Written Answers Nos. 411-421
416. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he acknowledges that households who were compelled to sell their home following the onset of a spouse's disability or long-term illness may be excluded from the fresh start principle and other housing supports through no fault of their own; whether a review of this cohort will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11235/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 629 of 27 January which sets out the position in this matter.
417. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Housing Agency did not proceed with the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the request for the report to be carried out will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11274/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme was introduced on 1 April 2023 for tenants in private rental homes who do not qualify for social housing supports but who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord has served a valid Notice of Termination due to an intention to sell the property. The Local Authority conducts the initial assessment for eligibility of the tenant for this scheme and refers potential cases to the Housing Agency, which is responsible for administering and managing the scheme on behalf of my Department.
Before making an offer, the Housing Agency considers whether the overall capital cost of the property is within the Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) issued by my Department for each Local Authority area and whether necessary repairs and upgrades can be safely completed with tenants in situ. These ACGs are updated by my Department on an annual basis and provide cost guidelines for the acquisition by housing authorities of second hand properties for the provision of social housing. The same ACGs are used by the Housing Agency for the acquisition of homes under the CRTiS scheme.
My Department does not have any direct involvement in the assessment of individual applications and cannot comment on individual cases including engagement between the Housing Agency and the landlord on the potential acquisition of the home. I understand, however, that some of the main reasons why properties are not approved for acquisition by the Housing Agency under the scheme include vendor expectations of the value of the property being in excess of the Housing Agency's independent valuation, the market value of the property is in excess of the ACGs for the relevant Local Authority area, the condition of the property and the amount of works required to bring it to an acceptable standard make it too difficult for the Housing Agency to pursue the acquisition further or the vendor withdraws or wants to take the property to the market.
As a result, not every home will be eligible for acquisition within the constraints of these factors. The Housing Agency is mindful of the purpose of the CRTiS scheme, which is to assist tenants at risk of homelessness, the need to ensure value for money in the expenditure of public funds, and the goal that acquired homes be suitable for use as Cost Rental housing over the long term.
I am primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy and for the preparation of legislation and guidelines in relation to housing nationally. I am therefore precluded from involvement in any individual cases. Any queries regarding an individual CRTiS application should be directed to the Housing Agency.
Tenants at risk of homelessness should continue to engage directly with the Housing Department in their Local Authority area who can advise them in relation to their immediate and long-term accommodation options.
418. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons domiciliary care allowance is treated as household income for the purposes of assessing eligibility and contribution levels under the housing assistance payment scheme; whether he acknowledges that this places an additional financial burden on families caring for children with disabilities; if he will consider excluding this payment from HAP income assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11281/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Question No. 689 of 4 February 2026 which sets out the position in the matter.
419. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households currently on the social housing waiting list in Kildare south; the number of people who have been removed from the list since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11300/26]
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/.
Details of households qualified for social housing support for each local authority are included in tables 1.1 in the report. The report shows that there were 3,687 households qualified for social housing in Kildare County Council whose need was unmet in 2024. SSHA data is collected and reported on at local authority level.
Complete data on the number of households who have been removed from the list since 2022 is not available. However, data is available for 2024 and shows that 1,057 applications were closed in Kildare between the SSHA 2023 and 2024 count dates. The main reason why applications were closed was because households secured local authority housing, AHB housing, HAP or RAS. Other reasons for removal were, change in household circumstances, no longer qualifying and failure to engage with the local authority following a number of attempts.
Part 7 of S.I. No. 84/2011 - Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, sets out how local authorities may review applicant and waiting list files throughout the year. The SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists.
The SSHA 2025 process is currently underway and I expect to publish the summary report before the end of Q1 2026.
420. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the homes delivered over the past five years, by local authority; the number of units transferred to local authorities for social and affordable homes under Part V agreements; whether these units were delivered as part of each development or in a separate site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/26]
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 (AHBs) in each local authority including Part V delivery. This data is available to the end of Q3 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at this link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Additonal data in relation to Part V delivery is also published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics/.
The Q4 2025 statistics are currently being collated and verified and will be published in due course, following the usual timeline of Q4 publications. For reference the Q4 2024 statistics were published in April 2025.
Social and affordable delivery data is collated and verified on a unit level basis. Further information on sites delivering Part V units may be available from local authorities directly.
421. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [11355/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested relating to the amount expended by my Department on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
Bodies under the Aegis of DHLGH |
Oireachtas email |
|
An Coimisiún Pleanála |
|
|
An Fóram Uisce |
|
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
|
|
Construction Industry Register Ireland |
|
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
|
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
|
|
Heritage Council |
|
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
|
|
Housing Finance Agency |
|
|
Land Development Agency |
|
|
Local Government Management Agency |
|
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
|
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
|
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
|
|
Property Services Appeal Board |
|
|
Property Services Regulatory Authority |
|
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
|
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
|
|
Tailte Éireann |
|
|
Uisce Éireann |
|
|
Valuation Tribunal |
|
|
Waterways Ireland |
