Written Answers Nos. 151-175
151. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to ensure the provision of housing for people with disabilities, to ensure that Ireland complies with Article 19 of the UNCRPD, including but not limited to expansion of the capital acquisition scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18183/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. Among the objectives of the Strategy is to promote the purposes of Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by ensuring that disabled people have equal access to housing and clearer pathways to accessing support services, promoting their inclusion in the community from a housing perspective. The Strategy and Implementation Plan operate under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030.
Housing for disabled people is funded under the capital schemes for local authority housing through the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and, in particular, through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for the Approved Housing Bodies in the provision of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of people with specific categories of needs, including disabled people.
The Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme is a policy tool available to local authorities to support households in the most challenging and precarious housing situations, helping prevent them falling into homelessness and supporting those in homelessness to exit into permanent housing. Some €373 million will be available for drawdown by local authorities and within this some €50 million has been allocated for AHB Priority Delivery Acquisitions disabled people and other priority groups.
Social housing allocations for disabled people have increased steadily over the last three years from 2022 to 2024. The number of social housing allocations for disabled people in 2022 was 1,917 tenancies, in 2023 it was 2,297, rising to 2,924 in 2024 which represents some 19% of overall housing allocations in 2024.
I will be ensuring that disabled persons continue to receive high levels of allocations through implementation of Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 and the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People and Implementation Plan.
153. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the PPP bundle 3 and 4 sites in Dublin north-west, including an updated timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17492/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 3 June 2025, after careful evaluation, my Department decided not to proceed to contract award for Social Housing Bundle 3 — including Dublin North-West sites in Ballymun and Whitehall — due to excessive costs. Although this decision faced Judicial Review, the Department resolved the proceedings efficiently, preventing significant delays and allowing an alternative procurement strategy to advance.
Dublin City Council with 3 sites and Kildare County Council with one site in the original Bundle 3 have been working with the NDFA, to advance these sites as a bundle through a Design and Build procurement, leveraging the PPP tender packages and designs.
I have provided funding approval for these four sites through the Social Housing Investment Programme - SHIP. This project is referred to as Project Barrow.
Project Barrow Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Tenders have been returned and are currently being reviewed. Following on from the pre-qualification phase tendering of the Pricing and Programme phase will commence this month. Contract award is projected by the lead local authority to be in October 2026.
A review of Bundles 4 through 7 confirmed that the traditional PPP structure would yield similarly high costs. To ensure expeditious delivery of homes on the 28 sites impacted, I have approved a recommendation to deliver the 2,981 homes associated with these 28 sites by way of Local Authority direct delivery.
Dublin City Council is responsible for eight of the sites, originally in PPP Bundles 4 and 5, including locations in Ballymun, Collins Avenue, and Finglas. All eight sites already have planning permission.
DCC are now advancing all of these sites through a new Design and Build Framework.
The Prior Information Notice has been issued for the formation of these Frameworks and the tendering process will commence in the coming weeks to include 4 of the PPP Bundle 4 sites.
Moving forward, I have instructed my officials to continue to evaluate all delivery methods and funding models in order to ensure that the output of new build social homes can be maximised and delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.
160. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties delivered for people with disabilities, per local authority, for each of the years 2023 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17473/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. The Strategy and Implementation Plan operate under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030.
Housing for disabled people is funded under the capital schemes for local authority housing through the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and, in particular, through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for the Approved Housing Bodies in the provision of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of people with specific categories of needs, including disabled people.
Between 2023 and 2024 a total of 178 units of housing for disabled people were delivered by AHBs and funded by CAS across 23 of the 31 local authorities. I will arrange for the information on delivery to be sent to the Deputy. Highlights of delivery by AHBs under CAS over the two year 2023 to 2024 include 25 units delivered in Limerick City and County Council, 24 units in Kerry and 15 units in Sligo with the remaining 114 units delivered distributed across other local authorities. The total number of units delivered for disabled people under the CAS scheme in 2025 will be available shortly.
While my Department does not hold disaggregated figures across all housing delivery programmes, as these are generally focused on housing delivery numbers overall, importantly my Department does hold the essential figures on housing allocations by local authorities for disabled people. Social housing allocations for disabled people have increased steadily over the last three years from 2022 to 2024. The number of social housing allocations for disabled people in 2022 was 1,917 tenancies, in 2023 it was 2,297, rising to 2,924 in 2024 which represents some 19% of overall housing allocations in 2024.
I will be ensuring that disabled persons continue to receive high levels of allocations through implementation of Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 and the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People and Implementation Plan.
161. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social, affordable and cost rental homes completed in Cork in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17538/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis, including for social housing provision and starter home delivery activity by local authority and delivery partners, for each local authority area. Data from 2022 to Q3 2025 is currently published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, with the Q4 for 2025 data due to be published shortly.
The Q3 2025 Social Housing Construction Status Report shows that there were 1,726 homes at various stages of design and procurement in Cork City, including 528 homes onsite. In Cork County there were 1,150 homes at various stages of design and procurement, including 694 homes onsite. This strong pipeline in both local authorities is a positive indication for delivery in Q4 2025.
In the first 9 months of 2025, 72 new build social homes were delivered in Cork City. In addition, 41 second hand acquisitions and 17 leased social units were delivered. During the same period Cork County delivered 56 new build social homes, 25 second hand acquisitions and 8 leased social homes. Typically, social housing delivery accelerates as the year the progresses, with most delivery occurring in the last quarter, meaning that delivery in the first 3 quarters is not indicative of full year outturn.
In terms of starter homes delivery, almost 19,000 affordable supports have been delivered since the launch of the previous housing plan, Housing for All, including nearly 4,000 in Cork. Within the combined Cork City and Cork County Council areas, from Q1 up to the end of Q3 2025, a total of 838 starter home supports have been delivered, across affordable purchase, cost rental, the First Home Scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The upcoming Q4 figures are expected to show further significant progress in the delivery of starter home supports, both within Cork and nationally.
My Department will continue to engage, on a regular basis, with all of the with delivery partners, around social and starter homes pipelines and delivery, including in the Cork area.
162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been brought to the significant problems with the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; if there are any plans to address its failings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17498/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 was commenced on 22 June 2023 and it underpins the current grant scheme and the related Regulations. The current scheme has been in operation since then and some 3,225 homes are currently progressing through the scheme with 432 already completed.
The State is providing an average of €340,000 of taxpayer funding to grant aid relevant homeowners. Indeed over €283m in grant funding has already been provided through my Department for the Scheme and we are making a further €175m available in 2026 to assist affected homeowners.
The Scheme is clearly working for those homeowners who are engaging with it but my Department remains fully committed to continuing to engaging with stakeholders to ensure that the views of relevant stakeholders on the operation of the Scheme can, and are being heard. An Implementation Steering Group for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme has been in place since 2023. The Group meets regularly and keeps the scheme under review. The most recent meeting was on 17 February 2026 with a further meeting scheduled to take place on 31 March 2026.
A number of amendments have recently been made to the legislation in late 2025 so the scheme can continue to be applied in as efficient and equitable a manner as possible for all homeowners and the first of these came into operation on 25 February 2026, with the related Regulations also adopted on 25 February 2026.
These will allow qualifying homeowners to apply to their designated local authority to have a new remediation option grant amount determined. It also doubles the time applicants have to complete works from 65 week to 130 weeks. I expect to commence some further amendments also in the coming months.
In 2026 a full review of the scheme will be undertaken as per the provisions of the 2022 Act and any further changes will be considered as part of that review.
164. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his progress toward delivering affordable housing in east Galway; the measures currently being advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16786/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030.
The new plan builds upon the significant progress made under our previous plan Housing for All, with almost 19,000 affordable housing supports having been delivered from its launch to the end of Q3 2025, including 171 in Galway City and 294 in Galway County.
Under the new housing plan, all local authorities are required to prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans, replacing their existing action plans, to be completed during 2026. These will identify affordable starter home need within their areas and set out how this will be met, over the lifetime of the plan.
The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist local authorities in the delivery of starter homes solutions, where significant affordability need is identified. In terms of new delivery, Galway City and Galway County have received funding approval to facilitate the delivery of an additional of 130 and 113 affordable homes respectively, with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund. My Department has recently met with the affordable delivery team in Galway County and understands that a number of further proposals are in the process of being developed.
Also, the Government has agreed the transfer of 1.4 hectares of land at Galway Harbour, to enable the LDA's planned delivery of 356 new social and affordable homes. Subject to planning permission, construction is provisionally scheduled to commence in 2027.
In addition to the specific delivery I’ve mentioned, the First Home Scheme is available to support eligible new home purchasers nationwide and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties. Both of these schemes have been, and will continue to be, availed of within Galway as an affordable pathway to housing, and in the case of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, as a valuable support in the tackling of the serious problem of vacancy and dereliction.
165. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he is working to reduce the overall cost of apartment delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17490/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivering Homes, Building Communities our new national housing plan is a wide-ranging action plan focused on housing supply and targeting homelessness.
The plan focuses on enabling the supply of 300,000 homes to be achieved through activating more land, providing more housing-related infrastructure, securing more development finance for home building, addressing viability challenges particularly those seen in apartment delivery, increasing the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction alongside standardised design approaches, increasing the skills in the residential construction sector and working toward ending dereliction and vacancy.
In line with this plan, Government has already taken decisive action to reduce the overall cost of apartment construction while increasing delivery in our urban areas. Budget 2026 introduced a suite of taxation measures aimed at stimulating the supply of new apartments such as reducing the VAT rate on the sale of new apartments to 9% and introducing an enhanced Corporation Tax deduction for apartment construction costs.
Additionally, funding is available under the Croí Cónaithe Cities Scheme to support the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers through a subvention to bridge the gap between the delivery cost and the market sale price.
My Department is also progressing the preparation of a draft National Planning Statement for the Government’s consideration to replace the current apartment guidelines. These will allow for greater flexibility in relation to the size and mix of apartments, in addition to other changes to standards to be applied consistently by planning authorities. The overall purpose is to strike an effective regulatory balance, ensuring that apartment development meets the needs of society in terms of standards and quality, while promoting an increased level of overall output.
Under the new plan, I will continue to systematically examine wider input costs in the delivery of new housing alongside monitoring of investment, planning and commencement activity in apartments to inform ongoing policy consideration in this area.
166. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions that are being taken, and the progress being made, on monitoring the housing targets in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17860/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030 Government will activate the supply of 300,000 homes through
• Ensuring a strong pipeline of zoned and serviced land is available.
• Creating the conditions to attract the required investment.
• Increasing skills and support the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in the residential construction sector.
• Working toward ending dereliction and vacancy
New dwelling completions data, disaggregated by Local Authority, are published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on a quarterly basis and are available on its website.
Under the new housing plan, each local authority will prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) setting out their planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030. The plans will align with targets set by the Department in order to ensure the 72,000 social homes, an average of 12,000 per annum and 15,000 affordable housing supports per annum will be delivered by 2030. My Department will be communicating with local authorities in this regard in Q1 2026. It should be noted that existing HDAPs run to the end of 2026 and it is expected that new HDAPs, which will run to 2030, will be in place by Q3 2026. My Department will engage on an individual basis with each local authority to provide support and track delivery over the lifetime of the plan.
My 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. This includes data on social housing delivery against target in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q3 2025 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website. The Q4 2025 statistics are currently being collated and verified and will be published in due course.
167. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the HAP limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17644/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review HAP limits for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra257. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an increase to housing assistance payment rent limits is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17484/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 179 and 257 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to play a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q3 2025, more than 130,200 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 50,705 households actively in receipt of HAP support.
Under HAP, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. This accommodation should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. Local authorities also have additional flexibility to apply a couple HAP rate to single person households. This additional measure recognises the challenges experienced by single person households, and the fact that both single and couple households have a one-bed need.
My Department has reviewed the use of these measures and their impact on the overall affordability of the HAP scheme for tenants. This review has highlighted that the affordability and sustainability of HAP tenancies continues to be impacted by pressures in the private rental market. My Department is now undertaking a review of existing HAP rent limits to ensure there is sufficient support under the HAP scheme to assist eligible households in accessing accommodation in the private rental sector.
It is intended that the review process will conclude before the end of Q2 this year.
168. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a solution for people who are still linked in name only to a mortgage, despite being separated and living elsewhere, but who cannot join the social housing waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17604/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
Under Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and Regulation 22(1) of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, a household shall be ineligible for social housing support if it has alternative accommodation that the household could reasonably be expected to use to meet its housing need, either by occupying it or by selling the accommodation and using the proceeds to secure suitable accommodation suitable for the household’s adequate housing.
However, Regulation 22(2) of the 2011 Regulations provides that this ineligibility does not apply where an applicant for social housing support owns accommodation that is occupied by his or her spouse, from whom he or she is formally separated or divorced. Under the enactment, a deed of separation is sufficient to set aside this ineligibility ground and it is not necessary to await judicial separation or divorce to get a decision on social housing support in these cases. The rationale for this exception is that the terms of a formal separation or divorce will provide for the future ownership and occupation of the family home and it will be clear whether the household that has left the family home can return to live there.
In order to provide more flexibility to housing authorities to deal with cases where the ownership of the family home had not yet been finalised, the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 amended section 20 of the 2009 Act. Housing authorities may now provide such households with social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme or the Housing Assistance Payment scheme until ownership of the family home is resolved in a formal separation or divorce settlement.
The 2014 Act amendment provides that support in these circumstances will be reviewed by the local authority at prescribed intervals and the household will not be able to transfer to other forms of social housing support while ownership of the family home remains to be determined. However, where the household ultimately qualifies for the full range of social housing supports, the length of time the household was supported under RAS or HAP will be reckonable for the purposes of determining the household’s relative priority for a transfer.
170. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the first call under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund. [17291/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra175. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop infrastructure to facilitate the building of more houses in the constituency of Sligo Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17286/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra203. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding received under call 1 of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; the number of local authorities that have made applications; the total cost of accumulated applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17528/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the work of the Housing Activation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17105/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Activation Office (HAO) continues its work to drive the coordination and acceleration of critical infrastructure required to unlock housing development on sites nationwide. The office is focused on identifying and resolving infrastructure constraints, aligning investment across agencies and progressing infrastructure projects that will unlock housing lands and enable homes to be delivered.
The HAO brings together six experts seconded from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector, in addition to staff from my Department with expertise in Planning, project management and administration.
The office is maintaining structured engagement with various stakeholders, including all 31 local authorities, the LDA, infrastructure providers and key delivery partners. The Housing Activation Delivery Group and the Housing Activation Industry Group continue to meet on a quarterly basis to strengthen coordination and ensure that momentum across infrastructure and housing delivery is maintained.
On 21 January 2026, the Government launched a new multiannual €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) to support direct investment in housing enabling infrastructure. The fund is managed by the Housing Activation Office in my Department.
The core objective of the HIIF is to unblock infrastructure constraints and activate lands that are identified for housing development. By investing directly in transport, water, electricity and other enabling infrastructure, the fund will ensure that land is properly serviced and ready to deliver homes.
Call 1 of the HIIF opened for applications from local authorities and the Land development Agency (LDA) on 21 January 2026 and closed on Friday last, 27 February 2026. Applications have been received from 30 local Authorities and from the LDA. The HAO team are actively reviewing the applications against the scheme criteria and will confirm the number of valid applications received once this review is completed. Final funding decisions and recommendations will be brought forward in accordance with the governance arrangements for the Fund.
Details of the HIIF Call 1 can be found on my Departments website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/housing-infrastructure-investment-fund-call-1-scheme-outline/
171. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason workers on social housing waiting lists are removed from the waiting list by local authorities when one year of their wages goes over the income threshold, and they lose all the time they have spent on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the unfair housing allocation caps for families who may be ten years plus on a housing list, being deemed over the threshold due to family members becoming working age or promotion or social welfare increases and so on, in that timeframe; and is there plans to address this practice. [6197/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 258 together.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The baseline income thresholds increased by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds thus increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for Bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. These thresholds are net income thresholds, i.e. gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.
Income is defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities also have discretion to disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income.
Income is assessed based on an applicant's 12 months’ net average income immediately prior to application. This ensures the most comprehensive picture of a household’s current and previous income when the eligibility assessment is carried out. It also ensures fairness and equity in the system and that those with a continuing long-term need are prioritised. Households deemed ineligible for social housing may reapply and be reassessed for support at any stage.
A household’s qualification for social housing support may be reviewed at any time at the discretion of a local authority, including as part of the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) or where the local authority becomes aware of changes in the household's circumstances. It will also be again assessed at the point of allocating support in accordance with its Allocation Scheme. Households deemed to exceed the prescribed limits will be removed from the housing list on the basis that they no longer qualify for social housing support.
My Department has been examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and household income conditions, including the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced. This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department and this work is ongoing.
I am not in a position at this point to indicate the outcome of these considerations but I envisage that the analysis will be concluded early in 2026 to facilitate a final determination on next steps, which I expect will include an increase in the income limits later this year. I am also keen to put in place a more structured and frequent process for the review of these limits going forward.
172. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 October 2025, if he will provide an update on discussions his Department has had with Galway County Council in relation to the Ros a Mhíl and Eanach Mheáin social housing developments; the current status of the feasibility studies and cost reports on the sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17800/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my response to Dáil Question No. 402 of 26 February 2026, my Department has approved proposals from Galway County Council regarding the sites at Ros a Mhíl and Eanach Mheáin in Connemara, with the next steps a matter for the local authority and relevant Approved Housing Body.
These sites were originally intended for development by a local Approved Housing Body for the purposes of providing social housing in Ros a Mhíl and Eanach Mheáin. Unfortunately, the developments failed to progress due to extenuating circumstances and the sites went undeveloped for a period of time.
Following more recent engagement between my Department and Galway County Council, and between Galway County Council and the Approved Housing Body, feasibility and cost assessments were undertaken by Galway County for each site. The objective was to identify the best path forward for the sites, having regard to technical and other challenges arising, the need for social or other housing in the respective areas, and value for money having regard to the cost and practicality of bringing forward housing on each site.
The feasibility and cost assessments were submitted by Galway County Council in November last year. The reports have since been assessed by the relevant technical and capital programme teams in my Department, and approval was given to Galway County Council last month to progress as recommended by Council.
It is now a matter for Galway County Council to engage with the Approved Housing Body to determine the best path forward for the Ros a Mhíl and Eanach Mheáin sites. An update on progress in this regard should be sought directly from Galway County Council.
173. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Social Housing Construction Status Report for Q4 of 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16458/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2025. All CSRs are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
The Q4 2025 CSR is currently being collated and verified and will be published in due course. For reference the Q4 2024 CSR was published in April 2025.
174. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the qualifying criteria for cost rental housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17481/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Delivering Homes, Building Communities action plan, Cost Rental is a key element of the Government's strategy to improve affordability in the rental sector and to provide secure, long-term homes for moderate-income households. The core principle of Cost Rental is that the rents cover the development, management, and maintenance costs of the homes, so that the long-term future of the homes is financially secure, but that rents are not subject to market pressures. Cost Rental is a growing housing tenure in Ireland, with over 4,800 homes delivered by Q3 2025, and a substantial future pipeline now in place.
Cost Rental is targeted at people within the middle-income cohort, who do not qualify for social housing but who may be facing acute affordability pressures on the private rental market. Eligibility and income parameters are a key tool in targeting State-supported Cost Rental homes at those who fall within the moderate income cohort. The primary condition for accessing Cost Rental housing is a net annual income under a certain limit, which since 1 August 2023 has been €66,000 per year for homes in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere, set through secondary legislation. Net income is defined as gross income with income tax, USC, PRSI contributions and pension contributions deducted.
The legislation does not set a minimum 'income threshold' for a Cost Rental tenant, but as with any letting of a home, the landlord must consider the issues of affordability and tenancy sustainability. A landlord such as an Approved Housing Body, a Local Authority or the Land Development Agency will assess prospective Cost Rental tenants to ensure they can sustainably afford the rent over the long term, and to do this a landlord may employ financial metrics, such as a rent-to-income ratio.
The legislation governing Cost Rental gives broad scope to consider a range of factors when setting the household income limits, rather than tying the decision to any one single metric or issue. These factors may include changing economic conditions, Government policy priorities, the current state of the Cost Rental sector and future plans for the tenure.
The 2025 Programme for Government includes a commitment to "keep the income criteria for cost rental under review", in order to ensure they remain fit for purpose. My Department is currently progressing this work.
