Mattie McGrath
Ceist:357. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the capital project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16220/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (357)
Freagraí scríofa
The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide five general classrooms, three special education tuition (SET) rooms, one art room, one project store, one graphics room, and one music room, two technology preparation areas, one science laboratory with an associated preparation area, a four-classroom special educational needs (SEN) base. and the conversion of existing accommodation to create one general classroom. The project was devolved to the Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB) for delivery.
The project was approved to progress to Stage 2b (detailed design) in Q1 2025. My Department are currently awaiting submission of the stage 2b report by Tipperary ETB. Once submitted this report will be reviewed by my Department in accordance with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines. All projects, including this one, are subjected to the required due diligence as specified in my Department's infrastructure guidelines.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard there will be a strong special education dimension to project rollout.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and Annual September Accommodation Needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027 there will be construction work at circa. 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide circa 57,000 additional and modernised school places with a strong SEN focus in all projects.
My department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have also published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027.
The first tranche of 105 school building projects includes 80 large scale and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs particularly to support special education needs provision.
Firstly, to facilitate the 45 projects that are currently already at tender stage (Stage 3) so that they can progress to construction as smoothly as possible over the course of 2026 and 2027. Secondly, to facilitate 35 projects that currently have planning permission and are at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b) and have been prioritised to meet urgent requirements from a special needs perspective or to provide additional capacity to cater for demographics or to address very significant condition issues at the schools.
I recognise that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects.
As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by my Department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at this school will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Ceisteanna (358, 359, 360, 361, 362)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether, in light of the proposal by RTÉ to amend regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme to permit scheme and trustee expenses to be met from scheme assets, he will now seek independent legal advice regarding the compatibility of such an amendment with trust law principles, pensions legislation and her statutory oversight role under section 91 of the Broadcasting Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:359. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the estimated annual financial impact, as advised to her Department or by NewERA, of the proposed amendment to regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme; the categories of expenditure envisaged; whether any retrospective charging of costs to scheme assets has been proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15884/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:360. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether the proposal to amend regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme has been formally submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for consent; if not, the stage currently reached in the statutory approval process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:361. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether, as part of his oversight responsibilities in respect of RTÉ superannuation schemes, his Department has engaged with or received any correspondence from the Pensions Authority concerning the proposed amendment to regulation 20 of the RTÉ superannuation scheme in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15886/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:362. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has issued, or intends to issue, any policy guidance to RTÉ regarding the protection of pension scheme assets from being used, directly or indirectly, to offset operational or legacy costs of the broadcaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15887/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 359, 360, 361 and 362 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 Digitalisation. 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.
RTÉ is the sponsor of the RTÉSA and accordingly, my Department has corresponded with RTÉ in the past regarding this Scheme and will reply to the current Regulation amendment request in due course. The Department has received NewERA advice on the proposed amendment and independent legal advice has not been sought. The request to amend Regulation 20 of the RTÉSA Regulations is currently under consideration by Department officials and has not been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. I understand that there has been no engagement or correspondence with the Pensions Authority on this matter within the last five years. As the matter remains under consideration by my Department, I am not in a position to share details of estimated annual costs associated with administration of the RTÉSA, details of Trustee costs, or other details of the amendment proposal.
Question No. 359 answered with Question No. 358.
Question No. 360 answered with Question No. 358.
Question No. 361 answered with Question No. 358.
Question No. 362 answered with Question No. 358.
Sports Organisations
Ceisteanna (363)
Peter 'Chap' Cleere
Ceist:363. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15945/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My role as Minister of State for sport involves occasional direct engagement with NGBs and I met with Rowing Ireland on 16 July 2025 to discuss its intention to bid to host the 2027 World Coastal Rowing Championships.
I am aware of the recent issues relating to Rowing Ireland, including the organisation’s recent appearance before the Joint Oireachtas committee.
Minister O'Donovan and I are currently considering draft terms of reference for an independent review of the process, procedures and timelines relating to those issues. It is intended to progress this in the coming weeks.
Sports Funding
Ceisteanna (364)
John Connolly
Ceist:364. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide the full list of grants provided per project, including the detail of where top-up funding was provided, under the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16060/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details of allocations to projects under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund are available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/campaigns/large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.
Sports Organisations
Ceisteanna (365)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:365. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to urgently assist a club in County Kerry in respect of a legal matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16110/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised that this matter is in hand as the Chief State Solicitor's Office has, on 20 February, sent the relevant legal documentation to solicitors acting on behalf of the club in question.
Legislative Process
Ceisteanna (366)
James Geoghegan
Ceist:366. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 387 of 19 February 2026, if the information requested can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The details sought are set out in the reply below. This was set out in the reply to the question referred to by the Deputy. However, the reply issued late as it took some time to compile the information. While information in relation to non-commenced provisions is readily available, this is not the case in relation to provisions which provide for regulations, where the introduction of regulations may be optional to the effective operation of the provision itself.
Details of the sections of enacted legislation that have not been commenced where the responsibility lies in me as Minister to commence that section are outlined in the table below.
|
Title of Legislation |
Sections Not Commenced |
|
Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act, 2011 |
Section 48 |
|
Telecommunications Services (Ducting and Cables) Act 2018 |
All Sections |
|
National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 |
Sections 49 (14), 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 65, and 66. |
|
Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 |
• Sections 36, 40, 49, 51, 52(b), 53, and 74.
• Section 47 of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 but only in so far as Part 8B of the Broadcasting Act 2009 as inserted by section 47 relates to a failure to comply with section 128B(1) or (2), or any rules made under section 128C. |
Details of the sections of enacted legislation which provide for the making of regulations by me as Minister that have not been made are outlined in the table below.
|
Title of Legislation |
Sections providing for the making of Regulations where Regulations have not been made |
|
Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 |
Section 95 |
|
Communications Regulations and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023 (No. 4 of 2023) |
Sections 6, 37, 41, 49, 74, 81, 82, 86, 87, 89, 94, 99 |
|
Telecommunications Services (Ducting and Cables) Act 2018 |
Sections 3 and 5 |
|
National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 |
Section 7 [which comprised subsections 7(1)(a) 7(1)(b) and 7(2)], and Section 68 (2)(a), which amends Section 3 of the 1994 Act. |
|
Broadcasting Act 2009 |
Section 33: • Subsection (1)(e) provides that the Minister may prescribe an additional body to which Coimisiún na Meán may disclose personal data in specified circumstances • Subsection (2)(e) provides that the Minister may prescribe circumstances under which Coimisiún na Meán may disclose personal date to specified bodies • Subsection (3B) provides that the Minister may make regulations prescribing suitable and specific measures for the processing of special categories of personal data under the section. |
Details of the sections of enacted legislation or secondary legislation which provide for the publication of guidelines by me as Minister that have not been published are outlined in the table below.
|
Title of Primary or Secondary Legislation |
Sections of Primary or Secondary legislation providing for the publication of guidelines where guidelines have not been published |
|
Communications Regulations and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023 No. 4 of 2023 |
Section 99 |
Invasive Species Policy
Ceisteanna (367)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:367. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review SI 374/2024 given concerns that have been raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, as well as the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024, all of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species.
The European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations (SI 374/2024) were introduced to update and strengthen the existing national legislative framework around invasive alien species, and to give effect to the EU IAS Regulation
Sika deer (Cervus Nippon) is listed as a non-native species (invasive species) subject to restrictions on the Third Schedule to the 2011 Regulations and as an invasive alien species on the First Schedule to the 2024 Regulations. It has recently been added to the invasive alien species of Union concern list, having been included in the most recent update to the Union list in July 2025.
Effective management of invasive alien species is essential to protecting our natural habitats and native species, as well as the benefits that flow from biodiversity. The European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations [SI 374/2024] provide the competent authorities with the tools to put this framework in place.
Invasive alien species of deer, such as Sika and Fallow deer, are dealt with through the interdepartmental Deer Management Strategy Group which brings together a range of national experts and stakeholders with a view to managing the impact of deer populations on our natural habitats. The latest report from the DMSG is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/press-releases/launch-of-deer-management-strategy-group-report/.
Rental Sector
Ceisteanna (368, 397)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:368. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, prior to the commencement of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme on 1 December 2023, his Department prepared any policy modelling, capacity assessment or impact analysis of potential participation levels among local authority tenants; whether such analysis informed Cabinet approval; and whether he will provide the aggregate findings [16002/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:397. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken any formal governance review of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme since its commencement on 1 December 2023; whether any briefing was prepared by his Department regarding scheme performance relative to projected uptake; and whether any policy modifications are under consideration arising from that review. [15968/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 397 together.
My Department provided for the extension of the Revenue Rent-a-Room Tax Relief Scheme to permit local authority tenancies access the scheme and worked closely with the City and County Management Association (CCMA) to introduce the 'Room for a Student - Local Authority Scheme'.
The scheme, which came into operation on 1 December 2023, is demand led, operated on an administrative basis by the local authorities and allows approved local authority tenants to rent out a room in their home to eligible third level students. The scheme was monitored for a period of 12 months, and data on the uptake of the scheme for the period December 2023 to December 2024 may be found in the table attached. More recent data on the take-up of the scheme can be obtained from individual local authorities.
My Department will continue to work with local authorities to support the administration of the scheme locally. I have no plans to review the scheme at this time.
Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme – Applications Dec 23- Dec 24
|
- |
Complete Applications |
Incomplete Applications |
Applications Refused |
Applications Approved |
|
Carlow County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork City Council |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Cork County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County Council |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
*Limerick City and County |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Louth County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford City and County |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wexford County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
9 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
*1 application to Limerick CCC was withdrawn by the applicant
Heritage Projects
Ceisteanna (369)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:369. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on Ireland's engagement with the Year of the Normans; and the activities planned. [16084/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Next year is The Year of the Normans, a pan-European initiative originating in the Normandy Region and involving various nations and regions across Europe where historically the Normans had a presence and where the legacy of that influence remains. Since government last year affirmed Ireland’s participation in the initiative, engagement has been steadily strengthening, coordinated by the National Monuments Service of my Department. A diverse cohort of stakeholders is now actively involved in devising a large number of projects. Our National Cultural Institutions are leading with exhibitions of our most important Norman collections planned by the National Library and National Museum. Various academic institutes and Local Authorities across the country are developing events, including conferences, publications, educational outreach, festivals and re-enactments, as well as research on this period.
Our much-loved and well-visited Norman monuments across the country- castles, abbeys, mottes, monasteries and cathedrals - will all play their part and I am grateful to the OPW and Local Authorities for their strong engagement with us, along with others from all over the country. Regular coordination meetings are being held, with Irish stakeholders along with Normandy colleagues to make connections between partners here and in Normandy and across and to support event development.
There will be a coordinated announcement this July in Normandy when the combined European programme of events will be unveiled, including that for Ireland. Ahead of that announcement, led by my Department, work will continue on encouraging further stakeholder participation and I am very confident there will be a strong programme of Irish events through 2027.
We have, through our National Monuments Service, recently joined the relevant structures of the Council of Europe to allow us, working closely with partners here and across mainland Europe, and in Northern Ireland and Britain, to develop a Norman Cultural Route. This Route will be a lasting legacy of the 2027 initiative that will become a key heritage tourism attraction in years to come, that will demonstrate - as all such Cultural Routes aim to - how the heritage of the different countries and cultures of Europe contributes to a shared and living cultural heritage.
Water Services
Ceisteanna (370)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:370. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Raheen group water scheme in County Clare requires planning permission to replace certain piping in their system before it can be taken in charge by Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15660/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The requirement for planning permission is a matter for the relevant planning authority.
Raheen Group Water Scheme in County Clare has been approved funding under my Department’s Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to facilitate its taking in charge by Uisce Éireann.
Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer who oversees the day-to-day implementation of MARWP and can provide up-to-date information on projects approved for funding, including any planning requirements. In this case, the officer at Clare County Council is available to provide information and can be contacted directly.
Water Services
Ceisteanna (371)
James O'Connor
Ceist:371. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the membership of the steering committee that takes charge of the DPI infrastructure between his Department and Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15662/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government decided, with effect from 1 January 2024, that Uisce Éireann, as the national water utility, is responsible for remediating developer-provided water and wastewater infrastructure (DPI) across the country.
To support the implementation of this decision, a Steering Group has been established to oversee governance and coordination. The Group is made up of senior officials from Uisce Éireann, the County and City Management Association (CCMA), representing local authorities, and my Department.
Its role is to provide strategic oversight of the follow-up to the Government decision and ensure effective coordination between all parties involved.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (372)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:372. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify eligibility criteria for a Local Authority home loan; if a person who is the primary earner and applicant must be in the same role for a period of two years or if continuous employment can mean that the person remained employed but changed jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15715/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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. The loan can be used for both the purchase of new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The primary earner on an application for a LAHL must have at least two years continuous employment in Ireland or Northern Ireland (this can be self-employment). Continuous employment does not need to be permanent, but broadly continuous in nature. This means that an applicant may have been in more than one employment over a two-year period; however, the break from employment cannot have been for more than 4 weeks.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (373)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:373. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the lead authority performance reports for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 2025 will be published; and to give a commitment to include new child presentations into homelessness in these reports including a cumulative figure for the period from 2016 to Quarter 4 2025. [15733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).
The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The report also includes the number of adults in emergency accommodation by age band and region. The most recently published data is in respect of December 2025. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/homelessness-data and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation's open data portal data.gov.ie/.
My Department also publishes quarterly Progress Reports which are based on quarterly Performance Reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. These quarterly Performance Reports include information on presentations to homeless services by single adult and family households who entered emergency accommodation as well as details on those exiting emergency accommodation into tenancies and the duration of stay in emergency accommodation. The most recent published data is in respect of the Q4 2025 Progress Report and is available on my Department’s website at the following link:www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/homeless-quarterly-progress-report-q4-2025/
Full reconciliation of the Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 Performance Report data is ongoing and it is expected that they will be published in the coming weeks.
The Housing Plan, Delivering Homes Building Communities commits to further enhancing reporting in relation to the use of local authority homeless emergency accommodation to allow for an expansion of the information gathered and increased analysis of the reasons driving new homeless presentations and the progress being made to support households to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy. Since Q3 2025 additional data on ‘children under 18’ in family households in terms of preventions and exits to secure tenancies has been included in the quarterly Progress and Performance Reports.
Derelict Sites
Ceisteanna (374, 375, 376, 377, 378)
Conor Sheehan
Ceist:374. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties and sites under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, by local authority for each of the years 2022 to 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15748/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraConor Sheehan
Ceist:375. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount outstanding in levies that were levied but not collected under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 between 2022 and 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15749/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraConor Sheehan
Ceist:376. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the implementation process and the exact timelines for the derelict property tax; the engagement he had with local authorities on the public of preliminary registers of derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15750/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraConor Sheehan
Ceist:377. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict properties, by local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15752/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraConor Sheehan
Ceist:378. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has received the responses from the local authorities yet; when the derelict sites levy collection data for 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15753/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 375, 376, 377 and 378 together.
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site as defined in the Act. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
Each local authority maintains a Derelict Sites Register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider are derelict under the Act. Sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register are subject to an annual Derelict Sites Levy of 7% of the market value of the property which will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.
Local Authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional areas. The figures requested are in the attached table from 2022 to 2024. The derelict sites returns for 2025 will be collected from the local authorities in Quarter 2 of 2026. Derelict Site returns for 2024 are also available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/annual-returns-for-2024-received-from-local-authorities-under-the-derelict-sites-act-1990/.
The placing of sites on the Derelict Sites Register and the collecting of levies on those sites is part of the overall process that Local Authorities undertake with the owners of derelict sites they identify. Local Authorities will engage directly with site owners in the early stages of the use of the Derelict Sites Act before the site is formally listed on the Register. This direct engagement can often lead to resolution of the dereliction issues by agreement between the Local Authority and the landowner involved, which can lead to significant variation in the number of sites being formally placed on the Register across local authorities. Local Authorities have been provided with additional resources, including Town Regeneration Officers and Vacant Homes Officers, in order to enable an increased focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction issues.
The introduction of a Derelict Property Tax (DPT) was announced in Budget 2026 and is confirmed in Governments’ new national housing strategy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, under Action 4.1 - ‘A new derelict property tax will be introduced, administered and collected by the Revenue Commissioners’. This tax will replace the Derelict Sites Levy currently operated by the local authorities under Part III of the Derelict Sites Act, 1990 whereby the Levy is imposed annually on sites present on local authority Derelict Sites Registers and is collected by the local authority. The rate of the Derelict Property Tax is yet to be determined but it is envisaged that the tax rate would not be lower than the current 7% Derelict Sites Levy rate.
Subject to the necessary legislation being introduced in Finance Bill 2026, preliminary registers will be published by local authorities in 2027. Local authorities will continue to have a role in the process, as updating and maintaining their Derelict Sites Registers will continue to remain the responsibility of the local authorities.
Derelict Sites levies that remain outstanding and owed to the local authority when the new tax is introduced will remain as a charge on the properties concerned and remain the responsibility of each local authority to collect.
Action 4.3 of Delivering Homes, Building Communities confirms that ‘Local authorities will increase the number of sites on the Derelict Sites Registers and increase the enforcement and collection of unpaid levies.’ My Department is engaging with the local government sector in relation to the operation of the Derelict Sites Act and implementation of the Actions related to Dereliction in the housing strategy.
A wide package of measures have been brought forward by Government to address dereliction in recent years. These measures include the provision of Vacant Homes Officers and Town Regeneration Officers in local authorities, the implementation of the Vacant Homes Action Plan and related resourcing and funding supports. This funding includes Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund which provides a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale. The Fund is replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of properties, allowing a rolling fund for each local authority to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
In addition, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides up to €70,000 in grant support to bring derelict properties back into long term use as homes. There has been significant interest in the grant since its launch, with over 15,600 applications made to local authorities to date and over €230 million of grant funding paid out across the country. In December, I announced a new enhanced support package of up to €140,000 to bring vacant ‘above shop’ property in our cities, towns and villages into use as homes, which will be made available in Q1 this year.
Derelict buildings and sites are a blight on local communities that undermine local pride of place, encourage antisocial behaviour and impact negatively on the local economy. The range of existing initiatives and funding mechanisms established by the Government are successfully reducing the levels of vacancy and dereliction nationally. The implementation of new measures identified by the Government will further accelerate progress in eliminating dereliction, and increase housing supply across the country.
number of properties and sites under the Derelict Sites Act 1990
Question No. 375 answered with Question No. 374.
Question No. 376 answered with Question No. 374.
Question No. 377 answered with Question No. 374.
Question No. 378 answered with Question No. 374.