Written Answers Nos. 451-477
451. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a review was undertaken on the adequacy of current inter-agency arrangements between the HSE, the EPA and Uisce Éireann for drinking water incidents; if not, the reason no such review has taken place; and if a review is now planned, the timeline for same. [49287/26]
View answerMinister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (James Brown):
Responsibility for the operational management of drinking water incidents in public drinking water supplies lies with Uisce Éireann, in consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE) where there may be a risk to public health, and under the regulatory oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These arrangements are set out within the existing legislative and regulatory framework governing drinking water quality and incident response.
My Department does not have a statutory role in the operational management of drinking water incidents or in the regulatory oversight of the arrangements between Uisce Éireann, the HSE and the EPA.
Accordingly, my Department has not undertaken a formal review of the adequacy of current inter-agency arrangements between the HSE, the EPA and Uisce Éireann for drinking water incidents and does not currently plan to undertake such a review. The EPA, as the statutory regulator for public drinking water supplies, is responsible for overseeing compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations and assessing the adequacy of arrangements relating to the protection of public health in the provision of drinking water.
452. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of public funding received by each political party under provisions relating to the promotion of women's participation in politics since 2020; and the reporting that has been provided on expenditure of these funds. [49412/26]
View answerIt is clear that political parties can play a crucial role in encouraging participation at local level. Parties make an important difference in terms of early intervention, supporting and coaching candidates and providing supports to ensure a successful and confident campaign.
Since 2019, my Department has issued regular Calls for Funding inviting political parties and independents to submit applications for projects which are aimed at increasing the participation of women and people from diverse backgrounds. The objective is to have a positive impact on the overall number of these cohorts running for local elections and participating in local government structures and decision-making.
When making a decision on whether to allocate funding, applications are assessed against a number of criteria including for example, whether or not the proposals:
• encourage the participation of female candidates, candidates from a migrant or Traveller background in local elections
• support these councillors who were elected in local elections and which encourage them to remain in politics
• offer supports and training to candidates who have been unsuccessful in their bid for election in previous elections, to encourage them to participate again in future elections and
• provide value for money and strategic focus.
My Department seeks update reports from political parties in relation to funding awarded under this scheme.
The information requested in relation to allocations per annum is set out in the table below. Not all political parties / groupings apply for funding each year.
|
Party |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Aontú |
4,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11,250 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
13,050 |
13,050 |
30,380 |
34,380 |
39,070 |
0 |
61,343 |
|
Fine Gael |
17,700 |
17,700 |
36,015 |
37,954 |
39,402 |
0 |
65,674 |
|
The Green Party |
9,000 |
9,000 |
28,000 |
35,000 |
36,250 |
0 |
25,175 |
|
Reform Alliance |
500 |
500 |
3,620 |
3,775 |
5,400 |
0 |
0 |
|
Independents |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5,400 |
7,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
The Labour Party |
11,250 |
11,250 |
23,809 |
35,330 |
31,600 |
0 |
25,300 |
|
Sinn Féin |
19,250 |
19,250 |
15,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
0 |
20,000 |
|
Social Democrats |
8,000 |
8,000 |
12,000 |
35,455 |
32,100 |
0 |
37,680 |
|
Solidarity / People before Profit |
7,000 |
7,000 |
8,050 |
8,300 |
8,300 |
0 |
27,680 |
In respect of national elections, the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for political funding and sets out a detailed regulatory regime providing for a broad range of issues, including the funding of political parties and the independent supervision of the regime by the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission.
The principal objectives of the Act is to ensure that there is openness and accountability in the relationships that exist between election candidates, members of the Oireachtas and political parties and those who would support them, whether by way of financial assistance or otherwise. More specifically, Part III of the Act provides for the funding of registered political parties subject to meeting specified criteria relating to their performance at Dáil elections. Where a political party qualifies for Exchequer funding, such funding shall only be used for “the general conduct and management of the party's affairs and the lawful pursuit by it of any of its objectives” and may be applied to any or all of the following:
• the general administration of the party;
• research, education and training;
• policy formulation;
• the co-ordination of the activities of the branches and members of the party;
• promotion of participation of women; and
• promotion of participation of young people.
Section 17(4B) of the Act provides that payments to political parties will be reduced by 50% unless at least 40% of the candidates of the political party at the last general election were women and at least 40% were men. Under Part III of the Act, payments shall be made to political parties by the Minister for Finance with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
453. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to strengthen local authorities powers in enforcing minimum standards in private and HAP rented housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48796/26]
View answerThe standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical installations. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties, including those with HAP-supported tenancies, comply with the standards set down in the Regulations.
Responsibility for the enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 in the private rental and Approved Housing Body sectors rests with the relevant local authority.
If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and appropriate. They can issue an Improvement Letter or serve an Improvement Notice. In most cases they opt for the former.
Sections 18B of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 provides that where a landlord fails to comply with an Improvement Notice, the local authority may serve a Prohibition Notice (which directs that a dwelling cannot be re-let until all contraventions are remedied). The local authority may also consider instituting legal proceedings. These are very seldom required.
Under Section 34 of that Act, any person who by act or omission contravenes the Regulations, fails to comply with an Improvement Notice, or re-lets a house in breach of a Prohibition Notice, will be guilty of an offence and will be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both. If the offence continues after conviction, the person will be guilty of a further offence on every day on which the offence continues and for each such offence will be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €400 per day.
While the rental standards Regulations are kept under review, I have no plans to change local authority enforcement powers at this time.
The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. The Government’s Action Plan on housing supply and targeting homelessness - Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 - sets a target of inspecting 25% of private residential tenancies each year. A total of €10.5 million in Exchequer funding is being made available by my Department to local authorities this year to help them meet their private rental inspection targets.
The number of rental inspections conducted by local authorities has increased significantly in recent years. Increasing from an average of 20,000 a year in the period 2008 to 2017 to over 49,000 in 2022, 63,500 in 2023, 80,000 in 2024 and an all-time-high of over 82,500 in 2025.
Detailed data in respect of the level of inspections and enforcement actions carried out and legal actions initiated by each local authority is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.
454. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding his Department's plan to review income limits for those in receipt of HAP payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48802/26]
View answerUnder the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. This accommodation should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
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. I will then consider the findings of the review and set out the next steps.
455. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, in the context of any proposals to provide exempted development provisions for detached cabins or modular units within the curtilage of a dwelling house, minimum or proportionate private open space requirements are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48806/26]
View answer456. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is considering the introduction of exempted development provisions for detached cabins or modular units already constructed within the curtilage of an owner occupied dwelling house for use as student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48807/26]
View answer457. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is examining the introduction of exempted development provisions for detached cabins or modular units within the curtilage of an owner occupied dwelling house for use as student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48808/26]
View answer498. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to conclude the ratification of the proposed Exempted Development Regulations for Residential Dwellings by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49445/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 455, 456, 457 and 498 together.
Significant progress on the review of Exempted Development Regulations has been made. A successful public consultation took place last year with over 900 submissions received via the online portal. The details in these submissions have been reviewed and have informed the on-going drafting of the updated Exempted Development Regulations that will be forthcoming across 2026.
The implementation of the update of these regulations is being done on a phased basis, by theme, with priority already having been given to the exemptions relating to domestic dwellings. These domestic dwellings regulations are at advanced draft stage and include exemptions for detached auxiliary dwellings to the rear of the main dwelling. The final decisions on the specifics of these regulations, including those relating to tenure and private open space requirements, will be communicated and brought forward for implementation as soon as possible.
It is intended that updated Exempted Development Regulations for residential development will be signed into law as soon as possible.
The new draft Exempted Development Regulations are subject to formal environmental consideration, before being laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This process will also necessitate formal engagement with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and an appearance will be sought before the Committee at the earliest opportunity, once the environmental assessment process is complete.
458. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated Wind Energy Guidelines will be published.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48850/26]
View answer459. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Ireland's planning framework for wind energy development will be brought fully into alignment with current European Union environmental obligations and jurisprudence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48851/26]
View answer460. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans within the new guidelines for enhanced protections for peatlands, blanket bogs and other environmentally sensitive habitats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48852/26]
View answer461. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans for the introduction of comprehensive cumulative impact assessment requirements for large-scale wind energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48853/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 458 to 461, inclusive, together.
In line with commitments in the Programme for Government 2025, my Department is working with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), which holds policy responsibility for renewable energy matters, in respect of the introduction of a number of National Planning Statements related to Ireland's Climate Action Plan target to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources up to 80% in 2030. This includes the preparation of National Planning Statements in relation to onshore wind energy development, following a review of the existing 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.
Further to the commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 on 2 October 2025, provisions for National Planning Statements have been introduced to replace the provisions for Ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. All existing Section 28 guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new National Planning Statements. Any current section 28 guidelines will however remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding National Planning Statement. The timing of the issuing of National Planning Statements will be based on Government priorities.
In respect of sectoral national planning statements in particular, such as onshore wind energy development, there is also an important role for the relevant policy Department in collaborating with my Department on the development of these National Planning Statements. In that context, my Department is working closely with the DCEE as the Department with policy responsibility for this area of Government policy in order to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of this National Planning Statement, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, European obligations such as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), and considerations such as noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
Further to this my Department, in conjunction with DCEE, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the National Planning Statement, which is highly technical in nature. As part of their work, which is now substantially complete. In the interim, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
In line with EU Directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment will be carried out on any draft National Planning Statement regarding wind energy development, with opportunity for consultation by the public and all stakeholders on the draft National Planning Statement.
All applications for wind energy development are subject to appropriate environmental assessment which includes the assessment of cumulative effects. With regards to peatlands and wind energy, the current Wind Energy Development Guidelines contain a section, Appendix 4 Best Practice for Wind Energy Development in Peatlands, which provides guidance to developers on this matter.
462. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has issued any national guidance or minimum standards regarding reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities who are unable to access the Choice Based Lettings systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48925/26]
View answerThe Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, which fall under the remit of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, prohibit discrimination in the provision of accommodation on any of the 10 grounds set out below, subject to some exemptions. The grounds on which discrimination is outlawed by the Equal Status Acts are: gender ground; civil status ground; family status; sexual orientation; religion; age; disability; race; membership of the Traveller community and housing assistance. Further information with regard to redress where discrimination occurs is available on the website of the Workplace Relations Commission - www.workplacerelations.ie[]
Where a local authority, having included a provision on CBL in its allocation scheme, decides to operate a Choice Based Letting (CBL) scheme, it must implement it in accordance with Regulations 6 – 11 of the Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011 (SI No 198 of 2011). The subsequent Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 required all local authorities, if they had not already done so, to provide for Choice Based Letting (CBL) as a method of allocation in their allocation schemes by 31 December 2016 (SI No 503 of 2016).
The implementation and operation of CBL is the responsibility of the local authorities, in accordance with the relevant regulations and their own allocation schemes. Anyone who has difficulty in accessing such services should contact their local authority.
463. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that is available to Tipperary County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation; the funding drawn down by Tipperary County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation for the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48931/26]
View answerThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist local authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
Since 2020, new arrangements are in place for the disbursement of funding whereby it is open to all local authorities to apply for and draw down funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. The Traveller-specific accommodation budget has been fully drawn down by local authorities in the five-year period 2020-2025, amounting to over €160 million, including €125 million in capital expenditure and €37.9 million in current expenditure, supporting the provision of new and refurbished halting sites and group housing schemes, salaries of social workers and related grades, and the maintenance of halting sites.
Traveller-specific accommodation is focused primarily on the provision of group housing, halting sites, the provision of mobiles and caravans through emergency replacement and the Caravan Loan Scheme, and also includes the acquisition of properties.
The drawdown for Tipperary County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation for the past five years, is set out in the attached table.
|
Year |
Capital Drawdown (€) |
Current Drawdown (€) |
|
2020 |
156,731 |
215,854 |
|
2021 |
873,547 |
419,555 |
|
2022 |
2,051,098 |
379,817 |
|
2023 |
2,462,900 |
387,275 |
|
2024 |
676,427 |
164,241 |
|
2025 |
1,603,717 |
172,260 |
|
TOTAL |
7,824,420 |
1,743,002 |
464. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an itemised breakdown of the €260 million allocated to local authorities for social housing maintenance funding. [48934/26]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority social homes is a matter for each individual local authority under s.58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities must also ensure all tenanted homes comply with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.
Accordingly, it is first and foremost the responsibility of local authority elected members and officials to make adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding, my Department will provide almost €260 million as a contribution towards the remediation and maintenance of local authority homes through various funding programmes in 2026, with the breakdown by Programmes detailed in the table below.
|
Programme |
2026 Funding |
|
Planned Maintenance/Voids |
€40,000,000 |
|
Energy Efficiency Retrofit |
€140,000,000 |
|
Disabled Person Grants/IWILs and Remedials |
€28,500,000 |
|
Regeneration |
€50,000,000 |
Critically, this funding does not replace, but merely supplements, local authorities' own investment in the management and maintenance of their social homes.
465. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of active RAS tenancies currently in operation and the full year cost of those tenancies to the exchequer, by private RAS and AHB RAS. [48961/26]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level data on its website on a quarterly basis, including the number of active Private and AHB RAS tenancies. This information, together with the overall RAS expenditure, is available at the following link:
www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/642bfe4b/RAS_Funding_and_Delivery_Statistics_Q4_2025.xlsx
The published Exchequer expenditure is not broken down by delivery type. The 2025 full year Exchequer cost for Private RAS was some €76m and €20.9m for AHB RAS. These figures exclude the RAS administration payments made to local authorities.
466. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on a review of eligibility criteria and the identification of priority areas for grant aid schemes administered by local authorities to upgrade, repair or replace domestic wastewater treatment systems/septic tank systems; when it is likely that these changes will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48965/26]
View answerThe Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Grant Scheme provides financial assistance in specific circumstances where defective domestic wastewater systems, including septic tanks, pose a significant risk to the environment or public health.
The scheme is targeted at designated areas where domestic wastewater treatment systems have been identified as placing water quality under pressure. It supports householders to remediate, repair, upgrade or replace defective systems, thereby reducing the risk of pollution and protecting water quality.
A review of the grant scheme has now been completed. I have approved amendments to provide for additional locations to be designated as priority areas for support under the scheme. Funding will continue to be targeted at environmental and public health priorities rather than being available on a universal or on-demand basis.
My Department is finalising the revised Regulations to give effect to these changes and it is expected that the revised arrangements will come into effect shortly.
Property owners remain responsible for ensuring their domestic wastewater treatment systems functions properly and does not pose a risk to human health or the environment.
467. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a clear clarification of the tenant-in-situ policy concerning a family on a housing waiting list (HWL) in one area but who are in rented accommodation in an adjacent area, and are threatened with homelessness, if it should be the local authority in which the family lives or the local authority in which they are on the HWL that an application for the tenant-in-situ scheme should be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49028/26]
View answer473. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether that in cases in which a person is on the housing list in one local authority area, but in rented accommodation in an adjacent area, and is threatened with homelessness, that there should be a clear policy determining which local authority is responsible for administering tenant-in-situ and other homelessness prevention measures; and his further views on whether it should be the local authority where the person is on the housing list, or the local authority where the person is resident, that takes responsibility for homelessness prevention measures such as tenant-in-situ. [49084/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 473 together.
Further to my replies to Dáil Questions 279 and 744 of 29 January and 28 April 2026 respectively, local authorities have delegated sanction and flexibility to pursue priority acquisitions under the Social Housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme without recourse to my Department, subject to complying with programme eligibility criteria.
Any decision to progress an acquisition or otherwise, including an acquisition to help prevent social housing households become homeless, is a matter for the relevant local authority having regard to the local circumstances. Relevant considerations in this regard would likely include the social housing supports already being provided to and arrangements in place for the household in question; if the property has been the subject of social housing support payments or otherwise for a continuous two year period; and, any intra-authority arrangements in place regarding same.
Critically, 'tenant in situ' is not a scheme. Rather it is a policy tool available to local authorities to prevent social housing supported households in the private rented sector from falling into homelessness. It should only be used as a last resort by local authorities when all other options have been exhausted. Accordingly, there is no application process for landlords or tenants. It is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a tenant in situ acquisition is the appropriate policy response in a given situation.
468. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if the issues raised will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49034/26]
View answerThe development in question relates to a social housing project funded by my Department pursuant to its P&A-CALF Funding Scheme. This scheme provides funding to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), via local authorities, to facilitate the financing of constructing or purchasing new social housing units. The contract for the specific development in question was made between the relevant AHB and the developer; my Department is not a contracting party.
As an exceptional, once-off concession, my Department has agreed to fund the capital costs of necessary upgrade works to Uisce Éireann infrastructure to progress and complete the project, provided all outstanding units are delivered for social housing.
I understand that the quantum of further additional costs claimed by the developer is considered to be neither warranted nor reasonable, so, on that basis, the AHB in question has decided not to seek further additional funding approval from my Department. Accordingly, my Department is not prepared to entertain any further exceptional cost claims.
469. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will provide funding for a georadar study of the heritage site at Brownshill Dolmen, County Carlow, similar to the survey completed at Newgrange passage tomb in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49071/26]
View answerBrownshill Dolmen, Co. Carlow, is a national monument (National Monument No. 613) in the ownership of the Minister, and as such, it is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Any proposed research, such as a georadar study, would need to be considered in the first instance by the National Monuments Service of my Department, and the OPW in terms of the research objectives and outcomes, and consideration of the benefits in terms of the continued protection, conservation and preservation of the national monument.
470. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1055 of 9 June 2026, whether this Parliamentary Question may be taken as a formal request for those Excel versions (details supplied); if not, the reason; the email address or other mechanism through which such a formal request should be submitted; whether the assessment of Open Data publication has now been completed; whether the Excel versions of the reports for all available years and regions have been published on his Department's website or Open Data Portal; if not, the reason they have not yet been published; and the date by which his Department expects to make these datasets publicly available in machine-readable format. [49078/26]
View answer471. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 19 May 2026, and further to the statement that the relevant financial reports are published on his Department's website, whether he will provide the Local Authority Regional Homelessness Financial Reports underpinning those figures, including the expenditure category breakdown underlying the reported €318,905,871 expenditure for the Dublin homeless region in 2025; whether those reports are available in machine-readable format; if not, the reason it is considered appropriate to publish and rely upon aggregate expenditure totals derived from those reports while not making the underlying reports and expenditure breakdowns available to facilitate scrutiny, verification, analysis and re-use of the expenditure information concerned; and if figure can be provided while the expenditure categories from which it is derived cannot. [49079/26]
View answer472. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions No. 201 of 19 May 2026 and 1032 of 9 June 2026, whether any of the regional expenditure figures for homeless services provided in the reply remain subject to change as a result of his Department's ongoing review of the 2025 financial reports; and, if so, the reason those figures were released prior to the completion of the review process. [49080/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 470, 471 and 472 together.
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 the 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.
The administration of homeless services is on a regional basis with a lead authority in each region. Each region submits an annual expenditure programme to my Department and my Department approves a funding allocation. Exchequer funding is delegated under a grant agreement with processes in place for certification, review and transparency regarding the publication of financial reports submitted by the lead authorities detailing the regional expenditure for which funding recoupment is sought from my Department.
In 2025, some €449 million in Exchequer funding for homeless services was provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis, which included funding recoupments of €318,905,871 to the Dublin region. The information in Parliamentary Question of 19 May 2026 sets out the amount of Exchequer funding provided to housing authorities during 2025.
My Department is undertaking a review of the 2025 financial reports from each of the nine homeless regions and intend to publish a number of these reports imminently, with the remaining reports to be published once the review process is complete.
The underlying data for the financial report is provided by housing authorities and is not produced by my Department. The expenditure data reported in the financial reports can be subject to change either due to an issue identified directly by a housing authority or through the review process undertaken by my Department. It is a matter for the regional lead authority to resolve any of the issues identified and submit a new financial report to the Department.
The Open Data publication of the financial reports is not available at this time. However, my Department is currently assessing the operational considerations around fulfilling the Open Data Policy with regard to the publication of this data.
My Department does not consider this Parliamentary Question as a formal request for excel versions of the published local authority regional homelessness financial reports. A request for machine readable versions of the reports published on my Department’s website should be submitted to the following email address: opendata@housing.gov.ie
474. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49097/26]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
475. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to state the total number of funding requests for social housing acquisitions including tenant-in-situ acquisitions refused in 2024 and 2025 with a breakdown by local authority, acquisition scheme and reason for refusal. [49160/26]
View answerThe administration of acquisitions under the Social Housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, including for tenancy sustainment (via tenant in situ), is delegated to local authorities. Accordingly, data on the number of applications received or refused in any given year is not captured by my Department and should be sought directly from local authorities.
476. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the most up to date basic unit cost guidelines for social housing construction and acquisition with the relevant breakdowns for each local authority area. [49161/26]
View answerA copy of the recently issued Basic Unit Cost for Social Housing construction and Acquisition Cost Guidelines will issue directly to the Deputy.
477. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the average cost of delivery social housing in 2025 via SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction (with CALF cost and total cost), CALF turnkey (with CALF cost and total cost) CAS turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, and Part V broken down for each local authority area, in tabular form. [49162/26]
View answerMy Department assesses, approves and records local authority social housing delivery on a project basis, rather than on the basis of individual unit types.
As SHIP-funded construction projects by local authorities must, like all publicly-funded construction programmes, comply with the Infrastructure Guidelines (Public Spending Code) and Capital Works Management Framework, my Department periodically issues Basic Unit Costs for each local authority area, for use as a key benchmark for the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. While not a record of actual delivery costs, BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period and updated based on published tender index information as required.
To monitor tender cost trends and to inform BUC levels, my Department analyses the tender data for the construction cost element of new build schemes approved under the SHIP & CAS approval processes for each unit type, where sufficient information is available to allow such costs to be extrapolated and where the information available is appropriate for comparison purposes.
Outlined in the tables below are average construction costs (incl. VAT), recorded as part of the aforementioned analysis for projects tendered in 2025 (per local authority).
The table also sets out the range of average unit costs (across different projects). The range of costs recorded vary, depending on size of scheme, unit mix, location, etc. and on the level of abnormal requirements for each scheme, for instance existing site conditions, demolitions, service diversions, site access requirements. Average abnormal costs are also separately identified in the below table.
