Written Answers Nos. 251-263
251. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage cen céimeanna atá glactha aige chun breis tithíocht bheith ar fáil san Ghaeltacht do muintir na Gaeltacht, idir tithe shoisialta, ar chíos nó ar díol agus an féidir leis trácht ar an gceist. [16464/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar atá leagtha amach sa phlean ‘Tithe á dTógáil, Pobail á gCothú 2025-2030 - Plean Gníomhaíochta don Soláthar Tithíochta agus chun Dul i nGleic leis an Easpa Dídine’, tá roinnt gníomhartha ann lena dtacaítear le seachadadh méadaithe tithíochta agus le rogha tithíochta trí infheistíocht shuntasach i soláthar na dtithe sóisialta, ceannach agus tithe ar cíos a dhéanamh níos inacmhainne, dul i ngleic le tithe folmha agus tréigthe chun tithe a chur in úsáid arís ar fud na tíre, agus soláthar an stoic tithe nua a mhéadú ar fud na Tíre, ceantair Ghaeltachta san áireamh.
Faoin bPlean Gníomhaíochta, ullmhóidh gach údarás áitiúil Plean Gníomhaíochta um Sheachadadh Tithíochta, ina leagfar amach a seachadadh tithíochta sóisialta agus inacmhainne go dtí 2030 atá beartaithe, i gcomhréir leis na spriocanna a leagfaidh mo Roinn síos chun a chinntiú go seachadfar 72,000 teach sóisialta faoi 2030. Beidh mo Roinn ag dul i dteagmháil le húdaráis áitiúla maidir leis sin in R1 2026. Agus a Phlean á ullmhú aige, léireoidh gach údarás áitiúil riachtanas áitiúil chun a chinntiú go mbeidh an meascán ceart de thithe ann le freastal ar riachtanas áitiúil agus ar thosaíochtaí áitiúla. Tabharfaidh seachadadh tithíochta sóisialta atá beartaithe aird ar riachtanas mar atá sainaitheanta óna liosta feithimh le haghaidh tithíocht shóisialta.
Tugann an Ciste Croí Cónaithe (Bailte) cúnamh airgeadais dóibh siúd atá ag iarraidh teach nua a thógáil i dtuath na hÉireann. Faoin scéim Croí Cónaithe, Réidh le Tógáil, cuireann údaráis áitiúla láithreáin sheirbhísithe ar fáil i mbailte agus i sráidbhailte, ar lascaine ar luach an mhargaidh, do cheannaitheoirí aonair chun réadmhaoin a thógáil lena háitiú ag an gceannaitheoir mar a phríomháit chónaithe phríobháideach. Maidir leis sin, in éineacht leis an Deontas Athchóirithe do Réadmhaoin Fholamh de chuid Croí Cónaithe le haghaidh tithe folmha agus tréigthe, chomh maith le líon na scéimeanna infheistíochta suntasacha atá ailínithe anois chun cur chuige Lár Bailte ar dTús i leith beartais a chur chun cinn, tacófar le bailte agus le sráidbhailte tuaithe agus Gaeltachta tithe nua a sheachadadh trína bhfreastalaítear ar riachtanais agus ar ardaidhmeanna éagsúla a bpobal.
Tá roinnt gníomhartha áirithe breise sa phlean tithíochta nua freisin a thacaíonn le seachadadh tithíochta i gceantair Ghaeltachta lena n-áirítear Ráiteas Pleanála Náisiúnta (RPN) i ndáil le tithíocht i gceantair Ghaeltachta a fhoilseofar sa chéad leath de 2027. Tá eolas d’ullmhú an Ráitis Pleanála Náisiúnta á dhéanamh ag an obair atá ar siúl ag Grúpa Idir-Rannach (ina bhfuil mo Roinn, an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta (RFTPG) agus Údarás na Gaeltachta). Sa dréacht den RPN leagfar amach beartas agus treoir náisiúnta a bhaineann le pleanáil le haghaidh tithíochta i gceantair Ghaeltachta, maidir le cosaint na Gaeilge go háirithe san áireamh, a cheanglófar ar údaráis phleanála agus ar an gCoimisiún Pleanála a chur i bhfeidhm go comhsheasmhach i gcomhlíonadh a bhfeidhmeanna faoi na hAchtanna um Pleanáil. Ag féachaint don ghá le breithniú a dhéanamh ar na hábhair chasta lena mbaineann agus maidir le rannpháirtíocht le RFTPG, déanfar measúnú ar Dhréacht-Ráiteas críochnaithe chun críocha Measúnachta Straitéisí Timpeallachta (MTS) agus Measúnachta Cuí (MC).
Sna ‘Pleananna Forbartha - Treoirlínte d’Údaráis Áitiúla’ a foilsíodh i mí Iúil 2022, tá treoir tugtha d’údaráis áitiúla cheana, amhail maidir le hullmhú na straitéisí tithíochta ina dtugtar aird chuí ar riachtanais chónaitheoirí na Gaeltachta, agus ina léirítear Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta, ar ainmniú ar leith iad faoi Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012 agus a bhaineann le pleanáil teanga, a bhfuil freagracht feidhme ar mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, aisti.
San Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2024, a thosaítear ar bhonn céimnithe, leagtar amach an oibleagáid freisin atá ar údaráis áitiúla straitéisí a ullmhú agus cuspóirí a áireamh, nach mór aghaidh a thabhairt orthu agus a bPlean Forbartha á dhréachtú, lena rialaítear beartais forbartha áitiúla i leith aon cheantair Gaeltachta. Sa chás go bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta laistigh de limistéar riaracháin an údaráis phleanála, ní mór cuspóirí a áireamh sa straitéis plean forbartha chun “an oidhreacht theangeolaíoch agus chultúrtha a chosaint, lena n-áirítear cur chun cinn na Gaeilge mar theanga phobail”.
Sa chás go leagtar amach i bplean forbartha cuspóirí a bhaineann go sonrach le lonnaíocht i leith aon cheantair Gaeltachta, beidh gá le ‘Plean Limistéir Tosaíochta’ ina dhiaidh sin don cheantar Gaeltachta sin chun treoir a thabhairt dá fhorbairt, dá athnuachan nó dá athghiniúint agus chun a shonrú conas a chuirfear na cuspóirí ábhartha a bhaineann go sonrach le lonnaíocht sa phlean forbartha chun feidhme. Tá tús curtha leis an bhforáil seo den Acht um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 2024 anois agus cuirfidh na húdaráis áitiúla ábhartha san áireamh í agus iad ag ullmhú pleananna forbartha nua 10 mbliana.
Bíonn mise agus mo Roinnse ag plé go rialta leis an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta maidir le tithíocht agus leis an mbonneagar riachtanach chun tacú le forbairt tithíochta. Leanfaidh mo Roinn ar aghaidh ag obair le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus le páirtithe leasmhara eile freisin lena chinntiú go bhfuil soláthar leordhóthanach tithíochta agus seirbhísí pobail sa Ghaeltacht.
Is ar Údarás na Gaeltachta, a bhfuil freagracht bheartais ar mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, as, atá an fhreagracht reachtúil as an bhforbairt eacnamaíoch, theangeolaíoch, shóisialta agus chultúrtha laistigh de na 26 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta . Tacaíonn an eagraíocht le breis agus 9,000 post ina cliantchuideachtaí agus beidh sé ríthábhachtach sna blianta amach romhainn go mbeidh tithíocht ar fáil do chainteoirí Gaeilge atá fostaithe sna cliantchuideachtaí sin, agus i gcomhlachtaí eile san earnáil phríobháideach agus san earnáil phoiblí atá ag feidhmiú laistigh den Ghaeltacht, chun cabhrú le cainteoirí Gaeilge fanacht ina gcónaí sa Ghaeltacht.
Ina theannta sin, tá leibhéal saineolais forbartha ag an Údarás, le roinnt blianta anuas, maidir le háiseanna fuíolluisce a sholáthar a fhreastalaíonn ar a líonra páirceanna gnó agus eastát tionsclaíoch ar fud na Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta go léir.
Ar deireadh, áirítear i gClár an Rialtais freisin líon suntasach tiomantas maidir le soláthar an bhonneagair chun tacú le tithíocht ar fud na tíre. Tá mo Roinn ag obair le hUisce Éireann agus le húdaráis áitiúla chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais bonneagair uisce agus fuíolluisce i gceantair thuaithe, lena n-áirítear pobail Ghaeltachta.
Cabhraíonn infheistíocht trí bhearta amhail an Clár Uisce Tuaithe le tacú le huisce óil sábháilte, le seirbhísí fuíolluisce feabhsaithe agus le seachadadh tithíochta sna ceantair sin.
Thug mo Roinn Ciste Infheistíochta Bonneagair Tithíochta ar fiú €1 bhilliún isteach atá á bhainistiú ag an Oifig um Ghníomhachtú Tithíochta chun an comhoibriú agus an comhordú a fheabhsú i measc soláthraithe bonneagair.
Cabhraíonn na bearta sin lena chinntiú gur féidir freastal ar riachtanais tithíochta agus tacú le teacht aniar fadtéarmach an phobail le bonneagar bunúsach.
253. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts being made to increase ID residential places, in line with the recommendations of the Disability Capacity Review to 2032, that up to the average of 90-new residential places are needed each year from 2020 to 2032 to cater for changes in the size and age structure of the disabled population, and given the views of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17833/26]
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 Implementation Plan sets out the actions to achieve the vision of the joint Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027 operating under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports by the end of 2030. Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, each local authority will prepare a new Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) providing a detailed picture of the quantum, type, size and location of social homes to be delivered by local authorities and AHBs. Learning from the first round of these plans will help inform and strengthen the next iteration of plans and set clear targets against which local authority and AHB delivery will be benchmarked to 2030. This will include minimum targets for quantity, type and size of social homes; for example, identifying housing for priority groups including disabled persons.
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.
My Department, in conjunction with local authorities and AHBs, continues to work and engage with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the HSE within the framework of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People. This is to ensure aligned delivery of the disability care services supports for independent living for disabled people, including those from residential settings, with the provision of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of disabled people.
254. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding provided to Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2024 and 2025 for the delivery of affordable housing under the local authority affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available on a rolling basis to all local authorities to support the delivery of starter homes for purchase or for rent by eligible affordable housing applicants.
Galway City Council has to date received funding approval of €10.4m to assist towards the development costs of 138 starter homes with AHF support. 8 of these homes have been delivered in 2025.
Galway County Council has received funding approval of €9.5m to assist towards the development costs of 130 starter homes with AHF support. 17 of these homes have been delivered in 2025.
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 both Galway local authority areas.
My Department, along with the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continues to be available to advise and support all local authorities in providing affordable housing solutions that will respond effectively to identified affordability needs in their areas.
256. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his targets for affordable housing in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, reinforces and expands the range of existing affordable housing measures being implemented by the Government. In particular, a new Starter Homes Programme, which is a central component of the plan, aims to deliver an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030.
In order to further drive the delivery of starter homes under the new plan, local authorities will shortly commence the preparation of new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. These HDAPs, replacing those previously drawn up under Housing for All, will be informed by affordable housing need within the local authority area and will involve collaboration with the delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency and the Approved Housing Bodies, as applicable.
Local authorities starter homes delivery, as included within their HDAPs, will take account of the nature of the local housing market, as well as identified existing pockets of local affordable need. In preparing their HDAPs, local authorities should demonstrate an integrated housing and planning approach and also consider how future developments will support balanced mixed tenure communities.
Each local authority will make their HDAPs available on their website, outlining their delivery to 2030. In addition, 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, tracking affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and other delivery partners. This is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/ .[]
259. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the market will be restored to new market in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17290/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2.5 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.
To date, there have been 3 calls for funding provided under the URDF, with approximately €1.9 billion allocated so far. URDF supported projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.
Under URDF Call 2, which was announced in 2021, Dublin City Council (DCC) was allocated €179.7 million in URDF funding for 2 proposals across the North and South Inner City, comprising of 27 different projects. While some public realm works for Newmarket Square form part of the South Inner City Proposal, the restoration of the market to Newmarket Square in Dublin 8 is not provided for.
Today I announced a new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund to replace the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The final details of the initial round of funding and call for applications under this new scheme will be announced shortly.
Responsibility for the composition of any applications for this funding, as for previous rounds of URDF funding, and the advancement of projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant sponsoring agency (in this case Dublin City Council).
260. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has conducted a poverty impact assessment of the double rent increase facing HAP tenants arising from the abolition of rent controls between tenancies which will increase top ups paid by HAP tenants to landlords and the decision of many local councils to increase council rents for HAP tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17645/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTenants in the HAP scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. Where a person has a change of circumstances, such as a loss of income, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can reassess those tenants and adjust their differential rent accordingly.
The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles laid down by my Department, including that the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households; and that provision should be included for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship.
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.
261. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the funding allocated to Cork County Council under the historic structures fund in 2024 and 2025; the projects approved in Cork during these years; when recipients of the 2026 fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the question refers to both Cork County Council and the entire county of Cork, this response provides details for projects allocated funding allocated under the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) for 2024 and 2025, under the remit of both Cork County and Cork City Councils.
In 2024, projects within the Cork County Council area received €266,000 across 6 structures, with a further 6 projects in Cork City Council receiving €344,000. In 2025, which was the first year of the revised HSF scheme, the funding was focused on a smaller number of larger projects, a further 3 projects within Cork County Council received €316,800, while an additional 2 projects in Cork City Council received €400,000.
This list of projects which were awarded funding in each of these years is as follows:
|
Project |
Funds |
Year |
|
31 Sheares Street, Cork City |
€50,000.00 |
2024 |
|
St. Laurence's Cheshire Home, Cork City |
€30,000.00 |
2024 |
|
St. Luke's Church, Cork City |
€25,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Cork City |
€25,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Cork Public Museum |
€114,000.00 |
2024 |
|
St. Mary's Church, Cork City |
€100,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Mourneabbey Monastic Site, Mallow |
€20,000.00 |
2024 |
|
JJ Coppingers |
€20,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Mallow Castle House |
€96,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh |
€100,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Lavally Loft, Mallow |
€10,000.00 |
2024 |
|
4 Market Street, Kinsale |
€20,000.00 |
2024 |
|
St. Anne’s Church, Shandon, Cork City |
€250,000.00 |
2025 |
|
Alms Houses, Glanmire, Cork City |
€150,000.00 |
2025 |
|
St. Laurence Cheshire Home, Lotamore |
€114,400.00 |
2025 |
|
Kinsale Museum, Kinsale |
€72,403.74 |
2025 |
|
Sirius Arts Centre, The Old Yacht Club, Westbourne Place, Cobh |
€130,000.00 |
2025 |
The assessment of this year’s HSF applications is ongoing. The application process for these grants is always very competitive, with worthy projects being submitted from across the country and limited funds available. I expect to announce the list of successful projects in late March.
262. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of the €150 million in urban regeneration and development funding circulated to local authorities that has been drawn down to tackle dereliction, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17661/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2.5 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.
To date, there have been three rounds ('calls') of funding provided under the URDF with approximately €1.9 billion allocated to date. While Calls 1 and 2 were for specific urban regeneration and development projects, in January 2023 a third round of funding to address long-term vacancy and dereliction, and support the key objectives of Housing for All and Town Centre First, was announced.
A shift in focus from previous rounds of funding, Call 3 provided a €150 million revolving fund for local authorities to acquire long-term vacant or derelict properties in URDF eligible towns and cities. Acquired properties are then offered by local authorities for private sale at market value to those who in return will commit to bringing the property back into residential use. Proceeds from the sale of these properties will be used to replenish the fund, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction without a requirement for borrowing and the associated financial risk.
In terms of URDF funding provided under Call 3, €142.5 million has been allocated to local authorities to date. As a signal of Government commitment to this initiative local authorities received 20%, (i.e. €28.5 million) of their financial allocations by way of forward funding so that they were well resourced to begin addressing this issue. Currently, there are 1,428 properties on the approved acquisition list under Call 3.
The key objective of URDF Call 3 is to ensure properties are brought out of vacancy and dereliction. The use of Call 3 funding to acquire properties is only one of the ways in which the programme achieves this objective.
Properties approved for inclusion in the programme are not immediately acquired by local authorities. An initial engagement by the local authority with the property owner provides an opportunity for that owner to bring the property back into use in the first instance without the need for further local authority intervention. Some 440 properties are being brought back into use by property owners in this manner and these properties will be monitored by local authorities to ensure the properties are brought back into use.
URDF Call 3 has also been a catalyst for another 93 properties being dealt with under different housing programmes. An additional 212 properties have been identified as not being vacant or derelict upon further review by the local authorities.
These figures, coupled with the 81 properties which have been acquired by the Local Authorities and an additional 63 properties currently in the process of being acquired, show that a total of 889 properties, just over 62% of the properties approved onto the programme, are now actively coming out of vacancy/dereliction.
The total approved expenditure on these properties to date is €9,906,585, (i.e. 6.9% of the overall available funding and 34.7% of the forward funding received by the local authorities). Further assessment and active engagement by local authorities is continuing throughout 2026. Additional properties continue to be examined for suitability, and suitable properties will continue to be added onto the approved acquisition programme. Resources are also made available to local authorities to meet the key objective of Call 3 which is tackling vacancy and dereliction.
