Written Answers Nos. 379-399
379. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that was paid out in the vacant property refurbishment grant, by county, in 2022 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15754/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received for the vacant property refurbishment grant, by county, in 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15755/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications refused for the vacant property refurbishment grant, by county, in 2022 to 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15756/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications received, approved and paid under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme since its commencement; the total amount of public expenditure disbursed under the scheme to date. [15809/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra392. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of approved and paid applications under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme the number and percentage of recipients who were Irish citizens; the number and percentage of recipients who were citizens of another EU Member State; the number and percentage of recipients who were non-EU citizens; whether the Department or local authorities collect data on the length of legal residence in the State of grant recipients at the time of application; whether the Department collects or verifies information on prior income tax or PRSI contributions in the State as part of the eligibility or compliance process; whether tax clearance certification is required prior to approval or payment;(g) whether any assessment is carried out regarding an applicant’s previous contribution to the Exchequer before public monies are disbursed; and if the information requested is not centrally collated, the data that is available and whether consideration has been given to enhancing reporting transparency in respect of the scheme. [15810/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379, 380, 381, 391 and 392 together.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
Information is not requested on the nationality of applicants for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. It is a condition that applicants must provide evidence of tax compliance, with tax clearance from Revenue. This must be provided by the applicant, to their local authority, prior to the payment of the grant
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes the number of applications, approvals and the total number and value of grants paid per local authority. This data also includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant for every quarter. The Q4 2025 grant statistics were published on 26 January 2026. This data can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025.
382. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to deliver affordable housing for counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15760/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra383. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes delivered in Roscommon and Galway to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15761/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
The Government is fully committed to continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. Overall, almost 19,000 affordable housing solutions have been delivered from 2021 to the end of quarter 3 2025, including 171 in Galway City Council, 294 in Galway County Council, and 154 in Roscommon County Council.
Under Housing for All, launched in September 2021, all local authorities prepared Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), setting out how they planned to meet their identified social and affordable housing needs. Galway City, Galway County and Roscommon County Councils' published plans are available on their websites. In order to further drive the delivery of affordable housing under the plan, local authorities will shortly commence the preparation of new HDAPs. These revised plans will be assessed and reviewed by the Department, taking account of local and national affordability needs.
A range of funding streams are in place to assist local authorities and the other delivery partners in the provision of their affordable solutions, including the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). Both Galway City and Galway County have received funding approval to date, under the AHF, to facilitate the delivery of 138 and 130 affordable homes, respectively. Galway County Council has a further proposal for 106 affordable homes in Athenry, currently under assessment.
Roscommon County Council has received approval for its first scheme of 6 affordable purchase homes in Woodberry Manor, Athlone.
It is also worth noting that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers and has been availed of in the Galway city, Galway county and Roscommon local authority areas.
My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the affordable housing team in the Housing Agency, continues to be available to advise and support all local authorities in providing affordable housing solutions that will respond effectively to affordability needs identified.
384. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the legislative or departmental guidelines regarding the restructuring of legacy shared ownership loans into annuity loans; if his attention has been drawn to cases where local authorities have failed to process restructuring applications for several years, leading to the 'expiry' of the loan through no fault of the borrower; the specific special case provisions available to borrowers in County Clare who are now facing housing insecurity due to these combined administrative and policy delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15765/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraShared Ownership schemes were in place up to 2011. Typically, the borrower purchased part (usually 50%) of the property with an annuity loan with the Local Authority purchasing the remaining share (rental equity stake). Until the rental equity balance was repaid, this share of the home remains under the ownership of the local authority.
In 2016 a Shared Ownership Restructuring option was put in place to address affordability issues that arose with some Shared Ownership borrowers. This option provided for the consolidation of the outstanding annuity mortgage, the rental equity balance and any arrears into a single annuity loan. The term of the annuity loan would be determined by the amount of the monthly repayment deemed to be affordable and sustainable for each borrower. This restructuring option allowed the borrower to have a regularised, restructured repayment solution. This arrangement is also offered to borrowers who are nearing the end of their annuity term but who have not made sufficient provision for the repayment of their rental equity balance.
The shared ownership scheme contractually requires borrowers to clear the rental equity balance at the end of the annuity loan term. Where a borrower has repaid their annuity loan they remain liable for the repayment of the remaining rental equity balance. Borrowers should engage with their local authority to discuss the options available to them to address the outstanding debt now due.
385. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many times he, or officials in his Department met with representatives of the CIF since the last general election, and to list those organisations and the dates on which meetings took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15802/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the obligations of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, the organisation specified publish information about their engagement with public officials, including myself and the designated officials in my Department, as laid down under the act. This information is available on www.lobbying.ie/.
386. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many times government ministers, or their Department representatives met with representatives of IBEC, or any employer representative body since the general election, and to list those organizations and the dates the meetings were held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the obligations of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, the organisation specified publish information about their engagement with public officials, including myself and the designated officials in my Department, as laid down under the act. This information is available on www.lobbying.ie/.
387. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of state-financed maintenance contracts where a particular company carry out works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15804/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage a list of current state-financed capital contracts where a particular company are listed as a contractor(details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15805/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of future State-financed capital expenditure projects where a particular company have tendered for contract (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15806/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra390. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount the State has paid a company (details supplied) for works carried out on behalf of the State since the general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15807/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 387, 388, 389 and 390 together.
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
393. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the planned new fire station for Bagenalstown, County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15946/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra394. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the planned new fire station for Kilkenny city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15950/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together.
The 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.
Carlow County Council indicated Bagenalstown fire station was their top priority for the fire services capital programme 2021 – 2025. Carlow County Council is undertaking a comprehensive refurbishment of the Bagenalstown fire station, including extending into adjacent council owned buildings. My Department approved the council's request to pursue Part VIII planning permission for the project in November 2025 and I understand that planning submission will be in place shortly.
Kilkenny County Council received approval in principle to progress the Kilkenny City HQ fire station project in February 2023 and was subsequently approved to tender for design consultants in April 2023 and subsequently appointed in January of 2024.
Kilkenny County Council has indicated a new fire station for Kilkenny City to be their number one priority project for the Fire Services Capital Programme 2026 – 2030 and is working to finalise the acquisition of their preferred site. Upon final confirmation of the site acquisition, I understand that Kilkenny County Council will move quickly through the necessary phases to progress the construction of a new station for Kilkenny City.
My Department will continue to support both Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils to progress their priority projects.
395. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households currently on the social housing waiting list in Carlow in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the number of people who have been removed from the list since 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15951/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households currently on the social housing waiting list in Kilkenny in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 ; the number of people who have been removed from the list since 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15948/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together.
Details 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 687 households qualified for social housing in Carlow and 583 households qualified for social housing in Kilkenny whose need was unmet in 2024.
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 198 applications were closed in Carlow and 506 applications were closed in Kilkenny between the SSHA 2023 and 2024 count dates. The main reason why applications were closed was because households secured and allocation to local authority or approved housing body 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.
S.I. No. 84/2011 - Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 (Part 7), 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.
398. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his response to concerns in relation to planning reform and judicial review (details supplied). [16101/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the most important areas of reform in the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) is Part 9, which updates the processes and procedures of planning judicial review (JR). It also facilitates the introduction of cost mechanisms whose purpose is to reduce costs and ensure that the costs associated with a JR are not prohibitively expensive in what has been recognised as an extremely high cost environment; maintaining compliance with Ireland’s commitments under the Aarhus Convention.
These reforms have been underpinned by a detailed review and advice of the Office of the Attorney General as well as extensive engagement with stakeholders and other relevant Government Departments, in particular the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, who are leading on the regulation of the cost mechanisms outlined in Chapter 2 of Part 9. A full breakdown of the reforms contained in Part 9 is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/key-policy-reforms-planning-and-development-act-2024/
I must reiterate that in all instances the aim of the reforms are to expedite the processes related to taking a JR, lower costs so that accessing a JR is not prohibitively expensive and safeguard access to justice.
The special protected status of environmental non-governmental organisations (eNGOs) to take JR proceedings is maintained in the Act of 2024. Such organisations are not required to have made a submission to the relevant decision-making body or to be materially affected by the matter where the JR proceedings relate to a development likely to have significant effects on the environment or a European site, or relate to an act or omission in contravention of a provision of the Act of 2024 relating to the environment. The Act does introduce basic minimum good governance requirements which do not represent a barrier to any legitimate environmental organisation and include being in existence for at least one year, having a minimum of ten members, having protection of the environment as a stated objective of the organisation’s constitution and making a decision at the Board level of the organisation to pursue an application to take a judicial review. These minimum requirements protect the special privileges afforded to bona fide environmental organisations from misuse.
Similarly, unincorporated bodies, such as residents’ associations and clubs, maintain the right to take JR proceedings, subject to having a sufficient interest (i.e. being directly or indirectly materially affected by the matter) and satisfying certain minimum governance criteria. These governance criteria include taking a vote of members of the resident association or club and providing information to the Court to state who is taking the case. This is intended to verify the mandate and bona fides of the unincorporated body in order to facilitate their inclusion in the JR process.
Ireland has one of the most open and participative planning systems in Europe, with third party appeal mechanisms and up to four opportunities for citizens to influence the decision making process. Judicial review is an important element of that system, ensuring decisions are correctly arrived at. This is why access to judicial review is safeguarded in the Act of 2024. However, well documented delays and excessive costs associated with the present JR system must also be addressed by Government policy as ultimately the costs associated with such matters are borne by Irish society as a whole, through increased house prices and delays to critical infrastructure including public transport, hospitals, waste water treatment and the delivery of renewable energy.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 also introduces statutory timelines for all consenting processes so that all parties can have confidence the timeliness of resolution of decisions and provides for a significantly revised corporate structure for An Bord Pleanála, now renamed An Coimisiún Pleanála, with a separation of corporate, decision making and governance functions with a full complement of staff, to meet its new statutory obligations.
Further reforms cited in the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan were prepared following extensive stakeholder engagement with more than fifty organisations including Government Departments, regulators, utilities, local authorities, industry bodies and professional services firms as well as a national public consultation with over 160 submissions and public events. . All such reforms, where appropriate will be subject to relevant environmental screening and assessments, as is required by our obligations by European Directive.
399. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent confirmation that homes in Dublin Fingal west are now to be included in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the reason repeated representations, clear timelines and confirmed funding arrangements have not been provided to affected homeowners; when precisely applications from Dublin Fingal west will be opened, assessed and approved; the ring-fenced funding that has been allocated to ensure these homeowners are not left competing with other areas for limited resources; the definitive commencement date for the release of grant payments; if he will provide a clear, binding timeline and funding commitment to bring certainty to these homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16106/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 which underpins the enhanced Defective Concrete Block Scheme was commenced in June 2023.
The Scheme is currently open to applications in five counties, namely Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo.
An order for the inclusion of a local authority in the enhanced DCB Grant Scheme may only be made by an Order of the Government.
I have recently received Government approval for the designation of parts of the administrative area of Fingal County Council under the scheme. I am now in the process of arranging for the moving of a motion for a Resolution in each House of the Oireachtas and subject to the passing of such a Resolution I will then request the Government to make the Order.
Accordingly, I expect that the designation process to allow for the inclusion of parts of the administrative area of Fingal County Council in the scheme will be finalised shortly.
The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles are set out clearly in the 2022 Act.
Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants. Any query a homeowner has relating to an application to the scheme should be addressed to their local authority, Fingal County Council, in this instance.
Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) is a complex issue which the Government is addressing by allocating a significant amount of money to affected homeowners to enable them to rebuild their homes and get on with their lives. The overall cost of the scheme is expected to be in excess of €2.2 billion (excluding inflation). The Government is making sure that the Scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner.
