tax will be the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners, as set out in action 4.1 of the Government's new national housing strategy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. This tax will replace the derelict sites levy currently operated by the local authorities under Part III of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, whereby the levy is imposed annually on sites present on local authority derelict sites registers and is collected by the local authorities. A new DPT will be introduced, and administered and collected by the Revenue Commissioners.
It is intended to introduce legislation providing for the tax in the finance Bill of 2026 alongside a scoping exercise to identify derelict properties in each local authority area. Currently, the derelict sites levy is an annual levy of 7% of the market value of land identified on the derelict sites register of a local authority. The rate of the DPT is yet to be determined but it is envisaged that it will not be lower than the current derelict site levy, 7%. Subject to the necessary legislation being introduced in finance Bill 2026, preliminary registers will be published by local authorities in 2027. Local authorities will continue to have a role in the process as updating and maintaining their derelict sites registers will continue to remain the responsibility of the local authorities. Derelict sites levies that remain outstanding and owed to the local authorities when the new tax is introduced will remain as charges on the properties concerned.
Action 4.3 of Delivering Homes, Building Communities confirms that local authorities will increase the number of sites on the derelict sites registers and increase the enforcement and collection of unpaid levies. My Department is engaging with the local government sector on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act and the implementation of the actions related to dereliction in the national housing strategy. Delivering Homes, Building Communities includes measures in addition to the DPT to end dereliction and provide increased numbers of new homes and revitalise the communities in villages, towns and cities. In short, it is the role of the local authorities to collect the levies, and it is up to them to do so. It is not my job to do the local authorities’ job for them; it is theirs. Unfortunately, many local authorities have failed to collect the levy to date, and that is why the role has effectively been taken off them.
That is unbelievable because the Minister told me he would not be collecting the derelict sites levy. I have come in here and asked him a straight question on whether he will ensure its collection. We now know local authorities have not been collecting it. Number one, they do not have the staff and resources.
They do.
They do not. I have spoken to them. Their officials were in front of the housing committee even before Deputy Browne was the Minister and told us they do not have the staff or resources. What the Minister is saying here now is different. Some €26 million is owed. The amount went up by €6 million in 2025 and it will go up by at least the same amount again in 2026. That means €32 million regarding houses in addition to all the others that are not on the derelict sites register. The Minister is letting those concerned get away with daylight robbery. He is the Minister for housing. Is he going to give a commitment on the floor of the Dáil today that the €26 million and any other outstanding levies will be collected? Deputy Browne is the boss and the Minister. Will he give the commitment? If not, he is only looking after the lads in the Galway tent again.
As usual, more mud to hide the lack of answers and solutions. It is the local authorities’ job to collect this money. The Deputy is right about the €32 million. Imagine that local authorities, some of which are complaining about not having enough money, are leaving €32 million uncollected. The Deputy is telling me they do not have the staff to collect it. They do and it is up to them. They are leaving this money behind because they are not collecting it. It is their job to collect it. They have the laws to collect it and they have laws to apply. They are not collecting the levy and are leaving properties derelict. Therefore, I do not accept for one second that local authorities do not have the staff to do this. They do. Imagine not collecting €32 million. It is not my job to do the local authorities’ job for them. There are thousands of staff working in the authorities and they have well-paid CEOs and directors of services. It is their job to do their job and the Deputy should not come in here, week after week, to tell me I have to do the local authorities’ job for them. It is their job to do their job, and they need to do it.
Last night I introduced a Bill to this Chamber that would have made it the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that a report would be compiled and that the Minister would answer it to ensure derelict sites levies would be collected. The Government voted it down. It was a solution, supported by the Opposition, that the Minister blocked, so he should not come in here and blame the local authorities. He is the Minister and he voted down legislation last night.
Just to let the Minister know, the Land Development Agency, LDA, is seeking to be exempt from the derelict sites levy. I thank RTÉ for doing work on this. Tens of thousands of euro are owed and those concerned do not want to pay it, while buildings are rotting in Dublin and all over the rest of the State. Mayo County Council wants to take derelict site land hoarders and speculators to court. Will the Minister give it the funding to do so? Could he give a yes-no answer?
Charlie Haughey introduced the derelict sites legislation in 1990, 36 years ago. The situation is worse now than ever. The Government is at fault. Deputy Browne is blaming local authorities. He is the Minister for housing - not me, Deputy Ó Broin or anyone else - so he should not pass the buck. Addressing this is his job.
Collecting the levy is actually not my job; it is the local authorities’ job, and they have the staff and powers to do it. The Deputy is right that the situation is probably worse than it was 36 years ago, but that is because the local authorities, which have the power to levy and raise money, have not been levying. We should remember this is money that would become available to them to tackle dereliction or spend on regeneration projects. The failure to collect the levy is why the role is now going to the Revenue Commissioners.
In two years’ time.
However, it is up to the local authorities to collect the money, and that is what they should be doing. It is up to the voters in the local authority areas to pull up their councillors and ask why levying has not been occurring, why properties are being left derelict and why we are giving up money that could be in the coffers for regeneration. It is not my job to go around to every local authority and do its job for it.
No, but it is the Minister’s job to make sure they do their job.
If any local authority in any other area fails to do its job, we will take the power off it.
It is the Minister’s job to make sure they do their job.
Please, Deputy Gould.
Actually, they are independent. That is the way it is set up. It is the CEO’s job.
That is it. We will move on to the next question.
We have independent local authorities here.
141. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the expected timescale for the exemption of family residential units up to 40 sq. m in back gardens; whether this will restrict the commercial rental of such units without planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/26]
View answerEarly last year, I asked for some flexibility for people to build within their gardens. I note that under pillar 1 of the housing plan, action 4.8 commits to increasing the number of development types exempt from planning permission. When is this coming in? Will there be clear boundaries in terms of the scope? It should be for families and not for commercial rental in the first instance.
I thank Deputy Gogarty. The Government, as he said, recently published its new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. Under pillar 1, it says that to increase the supply of additional housing, action 4.8 commits to increasing the number of development types that are exempt from planning, in order to ensure we have the flexibility for local authorities to be able to do the work they require to do. Planning permission will be exempt to allow for homeowners to adapt or extend their homes more easily, including attic conversions, subdivisions of existing homes and detached accommodation within the primary dwelling. The action is being progressed through the continued commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024, including the consequential review of the exempted development regulations. It is expected that the work will be completed on these imminently and both will be brought before the joint Oireachtas committee thereafter.
I assure the Deputy that both the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I have been working extensively on this matter with officials. Significant progress has been made to date following the successful public consultation that took place last year, with over 900 submissions received via the online portal. The details of these submissions have been reviewed and are informing the ongoing drafting of the updated exempted development regulations that will be forthcoming across 2026.
The implementation of the update of these regulations is being done on a phased basis by theme, with priority already given to exemptions relating to agriculture, which were passed before Christmas. The next theme will be domestic dwellings followed by infrastructure. These domestic dwelling regulations are at an advanced draft stage and include exemptions for stand-alone detached housing units to the rear of a residential dwelling. The final decisions on the specifics of these regulations, including on whether there are any restrictions, will be communicated as soon as possible. The new draft exempted development regulations will be subject to environmental consideration and will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and then before the committee.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. This is not going to sort out the housing crisis but it will make a dent. Where it is going to help in particular is where people can either have a starter home or an age-appropriate home in the area where they already live, work or grew up. That is crucial because a lot of people cannot actually get a property in the area where they have grown up. In that context, it is important to make sure this legislation is primarily for families with, maybe, a two-year exemption period where someone has used it and they have moved on and then it could possibly be extended under the rent-a-room scheme, for example, should people have that annex available. I am very conscious that there are a lot of cowboy operators out there who have built unauthorised developments in back gardens and are renting them out. They are not registered with the tenancies board so we have to make sure this is purely for family members only, initially anyway.
I welcome the Deputy's comments in relation to this proposal, which is being advanced by Government. I expect to have these domestic exemption regulations before the joint Oireachtas committee around Easter time and enacted and enforced thereafter. I have never once said that this is a solution to the housing crisis. This is about providing options for people where they feel it appropriate. There will be restrictions and limitations across a number of areas and they are obviously being worked through. The positive interaction of the public with the public consultation, which took place in regard to these exemptions, has been very welcome and have helped inform the discussions that have been ongoing in the Department in relation to this. I see this as a very positive and proactive measure that the Government is taking. That is why it is in the housing plan and why it is being prioritised by the Department. As I said, we expect to have those regulations before the joint Oireachtas committee around Easter time and implemented thereafter.
It is something that will be welcomed by so many families within communities. In framing the legislation before it actually comes before the committee, could the local authorities also be contacted? Local authorities obviously have to enforce planning regulations but I was told before by a county manager that they do not have the resources to bring every case to court. There are situations. For example, I know of a mother of two severely autistic children whose family built an annex out the back because she had nowhere else to go. A local authority has issued enforcement proceedings to tear the whole structure down. If the Minister of State could issue guidelines saying to go easy until the legislation comes in, then there may be the opportunity to retrospectively apply for retention in situations like that. We are talking about people living real lives with serious consequences if they have to tear these down. They will end up in a homeless hub and that is not appropriate. Any help the Minister of State could give in that regard would be appreciated.
I note the Deputy's comments but, for the avoidance of doubt, unless there are explicit exemptions, the rules are the rules around planning. We have indicated our intention to bring forward this proposal. We have not set out the exact parameters of that. The current rules in regard to planning are the current rules until they are exempt. I indicated that to the joint Oireachtas committee when I was there before Christmas. As I said, this is a proactive and sensible proposal about providing options for people where they choose. Who is anybody in this Chamber or anywhere else to tell somebody that this is not an appropriate option for them if they choose to progress something? It is about removing red tape from the planning system so that planning authorities can actually deal with important planning applications and introduce flexibility and common sense to the planning system. That is what I am trying to do as Minister of State in the Department.
142. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the initiative to allow builders and private developers to construct wastewater treatment facilities for smaller housing developments; when the new regulations will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5315/26]
View answerI am looking for an update on the initiatives to allow builders and private developers to construct wastewater treatment facilities for smaller housing developments, and on when the new regulations will come into effect.
I thank Deputy Brennan for raising this important issue around allowing developers to construct wastewater treatment facilities. I know it is a matter he has raised on a number of occasions. Following Government approval of this initiative, my Department is working closely with key stakeholders, including Uisce Éireann, to establish a framework allowing builders and private developers to construct stand-alone wastewater treatment solutions for housing developments where public wastewater capacity is unavailable or constrained. The initiative is intended to ensure timely housing delivery by addressing and removing previous delays, while safeguarding public health and protecting the environment.
Developer-led wastewater treatment facilities can only be constructed under strict technical, environmental and regulatory conditions, with all proposals subject to assessment, approval and oversight by Uisce Éireann and monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. A central feature is that all completed infrastructure will be transferred to Uisce Éireann, which will assume ownership and responsibility for operation and maintenance, ensuring integration into the national public wastewater system.
The regulatory framework underpinning this initiative must be robust to ensure compliance, safeguard public health and the environment and provide certainty for developers and regulators. The EPA is preparing general binding rules for smaller wastewater treatment facilities serving developments of less than 100 population equivalent or approximately 40 houses. These rules will provide practical guidance for developers, while maintaining consistent environmental standards nationwide.
Structured engagement between developers and Uisce Éireann is a key element of the initiative. Clear points of contact, guidance on design and performance standards and defined approval pathways will ensure that the proposed infrastructure aligns with public systems. My Department, in close co-ordination with stakeholders, is finalising the regulatory and guidance frameworks. The new approach is expected to be operational by the end of February.
By enabling developer-led delivery of infrastructure under strict standards, with oversight and eventual transfer of ownership to Uisce Éireann, this initiative will support housing delivery, protect the environment, safeguard public health and ensure that wastewater infrastructure is safe, sustainable and fully integrated into the national network.
I warmly welcome the Minister's announcement on 4 November that there will now be a key role for the private sector in developing wastewater treatment plants. This obviously means there will be a huge increase in the number of houses and, more importantly, there will be more affordable houses brought through to fruition. I fully understand there will be strict regulations and compliance required and I also welcome that Uisce Éireann will take charge afterwards but can the Minister clarify who will pay for this infrastructure? There are also over 400 sites in Ireland where Uisce Éireann specifications were previously not met and now the owners of these houses are being left to fend for themselves. Can the Minister reassure us that this situation will not be repeated, as the only ones who lose out here are the residents?
I also note that there is a restriction to 40 homes.
Can the Minister confirm if these numbers can be revisited?
It is the private sector, the developer, who will pay for it but, as I say, it must be done under the strict conditions set out by the EPA in collaboration with Uisce Éireann and oversight as Uisce Éireann will eventually take them over when they are completed. There will be very strict guidelines and rules of oversight in relation to the delivery of these. It will allow for 40 homes. We are doing this in a manner that will be environmentally safe, and overseen. We will assess it as it progresses and as it is being implemented to consider whether there is potential for an expansion of the role. However, in the circumstances 40 houses is a good starting point. A clear assessment will be carried out into its progress and application in implementation by the EPA and Uisce Éireann to ensure it is being done in a safe and appropriate manner and to ensure the protection of water quality, public health and the environment. It is important to say that these things are in addition to what Uisce Éireann is doing and are not replacing anything Uisce Éireann is doing.
I thank the Minister. I cannot over-emphasise the importance of this new proposed change to the regulations to allow the private sector to develop its own wastewater treatment systems. Recently I visited villages such as Camolin, which the Minister knows well, and Aughrim in my constituency. These are two typical examples of towns that have simply been stopped in their tracks due to lack of wastewater capacity. This is having a detrimental effect on the social fabric of these towns and villages and this has been replicated right throughout Ireland. Already we can see school numbers dwindling. The GAA is struggling to get under-age teams and businesses in these towns are finding it very difficult to survive. The Minister’s plans will bring a new lease of life to many towns and villages. I urge that the implementation of these new regulations be seen as a Government priority. I would really like some confirmation of a timeline.
We anticipate the guidelines will be ready by the end of February. It is what we anticipated a number of months ago and it is still on schedule for that. I fully agree with the Deputy’s sentiment around rural Ireland. We want our parishes to thrive. Uisce Éireann has record funding to deliver wastewater treatment plants across the country and to upgrade them. It has that role on environmental protection and driving delivery of homes. We want to maximise the use of this in a safe and overseen manner with the private sector as well. Where this will be of most value is those smaller villages and parishes that need to thrive. The reality is that it will take a significant time for Uisce Éireann to be able to get to every place in this country. It is about maximising our ability in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
143. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be made available to local authorities in 2026 for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4932/26]
View answer156. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Sligo County Council will receive its 2026 funding allocation to enable the reopening of the urgently needed housing adaptation grant scheme, which has been paused for several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4424/26]
View answerI do not know how many times I have been here asking about housing adaptation grants. It is a huge facility to be used, particularly for those with disabilities or acquired disabilities, sometimes through old age. We know thresholds have been changed and also amounts. I would still say the system is not fit for purpose. Every local authority runs out of money, stops taking applications and then there is a bit of a minor disaster every year. This is about a system that is fit for purpose and will actually deliver for those who really require it.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 156 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and disabled people to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. This 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 local authorities. The Exchequer funding available for these grants in 2025 was increased substantially by €25 million to €99.5 million, or over €117 million when accounting for the local authority contribution.
Sligo County Council received an Exchequer allocation of almost €1.8 million, an increase of 35% on the original allocation in 2024. My Department works closely with local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities with high levels of grant activity. My Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. If a local authority requires additional funding in any year, it can submit details to my Department in order to be considered for increased funding, subject to availability from savings in other local authorities. During 2025, my Department considered and approved two additional funding allocations totalling €453,670 from Sligo County Council, bringing the total Exchequer allocation for 2025 to over €2.24 million.
The total funding drawn down by local authorities in 2025 will be available on my Department's website shortly. While additional Exchequer funding may become available, the local authorities must provide the match funding from their own resources and therefore the local authorities are also managing the scheme within the resources allocated at the local level. Local authorities now contribute 15% in conjunction with the 85% Exchequer allocation, compared to the previous higher percentage of 20%. This reduction in local authority contribution is one of the reforms implemented under the revised scheme introduced on 1 December 2024. My Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring-fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year.
Budget 2026 provides an increase of €30 million for the scheme, with almost €130 million in Exchequer funding available for the scheme, or over €152 million when accounting for the local authority contribution. This significant increase in funding will support the payment of some 17,000 grant claims as well as the continued implementation of the revised grant limits, the income thresholds and the increase in the Exchequer contribution from 80% to 85%. This additional €30 million in funding is in line with commitments in the programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future and Delivering Homes, Building Communities, and ensures the continued year-on-year increases in funding for the grant scheme since 2014. My Department will issue notification shortly of each local authority's allocation for 2026 under the scheme. Importantly, all local authorities can commit up to 75% of their 2025 allocation when approving applications to be paid in 2026, ensuring a seamless transition of the schemes remaining open from year to year.
I suppose I got some of the answers anyway. I recognise that. The situation facing the council housing adaptation grant schemes in Sligo and Leitrim is now critical. In 2025 the council budgeted €2.4 million to support older people and people with disabilities to remain safely in their homes yet the allocation fell far short of what was required. That forced the council to seek an emergency top-up payment of over €240,000 in July, funding that could only cover priority 1 cases. As a result, the scheme has been paused for months. Meanwhile, six months worth of already approved grants remain unfunded and the council is still awaiting the 2026 allocation. The delay is preventing essential home adaptations that allow people to live with dignity and independence. The housing adaptation grant is one of the most impactful, cost-effective supports the State provides. Every euro invested keeps people out of hospital beds, out of long-term care and in their own homes where they want to be.
The issue I have, which happens every year, is that there is an insufficient amount of money to cover the grants at this point of time. The fact that secondary and tertiary allocations have to be made shows this is a particular issue. That is only one of them; the other particular issue is that there has to be an allowance for those who need a greater level of works done such as where there are children with extreme mobility issues who have got older.
We probably also need to look at how all this is delivered. It is not just about the figures. Sometimes it is from the same pot as regards the housing adaptation grant, the disabled persons' grant and the housing for older people grant, which is absolutely vital for windows, doors, etc., but it should not necessarily be from this for the same fund. There needs to be interaction with the HSE; I am not saying it falls completely on the local authority. We need to find the means for those who require far more substantial work to be done to allow people to live in their own homes. I am particularly talking about those with severe disabilities and mobility issues.
By way of information and to be consistent, I will give Deputy Ó Murchú an indication of the funding for Louth. He did not ask this specifically, but I want it to be consistent with the information for Sligo. During 2025, my Department considered and approved an additional funding allocation of €150,000 for Louth County Council, bringing its total allocation to €2.8 million for 2025. Louth County Council drew down this allocation in full. The total funding drawdowns by local authorities will be available on my Department's website shortly.
I say to Deputy Scanlon that there were two requests for additional funding from Sligo County Council. They were both approved and the full amounts on both occasions were spent. Some local authorities are not spending their full allocation. That is something I am conscious of. We look to redistribute to local authorities that are spending. Louth and Sligo both fall into that category.
The scheme announced in December made many changes. We increased the income and the grant limits. We brought in increased allowances. I was directly involved in it myself. At the time, I was no longer the Minister of State with responsibility for local government, but I worked on it with officials prior to that point. I, like everyone else, recognise it is hugely important. The disabled persons' grant has been increased to €40,000. The Deputy might provide detail on the specific individual cases and we may be able follow up on those. The core point is that we have increased the funding. There is a 30% increase this year. The contribution from local authorities has gone from 20% to 15%, which means the contribution from the local authorities has gone down, but the State is contributing that directly. This is a hugely important grant scheme and something the Government has prioritised. The allocation for 2026 is €130 million, which will assist 17,000 people.
We all welcome any increase in the amount of money people can get. We all know that construction costs have gone through the roof. However, are they fit for purpose as regards the figures as they exist at the minute? No, they are not. Work needs to be done for those who have severe mobility issues, for example a child who gets older and has more specific needs. There needs to be a review not only of the adaptation grants provided but also in relation to housing. I know of people whose adaptation grants have been approved, but technically they cannot actually deliver it because they do not have the space within the confines of the house. I know of people who need to change their house on the basis of their children's needs. It would be a lot easier if they were actually in social housing. They may have bought a house from the local authority at one stage before these circumstances arose and now they are under pressure with clawback they have to give back. They will not be able to afford the type of house that is required for the child. The whole thing needs to be reviewed. It does not just fall on the Department of housing. The HSE also needs to do a piece of work.
I genuinely welcome the extra allocation of funds to the local authorities for the provision of those grants. As I said earlier, the work done paid for by those grants is keeping people out of hospitals and nursing homes. I know of a number of cases where people have left nursing homes to go back home because of the funding that was made available to improve their living conditions at home. I appeal to the Department to immediately approve the grants to Sligo and Leitrim county councils for the full 2026 budget including provision for the outstanding 2025 commitments as well. I welcome the extra funding.
We hope to be in a position to announce the allocations for 2026 shortly. As I said, we have increased the funding this year by €30 million, a 30% increase, one of largest increases in any spending items, because it is of such importance. Again, it feeds into keeping people living at home independently. Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned particular cases and he might come to me with them. They may involve multiple agencies. However, we have ensured that people on lower incomes are getting 100% of the housing adaptation grant. That was 90% under the old scheme. The housing adaptation grant for disabled people has been increased to €40,000. The housing aid for older people grant has been increased to €10,700. The mobility aids grant is €8,000.
This point is worth repeating. The local authorities are entitled to commit up to 75% of their 2025 allocations for improvement applications to be paid in 2026. There is no reason applications cannot proceed. The funding allocation for 2026 will be announced shortly by the Department. Furthermore, we want to see local authorities spending the money allocated to them. Louth and Sligo came back in for further funding.
They should get more.
We very much understand. Sligo came back in twice and Louth came back once. The message is that the Government is very much committed to giving this extra funding of €30 million. We want to see local authorities spending that money, which will make a real difference to people's lives in their homes.
144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the lack of affordable housing in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/26]
View answerAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The new plan reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by the Government to tackle the issues of supply and affordability, thereby supporting the increased provision of new homes to purchase and rent.
As outlined in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, all local authorities will be required to prepare a new housing delivery action plan, which will identify affordable housing needs within their areas and set out how this will be met. These new housing delivery action plans will build upon the almost 19,000 affordable housing solutions that have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All.
Over 1,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered in Meath to date, primarily via the local authority affordable purchase scheme, the first home scheme, the vacant properties refurbishment grant, the cost-rental equity loan and the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme.
To date, Meath County Council has received funding approval to deliver 226 affordable starter homes for purchase across 12 schemes, supported by the affordable housing fund, out to the end of 2027. By the end of quarter 3 of last year, 77 of these homes had been delivered. A further four schemes are under assessment, with the potential to deliver an additional 20 affordable starter homes for purchase.
In addition, six approved housing body projects have been approved to date under the cost-rental equity loan scheme in County Meath, with 76 cost-rental homes delivered to date and a further 156 to be delivered by the end of this year.
To further support the development of Meath’s affordable housing programme, my Department is funding five additional administrative and technical staffing posts dedicated to affordable housing delivery.
Scheme criteria and support levels for affordable purchase schemes are kept under regular review, taking account of developments in the housing market. Further to this, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further develop affordable starter homes delivery and to ensure that the starter homes programme addresses demand identified at a local level.
Affordability is the single biggest housing issue in County Meath.
So many people who are working are above the social housing threshold but they cannot get a mortgage. The numbers the Minister talks about are nowhere near enough. In addition, they are not affordable. I can give the example of Foxwood Park in Kells that is about to come on stream. I am sure they are fine houses and the people who get them will be absolutely delighted to have them but they are far too expensive. They are not affordable. They are advertised as three-bedroom terraced houses with a minimum purchase price of €322,500 but with an asterisk on it. The asterisk is doing a huge amount of work because the actual price that someone will pay to buy and own that property is €405,000. That is simply not affordable. Does the Minister agree?
In my constituency of Galway East, not one affordable home has been delivered in towns like Athenry, Tuam and Loughrea. Rents have increased massively, and so have house prices. Young families come to me all the time asking what their options are and if affordable housing might be an option for them but it does not exist in our local area. We are in the middle of a housing emergency and that has been the case for a decade or more at this stage. It is a shocking indictment of the Government's housing policy that it has completely failed to deliver any affordable housing for my constituents. We have talked about some schemes being delivered in the coming years but nowhere near the scale at which it is needed. The big question is whether these homes are going to be genuinely affordable for people. What does the Minister have to say to those families in my constituency? When are we finally going to see affordable housing delivered at scale in east Galway?
I thank the Deputies very much for their questions. Affordability is at the very heart of what I do. That is why we have so many schemes to help people to make homes more affordable for them, while also driving the delivery of social and affordable housing through our local authorities, and through schemes led by the Land Development Agency.
In both of those counties we have seen a significant delivery of homes but we want to see more delivery. I have been to both of those counties on numerous occasions. We have seen a significant uptick in the delivery of homes there. It is all about supply. The way we get control of rent prices and house prices is through increasing the supply. Our approach is to put in as many schemes as possible, and to try to make houses as affordable as possible, while also addressing viability so that we can drive on the supply as well. We need the homes. We need to significantly increase the number of homes right across the country as well as in Meath and Galway East. I am sure the Deputy will agree that right across Galway East there are now significant housing schemes going on but I want to see even more. I have been up there on a number of occasions and I will be going back to Galway. I encourage the local authorities to drive on with these schemes as well. It is really important that they work with the Department of housing to get more of these schemes off the ground.
Could I specifically raise the issue this time round in relation to the design of the scheme? The question specifically relates to the redemption and realisation of the council equity. I do not think people are aware of the fact that there is a premium on the council equity. If it is 10% on a house costing €405,000 today, the percentage relates to the current market value. If I am in that property for 30 years and I am looking to draw down on the council equity, if the property is worth €450,000 or €500,000, I am required to pay 10% of the current market value at that stage, and I have to pay in lump sums of a minimum of €10,000. They are very significant issues. It is a cruel aspect of this scheme. It is a premium on the council's equity. I do not think people are aware of that fact. Why did the Minister design the scheme in that way? Does he acknowledge that it is an unfair premium?
With regard to affordable housing, while there is a need for more to be done, I welcome the fact that the Minister was in Gorey last Friday where a very successful affordable housing scheme of 20 homes was launched. The families were very satisfied. I was delighted that the Sinn Féin Deputy was present. Even though he opposed many of the Government's measures in this regard, he had no problem hopping into all the photographs with the Minister and I on Friday.
He supported the legislation on this scheme.
The challenge in this regard is to get far more of these affordable homes schemes going. I urge him to expedite the schemes that are coming into him from Wicklow and Wexford County Councils because we need them as quickly as possible.
Every scheme is always kept under review. We have multiple schemes now for helping people to be able to get their home and to make schemes affordable. We always keep schemes under review and where we think we can make them more effective, we always do so. It is important that these schemes exist, and that people are aware of them and use them.
As Deputy Byrne mentioned, we have some very successful affordable housing schemes, and we want to see even more of them. Again, it is up to the local authorities to make sure that they are driving these schemes as well and doing more because we as a Government are supporting affordable housing in this country.
146. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his Department's support for local authorities to tackle coastal erosion. [4418/26]
View answerWhat measures are in place for local authorities to address coastal erosion?
I thank Deputy Byrne for raising the important issue of coastal erosion. It is a matter he has raised on numerous occasions.
My Department recognises the significant risks that coastal erosion and flooding present to our coastlines in the context of climate change. It is clear that climate change is presenting significant challenges, with many areas experiencing more frequent extreme weather events and changes in environmental conditions. Ireland is not immune from these challenges, including those associated with coastal erosion and flooding.
Responding effectively to these challenges requires a co-ordinated, evidence-based and long-term approach. Our local authorities are responsible for managing coastal erosion within their own administrative areas. The Office of Public Works has the responsibility for all technical assessment, including monitoring and mapping coastal risks, supporting research, and funding local authorities to undertake coastal protection works.
My Department collaborates with the OPW and relevant local authorities to support informed, consistent and sustainable responses to coastal erosion nationwide and provides policy leadership and co-ordination. Ireland's approach to coastal change management is guided by the work of the interdepartmental group on the national coastal change management strategy. This was established by the Government to support informed decision-making on how best to manage the coastline in light of future risks and planning needs.
In October 2023, this group published a scoping report setting out 15 recommendations to inform the development of a national coastal change management strategy. These recommendations are intended to facilitate key decisions to address and manage the impacts of coastal change over the short, medium and long term.
The recommendations are organised around three key areas: strengthening governance and capacity; improving understanding of coastal risks and identifying possible technical responses; and developing appropriate management approaches to coastal change. Progress on this work is being overseen by an interdepartmental steering group, which meets to advance the policy framework outlined in the report. The management of coastal change and the consideration of appropriate responses must take place within the context of the overall national policy framework and the respective roles of Departments, agencies and local authorities.
The Minister is very aware of the challenges of coastal erosion. I am fortunate to represent a constituency that has some of the finest beaches in the country, stretching from Brittas Bay in Wicklow down to Morriscastle in Wexford. The Minister knows the challenges many of those communities have faced. Our problem is that we have so many strategies being developed but all the time the coast is starting to disappear. For instance, €26 million has been spent by Irish Rail on protecting the Rosslare rail line in the last decade.
While I welcome the fact that €500,000 has been allocated to protect the coast at Cahore, at a public meeting there recently, organised by Councillor Pip Breen, concern was expressed that it is not sufficient to address the threat to the coast in that area.
The Minister will also be very much aware of the really big challenge that continues to exist in Courtown Harbour, particularly in the area north of the harbour. I hope he can highlight specific measures.
Deputy Byrne has done an awful lot of work on what we can do to tackle coastal erosion which is a result of climate change and the climate crisis that we are in. The current position is that the interventions are local authority led through funding by the OPW. A national strategy is being developed by the interdepartmental group. As the Deputy points out, a lot of different strategies are being worked on in different Departments. There is an environmental role, a housing role and a role for local authorities. What we are seeing now is erosion happening at an accelerated rate across the country.
The time that may have been thought was there to develop the strategy has become foreshortened. I welcome the Deputy's focus on this because we need to really focus now on how we are going to manage this costal erosion around the country.
I thank the Deputy. Wicklow and Wexford county councils are taking this issue seriously. I love the beaches around my area but a lot of them are starting to disappear. It is not just a problem in counties Wicklow and Wexford. The Minister will be very familiar with the challenges around Courtown and the area to the north of that. Courtown is a legendary destination for many people but the beach has not really been there for many years. It is an issue regularly raised by Courtown community council and by the business community or park division for Courtown and Riverchapel. There is a long-standing plan to develop breakwaters and even the possibility of a marina in the long term in that area. Will Departments co-ordinate to work with Wexford County Council to deliver this? Equally, we need that national strategy so that we look at Brittas Bay, similarly, where parts of the dunes are falling into the sea. We need to protect all our costal communities.
I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. He is right. The Courtown and Riverchapel area is a good example of a wonderful community that is facing an awful lot. It is at the brunt of the changes as a result of our climate crisis and the impact that has on the local community. The current position is that it is the responsibility of the local authority with the OPW to carry out works, although these works tend to be of a smaller scale than dealing with the emergency facing the community. We have to develop that national strategy. We do have that interdepartmental group with the purpose of bringing those strategies together and it has 15 recommendations. However, I will be imploring those Departments to advance those recommendations now, a lot more quickly than might have previously been intended as a result of the foreshortening of the time that was believed to be there, to come up with the implementation of a strategy. Coastal erosion is now happening at a frightening pace.
147. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has engaged in any consultation processes with approved housing bodies and local authorities in advance of legislation removing blanket pet bans. [4416/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising what is an important question and can often have a profound effect on families, namely, the blanket ban that is often imposed on having pets. It was an important policy to get into our housing plan. For many people, especially those who live on their own but for all families, pets provide comfort and connection and can be an enormous source of emotional support and companionship. Pets are often seen as part of the family. The new national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, commits to reviewing the code of practice for the approved housing body allocation process, which is an agreed set of arrangements between local authorities and the AHB sector. The code seeks to establish a collaborative and efficient approach to the social housing nomination and allocations process. It is timely that the code be reviewed to ensure, in the first instance, that the nomination and allocation processes are working to avoid unnecessary vacancy periods in social housing. In order to reinforce a collaborative approach, a working group comprising my Department, the local authorities, the AHB sector and the Housing Agency has been established to carry out a review of the code. I will be ensuring the review of this code is carried out as quickly as possible. Effectively, I want to repeal the ban. People should not be prohibited from being able to bring their pet with them when they move into any house, in my view, but at least any house we have control over, which are social and affordable homes.
I agree with the Minister's proposal to repeal the ban. That is only sensible and sane. This has caused unquantifiable distress to families who have been in touch with me. I will give one example of one family. They were on a social housing list and got approval. They were very excited, but only a couple of months earlier they had generously taken in their neighbour's dog when their neighbour had passed and they suddenly realised they did not know what were they going to do with this dog. The family were very distressed at the thought that they might have to give up their pet. This is just one example of the many families who have been in touch with me and that is why we are keen to get some indication as to when this will be legislated for. We understand that legislation is very complicated and there are various moving parts around this, but it may be useful if guidelines were issued initially just to show the direction of travel. That would reassure the people out there who are on these lists and are hoping to get housing.
I thank the Deputy. I would hope that my very clear statements would act as guidelines for local authorities and AHBs. We fund them. People should not be precluded from living with pets. A code will be required to ensure that a very tiny number of people cannot try to abuse the situation. We have to be conscious that people live next door to each other and it is about pets living with them. Again, the definition of a pet is very clearly set out in law and, therefore, I expect we will move quickly on this. I will be ensuring we move quickly so that people can keep their pets. Our position has been made loud and clear to local authorities and AHBs and I would expect them to act in anticipation of the change in rules.
I thank the Minister for that reassurance. My view is that the existing wear and tear and antisocial elements of contracts would cover any of the situations that could arise with regard to pets and, therefore, I think that is unnecessary. I have been in touch with a number of different AHBs and there is a variety of policies out there already, which is interesting in itself. Some do not have any restrictions on pets, which is very good to know. Others have restrictions on dogs but not on cats. Others have restrictions except for guide dogs and service animals. Therefore, there is quite a range. This is where a very simple direction from the Minister's Department to the AHBs and local authorities publicising that would provide reassurance and comfort to families. The Minister also mentioned individuals earlier. I was delighted to see the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, also here earlier. Pets are incredibly important, particularly for older people who are seeking housing, who are a significant group of those who are on these lists. I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Lawless, O'Donnell and Cummins, for all their work in this area.
I recognise Deputy O'Connell's concern in this area and her compassion for families who want to keep their pets. Their pets are now part of the family and they give some much comfort and support to people. Whether that is older people or children and their families, pets are very much part of it. That is the reason we were so anxious to ensure there was a very clear line of direction included in the housing plan sending out that message to AHBs and local authorities and putting it now into a code of practice. I do not think legislation will be needed. If it is needed, we will do it with legislation, but through codes of practice and service level agreements with local authorities and AHBs, we can effect this more quickly. I have been saying this to our local authorities and AHBs, as our officials have been, and therefore I would expect them to act in anticipation of this change.
148. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention had been drawn to his Department’s involvement in the production of the housing-related video published by an organisation (details supplied) prior to speaking to the Oireachtas housing committee on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5063/26]
View answerThere was a significant public reaction to the video about moving in with family that was put up late last year. Will the Minister outline what role the Department of housing had in the production of that video and clarify when he first learned about the video?
I thank the Deputy. The Government's youth homelessness strategy commits to developing an annual information and awareness campaign on housing rights, as well as available supports specifically targeting young people. This is essential to do, particularly online where young people, who are most impacted, are most active. The Housing Agency was tasked with developing these information campaigns, and in 2024 and 2025, it collaborated with SpunOut, Ireland’s youth information
and support platform, to develop and run online content. I genuinely commend the everyday work that SpunOut does for young people across the country in providing accessible, engaging and youth-friendly content that responds to their needs and what matters to them. In an online world that is increasingly confusing and diverse in terms of factual and reliable information, SpunOut stands out as an exemplar in that respect. The Housing Agency engaged with young people as part of the process of developing its campaign in 2025 and it rightly led on choosing the topics they were most interested in and wanted to hear more about. I absolutely appreciate that when the video content related to moving back in with parents was shared directly, without relevant social tagging, by my own Department towards the end of last year, it appeared as if the content was a Department-led campaign.
Second, I appreciate that presented without further context, this looked like my Department felt the matter was one we were qualified to advise on, when in fact we should be more focused on solving the problem raised by the young people: the problem of a housing crisis impacting their everyday lives and relationships. The video scripts related to various aspects of the campaign were flagged to my Department prior to finalising and uploading them online, for only the purposes of fact checking in relation to current policies and schemes, as would be reasonable. My Department is certainly not best placed to direct style or tone of content prepared by or for young people. That is why SpunOut is rightly involved and it does an excellent job.
At the time of the Oireachtas housing committee, I understood the campaign, while flowing directly from my Department's youth homeless strategy, was not a Department of housing campaign to approve. I was clear on this.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The Minister has still not clarified when he first knew of the video. Could he clarify that, please? At the housing committee when I asked him directly about it, he set out four times that the Department of housing did not have any involvement in the video. He repeated that three times. Can the Minister clarify now and make a statement that the Department of housing was involved in the video and was aware of it? I will ask the Minister very clearly: when did he first become aware this video was being produced?
I thank the Deputy. I became aware when I saw the retweet the night before the committee meeting. That is the first time I became aware of it. Young people are interested in how we will solve the crisis, not going down the rabbit hole of who knew when a video may have had information contained in it or whatever the case may be. I do not really understand. My focus is maximising the number of homes and maximising supply so that we can get those people who are affected by the housing crisis into homes in which they want to live in their communities. That is what I am all about.
It is about the Oireachtas and the record. The Minister said at the housing committee that the Department was not involved in it.
Allow the Minister to answer, Deputy Hearne.
This was the Housing Agency that funded SpunOut, which choose the topics itself. SpunOut does a fantastic job. An official in the housing Department retweeted it. I am not going after that official. They were well intentioned and they thought they were doing the right thing. These things happen.
The Department had no other involvement?
Lessons have been learned.
The story in the Irish Examiner was not true?
Does Deputy Hearne wish to respond?
Sorry, yes. What was reported in the Irish Examiner mentioned senior officials in the Department. I am pushing this because we need to be honest in the Oireachtas record. If what was said at the housing committee is not true, that needs to be corrected. What was happening at the time was the Minister and the Department were trying to get away from a controversy.
Things were said that were not actually accurate. I would like the record to be corrected if the truth is, as the Irish Examiner reported, that the Department knew and senior officials as early as 11 August were aware of the script for the housing video and it was widely circulated among senior officials with comments and suggestions. It is also reported that the Minister's own special adviser had been consulted on content for the information in the campaign that included the video. Can the Minister clarify that his special adviser and the Department actually were aware a video was being produced and were consulted for information or is the information that was reported in the Irish Examiner untrue?
Sometimes I think the Deputy selectively listens to what I am saying. I will repeat what I said in my first answer. Video scripts related to various aspects of the campaign were flagged to my Department prior to finalising and uploading the video online for only the purposes of fact checking current policies and schemes, as would be reasonable. I said that in my opening answer. The Deputy chose not to listen to it.
The Minister said at the housing committee-----
Deputy Hearne, allow the Minister to respond.
If we are talking about the record, I look forward to the Deputy correcting his outrageous allegation against me earlier in breach of the House rules.
I said that was Fianna Fáil and not just the Minister.
No. The Deputy named me.
I take that back. It was Fianna Fáil. However, the Minister is not correcting the record. The Department knew about it.
Deputy Hearne has made his point, the Minister has responded and the Deputy brought up what was said previously. I want to bring Deputy Hearne's attention to the Standing Order that states it is not in order to accuse a member of Government of deliberately misleading the House. If an allegation of this nature is to be made against any Member, it should be made by way of a substantive motion. I have to ask the Member to unreservedly withdraw the remark he has made. That is the Standing Order.
Is that a reference to the earlier remark?
The earlier remark, yes.
I withdraw the remark specifically about the Minister misleading the House but not the remark in relation to misleading the people in the general election.
No, that is not the remark the Deputy made. I will not get into an argument with him about it because I know it will just drag on. It was in relation to accusing a member of Government of deliberately misleading the House.
No, I said-----
The Deputy might want to check the Official Report and come back to us, please.
I will check the Official Report. I believe I said, "misleading the people" and not the House.
Okay, that is fine. We will not waste time on it.
150. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to allow for modular housing and low-cost sites, to address the urgent housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4551/26]
View answerI commend the Minister and his junior Ministers on the tireless work they are doing on the housing crisis. Will the Minister provide funding to Kerry County Council to construct modular homes as part of the solution for social and affordable housing? Will the Minister allow Kerry County Council to grant planning permission to individuals and families who wish to construct a modular home? Will the Minister roll out a scheme of low-cost sites across County Kerry?
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 is Ireland’s new housing plan. It is a wide-ranging action plan, focused on housing supply and targeting homelessness. The plan is centred on eight priorities, one of which includes increasing skills and supporting the adoption of modern methods of construction, MMC, in the residential construction sector, which will help facilitate delivery at optimal levels of speed, quality, sustainability and cost effectiveness.
My Department will ensure that the weight of the State’s significant spending power is put firmly behind the use of MMC in at least 25% of all new build social and affordable housing. This will mean a pipeline of thousands of homes that will be built using MMC over the lifetime of the plan. In order to directly support the use of modular or 3D volumetric methods, my Department is providing funding and support for two pathfinder projects in the Limerick city short-term modular affordable rental transition modular housing project and Wexford County Council is being supported to develop 22 permanent social homes.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, agrément certification plays a central role in enabling new, innovative construction products, processes and building systems. A total of 21 MMC systems are currently certified by NSAI agrément. Two of these certificates relate to modular systems. In addition, six MMC systems are at internal review stage for certification. Subject to satisfactory completion of this review, these certificates are expected to be published in the first half of 2026. Two of the six systems undergoing review are for modular systems. Under the plan, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will further optimise the process towards NSAI agrément certification.
The plan also commits to expanding the ready to build scheme, which the Deputy referenced at the end of his contribution.
In every corner of County Kerry today, there are individuals, couples and families who wish to build or buy a family home. Even though they are in good jobs, they cannot get a mortgage big enough to buy or build. These are nurses in University Hospital Kerry, teachers, members of an Garda Síochána, employees of good companies like Liebherr and Fexco in Killorglin, etc. Constituents who I am meeting on a daily basis are telling me they would be more than happy with a modular home.
A good quality modular home will last 70, 80 or 90 years. In regard to achieving this, I have been hammering the point that Uisce Éireann needs to roll out a scheme of constructed wetlands across County Kerry, in my case. We have more than 40 villages unsewered and many more that are at capacity, including my own village. The constructed wetlands are a much cheaper and faster form of wastewater treatment. There are so many areas in need. We can make a real impact here if we do that.
I thank the Deputy. I note the comments from the Minister, Deputy Browne, about the developer-provided infrastructure element and the commitment Deputy Cahill has shown in raising constructed wetlands consistently in this House.
There is a very good example of it in my constituency in Dunhill, County Waterford. In relation to the modular systems, we are going to provide planning exemptions to allow for modular units to the rear of the dwelling as I referred to earlier in response to questions from Deputy Gogarty. The Government will from a State point of view continue to invest in modern methods of construction, at least 25%, and we are going to bring an increased focus in terms of modular systems to that. I referenced the pilots in Limerick and Wexford, which are currently in process.
We must give an opportunity to those on middle incomes. They are caught between social housing and being able to afford to build their own homes. I believe the modular home is a solution. Low-cost sites are an incentive there as well to help these people get on the property ladder. To achieve this, yet again, as I mentioned, we have over 40 unsewered villages in County Kerry and a number of others that are at capacity; we need to provide wastewater treatment in these areas. Again, I am emphasising that constructed wetlands is one of the solutions. It is much cheaper and much faster to put in place. We need to get the ball rolling in addressing the housing crisis.
I have been consistent on exempted development regulations and the provision of modular units. I never once said this is the solution to the housing crisis. This is about providing options for people. Who is it for anybody in this Chamber to try to dictate to people who may wish to put in a modular home if they believe that is appropriate for them?
Everything we are trying to do in terms of planning within government is to simplify the process and remove things from the planning system that are not required to be in it. That is what we are doing in terms of the exempted development regulations, which I will bring to the Oireachtas committee at Easter. In relation to local authorities and AHBs, we are committed to increasing MMC by at least 25% and we are going to try to push the 3D volume metric in addition to the 2D, which has been happening consistently across the sector over the past number of years.
