Written Answers Nos. 544-567
544. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to expand training opportunities for teachers working with children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28722/26]
View answerProviding inclusive education to children with special educational needs is a fundamental principle of my Department’s education and training system. This principle is put into practice through the policies of my Department and the Teaching Council and the supports provided to schools, for example through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and Oide.
Inclusive education (including Special Education) is a core element of all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes. Inclusive education, as defined in the Céim standards for Initial Teacher Education, refers to any aspect of teachers’ learning which aims to
• Improve their capacity to address and respond to the diversity of learners’ needs
• Remove barriers to education through the accommodation and provision of appropriate structures and arrangements;
• Enable each learner to achieve the maximum benefit from his/her attendance at school.
By including these as core elements, the Council has taken a high-level approach to ensuring that they inform every aspect of ITE programme design.
As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future included a commitment to make modules and placement experiences relating to special education a universal component of initial teacher education (ITE), subject to assessment.
This commitment was advanced through the March 2025 announcement of a mandatory two-week placement focused on special education for all ITE students.
In preparation for commencement of this placement, and to inform the development of a Guidance note to ITE providers, the Teaching Council surveyed all ITE providers to establish a comprehensive insight into existing provision of school placement experiences relating to special education.
Informed by those survey findings, a data mapping exercise and consultation with ITE providers and the education partners, a Guidance Note for HEI’s has been developed and issued by the Teaching Council to support implementation of these placements for all student teachers from September 2026.
Regarding additional training for teachers, on an annual basis, the Department of Education and Youth provides funding for two distinct categories of post-graduate programmes for Special Education Teachers:
• Post-Graduate Diploma Programme of Teacher Professional Learning for Special Education Teachers.
• Graduate Certificate in Autism Education for teachers working with Autistic Pupils in Special Schools, Special Classes or as Special Education Teachers in mainstream Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
The aim is to provide substantial theoretical and practical continuing professional development for teachers working with students with special educational needs, contributing to the school’s overall capacity to meet the needs of pupils with special education needs, including autism. In 2025 circa €1.25 million was provided for these programmes to provide for over 300 places.
Through its everyday work, the NCSE aligns its teacher professional learning (TPL) with the Teaching Council’s national framework for teacher professional learning.
NCSE employs a number of specialist roles to support schools and build teacher capacity in areas of concern. These roles include autism advisors and behaviour advisors, who are assigned across regional support teams to provide advice, support and resources to schools.
The NCSE offers bespoke in-school support for either whole school staff, small groups, or individual teachers. The support can be tailored to specific TPL needs within a school, such as, in the areas of differentiation, planning, autism and behaviour.
Also, Oide is currently supporting the implementation of new and revised curricula at both primary and post primary. The professional learning frameworks developed by Oide to support these new curricula are underpinned by Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and place the learner at the centre of the learning experience.
Oide recognises that students are diverse and through the provision of a range of supports they invite teachers to examine and alter teaching and learning approaches that meet the needs of all learners.
I am committed to ensuring that all teachers, at primary and post-primary level, have the skills they need to support the diverse needs of all our children and young people in our schools. It is critical that our teachers are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to continue to deliver high quality and inclusive education.
In addition, my department will continue to work with partners in education to provide a comprehensive range of in-service TPL opportunities that allows those working at all levels of education, to access supports which will benefit all learners.
545. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) whose children have been deemed ineligible for school transport; if she will clarify the criteria used to determine the nearest school for the purposes of eligibility; the reason concessionary tickets issued cannot be used in conjunction with medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28734/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest primary school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Applications on a concessionary basis are subject to the following conditions:
• a Transport Application Form is completed and submitted to Bus Éireann;
• there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their education centre;
• there is spare capacity on the service;
• the appropriate annual charge is paid; Medical Card waiver is not applicable
• Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route.
• Due to the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the family, to whom the Deputy refers to, are not eligible for school transport as they are attending their fifth nearest primary school. Bus Éireann further advise that concessionary tickets issued to this family for the 2025/26 school year.
The Portal is now open for applications for the 2026/27 school year. The closing date for payments or entering medical card details is Friday, 8 May 2026.
Following the closing date the portal will close. This will give Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes and services for the 2026/27 school year. Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each school transport service. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.
546. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if an artist who is in receipt of a disability support payment is also eligible for the basic income for the arts scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27958/26]
View answer547. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if an artist who is in receipt of a disability support payment is also eligible for the basic income for the arts scheme [27959/26]
View answer548. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if a person who has a full-time job outside of the arts and practices as an artist on a part-time basis is eligible for the same support under the basic income for the arts scheme as a full time artist; if so, to consider differentiating these applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27960/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 546, 547 and 548 together.
I was delighted to open the successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot last week. Guidelines for the new scheme were published on 1st April and application will be open for the scheme until Tuesday 12th May, with 2,000 places available for artists to receive a weekly payment of €325.
This is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision.
The research clearly demonstrated both how precarious and difficult it is to be an artist and also the positive benefits for society as a whole if we invest in our artists. Many artists have to work significant hours in PAYE employment e.g. in the hospitality or education sectors as well as running a full time creative practice in order to survive, the research clearly demonstrated this. This is why those in full-time employment will be eligible, however the eligibility criteria are sufficiently high that only those with an active professional arts practice will be eligible for BIA.
The focus of the successor scheme is to support professional artists whose creative practice is based in Ireland. With an allocation of €18.27 million for 2026, the Department is in a position to fund 2,000 artists. The 2026-2029 BIA scheme is focused on artists with an active professional practice.
Applicants for the BIA 2026 - 2029 will not be tested for means and BIA payments are reckonable for the purposes of income tax. Being on a Social Welfare support has no impact on eligibility for BIA. All successful participants will need to register with Revenue as self-employed and pay Schedule D income tax, where appropriate, on the Basic Income for the Arts grant payment. Income from the pilot will be liable for Class S PRSI. Applicants are advised to investigate in advance what their own particular tax and social welfare situation may be should they receive payment.
This is a ground-breaking support for the arts in Ireland and recognising the importance of supporting artistic practice and makes Ireland a world-leader in how we support our artists and culture and will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.
549. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to include an organisation (details supplied) in the basic income for the arts eligible organisations. [27962/26]
View answerI am delighted to be opening the successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot this week. Guidelines for the new scheme were published on 1st April and applications will open for the scheme on Wednesday 15th April, with 2,000 places available for artists to receive a weekly payment of €325.
This is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision. The research clearly demonstrated both how precarious and difficult it is to be an artist and also the positive benefits for society as a whole if we invest in our artists.
The focus of the successor scheme is to support professional artists whose creative practice is based in Ireland.
With an allocation of €18.27 million for 2026, the Department is in a position to fund 2,000 artists. The 2026-2029 BIA scheme is focused on artists with a professional practice. Membership Organisations (and the level of their membership which can be accepted) were chosen based on sufficiently high entry requirements, that is, proof of a professional, active artistic practice. The organisation referred to by the Deputy does not have different types memberships that provide sufficient differentiation to identify if members would be eligible for this scheme. It is important to note that three proofs are needed for each applicant and membership of one of these organisations is only one of the ways in which an applicant can prove their eligibility for the BIA scheme.
This is a ground-breaking support for the arts in Ireland and recognising the importance of supporting artistic practice and makes Ireland a world-leader in how we support our artists and culture and will help to sustain the careers of those artists who will receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.
550. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to the turning of the sod on the National Velodrome Project at the Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown in November 2025, to provide an update on the progress of construction; the expected completion date; the current estimated total cost of the project and whether this has changed since approval; the funding profile for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28013/26]
View answerOn 3 September 2025, Government approved funding of €99.6 million and the appointment of Walls Construction as principal contractor for the National Velodrome and Badminton Centre. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction commenced on the project in February of this year and the estimated total cost of the project remains at €99.6 million, including VAT, contingency and professional fees. It is anticipated that the Centre will be completed and in operational use by Q2, 2028. Based on current cashflow projections, an estimated €35 million will be expended this year, with the remainder to be spent over the lifetime of the project.
Th Project will deliver a 250-metre cycling track, the standard required length for hosting major international events. It will also deliver up to 12 badminton courts in the in-track area, seating for 1,000 spectators and ancillary facilities.
The Centre will address the need to provide world-class track cycling facilities for our athletes as well as providing the sport of badminton with integrated training, gym and medical facilities. This state of the art facility will afford our track cycling athletes the opportunity to train in Ireland and should have a positive effect on future international performance levels in both sports.
551. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he, or his Department had any involvement in the booking process of an event (details supplied) at the national concert hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28208/26]
View answerThe National Concert Hall (NCH), is established under the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Acts 2015 to 2023 to provide and operate the national venue for the performance, appreciation and enjoyment of music.
In relation to the specific event referred to in the question my Department provided some advice following a request from the NCH. However, decisions in relation to the event were taken by the executive and board of the NCH. Neither I nor my Department had any involvement with the initial booking, or related communications between NCH and the organisation to which the Deputy refers.
The final decision not to proceed with this event was one taken independently by the Board and management of NCH, in light of all available information.
552. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if a new round of broadband connection point applications will be opened in the coming months; and if not, if a similar scheme to provide free broadband access for community buildings in rural areas will be launched. [28269/26]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government initiative to deliver high-speed broadband to all premises in Ireland. In addition, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy published in December 2022, sets out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028.
As part of the NBP, the government appointed National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to deliver wholesale broadband services to those parts of the country not served by commercial operators, i.e. those premises in the Intervention (AMBER) area.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are public, high-speed Wi-Fi locations in rural Irish communities, installed ahead of the main fibre rollout to ensure areas, within the Amber Area, that did not have adequate broadband services could avail of digitally enabled services such as remote work and study. As part of the NBP (https://nbi.ie/map/), over 283 public sites (libraries, community centres etc) are connected for free public use.
In addition to the public sites, since 2023, all 672 primary schools in the Intervention Area have been provided with technical connectivity via wireless solutions ahead of the fibre rollout to ensure no delays in access to high-speed broadband. The Service Transition Programme is migrating schools from wireless to fibre with approximately 75% of the 672 primary schools migrated to date.
To find the nearest public BCP, an Eircode can be searched on NBI’s website (https://nbi.ie/bcp-map/).
There are no further plans to open a new round of broadband connection point applications in the coming months or to add to the public sites referred to above.
I am advised by NBI that, 465,640 premises in the Amber area are passed across 26 counties and are available for immediate connection with over 171,920 premises already connected to the NBP high-speed broadband network.
553. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when a sports club (details supplied) will be given permission to proceed with their application work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28271/26]
View answerThe club referred to by the Deputy was allocated €33,244 under the 2023 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF). The Department granted formal approval to the club on 15 April 2026, when it was confirmed that all requirements had been met. The Department now awaits a payment request from the club for drawdown of the funding.
554. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider undertaking a needs assessment of community infrastructure, including sports and recreational spaces, across the Drogheda region and its environs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28313/26]
View answerThe provision of public recreational and sporting infrastructure in community settings would primarily be a matter for local authorities in the context of local development plans and this is not a role which the Department would perform. However, the need to develop a nationwide database of sports facilities, whether in public or private ownership, was highlighted in the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2018 – 2027. The NSP recognised that such an up to date database could support a more long-term planned approach to facility investment for all stakeholders.
To this end, Get Ireland Active (GIA), which was developed by Sport Ireland, was launched in October 2023 and represents the first phase of a comprehensive national database of sports facilities.
This database, which can be accessed by browser or a mobile app, currently consists of more than 15,000 opportunities to be active across the country, including sports and recreation facilities, public places such as playgrounds and trails for walking, running and biking.
Additionally, other data – such as the Pobal Deprivation Index – can be overlaid on the database to identify areas that are under or over-served.
GIA is currently undergoing further development and, once this is completed, Sport Ireland intends to launch a promotional campaign to raise awareness of the benefits that it can offer. A nationwide audit of both public and private facilities is a significant and resource-intensive undertaking and members of the public will be encouraged to report any unlisted facilities via the GIA website in order to develop as comprehensive a national database as possible.
Sport Ireland will continue to engage with colleagues in my Department, local authorities, relevant public bodies and NGBs to further develop the database and to ensure that it remains up to date and available as a resource to guide decisions regarding the prioritisation of funding to sport infrastructure under my Department's capital funding programmes.
In this context, my Department is currently preparing for a further round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and it is anticipated that this round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.
In the 2023 CSFF round, almost €8 million was allocated to 80 sporting projects in Louth. Since 2015, over €17 million has been allocated to 270 sporting projects in Louth under CSFF.
A full list of all allocations is available on the Department's website at the link below: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/collections/sports-capital-programme-allocations/.
555. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the status of the Bill to repeal the Censorship of Publications Acts; the reasons for the delays after Government approved the drafting of the Heads of a Bill in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28502/26]
View answerAs I set out in reply to parliamentary question number 376 of 5 March last from the Deputy on this matter, in November 2023, Government approved the repeal of the Censorship of Publications Acts. This Decision followed an examination in the Department of Justice of the role of the Censorship of Publications Board and its Appeal Board, and the limited continuing relevance and utility of the statutory provisions related to the censorship of printed publications.
On 1 August 2025, responsibility for the Censorship of Publications, as well as the Irish Film Classification Office, transferred from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to my Department. It is a commitment in my Department’s current Statement of Strategy to complete the successive legislative steps to repeal the Censorship of Publications Acts and related SIs and my Department will advance these steps in due course.
556. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether a report was ever written on the stakeholder forum for the film industry held in Dublin in February 2024, in line with commitments at the time; and if so, if it has been published and where it can be accessed. [28523/26]
View answerThe Output Report on the Section 481 Stakeholder Forum held on 8 February 2024 is available at: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/01774739/Output_Report_Section_481_Stakeholder_Forum_8th_Feb_2024.pdf.
557. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to examine when a location (details supplied) will get access to full fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28556/26]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government initiative to deliver high-speed broadband to all premises in Ireland. In addition, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy published in December 2022, sets out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028.
The premises in question is in the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.
The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are advised they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query by clicking on “contact us” in the Contact section on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/ and the Department will escalate with the commercial operator to investigate this matter further.
The premises in question is currently capable of receiving 68 Mbps from open eir’s local high-speed broadband cabinet per information available at https://bbchecker.comreg.ie/.
The premises is also included in open eir’s Full Fibre to the Home (FTTH) deployment programme per information available at https://www.openeir.ie/fibre/broadband-checker. The Department does not have sight of information that provides an estimated timeline of when commercial operators will provide a full fibre connection to the area, other than what’s on the open eir messaging.
558. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress made on each of the individual Programme for Government commitments assigned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28653/26]
View answerI published an update on progress towards meeting my Department’s Programme for Government commitments to the end of 2025 on my Department’s website in January 2026: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/progress-in-meeting-programme-for-government-commitments-2025/. This document will be updated in July to reflect progress made in the first half of this year.
559. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that all services and call outs by the ambulance and fire services are continuing as normal in the current fuel crisis and that no directive has been issued to reduce same [27892/26]
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.
The provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, is the responsibility of the HSE which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and emergency departments in hospitals in accordance with health sector legislation and national health policy. The HSE operates under the remit of the Department of Health.
In direct response to fuel supply line restrictions, of an indeterminate duration, and the need to optimise fuel availability across fire authorities, short term measures to address immediate fuel shortages at retail fuel forecourts were implemented. These measures were jointly developed by the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management, the City and County Managers Association and Chief Fire Officer’s association, with the strategic objectives of:
• Maintaining life-saving emergency response capability,
• Reducing avoidable fuel consumption quickly,
• Extending fuel endurance of frontline appliances,
• Supporting staff mobility while limiting non-essential travel.
Fire services across Ireland put in place contingencies to manage the restricted availability of fuel. For example, non-essential activities were ceased and responses to non-life threatening call-outs were restricted.
These measures were introduced on the afternoon of 10 April with the agreement of all stakeholders. These measures were intended to be temporary and were to be kept under constant review as the situation evolved, with the intention to amend or revoke the measures once appropriate. The measures were rescinded on the morning of 12 April once robust fuel supply lines had been re-established.
A risk assessment was prepared in advance of the implementation of the short term contingency measures. The application of the National Incident Command System, the use of Standard Operating Guidance and the general provisions of all fire service safety management systems remained unaffected by the measures, nor was it considered that the contingency measures would prohibit the mobilisation of additional resources by the Rostered Senior Fire Officer or Incident Commander following a dynamic risk assessment of any incident occurring during the time the measures were in effect.
560. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department will provide the local authority regional homelessness financial reports (details supplied) for each of the years 2014 to 2024 in machine-readable formats such as CSV or Excel, in addition to their current publication in PDF format; if he will ensure that these reports are published in machine-readable formats on an annual basis for all regions and years in order to align with open data standards; and, if not, the legal, technical or operational constraints that prevent compliance with the requirements under S.I. No. 376/2021, which transposed Directive (EU) 2019/1024 on open data and the re-use of public sector information into Irish law; and the steps his Department has taken or plans to take to improve accessibility, transparency and re-use of this data. [27902/26]
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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Expenditure by housing authorities which has been certified at appropriate housing authority level by the Director of Housing and the relevant Director of Finance are published in PDF format on my Department's website. The publication of this certification of the expenditure ensures accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. The publication of financial reports in an alternative format is not available at this time. However, in compliance with S.I. No. 376/2021, the Department can provide excel versions of the published financial reports directly to the Deputy upon request: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
561. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications submitted from Donegal for the mortgage to rent scheme; the number of these applications that have been successful; the number still being processed; the length it takes for an application to be deemed successful or unsuccessful, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27925/26]
View answerThe table below sets out the number of Mortgage to Rent (MTR) applications relating to County Donegal from the start of the scheme in 2012 up to Q1-2026.
|
Local Authority |
Total MTR Applications |
Completed cases |
Active Cases |
|
Donegal County Council |
132 |
33 |
4 |
Of the total of 132 MTR applications submitted, 33 were withdrawn from the scheme. Other cases did not progress due to reasons such as, duplication of applications, not meeting the eligibility criteria, no MTR Provider wishing to purchase the property, a sale price not being agreed, or Donegal County Council declining to admit the property into the scheme.
The MTR scheme is administered by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. In 2025, the average timeframe, from when an MTR case was lodged with the Housing Agency to its completion, was approximately 8 months. More complicated MTR cases, for example involving marital breakdown or other changes in circumstances, generally take longer than 8 months to complete.
The average timeframe for processing those MTR cases which are deemed ineligible for the scheme, or are terminated was approximately 7 months.
The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, which can be accessed on their website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics.
The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme is a parallel initiative to help homeowners who have mortgages through their local authority, and are at risk of losing their homes due to mortgage arrears.
The table below sets out the number of LAMTR applications relating to Donegal up to Q1-2026.
|
Local Authority |
Applications |
Completions |
Active |
|
Donegal County Council |
20 |
20 |
0 |
My Department publishes the LAMTR statistics on an annual basis and they can be located at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-mortgage-to-rent-scheme.
562. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to providing funding for an updated fire station in Glencolmcille, County Donegal; the timeframe for when it will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27957/26]
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 & 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.
In April 2026, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2026-2030, with a funding allocation of €328.5m. 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.
Donegal Fire service has long pursued a strategic objective to amalgamate Ballyshannon and Bundoran fire stations. Donegal County Council has indicated an amalgamation of Ballyshannon/Bundoran fire stations at Finner, a proposed new three bay fire station with additional appliance storage capacity, to be its top priority infrastructural project for capital funding in the period 2026-2030. My Department recently conveyed approval in principle for Donegal County Council to progress the proposed new fire station at a Council owned site in Finner.
My Department will work closely with Donegal County Council to progress their identified priority infrastructural projects, within the context of the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for capital funding.
563. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of members of staff responsible for currently planning work for each local authority in the State; the numbers for the past four years; and the number of planning applications processed by each local authority in the same timeframe. [27980/26]
View answerUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees strategic workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of the number or grade of staff assigned to specific work areas or the number of resignations from or vacancies in specific work areas, is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from the local authorities and regional assemblies concerned.
Staffing sanction requests for posts submitted to my Department are considered in light of Government priorities and other requirements when received. Consideration is also given to the overall staffing levels of the local authority and its ability to meet the ongoing costs involved. In terms specifically of vacancies that arise for existing posts, the majority of local authorities operate under a delegated sanction whereby they can replace vacancies up to Grade VII and equivalent without recourse to my Department for sanction.
The recruitment and filling of posts in the local government sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and publicjobs. Following the approval of a staffing sanction request by my Department where such is required it is then a matter for the Chief Executive, who is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible, to progress the appointment as appropriate. Similarly it is a matter for the Director of a Regional Assembly to progress appointments as appropriate.
My Department is currently working on a number of measures to increase staffing levels in the local government planning sector. In this regard, my Department is collaborating with the local government sector and key stakeholders on the delivery of a programme of supports to planning authorities. These supports include the provision of staffing resources and expertise to enable planning authorities to perform their functions efficiently and effectively.
In October 2023, approval was conveyed to the filling of an initial 101 posts in the local authority planning sector under the first tranche of a programme of supports for planning resources. A further approval issued in January 2025 for 112 posts - 56 graduate planner posts and 56 staff officer posts - to support the planning function within local authorities. A third tranche of planning supports is imminent which will be conveyed to the individual local authorities in due course.
On 13 May 2025, a national recruitment campaign was launched to attract graduate planners into Ireland’s local authorities, which was supported by my Department. Regional interviews were held in late July 2025 and final posts are currently being filled.
The Local Government Management Agency has recently received approval to proceed with a summer internship programme, the details of which are yet to be finalised by the sector.
Information on the number of planning applications received is requested from each local authority on an annual basis by my Department. This data, up to and including 2023, can be found at the following link on the Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/planning-statistics/. Data relating to 2024 is still under review and should be published once this exercise is complete. Requests for data relating to 2025 issued recently, and once returned, examined and verified, this too will be available on the above mentioned website.
564. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of eligible households in Sligo that are currently unable to progress through the local authority tenant-in-situ scheme due to funding constraints; the reason additional funding has not yet been provided to allow these acquisitions to proceed; the expected timeline for restoring or increasing Sligo County Council’s allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/26]
View answerFurther to my response to Dáil Question No. 1723 of 14 April 2026, the management of acquisitions under my Department's Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, including for tenancy sustainment (via tenant in situ), is a matter solely for local authorities. Accordingly, data on the number of households in Sligo that may be eligible for support through the programme are not captured by my Department and should be sought directly from Sligo County Council.
Moreover, I reaffirm that the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme never closed, it operated continuously through 2025 and into 2026, and more than adequate funding has been, and continues to be, available to support any and all acquisitions that can be progressed, completed and drawn down by local authorities.
565. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the counties currently included in the pyrite remediation scheme; his plans to extend the scheme to further counties, including Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28023/26]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 which underpins the enhanced Defective Concrete Block Scheme was commenced in June 2023.
The Scheme is currently open to applications in five counties, namely Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo.
When a local authority that is not currently designated under the Scheme determines that homes within their area may have been damaged by defective concrete blocks, they can seek to have the Scheme extended to include any such county or part of that county.
Section 5 of the Act contains details on this process. The statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, to the Housing Agency. The Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings. This process is in progress and at varying stages of completion for the following counties (or parts thereof)- Fingal, Wexford, Meath, Carlow, Tipperary, Louth and Leitrim.
After the completion of any testing, the Housing Agency makes a recommendation to the Minister as to whether an order to designate the whole or part of a local authority's area should or should not be made by the Government.
In relation to Tipperary County Council, I understand that in accordance with Section 5(7) of the Act, the Council submitted a request to the Housing Agency on 28 April 2025 for inclusion in the scheme. The Housing Agency appointed a Chartered Engineer from their existing framework panel to assist in their investigations and consultations. The investigations (including concrete block sampling and testing) and consultations, required under the Act, commenced in August 2025.
The assessment of damage and sampling of concrete blocks at a number of dwellings has now been completed by the Housing Agency and final test results are due by the end of July 2026.
As soon as practicable after the completion of these investigations, the Housing Agency will make its report, including a recommendation to myself, as Minister, on this matter.
566. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s work in lifting pet bans in social and AHB housing. [28029/26]
View answerThe new national housing plan, Building Homes, Delivery Communities, commits to reviewing the CCMA Code of Practice - Approved Housing Body (AHB) Allocation Process (the Code). A Working Group, including local authority and AHB representatives, has been established by my Department to examine the Code and its implementation.
As part of the work of this Working Group, an examination of how the Code can ensure that social housing tenants, of either AHBs or local authorities, are not precluded from living with domestic pets in local authority or approved housing body properties. The review of the Code of Practice is scheduled for completion by H2 2026.
567. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update in relation to the proposed eight-unit women's refuge in County Laois; if an application for funding was made before the 1 March deadline; if so, which housing body has made the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28072/26]
View answerFollowing an Expressions of Interest process coordinated by Cuan, the State agency for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Tuath Housing Association has been identified as the Approved Housing Body partner to advance the new women's domestic violence refuge in Laois.
Per guidance issued by my Department in January 2026, the project will proceed via the new Single Approval Process. My Department is working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the project progresses without further delay. I expect an application for funding to be submitted to Laois County Council and, thereafter to my Department, in the coming weeks.
