Written Answers Nos. 190-202
190. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a standardised methodology for calculating both operational and embodied carbon in buildings will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66306/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA cross-departmental steering group lead by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland was established in 2024 to develop embodied carbon methodology and to establish structures in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to reduce carbon in construction materials for all new buildings.
The draft methodology was published in April 2025. Public consultation and an associated stakeholder workshop was completed during the summer. The workbook associated with the methodology was published at the start of November. The update of the methodology and associated data base of materials following the public consultation review is expected to be published by the SEAI shortly.
The standardised methodologies for operational carbon for residential and non-residential buildings , "DEAP" and "NEAP" have been available since 2007 and 2009 respectively on the SEAI website. These methodologies are in accordance with the EPBD.
The standardised methodology for both operational and embodied carbon in buildings will be made available in accordance with the timelines required for transposition of Article 7 of the recast EPBD.
191. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidance provided to contracting authorities where the creation or compilation of tender documentation is contracted to an external organisation during the public procurement process. [66307/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a contracting authority, my Department is committed to adhering to its legal and policy obligations as communicated by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Any external organisation contracted to create or compile tender documentation, on behalf of my Department, is bound by the same EU and national rules and regulations
192. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidance provided to contracting authorities on the use of AI in the consideration of tenders during a public procurement process. [66308/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a Contracting Authority, my Department is committed to adhering to its legal and policy obligations as communicated by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), including guidance on the evaluation of tenders.
My Department does not currently use any Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for evaluation of tenders and is at present finalising an AI policy that outlines the framework for the legal, secure and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the Department.
193. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to open a new call of the Urban Regeneration Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.
To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under the URDF which has resulted in the allocation of €1.9 billion of funding, with URDF supported projects now active in every local authority area in the country.
While Calls 1 and 2 were for specific regeneration projects, the third round of funding (Call 3) is specifically focussed towards addressing long term vacancy and dereliction, while supporting the key objectives of Housing for All and Town Centre First.
In line with the agreed Programme for Government, and as set out in Delivering Homes Building Communities, the initial €2 billion allocation to the URDF has been extended by a further €500 million to 2030 under the updated NDP. Working alongside other funding streams, this additional funding will expand URDF-type investments to provide broader public investment, including in social and community facilities to support regeneration and the development of sustainable communities.
The detailed arrangements for the implementation of this additional funding stream is currently under development following the completion of the National Development Plan Review process. Further details should issue to the local authorities in the coming weeks.
My Department will work closely with local authorities in respect of project development under the URDF. However, responsibility for the composition of any applications for funding and their advancement through the various stages of planning, development and completion will remain, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authority.
194. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funds and number of properties they relate to, applied for by each local authority for the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [66313/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funds and number of properties they relate to, drawn down by each local authority for the tenant-in-situ scheme in 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [66314/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics quarterly for social housing delivery, including numbers of completed social housing acquisitions by local authorities. These data are available to end Q2 2025, and published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/ .
Those statistics show that 1,829 such acquisitions were completed in 2023, with 1,081 relating to tenancy sustainment or tenant in situ acquisitions. A further 1,501 were completed in 2024, with a 1,054 of these supporting tenancy sustainment.
Some 653 acquisitions have been completed to so far this year, including 444 tenancy sustainment acquisitions.
The table below details the funding provided per local authorities in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025. The expenditure covers all areas of acquisitions activity, such as funding the purchase price, the legal and professional fees to transact the sale, and also any necessary refurbishment works. Notably, expenditure in a given year may include costs on a property not necessarily purchased in that year.
|
LA |
Drawndown 2023 |
Drawndown 2024 |
Drawndown To date in 2025 |
|
Carlow |
€4,537,053 |
€3,349,519 |
€3,094,367 |
|
Cavan |
€4,005,091 |
€3,170,440 |
€766,744 |
|
Clare |
€2,708,883 |
€3,368,912 |
€1,409,831 |
|
Cork City |
€17,621,467 |
€34,480,254 |
€13,843,373 |
|
Cork County |
€12,655,027 |
€27,675,697 |
€8,468,729 |
|
Donegal |
€163,409 |
€1,293,238 |
€1,469,429 |
|
Dublin City |
€84,396,625 |
€97,725,205 |
€58,367,014 |
|
DLR |
€3,653,280 |
€10,168,405 |
€8,331,036 |
|
Fingal |
€9,503,429 |
€31,109,755 |
€20,481,917 |
|
Galway City |
€9,685,638 |
€12,724,495 |
€6,843,157 |
|
Galway County |
€681,843 |
€5,160,979 |
€1,594,630 |
|
Kerry |
€2,744,227 |
€3,239,329 |
€2,195,436 |
|
Kildare |
€18,173,622 |
€21,373,864 |
€11,146,974 |
|
Kilkenny |
€3,369,754 |
€2,479,680 |
€826,678 |
|
Laois |
€3,639,900 |
€1,871,619 |
€1,452,746 |
|
Leitrim |
€2,049,185 |
€2,137,375 |
€853,599 |
|
Limerick |
€7,213,467 |
€18,055,376 |
€6,918,466 |
|
Longford |
€2,885,578 |
€4,582,267 |
€2,248,232 |
|
Louth |
€16,914,244 |
€26,174,106 |
€10,066,100 |
|
Mayo |
€2,748,046 |
€4,475,291 |
€2,735,197 |
|
Meath |
€6,366,050 |
€10,270,551 |
€4,934,109 |
|
Monaghan |
€1,798,308 |
€4,618,688 |
€1,485,593 |
|
Offaly |
€2,988,914 |
€3,731,304 |
€819,353 |
|
Roscommon |
€3,742,132 |
€2,300,709 |
€957,378 |
|
Sligo |
€2,002,609 |
€4,803,062 |
€2,884,173 |
|
South Dublin |
€9,263,762 |
€38,046,285 |
€9,841,465 |
|
Tipperary |
€9,584,346 |
€10,558,166 |
€3,914,057 |
|
Waterford |
€7,270,554 |
€10,310,743 |
€6,165,298 |
|
Westmeath |
€8,529,153 |
€13,215,921 |
€1,752,975 |
|
Wexford |
€3,166,876 |
€6,234,695 |
€5,013,338 |
|
Wicklow |
€10,568,527 |
€4,221,174 |
€5,844,999 |
196. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes which have been delivered in Laois since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66320/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q2 2025, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Q2 2025. All CSRs are available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/ .
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority, location, &c. at: https://opendata.housing.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q1-2025
197. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline details of new affordable housing schemes being supported by his Department; to provide details of submissions received from Laois County Council for the development of such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66321/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030. To this end, Government is fully committed to continuing to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing supply over the lifetime of the plan.
In recent years, Government has introduced several schemes to help people to buy or rent affordable homes, under Housing for All. Since 2021, close to 16,900 supports nationwide have been provided via these measures. Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030, these supports will be retained, streamlined and expanded to form a Starter Homes Programme to ensure that first time buyers and renters in need of support, are supported by Government.
To date, Laois County Council has delivered three affordable purchase projects supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, with 36 affordable purchase homes.
In addition, 28 cost rental homes have been delivered to date in Co. Laois, by Approved Housing Bodies.
Additionally, over 315 households in Co. Laois have availed of affordable supports through a mix of the First Home Scheme, the Vacant Properties Refurbishment Grant and the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ scheme.
Building on this progress, and utilising the measures outlined in Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline in Co. Laois.
198. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in each county that have been completed under the vacant and derelict homes grants; the number of properties in each county that have been supported by these grants that are now registered with the RTB, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66322/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes the number of applications, approvals and the total number and value of grants paid per local authority. This data also includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant for every quarter. The Q3 2025 grant statistics were published on 17 October 2025. This data can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025
In order for a grant to be paid for a rental property a tenancy must be registered with the RTB and proof of same must be provided to the local authority before the grant will be paid. As at the end of Q3 2025 there were 564 grants paid by local authorities for rental properties.
199. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications from County Laois under the Historic Structures Fund 2026; the total value of grant-aid awarded; the supports available to ensure rural historic properties in County Laois can access the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66323/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports in place to help owners of historic structures in rural parts of County Laois apply for the Historic Structures Fund 2026; the number of such projects in the county that have been approved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66324/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any funding under the Historic Structures Fund 2026 has been allocated to Emo Court in Laois; the criteria applied to prioritise such nationally significant historic sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66325/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications received from County Laois under the Historic Structures Fund 2026; the total grant-aid awarded; whether any barriers to access in the county have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66326/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 199, 200, 201 and 202 together.
The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) within my Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), which are both, in the main, administered by the local authorities.
The HSF is a nationally competitive scheme that operates on an annual basis, whereby applications for funding are made to the relevant local authority, and each local authority presents a shortlist of eligible applications for consideration to my Department. Each local authority may present up to three privately owned and three publicly owned structures for consideration. These projects then compete against each other for funding at a national level. The standard of conservation projects received is always very high and the scheme is always over-subscribed.
The application window for HSF 2026 was opened last month. Laois County Council has set a deadline of 16 January 2026 for applicants to submit the required documentation to them for consideration. Once they have been assessed by them, conservation officials within the Council will submit a number of applications up to the maximum allowable to my Department by 6 February. The NBHS undertakes an assessment of all projects submitted at a national level, and it is expected that the list of successful projects will be announced in March. Further information regarding successful projects within Laois for 2026 will be available at that point.
