Written Answers Nos. 372-389
372. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the ecological survey undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Glennamought Valley in 2004 remains the most recent biodiversity or conservation assessment conducted in the Murphy’s Rock area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36336/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra373. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the scientific findings, habitat classifications, species records, and conservation criteria arising from the 2004 National Parks and Wildlife Service survey of Glennamought Valley in Cork. [36337/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra374. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons the 2004 National Parks and Wildlife Service survey of Glennamought Valley did not recommend Natural Heritage Area designation; and whether those findings have subsequently been reviewed. [36338/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra375. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any assessment has been undertaken regarding changes in biodiversity, habitat condition, geological significance, or conservation status in the Murphy’s Rock area since the 2004 survey. [36339/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any protected, rare, threatened, or priority habitats or species have been recorded within the Murphy’s Rock or Glennamought Valley area since 2004. [36341/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 373, 374, 375 and 377 together.
In 2004, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department undertook a survey of Glennamought Valley, which forms part of the Murphy’s Rock area. A list of habitats and species recorded during this survey are included as an attachment. The survey noted that the habitat of interest within this site is species-rich wet grassland/freshwater marsh. It was noted that the habitat is not uncommon and that the area in question was relatively small. Due to the size of the habitat area and species recorded, the site was not recommended for Natural Heritage Area (NHA) status.
No protected, rare or threatened animal or vascular plant species were recorded in the 2004 NPWS survey of the Glennamought Valley and no additional records for these species are held by the NPWS for this site. The NPWS has not undertaken any further ecological surveys of Glennamought Valley, nor are there any further surveys planned.
376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the National Parks and Wildlife Service has considered conducting updated ecological or geological surveys in the Murphy’s Rock area in light of evolving biodiversity mapping standards and climate resilience considerations. [36340/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the absence of updated ecological surveys in areas previously considered for designation presents any risk to the State’s biodiversity monitoring obligations under EU environmental law. [36345/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 381 together.
Under Article 11 of the EU Habitats Directive, Member States are required to undertake surveillance of the conservation status of habitats and species listed on the Directive. Under Article 17 of this Directive, Member States are obliged to report to the European Commission every six years on the conservation status outcomes.
Article 10 of the EU Birds Directive encourages Member States to carry out the necessary research, including monitoring-related activities to support the protection and management of bird species. Under Article 12 of this Directive, Member States are obliged to report to the European Commission every six years on the status and trends of bird populations, as well as the main threats, pressures, and conservation measures taken.
For both Directives, the frequency of monitoring depends on the ecology of the species or habitat in question, with long-lived or less vulnerable species and habitats requiring less frequent monitoring. Representative samples are monitored across the natural range of species and habitats, some of which may fall in areas previously considered for designation. Ireland submitted Article 17 (Habitats Directive) and Article 12 (Birds Directive) reports in fulfilment of our legal obligations in 2025.
The monitoring requirements of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) are set out in Article 20 of that regulation. Member States must monitor the effectiveness of restoration measures put in place to achieve the targets set out in the NRR, and the progress made towards those targets. Monitoring and reporting of the status of the habitats and species listed in the Habitats and Birds Directives will coincide with the reporting requirements of those Directives.
The primary focus of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is directed toward the fulfilment of these legal monitoring obligations.
378. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether Cork County Council has engaged with his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service regarding conservation, heritage, biodiversity, or tourism-related designation opportunities connected to Murphy’s Rock. [36342/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra379. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any geological assessment has been undertaken regarding the suitability of the Murphy’s Rock area for potential UNESCO Global Geopark-related consideration. [36343/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together.
The site referred to is not in State ownership or guardianship or a designated site under UNESCO Conventions, EU Directives or under national legislation.
Nominations for UNESCO geopark status are required to demonstrate they have geological heritage of international value and should be sponsored and based on agreement at local level in the first instance.
Developing opportunities for the site is a matter for the relevant local authority.
380. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department maintains any formal review mechanism for reconsidering areas previously assessed but not recommended for Natural Heritage Area designation. [36344/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Natural Heritage Area (NHA) is a national designation covering areas of conservation value for ecological and/or geological/geomorphological heritage. NHAs are designated under the Wildlife Acts. When the National Parks and Wildlife Service surveys a site as a candidate for NHA designation, a site code is assigned and the site listed as a candidate Natural Heritage Area (cNHA). Once a site receives this status, it remains as candidate Natural Heritage Area for consideration for potential designation under future NHA designation programmes, subject to evolving legal obligations and prioritised resource allocation.
383. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any national audit has been conducted examining variation between local authorities in homelessness eligibility determinations or emergency accommodation access decisions. [36348/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra385. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any review has been undertaken regarding differing operational thresholds for access to emergency accommodation between local authorities. [36350/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 385 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
Under the Housing Act 1988, it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household. Decisions on the assessment of households for homeless services, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are matters for the local authority concerned.
Operational issues in relation to the day-to-day delivery of services, including provision of emergency accommodation provided through a local authority, are matters for the relevant local authority.
384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any formal benchmarking framework exists comparing homelessness service delivery standards across local authorities or homeless regions. [36349/26]
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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Details on the type and operation of homeless services, including the emergency accommodation centres in use, are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
To assist in ensuring that homeless services provided are of a high standard, a National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) was developed by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) in partnership with the NGO Sector, the HSE and other key stakeholders. The NQSF for homeless services now operates across all local authority and NGO delivered services. The NQSF standards adopted the overarching themes that HIQA use as the foundation for all quality standards frameworks that they are involved with. The framework is designed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and contracted service providers in the NGO sector respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. The NQSF standards give service providers a framework for maintaining and improving quality in their service delivery. It is matter for the local authorities to ensure compliance with the standards, including through the contractual arrangements and service level agreements in place with partner organisations.
Given the increased need for contracted private emergency accommodation, the DRHE adapted the NQSF standards and applies these standards to private emergency accommodation.
The standards contained in 'Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation' have been developed to reflect the different service models in private emergency accommodation i.e. different entities providing the facility and the supports. As was the case with the roll-out of the NQSF to NGO services, a developmental approach to the roll out of these standards is being taken. The ultimate aim is to ensure that standards are being applied and monitored across all facilities, irrespective of whether they are NGO or privately operated.
My Department does not hold the information requested comparing service delivery standards across homeless regions, as it is a matter for local authorities to monitor standards.
In the Dublin region, an in-house standards team monitor compliance with the NQSF for NGO facilities under the service level agreements in place. These include checks on the physical standards, occupancy, supports and hygiene. The DRHE has also appointed an officer to monitor the standards in private emergency accommodation facilities. Information in relation to the application, monitoring and governance of standards, including published inspection reports, for Dublin based emergency accommodation is available from the DRHE at the following link: www.homelessdublin.ie/our-work/quality-standards.
386. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of emergency accommodation capacity nationally currently comprised of hotels, bed-and-breakfast accommodation, family hubs, congregated facilities and supported temporary accommodation respectively. [36351/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra387. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any national target exists to reduce dependency on hotel or bed-and-breakfast emergency accommodation. [36352/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any assessment has been carried out regarding the long-term fiscal sustainability of hotel-based emergency accommodation provision. [36353/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 387 and 388 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. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by housing authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. In the first instance, it is the responsibility for the management group of the consultative forum to determine the type and range of homeless services required to address homelessness in each region. This includes determining the type of emergency accommodation, the capacity represented by each facility or accommodation type, the funding required and other operational matters.
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. This report provides a breakdown of the number of adults in emergency accommodation per accommodation type. The most recently published data is in respect of March 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/.
Additionally, financial reports from each of the homeless regions, setting out expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services including the types of homeless services are published on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
The Department does not procure or tender for emergency accommodation services directly. The Department contributes to the overall expenditure incurred by housing authorities in the provision of services. This Government has committed to providing emergency accommodation to all those that need it. As part of the budgetary process, my Department takes account of the current costs, and forecasts the projected costs, arising from the provision of all forms of emergency accommodation, including commercial accommodation.
Budget 2026 provides a total allocation of €563.5m to address homelessness. This includes €50 million in capital funding, which will allow local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to invest in the construction or acquisition of properties suitable for use as homeless or transitional accommodation.
