Written Answers Nos. 295-319
295. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an inspection of completed works will be carried out for a grant application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23140/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Thatching Grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof of private qualifying thatch houses provides funding of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost (whichever is less) towards necessary roof repair or renewal. A higher grant of up to €5,714 may be payable for houses on specified islands. For private house owners of qualifying thatch houses who are also medical card holders a higher maximum grant of up to €6,350 (up to €8,252 for houses on specified islands), or up to 80% of the approved cost (whichever is less) is available. Details in relation to this grant scheme are available on my Department's website at the following link: gov - Thatching Grant (www.gov.ie)
My Department endeavours to carry out final inspections as expediently as possible following formal notification of completion of works.
296. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individuals and families currently in emergency accommodation in County Clare, by municipal district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra298. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individuals and families currently accommodated in hotels and B and Bs as emergency accommodation in County Clare; the locations of such accommodation; and the cost to the State of providing this accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23176/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 298 together.
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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing 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 most recently published data is in respect of January 2026. 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 [www.data.gov.ie/].
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each of the nine homeless regions. Counties Clare and Limerick are included in the Mid West region for the purposes of homeless administration, with Limerick City and County Council as lead authority. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum to determine the type and range of homeless services to address homelessness in each region. The exact amount spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as location and operation of emergency accommodation, are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Financial reports from each of the nine homeless regions setting out expenditure on homeless services including on emergency accommodation are published on my Department's website at the following link;
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
297. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on the social housing waiting list in County Clare, by municipal district; and the average waiting time for housing in each district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA).
SSHA data is collected at local authority level. Accordingly, a breakdown by municipal district cannot be provided.
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/.
In relation to the number of people on the social housing lists in Clare, there were 1,373 households on the list in 2024. While the average waiting time per local authority list is not captured, details on the length of time spent on the respective lists of each local authority are included in tables 2.8 and A1.8 in the report.
The SSHA 2025 process is currently underway and I expect to publish the summary report shortly.
299. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of vacant homes and holiday homes in Kilkee and the wider west Clare area; the measures in place to bring such properties into long-term residential use; and whether targeted measures will be considered for high-tourism areas where housing supply for permanent residents is severely restricted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23178/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra302. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in County Clare registered or operating as short-term lets; the proportion of housing stock this represents in towns such as Kilkee; whether additional restrictions are being considered in areas experiencing housing shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23181/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 302 together.
Working to end dereliction and vacancy is a key priority in the Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The Plan will ensure that the activities and resources used to address vacancy and dereliction are co-ordinated and that legislative powers are used proactively to work to bring dereliction and vacancy to an end.
Data in relation to vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Census 2022 and GeoDirectory.
The CSO has recently developed a new statistical release on residential vacancy. The most recent release, published on 24 March 2026, provides information on the extent of residential vacancy in 2022, 2023 and 2024, using ESB data on metered residential electricity consumption, with future regular publications planned. In the release, the CSO notes a national vacancy rate of 3.2% at the end of Q4 2024, down from 3.6% in Q4 2022 and 3.3% in 2023. Data is provided at a national, local authority and local electoral level, including for Clare.
All 31 local authorities have a full-time Vacant Homes Officer in place as a key point of contact in their vacancy and dereliction teams. Vacant Homes Officers are supported in their role by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, the Housing Agency and through the Vacant Homes Officer Network.
The new housing plan Delivering Homes, Supporting Communities reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issue of vacancy and dereliction.
A key measure is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which 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.
The commitment Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions under Delivering Homes, Building Communities will play a vital role in delivering homes across the country.
In respect of holiday homes, the EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024 and is applicable from 20 May 2026. This Regulation lays down harmonised rules on the collection and exchange of data on short-term rental services for member states, hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services, and online platforms that offer services to hosts providing short-term accommodation rental services within the EU.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has drafted the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland from 20 May 2026.
The decision to introduce a register for Short Term Letting has been broadly welcomed by the tourism sector.
DETE have provided information to my Department that Fáilte Ireland has estimated, based on data for October 2025 which was screen scraped from publicly available short term letting listings across four major booking platforms, there are in the region of 34,020 short term letting properties in the State currently being advertised online and up to approximately 64% of these properties are advertised as “entire” houses and apartments. In County Clare, the October data includes an estimated number of short term lets of 2,040, with approximately 69% (1,410) being "entire" houses and apartments. Due to the absence of full addresses on published short-term letting listings it is not possible to identify from the screen-scraped data any further breakdown within counties.
To ensure that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for short term lets, a National Planning Statement (NPS) on Short-Term Letting is being prepared to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. It will consider a variety of factors, such as existing planning legislation, the long term housing need in the local authority area, the location of the proposed short term let and balancing housing need with the potential impact on tourism and economic development.
It should be noted that prior to the publication of a NPS, local authorities can continue to make decisions on applications for change of use in respect of short-term letting properties. The decision of the local authority will be informed by local policy in city and county development plans and local area plans, where applicable.
In January this year my Department issued a Circular SPI 01/2026 Short-Term Letting and the Planning System to clarify the current legislative and policy framework for the regulation of short-term letting of houses and apartments and other residential accommodation in the planning system. The circular was issued to all planning authorities and service providers, as well as other relevant stakeholders.
300. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties purchased by Clare County Council under tenant-in-situ or other acquisition schemes in west Clare, including Kilkee, in the past two years; and whether additional funding will be provided to increase such acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23179/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTenancy sustainment, or tenant-in-situ, is not a stand alone programme or scheme. Rather it is a priority category introduced as part of the my department's Social Housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme in 2023. Tenant in situ acquisitions are an option for local authorities to support households in the most precarious housing situations. They are, and will continue to be, available to local authorities for use as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.
That said, such acquisitions will never be the sole, or even the primary, option. The default first options should almost always be securing the sustainment of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the Tenancy Sustainment and Placefinder services, or allocating a local authority or Approved Housing Body tenancy via a new build home or a re-let.
My department's Second Hand Acquisition Programme has supported 13 acquisitions by in Clare in the last two years, with eight homes acquired to sustain a social housing supported tenancy in the private rented sector.
|
Year |
Total Acquisitions |
Homeless Exit Acquisitions |
Tenancy Sustainment Acquisitions |
Priority Cohorts Acquisitions |
Buy and Renew Acquisitions |
|
2024 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
2025 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
Data on acquisitions in specific locations within Clare should be sought directly Clare County Council.
The parameters of the 2026 Social Housing Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, including priority category and individual local authority allocations, were notified to local authorities in February. Some €373 million will be available for draw down by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies under the 2026 programme, with a primary focus on exiting households from homeless accommodation to permanent homes.
Among other things, individual local authority allocations were determined having regard to the number of families with children in homeless accommodation for extended periods of time. They also had regard to the level of funding drawn down by local authorities from my department specifically for property purchase costs in 2025.
An initial allocation of €1.7 million has been provided to Clare County Council this year. The multi-annual approach introduced last year will also continue in 2026, allowing Clare County Council to commit up to the value of 30% of its 2026 allocation (some €510,000) for acquisitions that will complete or drawdown funding in 2027. This will allow priority acquisitions to progress in the closing months of 2026, with certainty on funding in 2027, if such purchases do not complete this year. Moreover, Clare County Council will also have recourse to the contingency fund of €16 million set aside for local authorities that have drawn down most of their initial allocation from the Department and have demonstrated the capacity to complete further acquisitions and draw down funding this year.
Notably, Clare County Council recouped less than half of the €4 million available to the council under the programme last year, with only €1.2 million drawn down in respect of purchase costs.
I am satisfied, with €373 million available for draw down under the programme this year, that there is more than adequate funding in the programme for all urgent acquisitions that can be progressed, completed and drawn down by local authorities in 2026. Critically, in this regard, local authorities only recouped €290 million of the initial €325 million made available through the programme in 2025.
301. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing assistance payment tenancies in County Clare that have ended due to landlords selling properties in the past 12 months; the number of such cases where a tenant-in-situ purchase was considered or completed by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23180/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold the information requested in relation to the number of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies in County Clare that have ended due to landlords selling properties in the past 12 months. The administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority.
The administration of acquisitions under the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, including for tenancy sustainment (via tenant in situ), is delegated to local authorities. Accordingly, data on the number of applications received or refused by Clare County Council in any given year is not captured by my Department and should be sought directly from the local authority.
303. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a response to representations will be issued (details supplied). [23187/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reply to the representation referenced issued on the 24th March 2025.
304. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the means test for the housing adaptation grant, whether the means test applies to the legal owners or the residents in the case where parents reside in a family home but the ownership has been transferred to the children leaving the parents with a legal right to reside in the home for the remainder of their lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23199/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority.
The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 612 of 2024), which came into effect on 1 December 2024, provide the legal basis for the scheme as administered by all local authorities. My Department issues guidelines to local authorities to ensure the consistent operation of the scheme nationwide. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The schemes continue to be means tested, assessing the income of the registered owner(s), and, if applicable, their spouse, of a property which is the subject of an application.
305. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to expand the data provided in the monthly homelessness reports to include breakdowns of the number of children living in emergency accommodation, by age categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 a local level.
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 January 2026. 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 https://data.gov.ie/.
There are no plans to provide further age-related breakdowns for dependents in families accessing emergency accommodation.
306. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of funding drawn down by each local authority over the past four years for the ready to build (serviced sites for new homes) scheme under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23215/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra307. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount funding allocated each year since 2023 to the serviced ready to build (serviced sites for new homes) scheme under the croí cónaithe towns fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23216/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together.
The Ready to Build Scheme, funded by the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, to support addressing vacancy, was launched in September 2022.
Under the scheme, local authorities identify suitable vacant sites in their ownership or purchase vacant sites in towns and villages and make them available for sale to individual purchasers for the purpose of building a principal private residence. Once serviced, the local authority will make the site available for sale at a discount on the market value of the site. The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site, up to a maximum of €30,000.
Local authorities can be supported by my Department to make vacant sites available for sale in towns and villages throughout the country.
The scheme is managed and administered by local authorities on behalf of my Department. To date 32 sites have been made available for sale by 4 local authorities - 5 sites in Wicklow, 16 sites in Laois, 4 sites in Tipperary and 7 sites by Kildare County Council. No funding has been drawdown as yet by local authorities.
The new housing plan Delivering Homes, Supporting Communities commits to expanding the current Ready to Build Scheme through local authorities whereby they will service sites in, and close to, towns and villages to enable construction of clusters of homes. A mix of private, social and affordable homes can be delivered on the same site, creating new mixed tenure communities.
A further objective of the development of such a scheme would be to support Small and Medium Enterprise homebuilders who have land appropriately located but are constrained by financing or infrastructure considerations.
My Department is currently working on bringing forward this work in the first half of 2026, in line with the timeline published in the national housing plan.
308. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time it took SHIP construction projects to complete the four-stage approval process for those projects that were delivered in 2025; and the breakdown of the average length of time it took to pass through stage 1 approval, planning, design approval, cost appraisal, procurement and construction. [23315/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
309. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of SHIP construction single stage social housing applications that have been received to date; and the breakdown by local authority area, number schemes and number of units per scheme. [23316/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
310. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposed changes to procurement SHIP, CALF and CAS turnkey approvals as part of the shift from forward purchasing to forward funding models for delivering social housing. [23317/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCALF funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction or purchase of new social housing units. This loan facility can support between 25% and 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the remaining finance sourced by the AHBs from private lenders (usually the HFA) with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements (P&A). A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department.
Accelerated CALF (also referred to as Forward Funding) is where an AHB can request to drawdown up to 95% of the CALF amount approved, for a specific project to meet expected expenditure during the delivery phase, with 5% retained until the signing of the P&A Agreement. Accelerated CALF is permitted where specific milestones are achieved and is based on vouched expenditure.
As regards SHIP and CAS turnkey delivery there is no proposed shift to forward fund these units or change procurement rules. Expenditure is recouped by the Department for turnkey units upon completion. Stage payments are not allowed. A 10% deposit can be paid on contract signing as per standard Law Society Contracts for Sale. As with all public procurement, any ‘Turnkey’ or ‘Partnership-Development Agreement’ proposals must be advertised/procured in alignment with EU Procurement Directives and national law.
311. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes he is currently bringing forward or intends to bring forward arising from the approved housing body strategic review, in tabular form. [23318/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum (AHBSF) was published on 13 November 2025 alongside the National Housing Plan; Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030.
This report represents the most detailed examination ever undertaken by the State of the AHB sector and outlines an ambitious transformative vision and a detailed roadmap of eight interlinked policy development reforms.
Progress against these reforms over the period of the National Housing Plan would enhance the positive impact of AHBs, address immediate sectoral challenges and support the transformation towards a more resilient, effective and efficient sector.
The report has been very well received by both the sector and key stakeholders, and there is broad support for advancing the policy development reform programme outlined in the report so that the sector can continue to play its role as a key delivery partner in meeting the ambitions outlined under the new National Housing Plan.
The AHBSF process has yielded a set of eight interlinked and mutually reinforcing recommendations for policy development reform, which seek to strengthen the sector, and enable the sector to realise the Vision set out in the report, over the decade ahead.
The programme of policy development reform is well underway and will continue for the lifetime of the National Housing Plan. My officials are formalising regular engagement with sectoral representative bodies and other key stakeholders, to advance quick win reforms and the advancement of structural reform proposals.
A number of early, tangible outcomes have already been achieved or are advancing at pace. For example, following engagement with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, a suite of enhanced SEAI grant supports has been secured for the AHB sector, with potential funding of approximately 90% of the cost of retrofit projects.
A number of the more structural reforms will, by their nature, require careful and sequenced policy development. Critical foundational work is underway to build the evidence base necessary to underpin these reforms. For instance, an AHB Sectoral Census is currently being scoped in conjunction with the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority, the Housing Agency and my Department, which will provide for the first time a single, authoritative source of information on the status of the sector. This census will be essential in informing proposals on a range of policy reforms for the AHB sector. Similarly, the development of proposals for sectoral consolidation, including the establishment of an AHB Restructuring Body and Sector Sustainability Fund, requires detailed analysis of contingent liabilities, governance structures and organisational capacity across the sector.
As these proposals mature, I intend to return to Government at regular intervals throughout the period of the National Housing Plan to seek support for the structural reforms.
312. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the methodology currently being used to determine the social housing targets for each local authority area; the data sources used; the assumptions underpinning the methodology; and the rational for the targets that are to be set. [23319/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, the Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes over the lifetime of the plan. My Department is currently reviewing data sources and methodology in order to prepare provisional individual social housing targets out to 2030. Following completion of this exercise, there will be engagement with local authorities, the Housing Delivery Coordination Office and the CCMA prior to finalisation of targets.
It should be noted that the existing social housing targets run to the end of 2026. These targets were developed based on the social housing waiting list for each local authority and data obtained from the Housing Needs Demand Assessment, which profiles future demand for social housing. Officials in my Department consulted with the CCMA and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office on the methodology and development of the targets.
313. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on any proposed legislation or regulatory changes to allow for the use of cabins or modular units in back gardens for residential purposes; the expected timeline for bringing forward such measures; the conditions under which such units may be permitted, including planning, occupancy and servicing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23344/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 580 on 24 March 2026, and the position remains the same.
314. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Ireland's progress under the Nature Restoration Law. [23391/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nature Restoration Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1991) (NRR) came into force in August 2024. It sets out a framework for EU Member States to restore nature, with binding targets for a wide range of habitats and species. To fulfil the requirements of the Regulation, Ireland must develop a draft National Restoration Plan (NRP) by 1 September 2026.
The development of the NRP is a complex all-of-Government task, which is being co-ordinated by NPWS. Transparent, collaborative and inclusive engagement with stakeholders will be key to the success of the Plan.
An Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) on Nature Restoration was formed to make recommendations on the content of the NRP to the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, ensuring that a broad base of voices and concerns are reflected in the final plan. The IAC submitted its recommendations to the Minister on 18 March, and these are under consideration.
In addition, three interdepartmental technical working groups were established to define the technical and scientific baselines and targets to be achieved to satisfy the requirements of the regulation. This work will inform an EU template for submission in draft format to the EU Commission on 1 September of this year.
Both the template and the IAC recommendations will inform Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan. The Plan is being drafted on an all-of-Government basis and will require Government approval before a first draft is submitted to the European Commission in September. Following feedback from the Commission and the outcomes of public consultation, the Plan will be finalised in 2027. Meanwhile the Independent recommendations will be published in the coming weeks.
315. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the social housing list for Arklow, County Wicklow remains so long; the reason a shortage of new social housing continues to exist; the measures planned to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23392/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes. The plan seeks to significantly scale-up delivery of new-build social homes to an average of 12,000 homes per year and includes key measures to support local authorities to achieve this and, thereby, reduce their waiting lists. These measures include:
• The new single approval process for all new build social housing projects up to a value of €200m;
• Mandating the use of standard house layouts and specifications for Social Housing;
• Facilitating the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) through a standardised design approach;
• Introducing a revamped renewal programme focused on tackling dereliction and vacancy in social housing;
• Expanding the role and remit of the Land Development Agency (LDA);
• Expanding and streamlining the operation of the Land Acquisition Fund;
• Financially incentivising local authorities to exceed annual ‘own build’ social housing targets;
• Funding ring-fenced social and affordable 'new-build' housing delivery teams in each local authority.
• In addition, the Housing Activation Office (HAO) will identify and seek to address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects required to enable housing development.
Overall, Wicklow County Council’s social housing build programme is already performing well and my Department will continue to work with the Council to deliver social homes for those who need them.
The Council has exceeded its 2022-2025 target (125%) and the latest Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) (Q3 2025) shows that Wicklow County Council has a strong pipeline in place with 479 homes at various stages of design and procurement including 187 homes onsite at the end of Q3 2025. The CSR is available for analysis on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/ and also at https://opendata.housing.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2025 . Data for the Q4 2025 CSR is currently being compiled.
Further details on social housing delivery by Wicklow County Council can be found on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Under the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, each local authority will prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) setting out their planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030 in line with targets which will be set by my Department in order to ensure the 72,000 social homes will be delivered by 2030. In preparing their HDAP, each local authority will reflect local need to ensure the right mix of homes to respond to local need and priorities.
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 the end of Q3 2026. Each local authority's current HDAP is published on the LA's website. Wicklow County Council's Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026 is published at the following link www.wicklow.ie/Living/Services/Housing/Housing-Delivery-Action-Plan-2022-2026
316. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of the legal costs incurred by An Coimiúsín Pleanála (ACP) in 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; the individuals amount paid out to solicitors and barristers representing ACP; and amounts paid to solicitors and barristers representing third parties in 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [23399/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra317. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid out by An Coimiúsín Pleanála (ACP) in legal costs to named solicitors and barristers concerning High Court judicial review cases ACP conceded in 2024, 2025 and to-date in 2026; and the name of the plaintiffs in each case and date ACP conceded the cases, in tabular form. [23400/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.
An Coimisiún Pleanála (the Commission) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, and certain other Acts.
The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Coimisiún Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie
318. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the total amount of local authority home loan applications, by local authority; and the number of successful applications, in tabular form. [23426/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for a Local Authority Home Loan are made through individual local authorities and the final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis.
Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the Credit Policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approach in the best interests of both borrowers and local authorities.
My Department publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for Local Authority Home Loans [and its predecessor] are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
319. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the total amounts of units retrofitted, by local authority area, for each of the past five years. [23427/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra320. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the total spend on retrofitting of housing units, by local authority, in tabular form. [23428/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.
More than 11,000 social homes have been retrofitted under the current Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) since 2021, with a target of 36,500 local authority owned social homes to be retrofit to a post works BER of 125KWh/m²/yr out to 2030.
Some €140 million is available under the programme this year, this is an increase of €50 million on 2025, and will support the retrofit of approximately 3,500 homes.
Local authorities were advised of their respective 2026 allocations earlier this month, with work under the 2026 programme is already underway.
Data on social housing retrofits per local authority from 2013 to 2025 are available via the links below:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/
