Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
231. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has received a report on stock audits carried out to date; what this report has shown; and whether he is aware of the levels of mould and damp in social housing stock. [16729/26]
View answerThe Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify minimum standards for private rental accommodation across a range of areas, including structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. They also require that every room used, or intended for use, by the tenant as a habitable room must have adequate ventilation and that adequate ventilation be provided for the removal of water vapour from every kitchen and bathroom.
The Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let, including social housing. All landlords must ensure their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations
Furthermore, the onus is on each authority to make adequate budgetary provision in their respective annual budgetary processes to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources, including the significant levels of rental income generated from social housing.
Notwithstanding their statutory obligations, my Department is working closely with local authorities to promote preventative, planned maintenance of social housing, informed by stock condition surveys. These surveys will inform future local authority work programmes and ensure they are strategic and focused, with a cyclical programme of inspection, repair and replacement. Local authorities continue to progress surveys, with over 12,000 completed to date. I expect all local authority social homes will be surveyed over the next four or five years. It is for local authorities to develop planned maintenance works programmes arising from the findings of their stock condition surveys.
Some €40 million is available under the Planned Maintenance and Voids Programme in 2026 to complement local authorities' own investment in social housing maintenance. A further €140 million and €28.5 million is available respectively through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme and Disabled Persons Grants to support social housing remedial works. The programme requirements and allocations will be formally notified to local authorities in respect of each very shortly.
A further €50m is available in 2026 under my Department's National Regeneration Programme for social housing estate remediation projects being advanced by individual local authorities.
In total, €260m is available from my Department in 2026 for local authority stock improvement works.
