Written Answers Nos. 391-410
392. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount expended by his Department and by each agency for which he is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease see below details of expenditure by my Department on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the budgeted advertising expenditure for 2026.
At all times value for money is a critical consideration when engaging in paid advertising.
Regarding bodies and agencies under my Department’s remit, these matters are operational matters for the agencies themselves.
|
2025 actual expenditure on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants |
€402,231.45 |
|
2026 budgeted advertising expenditure |
€780,000.00 |
All figures are inclusive of VAT.
393. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether she was informed of any proposal by RTÉ to alter the use, governance, or charging structure of the RTÉ defined benefit pension scheme; the date on which she was so informed; the nature of any consent sought or given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11368/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra394. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the oversight mechanisms in place within her Department to ensure that pension assets accrued for the benefit of contributors are not used, directly or indirectly, to offset operational or legacy costs of a public service broadcaster; and whether those mechanisms were engaged in relation to RTÉ in the past five years. [11369/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra395. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether her Department has sought or received any legal advice regarding the permissibility of charging broadcaster costs to a pension scheme sponsored by a public body; and if so, whether she will outline the conclusions reached.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11370/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether she accepts that any perception of interference with pension funds undermines public confidence in RTÉ governance; and what steps she is taking to ensure transparency and accountability in the broadcaster’s treatment of deferred pay and pension obligations. [11371/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 394, 395 and 396 together.
My oversight of the RTÉ Superannuation Scheme (RTÉSA) is governed by section 91 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which among other provisions enables RTÉ to make a superannuation scheme or schemes and make amendments to a scheme or schemes, subject to my approval and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalization. In line with section 2.13 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies: Remuneration and Superannuation (2021), my Department seeks the advice of the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) on any proposed Scheme Regulation amendments or pension increases that have been submitted to me. I consider carefully the NewERA advice and recommendations when deciding on whether to approve these proposals and submit them to DPER for the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure.
I can confirm that my officials received correspondence from RTÉ on 14 October 2025 seeking approval for a proposed amendment to Regulation 20 of the RTÉSA Regulations, with the effect that expenses incurred by the RTÉSA and its Trustees be met out of RTÉSA assets. My officials sought advice from NewERA on the matter and I am advised that the NewERA report on the proposal was recently received. My officials are considering the analysis and recommendations of the NewERA report and will be making a submission to me on the matter shortly. My Department has not sought or received legal advice on this matter. I can confirm that the proposal to amend Regulation 20 of the RTÉSA Regulations was raised in 2020, with consideration of the matter continuing in subsequent years, and that the above governance arrangements and procedures were adhered to on those occasions.
I am satisfied that the existing legislative provisions, consultation procedure with NewERA, and approval process involving both Ministers ensures accountability and transparency in respect of appropriate oversight of RTÉ pension schemes. The day-to-day administration of RTÉ pension schemes is a matter for the Trustees of the Schemes.
398. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress of the implementation of the National Counter Disinformation Strategy; the actions taken or planned to improve the digital and media literacy of citizens to counter the potential for radicalisation of individuals online; the initiative or steps Coimisiún na Meán has taken or plans to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11488/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Counter Disinformation Strategy was published in April 2025. The strategy sets out 9 commitments and 36 actions to help counter this complex problem.
A Steering Committee, chaired by my Department, was established in June 2025 to drive and monitor implementation and it has met on four occasions since. A broader Coordination Group, also chaired by my Department, has been established to support the Steering Committee and facilitate broader consultation and insights. The membership of both groups along with minutes of meetings and terms of reference as well as a recent update on progress are available on the Department's website.
Under Commitment 4 of the Strategy, Coimisiún na Meán will work closely with Media Literacy Ireland (MLI), the Irish hub of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) at DCU FuJo and others on a range of actions that will help empower people with media literacy skills.
Progress highlights include the first MLI/EDMO Ireland Disinformation Forum held on 23 June 2025, the MLI Annual Conference held in November 2025 and DCU FuJo’s submission of a large-scale EU funding proposal for a project on youth radicalisation, including conspiracism, misogyny and anti-migrant hate, examining the role of disinformation.
In fulfilment of the Programme for Government commitment to support implementation of the Strategy, I secured €1.1 million in Budget 2026 which will be allocated in support of media literacy initiatives, fact-checking and research, all of which are identified as commitments and actions in the Strategy. My officials are currently engaging with Coimisiún na Meán regarding the disbursement of this funding and I look forward to further developments on this in the near future.
400. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when Eir pensioners will receive the rise that is overdue in their pensions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12236/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983, as amended, and section 10 of the eircom superannuation scheme rules, my Department last year received a request for a pension increase of 2.1% for Eir pensioners, in respect of both pre and post vesting day service, with effect from 01 July 2025.
My officials sought the advice of the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) on this pension increase proposal, who have now submitted their report. My officials will shortly make a submission to me on the matter and I will carefully consider the NewERA recommendations before making any determination on whether to approve the request. The consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation will also be required for the pension increase in the event that I give my approval.
The process to consider pension increase requests in respect of the Eir superannuation scheme and in respect of pension schemes of commercial state bodies is a rigorous, multi-stage process requiring formal NewERA advice and consideration by both Ministers. Accordingly, it is not possible to set out a definite timeframe as to when a final decision will be made on the Eir pension increase request.
401. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if clarification can be provided regarding the position of owners of short-term lettings who have been involved in short-term lettings for longer than seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11286/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has drafted the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026.
In 2019, my Department brought in Regulations, (SI 235/2019), to provide for new arrangements for Short Term Lets within Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ). The regulations provided for the following:
• Short term letting is defined as the letting of a house or apartment, or part of a house or apartment, for any period not exceeding 14 days.
• Homesharing (the letting of a room or rooms in a person’s principal private residence) will continue to be permissible on an unrestricted basis and be exempted from the new planning requirements.
• Homesharers will be allowed to sub-let their entire principle private residence (house or apartment) on a short term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days where they are temporarily absent from their home. Where the 90 day threshold is exceeded, change of use planning permission will be required.
• Where a person owns a property in a RPZ which is not their principal private residence and intends to let it for short term letting purposes, s/he will be required to apply for a change of use planning permission unless the property already has a specific planning permission to be used for tourism or short-term letting purposes.
With the nationwide extension of RPZs in June 2025, the legislative requirement to gain planning permission for short-term letting use, as outlined above, has also been extended nationwide.
It is and will continue to be the case that where it can be demonstrated that a use has continued with no planning enforcement taken for a period of at least 7 years, it is classed as established but unauthorised use. In such cases an application for retention of planning permission may be submitted to seek to continue the use.
Following the approval received from Government on the 15 April 2025 to generally preclude new planning permissions for Short-Term Lets in large towns and cities, my Department is working to give effect to this decision. This involves a review of the current Planning Acts with a view to remove references to Rent Pressure Zones in respect of short-term lets.
To ensure that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for Short-Term Lets, my Department is currently developing a National Planning Statement (NPS) for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. It will consider a variety of factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed short term let and balancing housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development.
It should be noted that in advance of the publication of the NPS, local authorities can continue to make decisions on applications for change of use in respect of short-term letting properties. The decision of the local authority will be informed by local policy contained in the city and county development plans and local area plans, where applicable.
A recent Circular SPI 01/2026 Short-Term Letting and the Planning System (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/circulars/spi-012026-short-term-letting-and-the-planning-system/) issued by my Department on 23 January 2026, to all local authorities, sets out the current legislative and policy framework for the regulation of short-term letting.
402. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the 20-year claw back for owners who seek to remediate their properties that are not their primary home, under the defective concrete block grant scheme. [11131/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the current grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The Grant Scheme applies to the owners of dwellings located in designated local authority areas which are damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks.
The dwelling must be:
a) the individual's principal private residence, that is, a house which an individual owns (or co-owns) and occupies as his or her only or main residence.
b) a rented dwelling with a registered tenancy that was registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on or before 1 November 2021, subject to a maximum of one rental property per household.
Relevant RTB registered properties are subject to charging order that creates a charge over the relevant dwelling, equal to the payments made to the landlord who is the relevant owner for a period of 20 years.
I currently have no plans to amend these conditions as set down by the Oireachtas.
403. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the planned new fire station, for Bunclody, County Wexford. [11134/26]
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 & 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.
Project consideration stages from a Department perspective include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of a site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of a preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
In December 2020, Minister Darragh O'Brien announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received.
The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.
At that time Wexford County Council indicated that a new fire station at New Ross to be their number one priority with the redevelopment of Gorey Fire Station considered the Council's second priority.
A new fire station at New Ross was opened by Minister O’Brien in November 2022. A comprehensive redevelopment of Gorey Fire Station fire was completed in the summer of 2024.
My Department will work closely with Wexford County Council to progress their identified priority infrastructural project, within the context of the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for capital funding during the 2026 – 2030 Fire services Capital programme.
404. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases, by each local authority, currently awaiting a decision from Tailte Éireann on rates valuation; and the number which have been with Tailte Éireann for six months or longer. [11135/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency and provides a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Tailte Éireann is independent in the exercise of its valuation functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, and I and my Department have no function in decisions in this regard.
By way of background, Tailte Éireann has overall responsibility under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, for the maintenance of all Valuation Lists used by Local Authorities in the calculation of rates liability. This maintenance is carried out under a statutory process known as Revision.
Revision is the process through which properties are assessed for rating purposes. Existing rateable properties may have their valuations revised and new properties may have their valuations entered on the relevant Valuation List for the first time.
Revision applications may be made by an occupier of a property, a local authority, an interest holder in a property or an occupier of a property that appears on a valuation list in relation to any other property that is situate in the local authority area to which that list relates. In most cases, Revision applications are made by the relevant local authority.
It is understood from Tailte Éireann that, as of 6 February 2026, there are 1,990 Revision cases pending where a Proposed Valuation Certificate (PVC) is yet to issue. 413 (21%) of these cases are with Tailte Éireann for more than six months. Of these, 85% (353) are with Tailte Éireann for between six months and one year. The table below gives a breakdown of these figures by the relevant local authority as requested.
In addition, there are 468 Revision applications which have been recently received by Tailte Éireann that are currently undergoing pre-validation checks before entering the Revision process.
I have been assured by Tailte Éireann that due to recent targeted recruitment efforts and process improvements, the Valuation function is now fully staffed and intends to achieve its target of having all PVCs issued on Revision cases within six months of their receipt later this year.
405. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount which has been paid to each local authority to meet the requirements of the firefighter pay deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11136/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are implementing the terms of a September 2023 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement with retained firefighters, in conjunction with an accepted Labour Court recommendation of February 2025, on an uplift to the retainer payment made to retained firefighters, that now provides guaranteed fixed minimum earnings in excess of €24,500 for new recruits (as 1 Feb 2026). That guaranteed payment is in addition to any operational activity based earnings. It should be noted that:
• local authorities are currently transitioning Retained Fire Services payments structure from quarterly to fortnightly payments, with an expectation of full implementation in 2026;
• an equivalent of 40 hours fixed per annum Community Fire Safety (CFS) payment is paid annually;
• retained firefighters have access to an additional 40 hours annually for undertaking Community Fire Safety activities (a bank of 480 hrs per station);
• standard hourly pay rates apply from 08:00 to 19:59 Mon to Fri;
• premium pay (double time) hourly pay rates apply from 20:00 to 07:59 and weekends/public holidays;
• two hours per week, (station drills), are paid at the premium rate (double time);
• retained firefighters are free to hold full or part-time primary employment;
• retained firefighters are guaranteed to receive minimum attendance payments equivalent to 75 hours at the basic rate annually, regardless of station activity;
• the variability in pay after the primary fixed elements (i.e. retainer, weekly drill, fixed CFS payment) is dependent on the number of incidents in both the station and the actual number that each individual firefighter attends.
Retained firefighters have secured improved work life balance through a new model of service provision of structured time off with a 24 week-on, 24 week-flexible roster with four weeks’ annual leave per annum.
This model provides for the option, while placing no obligation on retained firefighters, to attend incidents on their week-flexible. This is equivalent to a 50% reduction in incident attendance obligations from the pre-WRC agreement position.
A national standard level of 12 crew per retained fire station has been established. This rise in crewing numbers equates to an approximate increase of 20% in retained firefighter numbers from the pre-WRC agreement position.
The recruitment of additional retained firefighters is helping to build higher levels of capacity and resilience in our retained fire service. These measures strengthen both the response capability and fire safety across the communities served by a network of 201 retained fire stations.
In the period since the WRC agreement, September 2023 to November 2025, 629 new recruits have successfully entered local authority fire services showing the success of the revised terms and conditions achieved by retained firefighters in addressing retained fire service recruitment concerns.
The financial implications of supporting the retained firefighters WRC agreement and subsequent Labour Court recommendations are significant. Constrained Local authority finances have meant a significant proportion of the additional payroll costs must be met from additional central Exchequer funding. Since 2023, my Department has sought additional funding through the annual Estimates process with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPEIPSRD). These additional funds substantially support the implementation of the WRC and Labour court mandated improvements to the terms and conditions of retained firefighters. With payments in excess of €72.8 million made to local authorities in the period September 2023 to December 2025. This support is available specifically in respect of the WRC and Labour Court agreement, recognising the successful outcome from in resolving the retention and recruitment issues in the retained fire service.
The table below shows the total Payments made from 2023 to December 2025 to retained fire authorities.
406. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the overheads which must be paid by each local authority, to meet central management costs relating to Uisce Éireann; if all funding is recouped from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11137/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraModern and efficient water services are essential to the daily lives of our citizens and to our economy. The Government’s vision is to deliver a world-class public water services authority which will provide best practice, cost effective water services and support economic development and job creation in local communities.
Central to this vision is transferring the operation and control of public water services from 31 local authorities to direct Uisce Éireann responsibility. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) existed between Uisce Éireann and Local Authorities which provided for Uisce Éireann to pay to local authorities the full costs of service provision including overheads. These Service Level Agreements ceased and since 2024 my Department has been making payments to local authorities for relevant overheads that were previously recovered from Uisce Éireann.
My Department has and continues to engage with key stakeholders including local authorities to address any issues raised and to ensure a smooth transition for the provision of water services takes place. The transformation programme is continuing and is due to be completed by the end of this year.
407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will provide a directive to local authorities to increase the fresh start mortgage initiative, in line with rising property prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11153/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders to purchase or build a home. The loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. A Fresh Start principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan, this means that the following categories of persons who have previously owned a property are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan:
• Applicant(s) who previously purchased or built a dwelling/dwellings, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom he or she was in an intimate and committed relationship are eligible under the Fresh Start principle where this relationship has ended, and they have divested themselves of their interest in the previous dwelling/dwellings.
• Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential dwelling/dwellings , but has been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. However a separate assessment of creditworthiness will be conducted by the underwriters. This applies when the applicant has exited the insolvency/bankruptcy proceedings.
This Fresh Start principle is an eligibility qualification for the Local Authority Home Loan, applicants either meet the criteria set out above and become eligible to apply for the loan or do not meet the criteria, as such there is no limit as such to increase on the Fresh Start principle.
The Programme for Government 2025 and Delivering Homes: Building Communities commit to reviewing house price and income thresholds of the LAHL to ensure that it remains an accessible route to home ownership in the current housing market. This review is now complete. Any changes to the LAHL scheme arising from this review will be announced in due course.
408. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a canteen in his Department headquarters; and if the Minister can provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin. [11185/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department headquarters is located in the Custom House, Dublin. There is a canteen facility in that location which is managed by a licensee. In accordance with the license the licensee purchases all meat products from a number of Irish suppliers and all their products are marked and labelled as produce of Ireland.
409. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether eligibility for the local authority home loan adequately accounts for demonstrated repayment capacity, particularly in cases where applicants are single-income households due to illness or disability; and if he will outline any plans to revise assessment criteria to ensure that households with sustainable repayment capacity are not excluded solely on the basis of income composition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11228/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra410. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that single-income households are routinely offered lower loan amounts and less favourable terms by commercial lenders, notwithstanding repayment capacity; and whether the local authority home loan scheme is intended to address this market failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11229/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra411. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has examined the interaction between disability-related income supports and eligibility for the local authority home loan, in circumstances where the withdrawal of a disability allowance results in a household being treated as single-income and subsequently excluded from affordable credit schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11230/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra412. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he considers it equitable that a modest disability allowance may be counted as income for means-testing purposes in some contexts, yet the absence of that payment results in households being excluded from affordability supports such as the local authority home loan; if he will review this apparent inconsistency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11231/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra413. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the risk assessment underpinning the local authority home loan distinguishes between lack of repayment capacity and changed household circumstances arising from long-term illness or disability; and if not, whether he will commit to refining this distinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11232/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra414. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether the local authority home loan is intended solely for households unable to access credit at all, or whether it is also designed to support households who can access credit only on unsustainable or significantly less favourable terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11233/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra415. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has conducted, or plans to conduct, a review of groups disproportionately excluded from the local authority home loan, including households affected by disability or long-term illness; and if so, when this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11234/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414 and 415 together.
The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders to purchase or build a home. The loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. To qualify for the loan applicants must demonstrate that they are unable to secure finance from two commercial lenders for the amount sought under the LAHL, applicants who have received sufficient offers of credit from a commercial lender are ineligible for the LAHL.
The policies of commercial lenders regarding the credit amounts and terms offered to individual borrowers are a matter for the lenders concerned.
The LAHL permits applications from both single applicants and joint applicants subject to maximum income limits. Currently single applicants can earn up to a maximum of €70,000 while joint applicants can earn a maximum of €85,000 to be eligible for the LAHL. Joint applicants can have one or more incomes, e.g. and a single income joint applicant household may still be eligible for the loan.
The amount of money that may be borrowed under the scheme is calculated based on the level of an applicant’s net income determined as available for repayment purposes. It is important, both for the lender and the borrower, that a mortgage is only granted to applicants who have a sufficient repayment capacity to repay the mortgage.
State benefit payments including disability allowance are generally not considered as part of repayment capacity. Exceptions are the state, widow(er), blind and invalidity pensions paid by the Department of Social Protection. It is important to note that the presence or absence of disability payments does not in itself determine eligibility for the LAHL, what matters is the overall repayment capacity of the household, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met. There are no plans to revise these criteria.
Both the Programme for Government 2025 and Delivering Homes: Building Communities commit to reviewing house price and income thresholds of the Local Authority Home Loan to ensure that it remains an accessible route to home ownership in the current housing market. The outcome of this review will addressed in due course.
