Written Answers Nos. 247-272
247. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce legislation to enable local authorities to take in charge properties that have been left derelict for a specified period in a more timely manner than is currently permitted, with a view to increasing the availability of housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4542/26]
View answerThe Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
Local authority powers include requiring owners or occupiers to take appropriate remedial measures on identified derelict sites and applying a derelict sites levy on derelict sites with a view to influencing property owners to bring their properties back into productive use or to put them on the market. It is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.
Under Part II of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 a local authority can also acquire a derelict site in its area, either by agreement with the owner or by compulsory acquisition. It must advertise the details of any proposed compulsory acquisition in the local newspaper and send a notice to the owner or occupier of the land, giving information about how and where to object to the purchase. If an objection is made, the local authority cannot buy the land without the consent of An Coimisiun Pleanála. If An Coimisiun Pleanála subsequently approves the compulsory acquisition on appeal, the local authority can acquire the land.
Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) supports local authorities in addressing dereliction by providing a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale. The Fund is replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of properties, allowing a rolling fund for each local authority to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
As announced within Budget 2026 and confirmed in Government’s Housing Action Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the existing Derelict Sites Levy is to be replaced with a new Derelict Property Tax, to be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. The new Derelict Property Tax is a necessary step in tackling the scourge of dereliction. The new tax will actively incentivise property owners to bring neglected and derelict buildings and sites back into use, and in doing so, increase our national housing supply.
248. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider standardising certain policies in county development plans across all local authorities so that there are clear and fair definitions of what constitutes a local/rural person for the purpose of building a one-off rural dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4954/26]
View answer249. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the progress of work to update policy direction and guidance in respect of rural housing, initially in the form of a section 28 guideline which is being reviewed and prepared as a national planning statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4931/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.
As set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, I intend to publish a National Planning Statement in the second half of 2026 that will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set in the National Planning Framework (NPF).
My Department is currently preparing a draft National Planning Statement for Government approval, to be issued under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act of 2024 in order to provide consistency in the approach to rural housing across the country.
The NPS will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework, in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 28 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, large towns and centres of employment), and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining. NPO 28 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in the assessment of development proposals for new one-off housing in rural areas under urban influence.
Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system and our obligations under European Directives and international agreements. Due care is being taken to ensure the National Planning Statement will not conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, will comply with EU environmental requirements and will have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice.
Furthermore, my Department and I regularly engage with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and with Agencies such as Uisce Éireann and other Government Departments to progress a number of Programme for Government commitments on housing in rural areas and the necessary infrastructure to support housing development across the country in order to meet housing need.
250. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the issue of older adult homelessness in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4967/26]
View answerSupporting families and individuals, including older people, experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness is a priority for my Department and Government.
Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness, meeting need and addressing the challenges in the housing market. The new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, aims to speed up the delivery of new homes and tackle homelessness. The plan targets the construction of 300,000 homes, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports by the end of 2030.
Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. A record level of investment is being provided for the delivery of housing in 2026, with €5.2bn in Exchequer capital funding complemented by investment through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and lending from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), bringing the total capital funding for housing in 2026 to over €9 billion. This record level of funding is supporting the delivery of social, affordable and cost rental homes. The 2026 capital funding will be supplemented by over €2 billion in current funding to address housing needs.
Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is essential with many prevention initiatives already underway in my Department and across Government. This includes the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. In order to ensure a fully aligned all-of-Government approach under the Plan, there is a commitment to develop a national Homelessness Prevention Framework within which homelessness can be prevented in a structured and planned way with tailored prevention measures for each potential at risk cohort, including older people. This Framework will be in place in 2026.
The long-term housing needs of families and individuals, including older people, who are in emergency accommodation, will be met through a range of social housing supports such as the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and through general social housing allocations. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is our continued investment in the social housing programme. €2.9bn of the capital funding for housing in 2026 has been allocated to support the delivery of social homes. This continued investment in the social housing programme will increase the supply of stock available to allocate to households on the social housing waiting list, including households in emergency accommodation.
The new housing plan also includes measures which will increase delivery of housing for older people through increased delivery of social housing, increased delivery of more suitable homes in private housing and increased choice to support voluntary rightsizing. Government is committed to increasing housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence and my Department is advancing these measures.
252. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the draw down of funding by Cork County Council under the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5049/26]
View answerTenancy sustainment, or tenant-in-situ, is a priority category under my Department's Second Hand Acquisitions Programme. It is not a scheme, but a policy tool available to local authorities to prevent social housing supported households in the private rented sector from falling into homelessness. It should only be used as a last resort by local authorities when all other options have been exhausted.
In 2025, €15m was allocated to Cork County Council (CCC) with €9,953,036 recouped.
Funding for the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme will be agreed later this year, with individual allocations notified to local authorities as soon possible thereafter.
In the meantime, local authorities have been authorised to enter into commitments for 2026 to a value of up to 30% of their original 2025 acquisitions budget. This effectively provides for a multi-annual approach to programme delivery, facilitating local authorities to plan and progress acquisitions from one year to the next with a higher level of certainty vis-à-vis future funding availability.
For CCC, this provides scope to commit €4.5m to acquisitions that are likely to only complete and drawdown in 2026, including acquisitions to support exits from homelessness, tenancy sustainment via tenant in situ, and other priority cohorts such as older persons, persons with disabilities, care leavers, etc.
That said, I expect the 2026 programme to maintain support for tenant in situ acquisitions as a last resort policy tool available to local authorities to prevent social housing supported households in the private rental sector from becoming homeless.
253. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is taking to ensure a greater number of social housing units are purpose built to meet the needs of tenants with special needs or intellectual disabilities; the specific plans or initiatives aimed at improving accessibility and accommodation options for this group of tenants within the social housing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4493/26]
View answerMy Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. The Strategy and Implementation Plan may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/. The Implementation Plan sets out the actions to achieve the vision of the joint Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027 operating under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
Separately, my Department published a Design Manual for Quality Housing which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/b3e02-design-manual-for-quality-housing/. The Manual is intended to guide local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, and their consultants, on the design of social housing including the internal layouts of individual social homes. The manual includes guidance on the approach to ‘Housing for People with Disability’ (Section 5.3.2) and specific design approaches developed with the input of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design. My Department is working with all local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to utilise this Design Manual for all new build social housing projects.
Local authorities play a key role in the planning and provision of social housing in their areas, and decide on the number and types of dwellings to provide, based on identified need including for disabled people.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports by the end of 2030. To achieve this, the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State has been secured in 2026, with in excess of €9 billion in capital funding through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures.
Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, each local authority will prepare a new Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP), reflecting local need identified including within the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment Framework. Within this broad framework, evidence-informed local authority HDAPs provide a detailed picture of the quantum, type, size and location of social homes to be delivered by local authorities and AHBs. Learning from the first round of these plans will help inform and strengthen the next iteration of plans and set clear targets against which local authority and AHB delivery will be benchmarked to 2030. This will include minimum targets for quantity, type and size of social homes; for example, identifying housing for priority groups including disabled persons.
All local authorities have Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) whose role is to put in place strategic plans for housing for disabled people and to monitor activity under these plans. The HDSGs are representative of disabled people as well as the Health Services Executive, the local authority and Approved Housing Bodies and are a key driver of the provision of housing for disabled people at local level.
256. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has met with senior officials in An Coimisiún Pleanála since he took office; and the number of times he has met with these officials. [3832/26]
View answerAn Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún ) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, and certain other Acts.
I have met with officials from An Coimisiún and the new Board on 3 occasions since taking up my role as Minster for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
257. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the estimated delivery timeframes for sub-phases of phase three of the Ulster canal project. [4929/26]
View answer397. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current estimated delivery timeframes for sub-phases of Phase 3 of the Ulster Canal project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5118/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 397 together.
The restoration of the Ulster Canal is a major cross-border project principally funded by the Shared Island Fund and my Department. The project is being delivered by Waterways Ireland, in three phases:
• Phase 1 from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson (completed in 2019)
• Phase 2 from Clones to Clonfad (completed June 2024), and
• Phase 3 Castle Saunderson to Clonfad (underway).
Phase 3 is the longest stretch at 10km and includes 10km of new and refurbished navigable canal and towpath, bridges, locks, marina and service blocks. Phase 3 has four sub-phases:
• Sub-phase 3.1 from Castlesaunderson to Gortnacarrow
• Sub-phase 3.2 from Gortnacarrow to Clonoony
• Sub-phase 3.3 Clonoony to Derrynure
• Sub-phase 3.4 Derrynure to Clonfad
Substantial preliminary work is underway on Phase 3. Waterways Ireland has appointed a dedicated project lead for this phase and the detailed design for sub-phases 3.1 and 3.2 is progressing well.
Waterways Ireland continues to liaise with relevant stakeholders including affected landowners in relation to the project. I understand that Waterways Ireland has corresponded with all affected landowners, providing a project update, and more detailed engagement has commenced with land owners in sub phases 3.1 and 3.2.
A planning application for Phase 3.3 has been submitted to Monaghan County Council. It is expected that the detailed design tenders for sub-phases 3.3 and 3.4 will be issued later this year.
It is expected that a contractor for construction of sub-phases 3.1 and 3.2 will be appointed by mid 2026 and that construction works will commence in Q3 2026. Estimated completion of all elements (subject to land acquisition and the necessary planning consent for sub-phase 3.3) is 2029.
258. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of local democracy taskforce report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4888/26]
View answerThe Local Democracy Taskforce was established in June 2025 as a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The Terms of Reference for the Taskforce set out an ambitious and detailed work programme, expected to give rise to a series of reforms in the local government sector. The Taskforce has met on seven occasions to date and is due to meet twice more in February 2026. The Taskforce is supported by Pillar Groups made up of stakeholders from across the sector that provide subject matter expertise and advice to the Taskforce around the themes of Funding, Structures, Functions and Governance and Accountability arrangements across the sector. These Pillar Groups have met on various occasions between the main Taskforce meetings.
As part of the work of the Taskforce, a stakeholder consultation process took place. 78 organisations provided submissions for the Taskforces consideration. The total list of organisations contacted along with the stakeholder submissions received by the Taskforce is available on my Department's website at the following address www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/local-democracy-taskforce-stakeholder-consultation-submissions/.
The Taskforce is now in the process of preparing recommendations for its final report, in line with the timeline outlined in its Terms of Reference. It is expected that the final report will be submitted in March 2026 and will be forwarded to Government thereafter.
259. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the failure of the developers (details supplied) to deliver on key obligations and commitments, including the promised town centre and bridge, and the affordable housing requirements attached to LIHAF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5004/26]
View answerThe Government, on 25 May 2010, designated approximately 360 hectares of land at Cherrywood as a Strategic Development Zone. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) is the specified Development Agency and the planning authority for the area.
Based on the requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) the elected members of DLRCC adopted the Cherrywood SDZ Planning Scheme in 2012, and it was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2014 following an appeal. The Planning Scheme provides a framework for the phased development of over 10,000 new homes, commercial and retail floorspace, and associated educational and community facilities and infrastructure in Cherrywood.
DLRCC is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Planning Scheme and bringing forward amendments to the scheme where it is deemed necessary in response to changing circumstances or changes to planning and development guidance. There have been a number of amendments to the Scheme, including a recent amendment relating to the sequencing and phasing of development and a current proposed amendment relating to the Town Centre and Environs area.
The Government has supported the development of the area. My Department alone has committed almost €70 million in funding to support the delivery of infrastructure and facilities needed in the area, as follows:
• €11.39m was committed under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund to support a phased transport project that unlocks lands for 2,000 housing units. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project are complete. The third phase comprising Druid's Glen Road and Bridge is at design stage. As part of the funding agreement, a portion of the overall housing yield is required to have an affordable or social element. The details of this will be agreed between DLRCC and the developers.
• €57.9 million has been committed under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund to support the delivery of parks, greenways, attenuation ponds, streets and permeability and pedestrian links.
DLRCC has advised that significant progress has been made in delivering the Strategic Development Zone. At the end of 2025, permission has been granted for 5,679 homes and almost 2,000 homes have been delivered. Public infrastructure delivered includes LUAS stations, district parks, streets, a primary school and commercial and retail floor space.
261. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of former IPAS residents who are currently accommodated under the housing assistance payment scheme, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68150/25]
View answerMy Department does not hold data on the number of former IPAS residents who entered the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme.
263. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update of the expansion of the ready to build scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/26]
View answerThe Ready to Build Scheme - funded by the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund - is designed to address vacancy, and it was initially launched in September 2022. Under the Scheme, local authorities can make vacant, serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build a home.
The new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Supporting Communities, commits to expanding the current Ready to Build Scheme whereby local authorities will service sites in, and close to, towns and villages to enable construction of clusters of homes at an appropriate scale. A mix of private, social and affordable homes can be delivered on the same site, creating new cost-effective, mixed tenure communities.
A further objective of the development of such a scheme would be to support Small and Medium Enterprise homebuilders who have land appropriately located but are constrained by financing or infrastructure considerations.
My Department is currently working on advancing and developing this enhanced scheme, with the operational details to be confirmed in due course.
264. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he will take to ensure that the projected rise in housing completions to 37,000 in 2026 is achieved, given that output is conditional on progress in delivering enabling infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4951/26]
View answerDelivering Homes, Building Communities seeks to significantly accelerate delivery of new homes by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity – including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with €275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the National Development Plan.
The delivery of housing is at the centre of the updated National Development Plan, published in July last year, which provides for unprecedented levels of investment for housing and water infrastructure with overall investment of €40.5bn provided for housing and related water services to 2030. Furthermore, a record level of investment is being provided for the delivery of housing in 2026 with overall capital funding of over €9 billion announced in Budget 2026.
Alongside this, the revised National Planning Framework (NPF) approved in April last year is a major step forward, and will help increase capacity and accelerate home building across the country. In July 2025, I issued Guidelines instructing local authorities to update housing targets in line with the revised NPF. The new Guidelines set out the need to plan for approximately 55,000 additional households per annum on average to 2040, enabling zoning for a total of 83,000 units per annum, while the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2025 is essential legislation to deal with expiring planning permissions and to encourage activation of housing.
Furthermore, the Housing Activation Office (HAO) is now established and includes experts seconded from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector, in addition to senior officials reassigned from within the Department.
I launched the first Call of the new Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) on 21st January 2026, inviting applications for grant funding to support direct investment in critical housing infrastructure projects. This initial Call focuses on advanced infrastructure projects that can be delivered in the 2026–2028 timeframe and activate the early delivery of housing. All Local Authorities and the LDA have been invited to submit applications by 27th February 2026.
The HIIF will be managed by the Housing Activation Office and seek to complement investment by infrastructure agencies, such as Uisce Éireann and ESB Networks, as part of a more coordinated approach. This joined-up approach will help accelerate housing delivery by unblocking infrastructure constraints and ensuring that investment is targeted to where it can have the greatest impact.
My Department will continue to develop the HIIF and intends to broaden its scope in 2026 to include a wider range of public and private sector delivery partners. The primary aim is to build a rolling programme of investment that addresses obstacles to the delivery of housing.
The HAO will also continue to work with all relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, to coordinate the delivery of infrastructure projects needed to unlock housing development on sites nationwide.
266. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has considered the integration of microgrids into the planning requirements for new housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5056/26]
View answerThe matter raised in the question is a matter for which I in my role as Minister with responsibility for Planning have no statutory function.
Responsibility for energy policy, including microgrids and micro generation, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (MCEE).
267. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reports, analysis or other information his Department has received in relation to the impact of the accommodation recognition scheme on the private rental market; the engagements he has had with other Government Departments, State agencies or any other third party in respect of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4930/26]
View answerThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is managed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) on behalf of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration (DJHAM) and is payable to those providing pledged accommodation to Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) through the Irish Red Cross (IRC), the local authority-led Offer a Home (OaH) scheme and private arrangements to BoTPs. ARP is a tax-free payment for each property and is set at €600 per month. The scheme is provided for in Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is referred to under the legislative title of the Financial Contribution for Hosting Temporary Protection Beneficiaries Scheme and in March 2025 the scheme was extended to 31 March 2026, at which point it will cease if not extended.
Following concerns raised by my Department on the possible impact of the ARP on the private rental market, in August 2024 the RTB carried out an analysis of properties in receipt of ARP that were also registered with the RTB since the scheme began. The analysis has been conducted on a number of occasions since this time and clearly indicates that a significant number of former rental properties are now signed up to the ARP scheme.
Given already severe constraints on the availability of private rental sector accommodation and the impact that further reductions on supply could have on homelessness as well as schemes such as HAP and RAS, in July 2025 the Government approved amendments to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, limiting the eligibility of certain properties for ARP and amending the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide for necessary data sharing. In effect, new applications for ARP will not be accepted from landlords with respect to a rental properties. These changes are made with a view to safeguarding such accommodation for tenants and to address any potential for impact on the rental market.
269. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on which county councils have rezoned land for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4928/26]
View answerThe Revised National Planning Framework (NPF) was finalised and approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. The Revised NPF identifies the need to plan for approximately 50,000 additional households per annum to 2040.
The Revised NPF provides the basis for the review and updating of Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) and local authority development plans to reflect such critical matters such as updated housing figures or projected jobs growth, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes.
To ensure that local authority development plans reflect the requirements of the NPF in respect of housing as soon as possible, I issued the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in July 2025. These Guidelines set out the housing demand scenario to 2040 for each local authority, by translating the NPF housing requirements into average annual figures and set out the requirement for planning authorities to commence the process of varying their development plan to meet the new housing growth requirements.
In addition to the baseline housing growth requirement, planning authorities have also been requested to address the scope for additional provision of up to 50% in excess of the baseline housing growth requirement, in light of the urgent need to increase housing delivery and to optimise the ability to deliver on the housing requirements of the Revised NPF. This approach recognises the fact that, for a variety of reasons, a relatively significant proportion of zoned lands are not activated over the period of a development plan.
Planning authorities are currently assessing their current development plan and undertaking a review of the adequacy of existing zoned lands to cater for the new Housing Growth Requirement figures and the potential for ‘additional provision’.
This review and analysis will inform the preparation of a Chief Executive’s report to be submitted to the elected members which will set out the position in respect of each local authority, and the Chief Executive’s recommendations to the members as to what variations to the Plan may be required in order to meet the requirements of the Guidelines. A copy of the Chief Executive’s report is required to be submitted to the Minister and to the Office of the Planning Regulator.
To date, twenty three local authorities have either commenced a variation to their development plan or submitted a Chief Executive’s report to elected members setting out proposals to zone additional lands. The remaining local authorities are expected to submit a Chief Executive’s report and commence the variation process in the coming weeks.
The zoning of land for particular purposes, including residential development, is an exercise undertaken by planning authorities as part of their overall statutory plan-making function and is a reserved function of the elected members.
The OPR maintains a database on its website outlining progress achieved by each planning authority in implementing the Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines. This is accessible at the following link: www.opr.ie/section-28-guidelines-npf-implementation-housing-growth-requirements/.
270. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on work being carried out by his Department to ensure decent conditions in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4865/26]
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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
To assist in ensuring that homeless services provided are of a high standard, a National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) was developed by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) in partnership with the NGO Sector, the HSE, and other key stakeholders. The standards framework is now in place nationally for all local authority and NGO services.
Given the increase in contracting private accommodation exclusively for the use of homeless households and to ensure standards in these facilities, the DRHE adapted the NQSF standards to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation.
The standards contained in “Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation” have been developed with regard to the different service models in Private Emergency Accommodation i.e. different entities providing the facility and the supports. As was the case with the roll-out of the NQSF to NGO services, a developmental approach to the roll out of the standards is being taken.
It is a matter for local authorities to monitor standards. The ultimate aim is to ensure that standards are being applied and monitored across all facilities, irrespective of whether they are NGO or privately operated. In Dublin, an in-house standards team monitor compliance with the NQSF for NGO facilities under the service level agreements in place. These include checks on the physical standards, occupancy, supports and hygiene. The DRHE has also appointed an officer to begin the roll out of monitoring of standards in Private Emergency Accommodation (PEA) facilities.
In addition, the DRHE, following a competitive tender process, appointed an independent inspectorate to carry out inspections on DRHE services. The most recent inspection reports are available for review on the DRHE website at www.homelessdublin.ie/our-work/quality-standards/test.
271. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will announce the next tranche of URDF funding; if his Department will consider increasing the amount given to north Kildare, considering the increasing in housing built in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5021/26]
View answerA flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing part-funding for applicant led projects that will significantly contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.
The URDF applies to the five cities and their metropolitan areas, larger towns with a population of more than 10,000 people and to a number of smaller towns with fewer than 10,000 people but with more than 2,500 jobs and which function as significant centres of employment.
The 7 areas eligible for URDF support in Kildare include: Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas, Newbridge, Athy, Kildare Town, with Athy and Kildare Town added in 2024 following publication of the Census 2022 results.
To date, Kildare County Council has been provisionally allocated €21,991,603 in URDF support towards their seven successful proposals approved under Call 1 and Call 2. The breakdown of which is outlined in the table below.
|
Project Title |
Allocation |
|
Naas Library (including Public Realm works) |
€6,826,897.56 |
|
Celbridge Southern Relief Road & Second Liffey Crossing |
€419,560.09 |
|
Newbridge Cultural and Civic Quarter |
€520,722.81 |
|
Canal Quarter Naas |
€383,104.47 |
|
Maynooth Town Centre Renewal - Strengthening the Grid |
€1,921,696.09 |
|
Naas Town Centre Renewal Masterplan |
€1,682,121.96 |
|
Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road |
€10,237,500.00 |
While Calls 1 and 2 were for specific regeneration projects, the third round of funding (Call 3) is specifically focused towards addressing long term vacancy and dereliction, while supporting the key objectives of Housing for All and Town Centre First.
The Council was allocated €7,000,000 for their approved Call 3 programme. As a signal of Government commitment to this initiative Kildare County Council received €800,000 of their Call 3 allocation by way of forward funding, so that they were well resourced to begin addressing this issue.
The agreed Programme for Government included a commitment to establish a new Towns and Cities Infrastructure Investment Fund to:
• invest in infrastructure, acquire land, assemble sites, de-risk sites;
• support the development of new transport orientated development towns as necessary; and
• continue and expand URDF (Urban Regeneration and Development Fund) investments in projects to regenerate the public realm;
• include all towns with a population over 10,000 in the designation of 'key towns' and ensure towns which fall slightly below the population thresholds are considered for applications under the Fund.
In that respect, and as set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the initial €2 billion allocation to the URDF has been extended by a further €500 million to 2030 under the updated NDP. Working alongside other funding streams, this additional funding will expand URDF-type investments to provide broader public investment to support urban regeneration projects and the development of sustainable communities.
The detailed arrangements for the implementation of this additional funding stream, including the towns that will be eligible for funding, are currently under development following the completion of the National Development Plan Review process. Further details should issue to the local authorities in the coming weeks.
My Department will work closely with local authorities in respect of project development under the URDF. However, responsibility for the location and composition of any applications for funding and their advancement through the various stages of planning, development and completion will remain, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authority (Kildare County Council in this case).
272. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals and associated targets to deliver age-friendly housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [5057/26]
View answer423. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals and associated targets to deliver age-friendly housing in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5303/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 423 together.
Under Housing for All, each local authority prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan, including Carlow, Kilkenny, Cavan and Monaghan setting out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, including details of proposed delivery of housing for older people, in line with targets set under Housing for All. Housing Delivery Action Plans are published on the websites of the respective local authorities.
My Department supports the delivery of age-friendly housing with funding available from a range of delivery programmes within my Department for both Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to advance projects to provide for this category in line with the need identified within the Local Authorities Housing Delivery Action Plans. My Department’s Design Manual for Quality Housing, which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/b3e02-design-manual-for-quality-housing/, provides guidance and designs for new public housing construction has a number of designs to support age-friendly housing. Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) up to 100% capital funding is provided to AHBs to provide new social homes for priority categories to include homeless, disability and age-friendly housing.
Under the Government's new Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, each local authority will prepare a new Housing Delivery Action Plan, reflecting local need identified including within the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment Framework. Within this broad framework, evidence-informed local authority Housing Delivery Action Plans provide a detailed picture of the quantum, type, size and location of social homes to be delivered by local authorities and AHBs. Learning from the first round of these plans will help inform and strengthen the next iteration of plans and set clear targets against which local authority and AHB delivery will be benchmarked to 2030. This will include minimum targets for quantity, type and size of social homes; for example, identifying the number of one-bed and larger homes, and housing for priority groups such as older persons and persons with a disability.
