Written Answers Nos. 414-426
414. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable homes delivered in Kilkenny in 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5293/26]
View answer415. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable homes delivered in County Carlow in 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5294/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Kilkenny. This data is available to the end of Q3 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: [www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/].
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. Data is collated at project level rather than individual unit level. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2025. All CSRs are available at the following link: [www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/]
From 2023 to Q3 2025, 687 social housing solutions were delivered in Kilkenny, which includes 409 new build social homes. In regards to affordable housing, 297 units were delivered in Kilkenny in the same time period. In total, 984 social and affordable units were delivered in Kilkenny between 2023 to Q3 2025.
It should be noted that a large portion of the housing delivery across the country usually occurs in Q4 each year so the full picture of housing delivery for 2025 will become clearer once the Q4 2025 statistics are published. The Q4 2025 statistics are currently being collated and verified will be published in due course, following the usual timeline of Q4 publications. The Q4 2024 statistics were published in April 2025.
416. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties in Kilkenny County Council stock at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5295/26]
View answer417. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties in Carlow County Council housing stock at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5296/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together.
Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting of dwellings is an ongoing process. Accordingly, data on the number of vacant homes are not routinely collated by my Department.
That said, statistics in relation to social homes, at a point in time, are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in its Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including levels of vacancy in local authority owned properties.
The most recent NOAC report for 2024 is available at [www.noac.ie/noac_publications/report-77-noac-performance-indicator-report-2024/].
418. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current uptake of the first home scheme in County Kilkenny; the steps being taken to increase awareness and access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5297/26]
View answer419. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current uptake of the first home scheme in County Carlow; the steps being taken to increase awareness and access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5299/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.
Affordability 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 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.
The Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding to support housing supply, which will support the new Starter Homes Programme in delivering an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030. With a strong focus on deliverability, the plan will enable housing delivery partners, including the First Home Scheme, to accelerate the supply of new starter home supports, providing thousands of individuals and families with increased access to secure and affordable housing solutions nationwide.
The First Home Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (DAC), on behalf of the shareholders - the State and participating mortgage lenders. This DAC is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. To Q4 2025, the scheme has approved 64 applicants in Carlow and, in the same period, 151 applicants have been approved in Kilkenny.
The Government is committed to increasing access to home ownership including through the continued support of the First Home Scheme. On 13 May 2025, the Government approved an additional €30 million State commitment to the First Home Scheme, bringing the total State commitment for the Scheme to €370 million. This is matched 50:50 by the participating banks, and brings the total commitment to the scheme to €740 million. The new housing plan includes an action to work with the participating banks to extend the First Home Scheme to 2030. Furthermore, an action was included to engage with the pillar banks and the First Home Scheme to develop a support for first-time buyers seeking to purchase and renovate derelict or long-term vacant properties.
The First Home Scheme has an active marketing and advertising strategy, including social and traditional media channels and attendance at relevant events. Additionally, a Starter Homes communications campaign led by my Department will raise awareness of the Government's work in promoting affordable homeownership across Ireland, to help first-time buyer’s access affordable, quality housing. The campaign will also focus on increasing awareness of affordable housing and driving engagement across digital and traditional advertising channels about the different affordable and Cost Rental supports available.
420. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on a new fire station for Kilkenny city; the timeline for when it will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5300/26]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Project consideration stages from a Department perspective include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of a site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of a preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
In December 2020, Minister Darragh O'Brien announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.
At that time Kilkenny County Council had indicated a new fire station at Urlingford to be their number one priority with the replacement of Kilkenny City Fire Station as their second priority going forward. Urlingford fire station was officially opened by Minister O’Brien on 29th May 2024.
Kilkenny County Council received approval in principle to progress the Kilkenny City fire station project in February 2023 and were subsequently approved to tender for design consultants in April 2023.
Kilkenny County Council has indicated a new fire station for Kilkenny City to be their number one priority project for the Fire Services Capital Programme 2026 – 2030. Kilkenny County Council is working to finalise the acquisition of their preferred new site for Kilkenny City fire station. Upon final confirmation of the site acquisition, I understand that Kilkenny County Council will move quickly through the necessary phases to progress the construction of a new station for Kilkenny City. My Department will continue to support Kilkenny County Council to progress the new Kilkenny City fire station project.
421. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on Croí Cónaithe schemes broken down per county, by application numbers, application volume, drawdown numbers and drawdown volume, on a year on year basis since its inception, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5301/26]
View answerThe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes the number of applications, approvals and the total number and value of grants paid per local authority. This data also includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant for every quarter. The Q3 2025 grant statistics were published on 17 October 2025. This data can be accessed at the following link: [Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics] (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025) .
422. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when income eligibility limits for local authority housing in Carlow and Kilkenny will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5302/26]
View answerThe baseline income thresholds increased by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds thus increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for Bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Carlow and Kilkenny are both in Band 2. An illustrative table of the current net income limits is published at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/social-housing-support-table-of-income-limits/
These thresholds are net income thresholds, i.e. gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. Income is defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The Policy, published on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/social-housing-support-household-means-policy/ provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities also have discretion to disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income.
My Department has been examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and household income conditions, including the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced. This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department and this work is ongoing.
I am not in a position at this point to indicate the outcome of these considerations but I envisage that the analysis will be concluded early in 2026 to facilitate a final determination on next steps.
424. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the drafting of the regulations and statutory instruments required to implement the Government’s revised rent control and rental sector reforms due to commence on 1 March 2026; the number of such instruments required; the stage each has reached within his Department; the remaining steps necessary before publication; and the timeline by which he expects all required regulations to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [5313/26]
View answerOn 14 October 2025, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025, which is now the subject of priority legal drafting by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. The Bill will amend the current system of rent controls and provide new measures to protect tenants, including stronger security of tenure, to come into effect for new tenancies created on or after 1 March 2026.
As part of the legislative process, the pre-legislative scrutiny report has recently been produced by the members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage and has been issued to my Department for consideration.
The text of the Bill will be finalised for publication as soon as possible.
A small number of consequential Regulations will be made by the Minister directly after enactment of the Bill and in time for the smooth operation of the new measures from 1 March 2026. The Regulations will relate to the commencement of relevant provisions and the prescription of various notices under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 including to update the notices with regard to rent reviews and exemptions from the rent increase restriction and the statement that issues by the Residential Tenancies Board to tenants and landlords upon the registration of a tenancy. Preparation of the necessary Regulations is underway, with a view to laying them before the Houses of the Oireachtas in advance of 1 March 2026.
A detailed communications campaign by my Department, in conjunction with the RTB, will continue to publicise the new legislative measures from 1 March 2026. Up-to-date information is available at: [Government Reforms to the Rental Sector – Starting 1 March 2026] (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/government-reforms-to-the-rental-sector-starting-1-march-2026/).
425. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted, commissioned, or relied upon any economic, rental supply, or market impact analysis in advance of implementing the revised rent control framework scheduled to commence on 1 March 2026; if so, the nature of that analysis, the bodies involved, whether the findings will be published; and if no such analysis has been undertaken, the reasons for proceeding with significant regulatory changes in the absence of published modelling on rental supply, affordability, and landlord behaviour. [5314/26]
View answerIn line with a commitment in Housing for All, a review of the Private Rental Market was undertaken by my Department and published in July 2024, which included significant consultation with stakeholders. It sets out an overview of the rental market in Ireland including the composition of the market and trends in rent levels, sets out suggested policy objectives and considers a range of and potential avenues for policy change to support these objectives.
Following on from this review, the Housing Agency was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of the current system of rent controls using RPZs. The key focus of the review was to assess the operation of RPZs since their introduction and consider their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, including the retention of landlords and new investment. It considered whether RPZs should continue without change or be removed, modified or replaced. The review, which was extensive and detailed, also included options and recommendations in relation to potential amendments to rent control.
The review, published on the Housing Agency website, involved engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the RTB. The Housing Agency submitted its report to my Department at the end of April and advised that its preferred recommendation was to modify the current RPZ rent controls.
On 10 June 2025, the Government approved policy measures including modifications to rent controls to come into effect on 1 March 2026 in order to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and keep existing landlords in the market. The changes agreed will also provide significantly stronger tenancy protections and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further private investment in the rental market across the country, taking account of stakeholder engagement.
Multiple expert reports, including those from the Housing Agency, the Department of Finance, the ESRI, the OECD, and the IMF, agree that the current RPZ system is a major obstacle to increasing rental supply. These changes are being introduced in order to attract increased investment in the rental market and thereby increase the supply of properties available for renters.
My Department consulted extensively with the Office on the Attorney General in relation to the proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts. On 14 October 2025, Government approved the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025. As part of the legislative process, the pre-legislative scrutiny report has recently been produced by the members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage and has been issued to my Department for consideration.
The text of the Bill will be finalised for publication as soon as possible.
426. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a pensioner (details supplied) has not received essential repair works to their home; if he will prioritise these emergency works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5336/26]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social homes to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Typical works include adaptations such as stair-lifts, level deck showers, ramps and grab rails, widening door opening widths, and improving circulation spaces. Extensions to provide for ground floor bathrooms and bedrooms can also be supported.
Ultimately, it is a matter for local authorities to identify and agree the works to be completed in any given year, with the scheme parameters.
In advance of the annual allocations being agreed, local authorities are permitted to complete works to the value of up to 65% of the previous year’s allocation. This allows critical works to continue without the need for formal approval. Thereafter, and based on the actual needs of the sector, my Department issues a single full year allocation which allows local authorities plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants in the year in question.
A submission has been received from Wicklow County Council and it includes the property in question on the proposed programme of works. It is a matter for the local authority to prioritise these works as it deems appropriate. My Department has no role in this regard.
