Written Answers Nos. 107-119
107. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure transparency in the home-buying process; if he will deal with artificial bidding wars, gazumping and ghost bids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47822/26]
View answer184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to making the advertised sale price of houses, the actual maximum price as in France, rather than in most parts of Dublin the sale price being 15-20% above the advertised price of second-hand homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47279/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 184 together.
Last year, I took over responsibility for the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) from the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, which regulates property service providers, including estate agents.
The PSRA licenses and regulates auctioneers and estate agents, ensuring adherence to home bidding process rules that must be followed by licensed firms, including requirements for proof of funds, bid recording, and transparent handling of offers.
Key statutory obligations under the Property Services (Regulation) Act, 2011 provide that estate agents:
• shall not imply to any person that an offer has been received, unless it has in fact been received;
• must retain, for a period of 6 years, a record of all bids received; and
• must confirm in writing to all potential Purchasers, receipt of their submitted bid.
Furthermore, where the PSRA receives a complaint alleging ‘fake bids’, it has powers to request a copy of all bids received, the ‘Record of Bids’ document and has investigative powers to verify that bids were genuine.
108. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 652 and 653 of 19 May 2026, the basis on which his Department refused to identify geographical areas where funded NPWS enforcement posts are vacant, citing operational security; whether any written policy, risk assessment, legal advice or formal security assessment underpins that position; whether his Department considers information on conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager vacancies to be more operationally sensitive than staffing information relevant to other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána, given that An Garda Síochána staffing numbers are published by division, district and station; if his Department will now publish NPWS staffing and vacancy information by region, district or county without naming individual staff members or their office bases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47871/26]
View answer157. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the meaning of “operational security” in the context of refusing to provide geographical information on vacant National Parks and Wildlife Service enforcement posts; whether the term is defined in any Department or NPWS policy document; whether it has been applied consistently to all requests for NPWS staffing information; when this refusal to publish non-identifying staffing information came into effect; and if he will publish the policy or guidance it is based on. [47872/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 157 together.
Given the nature of wildlife crimes and enforcement in general, my Department does not provide information that may facilitate non-compliance with legal obligations or otherwise impair operational efficiency. This ensures staff safety and protects the integrity of investigations into wildlife crime, such as illegal trapping and habitat destruction.
My Department is working with Publicjobs to advertise a national recruitment process for Conservation Rangers. The process is at an advanced stage, with a competition to be advertised in the coming months. In recent months, the Department has engaged in recruitment campaigns for the roles of Regional Manager and District Conservation Officers.
Given the scale and diversity of functions and priorities, my Department does not maintain a fixed list of vacancies. According as posts are vacated, these are assessed against overall demand for resources meaning that the allocation of staffing is always directed towards the most critical areas. My Department keeps staffing matters under constant review in order to ensure that priority posts are filled in a timely manner and that resource allocations are balanced across the Department to meet key priorities as necessary.
109. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review housing assistance payment limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48096/26]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority.
Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. Local authorities also have additional flexibility to apply a couple HAP rate to single person households.
My Department reviewed the use of these measures and their impact on the overall affordability of the HAP scheme for tenants. This exercise highlighted that the affordability and sustainability of HAP tenancies continues to be impacted by pressures in the private rental market. Therefore, I gave approval for a review of the HAP rent limits to be undertaken.
My Department is now nearing completion of this review of the existing HAP rent limits to ensure there is sufficient support under the HAP scheme to assist eligible households in accessing accommodation in the private rental sector.
110. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the changes now needed to the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme in view of the publishing of the NSAI’s new standard I.S. 465:2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48147/26]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 as amended by the Act of 2025 underpins the Grant Scheme which provides grant funding to people whose homes have been affected by Defective Concrete Blocks.
A number of amendments contained in the Act of 2025 came into operation on 25 February 2026 and more recently further provisions commenced on 27 May 2026.
As Ireland’s official Standards Body, the National Standards Authority Ireland was tasked with the review of I.S. 465: 2018 and have recently (2 June 2026) published a revised standard, I.S. 465: 2026.
An Implementation Steering Group for the Defective Blocks Grant scheme has been in place since 2023. The Group meets regularly and keeps the scheme under review. A single item agenda meeting took place on 15 June 2026 to discuss the revised standard I.S. 465: 2026 with members of the group. A further meeting of this Group took place on 23 June 2026 where there was a focus on how best to communicate with homeowners and other key stakeholders around the possible implications of the revised standard and any associated deliberative or review processes arising.
As per Section 51 of the 2022 DCB Act, I now intend to launch a review of the operation of the Act as quickly as possible. The 2022 Act mandates that not later than 3 months after completion of this review that I, as Minister, shall make a report to each House of the Oireachtas of my findings and conclusions resulting from that review.
Matters relating to the revised standard and its impact on the grant scheme can be considered as part of the review. It would be premature to discuss any potential changes in advance of the completion of the review.
111. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on Land Development Agency plans for Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48274/26]
View answerAs a key partner in this Government’s Housing Strategy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) is continuing to activate and secure the delivery of starter and social homes on State lands, and regenerate underused sites. The Agency is also tasked with unlocking stalled private planning-consented developments via its market engagement and partnership initiative, Project Tosaigh, and working in partnership with local authorities to deliver housing on local authority owned land.
The LDA published its second Report on Relevant Public Lands in April 2025, which identifies a total of 102 parcels of State land as having potential to deliver housing-led development. Of the 102 sites identified, four are located within Louth - 3 located in Dundalk (Land adjacent to Langfield; bus depot, Ardee Road; ESB Networks, Avenue Road) and 1 located in Drogheda (Drogheda Quay).
My Department has engaged with all landholding bodies to further assess the suitability of sites in their ownership for the development of housing. Some of the sites identified by the Agency in the Report, including the four sites in Louth, are currently in operational use and/or considered complex with constraints. Many require further inputs, such as master planning, enabling works and relocation of existing operations before the LDA or a local authority could make applications for statutory consents or develop them for housing.
With regard to starter home delivery in Louth, the Government's commitment to fund and support new homes delivery remains strong. Comprehensive programme level details on starter home and social housing delivery within Louth by Louth County Council, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), via the First Home Scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme are published on the statistics page of my Departments website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision and includes data on a quarterly basis up to and including the end of 2025.
112. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the projects approved in Offaly under the first call under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/26]
View answerThe new €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) was launched in January to support investment in housing enabling infrastructure projects. Call 1 seeking applications from local authorities and the Land development Agency (LDA) opened on 21 January 2026 and closed on Friday 27 February 2026. 138 applications were received from local authorities across the country, including Offaly County Council, and from the LDA.
Following an assessment, I approved 82 projects for inclusion in the HIIF programme under Call 1, which were announced on 16 June 2026. A full list of projects accepted to the HIIF programme under Call 1 can be accessed at the following link: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/9d47d273/Housing_Infrastructure_Investment_Fund_Call_1_-_List_of_Projects.pdf
In Offaly, the following infrastructure projects have been accepted onto the HIIF programme:
The Rectory Fields project in Birr comprises a link road and active travel facilities through a town centre site. The project will activate a vacant site of almost 6 hectares that is owned by Offaly County Council and zoned for housing and mixed-use development. This project directly unlocks land for up to 126 new homes, with the potential for a further 50 new homes, alongside community and retail uses.
The Birr South Land Activation Scheme comprises a new link road from the R440 regional road. This is the last section of a road linking the N52 national road to the R440 regional road. It will unlock housing lands on the east side of Birr with the potential to directly unlock up to 425 new homes, and potential to unlock a further 325 new homes. The project will include Active Travel facilities and water and wastewater infrastructure to service the benefitting lands and wider area.
The Clonminch Land Activation Scheme in Tullamore is the first phase of a strategic link road that will unlock housing lands to the south of Tullamore, south of the railway. It consists of the construction of a 1 kilometre link road and a section of the Tullamore Southern Interceptor Sewer which is part of the Uisce Éireann Strategic Wastewater Network Upgrade in Tullamore. This project directly unlocks land for up to 656 new homes and indirectly unlock a further 650 new homes.
The Housing Activation Office will continue to work with Offaly County Council and relevant stakeholders to support the timely progression of these important housing enabling infrastructure projects.
113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing a specific scheme of investment in water and sewerage services in smaller towns and villages which would enable housing and other developments, taking into account that such locations have in most instances good infrastructure in areas such as education, sport and community facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48300/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to support the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme (STVGP), and the National Development Plan allocated €300m to support the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme. Uisce Éireann are currently developing a capital investment plan to enhance the delivery of the STVGP.
In addition, as outlined in the Programme for Government my Department will continue to implement the scheme targeting Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages and settlements without access to public waste water services.
Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Therefore, the scope prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures. As Minister, I have no function in such matters.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with enquiries from public representatives and can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
114. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all local authorities are working off a national differential rent scheme; if not, the different schemes being operated currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47583/26]
View answer118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he considers council rents to be too low at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48201/26]
View answer119. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the interaction his Department has had on the increase in rents for social housing tenants by South Dublin County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46878/26]
View answer192. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what he considers to be an affordable level of rents for council and HAP tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48200/26]
View answer202. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 has never been commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48198/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 118, 119, 192 and 202 together.
Currently, local authorities charge rent under the 1966 Housing Act, this is known as the 'differential rent' system and is a critical piece of the State's welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who can not meet their long term accommodation needs from their own resources.
The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for the executive of local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay and also that they contain a hardship clause, under which tenants can pay a reduced rent for a specified period and under certain circumstances. These good practice principles also include periodic reviews of a tenant's rent to reflect current household income and circumstances. Local authorities should also review their schemes regularly to ensure their scheme is equitable and appropriate to household means.
The new Housing Plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities, commits to reviewing rents paid by local authority and AHB social housing tenants with a view to introducing a national framework that provides a consistent and equitable system of rents and protects vulnerable households.
My Department is progressing, with the assistance of the Housing Agency, detailed analysis of existing rents schemes in order to explore the range of reform options that may be available. It is essential that any potential options place sufficient emphasis on achieving the best blend of equity, progressivity and sustainability, and critically, protect those on lowest incomes and at greater risk of poverty.
I will give careful consideration to the results of my Department's analysis which I expect will be submitted for our consideration later this year. Any proposal to implement a standardised national rents framework or alternative reform will be considered by Government thereafter, as appropriate.
116. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable housing units built in Dublin south central in 2025 and 2026. [48284/26]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority including Dublin City. This data is available to the end of Q4 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website.In 2025 1,375 new build social homes were delivered in Dublin City.My Department 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. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2025, and is available at my Department's website at: Social Housing Construction Projects - Status Reports. www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/My Department also publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis, on affordable housing delivery including cost rental delivery activity by local authorities and other delivery partners. These are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at: Overall social and affordable housing provision. www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/Over 1,000 affordable home supports have been delivered in the Dublin City Council area since 2022, via a combination of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, the First Home scheme, Help to Buy, Cost Rental schemes and the Vacant Properties Refurbishment Grant. In 2025 alone, Dublin City Council delivered 458 affordable home supports via these measures.
Dublin City Council is currently delivering over 440 new cost rental homes at An Droichead Órga, (Emmet Road) Inchicore, with phased delivery of the homes scheduled between 2027 and 2029.
The Land Development Agency is also delivering new homes in partnership with Dublin City Council in south central Dublin. New developments in Cherry Orchard, St Teresa’s Gardens (the Donore project) and Southwest Gate are all at construction stage and will deliver over 1200 new homes from 2027 onwards.
A further three projects at Bluebell Waterways and Pear Tree Crossing in Dublin 8, and the old Royal Liver site on the Naas Road in Dublin 12 are at advance planning and design stages and collectively will deliver over 1,300 new starter homes for purchase and rent.
The Q1 2026 social and affordable housing statistics and CSR are currently being collated and verified and will be published in due course.
117. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to earmark certain cost rental units for key local workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47675/26]
View answerUnder Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the provision of new homes under the Cost Rental model is a key element of the Government's strategy to improve affordability in the rental sector and to provide secure, long-term homes for moderate-income households, including those who may be categorised as key workers. The core principle of Cost Rental is that the rents cover the development, management and maintenance costs of the homes, so that the long-term future of the homes is financially secure and rents are not subject to the pressures of the open private market.
In line with the Programme for Government commitment to earmark certain Cost Rental homes for key local workers, last July I made the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (Cost Rental Allocation Plan) Regulations 2025. These Regulations allow for Cost Rental landlords – mostly Approved Housing bodies and increasingly the Land Development Agency – to propose ‘Allocation Plans’, which may prioritise particular homes for those with a link to an area though residence, employment or education. These Plans can help people to live and work in their local area and will improve access to Cost Rental homes for key local workers.
This approach is fair, and it is what is allowable under the law. There is no provision under current legislation to give priority to specific occupations of workers, such as teachers, nurses or guards, as part of an Allocation Plan. Defining who is and who is not a key worker is not straightforward, and indeed varies from sector to sector, both in public service and in the private sector.
As we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people working in public, health and social services, as well as in the broader economy are essential workers. It is not for me, as Minister for Housing, to determine who is more deserving of a home based on their occupation.
What I can do however, is continue to work hard to ensure that housing supply is increased and that affordability housing schemes are supported to ensure that more Cost Rental homes are made available where they are needed.
