Written Answers Nos. 328-349
331. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Planning Statement for planning for rural housing will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67543/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 - An Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness, contains Action 8.5: ‘Publish a National Planning Statement relating to rural housing to provide clarity and consistency within the planning system’, with a timeline of the second half of 2026.
332. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update and timeline for publication of the updated wind energy guidelines. [67544/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines which will inform a new National Planning Statement on Wind Energy under the new Planning and Development Act 2024. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Climate, Environment, and Energy (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. This work is now substantially complete.
In addition to work on the noise aspects of the National Planning Statement, the evolving policy and technical context including the new Planning and Development Act 2024 and the revision of the National Planning Framework reinforces the need to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose.
In line with EU Directive requirements, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is being carried out on the draft National Planning Statement as part of the review process. In this regard, my Department intends to undertake a public consultation on updated draft Guidelines as part of the SEA process whereby all interested parties will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft National Planning Statement. Finalised National Planning Statements will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase.
My Department is working towards concluding the finalisation of the National Planning Statement having regard to the intended public consultation and the impact of associated reforms and reviews including the revision of the NPF. The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force, pending the finalisation of the review.
333. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed new fire station in Dunleer, County Louth, in view of funding being redirected towards the firefighter centre of training in Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67648/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Louth County Council has indicated that Dunleer remains their top priority project, and a new fire station at Dunleer is provided for in the Fire Services Capital Programme 2021 - 2025.
Upgrade works are also being progressed at the Dundalk firefighter training centre. The proposed training centre upgrade works would take place within the curtilage of the current site that is already in council ownership.
Louth County Council is working to finalise the acquisition of their preferred new site for Dunleer fire station. Upon final confirmation of the site acquisition, I understand that Louth County Council will move quickly through the necessary phases to progress the construction of a new station for Dunleer. My Department will continue to support Louth County Council to progress the new Dunleer fire station project.
334. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there is no financial support for a household wishing to avail of mains water in a town instead of using their own private supply; if this is a more climate friendly and efficient way to help people get their own water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67650/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Water services connection charges, for public water connections, are an element of Uisce Éireann’s water charges plan which is subject to approval by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU has statutory responsibility for regulatory oversight on an independent basis of the charges levied by Uisce Éireann.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
335. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consult with Met Éireann to resolve internal conflicts around responsibility to alert the public to potential flood risks and to set up an effective, efficient and clear, publicly available flood forecasting system to allow people in high risk flood zones to take steps to protect their properties and families to the best of their ability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67682/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) is being developed as part of a collaborative, government wide approach to flooding in line with international best practice. Further developments of the NFFWS are currently overseen by a new Subgroup of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, chaired by the Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence and including representatives of the Department of the Taoiseach, Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) of my Department, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the County and City Management Association (CCMA) representing local authorities, and Met Éireann.
The objective of this working group is to:
• Prepare and agree a plan for Stage II of the NFFWS setting out the roles and responsibilities of the relevant Departments/Agencies for its implementation and the governance arrangements underpinning its implementation.
• Bring a Memorandum to Government for a decision to agree to the Stage II Plan, seeking a commitment from Government to resourcing the delivery of the Stage II Plan for the NFFWS.
• Report on progress on the implementation of the Stage II Plan to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and the Cabinet Committee on climate action and energy and to provide updates to meetings of the Interdepartmental Flood Policy Coordination Group.
Met Éireann’s Flood Forecasting Centre is a key component of the NFFWS. The Centre began operations in January 2024, which marked a major milestone, completing the initial set-up phase of the NFFWS. Since then, the Centre provides daily guidance and targeted advisories to the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management within my Department as well as local authorities and emergency responders across Ireland. This guidance is combined with additional analysis and contextual elements by Met Éireann’s hydrometeorologists to support their preparedness and response to potential flood events. The Centre also provides flood analysis training, briefings, and direct support to decision-makers before and during significant events, with the aim of maximising public protection and safety.
A public flood warning system, capable of providing localised alerts to people in high-risk flood zones, will be developed as part of the broader National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service. This development will be built on an expanded river and coastal observation network.
336. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the equalisation fund for each local authority is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67683/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra337. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for reduction in equalisation funding for Galway County Council for 2026 given the council’s difficult financial position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67684/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra338. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the equalisation funding for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026 for each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67685/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Galway County Council consistently receives a lower allocation of equalisation funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67686/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the LPT baseline assigned to Galway County Council; the way this baseline is determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67687/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 336 to 340, inclusive, together.
At the outset, it is important to note that Local Property Tax (LPT) funding allocations are decided in accordance with Government approved distribution policies, and are based on the baselines and estimates of the yield in individual local authority areas.
Central Government has traditionally provided non-programme funding to local authorities; in the form of an annual contribution towards meeting the cost of providing a reasonable level of service in their area. Up until 2014, this was in the form of a General Purpose Grant (GPG), and in 2015, it was replaced by LPT allocations. Under the LPT allocation model, every local authority has a minimum level of funding available to it, known as the baseline. LPT baselines were initially linked, for the most part, to GPG’s.
Following a review in 2023, baselines for each local authority were adjusted in accordance with five criteria: population, area, deprivation levels, an authority’s locally raised income and achievement of National Policy Priorities, with every authority receiving a minimum increase of €1.5m. This led to an overall baseline increase of €75.4m in 2024. A summary report which outlines the weighting and application of the criteria to individual baselines is available at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/summary-report-on-local-property-tax-baseline-review-2023/
Building on the baseline increases of 2024, there will be a further increase of €42m to the overall baselines in 2026, in line with the expected increased yield from revaluation expected in each local authority area.
For an authority with yield below the baseline, such as Galway County, the baseline is a key determinant of the final LPT allocation. It should be noted that Galway County’s baseline has seen a significant increase of almost 50% in a three year period;
• Following the review in 2023, Galway County received an uplift in baseline of €5.8m, which was the second largest increase of any authority.
• As a result of the baseline adjustment being applied following revaluation, Galway County Council’s baseline is increased by an additional €1.3m for 2026, thereby resulting in an overall baseline increase of over €7m or nearly 50% since 2023.
If the estimated LPT yield in a local authority area is lower than an authority’s baseline, the authority is topped-up or equalised to that baseline by the Exchequer via the Local Government Fund. Accordingly, the equalisation funding requirement varies from year to year in line with estimated yield, as the specific amount is the shortfall between the baseline and the estimated yield in a local authority area. Two-thirds of local authorities need equalisation support to bring their income from LPT yield up to the baseline level. Galway County Council is one such ‘equalisation’ authority.
Furthermore, local authorities may vary the rate of LPT in their administrative area by up to 15% of the basic rate of the Tax. The decision to vary must be taken by resolution of the Council. If a local authority decides to vary the LPT basic rate upwards; 100% of the resultant additional income is available for the authority's own use. Similarly, if an authority decides to vary the LPT basic rate downwards (by up to 15%), the resultant loss in LPT income is reflected in reduced LPT funding to the authority. The power to vary LPT rates enables elected members to directly influence the level of LPT income they have to meet their expenditure requirements.
The table below sets out a summary of the LPT allocation process and the equalisation funding in respect of Galway County Council for the years 2023 to 2026.
|
LPT Liability Year |
LPT Baseline |
Estimated LPT Yield (before local variation) |
Equalisation funding |
Additional funding arising from local variation decision |
Final LPT Allocation |
|
2023 |
€14,517,890 |
€14,362,329 |
€155,561 |
None |
€14,517,890 |
|
2024 |
€20,309,071 Baseline increase due to baseline review |
€15,299,282 |
€5,009,789 |
None |
€20,309,071 |
|
2025 |
€20,309,071 |
€15,806,419 |
€4,502,651 |
€2,370,963 |
€22,680,034 |
|
2026 |
€21,609,071 Baseline increase due to revaluation |
€17,212,255 |
€4,396,815 |
€2,581,838 |
€24,190,909 |
Detailed information regarding LPT allocations for each year, LPT baselines and equalisation funding, where applicable, is published by my Department at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ea27d-local-property-tax-allocations/.
341. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is difficulty or delays accessing documents dated prior to 2006 held by Tailte Éireann due to asbestos contamination in a building storing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67691/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022. Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.
Tailte Éireann’s Central Filing Repository in Santry which houses filed Instruments has reopened and Tailte Éireann is accepting Copy Instrument requests for all Instruments. The recent closure led to service disruption for the Copy Instrument service in respect of access to Instruments dated pre-2006.
It is understood from Tailte Éireann that remedial works to remove asbestos and ensure safe access for Tailte Éireann's staff and all those accessing the facility continues to be carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as accommodation provider. The works will be fully completed by 10 December 2025.
Tailte Éireann understands the difficulties the recent closure caused to customers and regrets any inconvenience. Tailte Éireann will provide further updates via its website, www.tailte.ie.
342. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing a flexible controlled burning scheme for upland areas, allowing farmers to apply for permission to burn heather outside the current statutory window, in order to reduce fire risk and protect biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67703/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wildlife Act 1976 is the principal national legislation providing for the protection of native wildlife and the control of some activities that may adversely affect wildlife. Restrictions on burning are mainly set out in section 39 and section 40 of the Act. There are also restrictions on burning associated with designated European sites.
Section 40 (1) of the Wildlife Act 1976 states:
(1) (a) It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy, during the period beginning on the 1st day of March and ending on the 31st day of August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated
(b) It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch during the period mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
There are no plans to introduce changes in respect of burning restrictions.
343. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the staffing levels and legal expertise available in disability access offices within local authorities; if additional resources will be allocated to ensure timely responses and compliance with accessibility obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67724/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Act 2005 places a statutory obligation on public bodies, including local authorities, to support access to services and facilities, for people with disabilities. Under Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005 each public body is required to have at least one officer authorised to act in the capacity of an access officer. That officer is responsible, where appropriate, for providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by that body.
Policy responsibility for the Disability Act 2005 rests with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
Under Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage and control generally, the administration and business of the local authority, subject to law. Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that the 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 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 of staff assigned to specific work areas in each local authority, is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from each local authority.
344. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will respond to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (the RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the RTA to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
During the first 6 months of a tenancy, a landlord may terminate the tenancy by serving a notice of termination (NoT) in compliance with the RTA, without stating a reason for the termination.
In general, after 6 months, a landlord may not serve a NoT except in very clearly defined circumstances. Section 34 of the RTA provides that the landlord must state in the NoT the reason the tenancy is being terminated and the NoT will not be valid unless that reason relates to one or more of the following:
• the tenant has failed to comply with the obligations (other than the obligation to pay rent) of the tenancy;
• the tenant has failed to comply with the obligation to pay rent under the tenancy;
• the dwelling is no longer suited to the needs of the occupying household;
• the landlord intends to sell the dwelling within the next 9 months;
• the landlord requires the dwelling for own or family member occupation;
• vacant possession is required for substantial refurbishment/renovation of the dwelling; and/or
• the landlord intends to change the use of the dwelling.
In addition, all NoTs must be copied to the RTB at the same time as being served to the tenant and will be invalid if not so copied.
Landlords are also required to give varying periods of termination notice depending on the duration of the tenancy.
|
Duration of a Tenancy |
Termination Notice Period |
|
Less than 6 months |
90 days |
|
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
152 days |
|
Not less than 1 year but less than 7 years |
180 days |
|
Not less than 7 years but less than 8 years |
196 days |
|
Not less than 8 years |
224 days |
If a tenant feels that a Notice of Termination served by their landlord is invalid and/or that the landlord has breached their obligations, the tenant may refer a dispute to the RTB for resolution. Please see the links below for RTB guidance on how a landlord may terminate a tenancy and how to refer a dispute for resolution -
www.rtb.ie/registration-and-compliance/ending-a-tenancy/how-a-landlord-can-end-a-tenancy;
www.rtb.ie/dispute-resolution-services/guide-to-disputes-resolution.
On 10 June 2025, the Government approved policy measures including modifications to rent controls to come into effect on 1 March 2026 in order to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and keep existing landlords in the market. The changes agreed will also provide significantly stronger tenancy protections and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further private investment in the rental market across the country.
On 14 October 2025, Government approved the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025. This legislation is now subject to priority legal drafting by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently conducting it pre legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Bill.
For existing tenancies (i.e. those in place on 28 February 2026), landlords will continue to have the right to terminate a tenancy in line with the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 (RTA), as they apply on 28 February 2026. The changes from 1 March 2026 cannot be applied retrospectively.
Further information on the impending changes is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/government-reforms-to-the-rental-sector-starting-1-march-2026/.
A detailed communications campaign will be undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with the RTB, before the introduction of the new legislative measures from 1 March 2026.
[Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030: An Action Plan on Housing Supply and Targeting Homelessness], sets out the Governments action plan on housing supply and targeting homelessness. In recent years, Government has introduced several schemes to help people to buy or rent homes. The cost rental sector commenced in Ireland as a new form of rental tenure in 2021. The introduction of a cost-based rental model was a radical and systemic reform of the rental system. Cost rental homes provide a secure long-term accommodation option for those whose earnings place them above the income threshold for social housing or housing supports but who find it difficult to afford private rents. Since 2021, approximately 4,500 cost rental homes have been provided. Crucially, Delivering Homes, Building Communities focuses on ensuring that a robust Starter Homes for Rent programme will expand cost rental as a tenure option and have a moderating impact on the wider rental market, placing downward pressure on private market rents over the longer term.
Promoting homeownership, protecting renters and making the purchase and rental of homes more affordable is central to the Plan. Key actions to support affordable home ownership include measures to deliver an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports each year, under the Starter Homes Programme; expanding the role and remit of the Land Development Agency; and the continued support for homeownership through the Help to Buy Scheme and First Home Scheme.
Key actions to help renters include providing rent controls on a national basis; reforming the current system of Rent Pressure Zones to promote new investment in the rental market; introducing legislation to provide stronger protections for tenants; strengthening the regulation of the private rental sector by the Residential Tenancies Board; publishing a rent price register and increased regulation of the short-term letting sector. All of these actions are being progressed. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025 came into operation on 20 June 2025 to immediately extend and expand the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to cover the entire country until 28 February 2026. This ensured that all tenancies nationally were protected from rent increases exceeding 2% pending the introduction of national rent controls in 2026.
Further Government measures introduced to support renters include the increase in the tax credit for renters under Budget 2025 to a maximum of €1,000 for each renter in a household. Budget 2026 extends the Rent Tax Credit, which was due to expire at the end of 2025, for a further three years, to the end of 2028.
345. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Mayo County Council has delivered only 3% of its 2025 social housing target to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67927/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra346. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which Mayo County Council will meet its cumulative Housing for All target of 730 units by 2026, given that only 3% of this year's target has been delivered to date and only 304 units were delivered against a target of 395 in 2022-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67928/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra347. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will direct Mayo County Council to publish a quarterly dashboard of housing delivery progress, including commencements, completions, and pipeline projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67929/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 346 and 347 together.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. Mayo County Council's Plan has been published on their own website at the following link: www.mayo.ie/en-ie/your-council/services/housing-services/social-housing/housing-delivery-action-plan.
Details on Mayo County Council’s social housing delivery progress are available in the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which is published by my Department on a quarterly basis. The CSR provides details on social housing developments and their location that have commenced onsite, have completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for quarter two 2025. Data for quarter three is currently being collated. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: 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 etc. at this link: https://data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2024.
According to the latest CSR, there were 483 homes at various stages of design and procurement in Mayo at the end of June 2025, including 109 homes onsite.
My Department also publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, on a local authority basis. This data is available to the end of Q2 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Further housing data, including data on planning permissions, commencements and new dwelling completions is published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on a quarterly basis and is available on the CSO website at Housing Hub - Central Statistics Office www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/hubs/p-hh/housinghub/.
Typically social housing delivery accelerates as the year the progresses, with most delivery occurring in the last quarter each year.
My Department issued Mayo County Council sanction for an additional 11 posts for the delivery of social housing projects and my Department proactively engages with all local authorities, approved housing bodies and all stakeholders to increase social housing delivery.
348. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households on the social housing waiting list and transfer list in County Mayo for 2025 and the past five years; the way these compared to the 1,311 households recorded in April 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67930/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).
The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2024, is available on my Department's website, along with all summaries since 2011 at [www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/].
The 2024 Summary shows that there were 59,941 households qualified for social housing whose need had not yet been met nationally. Details of households qualified for social housing support by local authority, including Mayo are included in tables 1.1 in the reports.
The key figure reported in the SSHA is referred to as ‘net need’. Net need is the total number of households qualified for social housing support whose need for support is not being met. This total excludes duplicate applications, those in receipt of social housing support and households on a transfer list. Therefore, my Department does not hold the data requested on transfer lists, which is available from local authorities directly.
The SSHA 2025 process is currently underway and I expect to publish the summary report before the end of Q1 2026.
349. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has identified staffing shortages and internal bottlenecks in Mayo County Council's planning office as a cause of the 43% fall in new housing completions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67931/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 Management Agency 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, my Department conveyed approval to the filling of an initial 100 posts, subsequently increased to 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 56 graduate planner posts and 56 staff officer posts to support the Planning function within local authorities.
To date, under these supports, the following additional planning staff were approved for Mayo County Council:
Mayo County Council
Phase 1: 3 x Staff (Executive Planner, Executive Technician and Staff Officer)
Phase 2a: 2 x Graduate Planners
Phase 2b: 2 x Staff Officers
Consideration is currently being given to a business case received by the LGMA for a phase 3 of supports for further planning positions within the local government sector which will include a summer internship programme in 2026. This business case is being examined by the Department in light of the funding allocations for 2026. Engagement is ongoing with the LGMA with regard to this business case.
On 15 October 2024, my Department published a Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector. This Action Plan provides a detailed roadmap to increase the pool of planning and related expertise needed to ensure a planning system fit for future needs. It sets out 14 high-level actions that provide a coordinated pathway to ensure a sustainable pipeline of planning and related expertise into the future, addressing the areas of education, recruitment and retention, as well as measures to encourage greater innovation and efficiency.
Funding was secured in Budget 2025 to support delivery of the Action Plan and a Steering Group was established to coordinate and oversee the development of this Action Plan. This group remains in place to oversee the implementation and ongoing review of the Action Plan. Five Working Groups, the members of which are key stakeholders, have been established to progress grouped actions in the areas of education, national recruitment, international recruitment, system reform and innovation and efficiency. All of these working groups have met a number of times and the work of the groups is progressing well.
The occupation of town planner has now been added to the Critical Skills Occupation List (Action 9 of the Ministerial Action Plan) which will allow eligible non-EEA professionals from outside of Europe to now benefit from streamlined employment permit processes, making it easier for Irish employers to recruit and retain international talent in this vital sector. This addition is a decisive step to addressing planning resource shortages and reinforcing the capacity of our planning system to help meet current and future needs. A graduate planner recruitment campaign (Action 4 of the Ministerial Action Plan) was launched on 13 May 2025 to attract graduate planners into Ireland’s Local Authorities, which was supported by my Department.
A copy of the Action Plan can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/51194-ministerial-action-plan-on-planning-resources-october-2024/.
It should be noted, that under 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. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities, including taking account of payroll costs in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.
