Written Answers Nos. 585-598
585. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of craft apprentices registered in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37360/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the specific role and function of each individual staff member is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
I am aware that the local government sector participates in the employer-led national apprenticeship programme which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Public Sector Agreement highlights that the Sector is committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships through co-operation with the objectives of the Public Sector Apprenticeship Plan, with a view to increasing the number of Apprenticeships and developing further opportunities for apprenticeships across the sector. This is further supported by Action 12 in the Local Government Sector's Strategic Framework for Workforce Planning which is available on my Department's website here: www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/strategic-framework-for-workforce-planning.pdf
The Guide on employing Apprentices for the Public Sector developed by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has been produced to support the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan which is a key deliverable under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 -2025. This Plan sets out the pathway to significantly grow the uptake of apprenticeships with an annual target of 150 for the local authority sector.
586. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.698 of 28 April 2026, if his Department plans to make the Local Authority Regional Homelessness Financial Reports, published on his Department's website, available in future in machine-readable formats (details supplied), in line with open data standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36618/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently reviewing the full suite of the 2025 financial reports for the homeless regions, and these reports will be published on my Department’s website once this process is complete. Expenditure by housing authorities which has been certified at appropriate housing authority level by the Director of Housing and the relevant Director of Finance are published in PDF format on my Department’s website. The publication of this certification of the expenditure ensures accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. The publication of financial reports in an alternative format is not available at this time. However, in compliance with S.I. No. 376/2021 on open data, the Department can provide excel versions of the published financial reports directly to the Deputy upon request.
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data
587. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended in respect of the legal costs incurred by An Coimiúsín Pleanála in 2025 and in 2024; the individual amount paid out to solicitors and barristers representing ACP; and the amounts paid to solicitors and barristers representing third parties in 2025 and 2024, in tabular form. [36627/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra588. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid out by ACP in legal costs to named solicitors and barristers concerning High Court judicial review cases the ACP has conceded in 2025 and the 2024; the name of the plaintiffs in each case; and the date ACP conceded the cases, in tabular form. [36628/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 587 and 588 together.
The information requested is not held by my Department.
An Coimisiún Pleanála 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
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
589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether national building regulations or technical guidance documents prescribe minimum toilet provision ratios for men and women in public buildings including theatres, restaurants and entertainment venues; and if he will provide details of the applicable standards and enforcement mechanisms. [36663/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Regulations 1997–2024 set out the minimum legal requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings. The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the second schedule to the building regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M). The related Technical Guidance Documents (TGD A to M respectively) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with the relevant regulation(s).
The number and location of sanitary facilities required in a building is dictated by the nature of the building, the size of the building, the number of people who will use the building, gender ratio, patterns of use and the ease of access.
Regulation G.2 (1) of the second schedule to the Building Regulations requires that ‘Adequate sanitary conveniences shall be provided in a building in rooms provided for that purpose, or in bathrooms, and every room or bathroom which contains a sanitary convenience shall be adequately separated from any place where food is prepared or cooked.’
The related Technical Guidance Document G (Hygiene) references the BS 6465 (Sanitary Installations) suite of documents for guidance on the scale of provision of sanitary appliances.
Paragraph 2.2 of Technical Guidance Document G states that ‘Guidance on the scale of provision, selection, installation, and special requirements of sanitary appliances in domestic, commercial and public buildings is contained in BS 6465 Sanitary installations, Part 1; Part 2 ; Part 3 and Part 4.’
BS 6465 Sanitary installations, Part 1 provides recommended minimum male and female toilet provision ratios across a range of building types including theatres, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is delegated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2025, to the local building control authorities (i.e. the 31 local authorities) who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers.
590. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Galway City Council will be given its homeless allocation for 2026; if he will address the increased demand for homeless services in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36681/26]
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 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 of the nine homeless regions in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the type and range of homeless emergency accommodation and related services, operational matters such as new services to meet capacity demand, and the funding required to address homelessness in each region.
My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. Each region submits an annual expenditure programme and my Department approves a funding allocation. Galway is included in the West region for the purposes of homeless administration, along with Mayo and Roscommon, and Galway City Council is the lead authority.
An expenditure programme for 2026 has been submitted by Galway City Council in respect of the West region. My Department is currently engaging with the Council in order to address queries relating to this programme and a funding allocation for 2026 will be determined for the region on completion of this process. Local authorities continue to recoup expenditure for homeless services from the Department at regular intervals during the process of reviewing the submitted regional expenditure programmes.
591. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered increasing HAP payments in Galway; if he has considered increasing the homeless HAP flexibility from 35% to 50% in Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36682/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority.
The HAP scheme continues to play a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2025, over 131,600 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 49,663 households actively in receipt of HAP support nationally. An average of 123 new HAP tenancies was set up each week in 2025, indicating that the scheme continues to support large numbers of households to secure a home in the private rental market. In 2025, Galway City Council set up 185 HAP tenancies and Galway County Council set up 145.
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, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. 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.
It is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case-by-case basis, and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case. Local authorities are encouraged to focus the application of discretion on alleviating financial burden for HAP tenants wherever possible, particularly for those in difficult financial circumstances.
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 continue 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 by the end of Q2 this year.
592. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the grant system for the repair and conservation of thatched buildings was last reviewed or updated; whether the scheme applies solely to domestic dwellings or if commercial heritage buildings such as hotels, pubs, guest houses or tourism-related properties are eligible for support; if he will consider expanding eligibility and updating the scheme in light of the critically low number of practising thatchers and the urgent need to safeguard this element of Ireland's built heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra593. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for excluding commercial heritage buildings such as pubs, B and Bs, restaurants, hotels and tourism properties from eligibility under thatching grant schemes; when this policy was last reviewed; if he will consider expanding eligibility in light of the urgent need to sustain demand for the craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36734/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 593 together.
There are two schemes within my Department that provide dedicated financial support to owners of thatched structures, one of which is open to applications for commercial buildings.
Firstly, a dedicated Thatching Grant is available for thatched buildings in use as housing. Applicants can avail of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost (whichever is less) towards necessary roof repair or renewal. A higher grant (up to €5,714) may be payable for houses on specified islands. For owners of qualifying thatch properties who are also Medical Card holders the maximum grant available is €6,350, or up to 80% of the approved cost (€8,252 for Islands). Commercial buildings are not eligible for application under this scheme.
However, further support is available for historic thatched buildings through the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), principally under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). This scheme is administered by the local authorities and funded by my Department, and is open to owners of both domestic and commercial buildings. Since 2023, it has included a dedicated funding stream for historic thatched buildings offering grants of up to €20,000 for thatching or other conservation work. Owners of historic thatched buildings may also apply for funding from the main stream of the BHIS. Subject to funding, it is intended to re-open this scheme for applications later this year.
594. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the industrial relations dispute within Tailte Éireann concerning the non-implementation of a pay agreement which was agreed between an organisation (details supplied), Tailte Éireann and Government Departments following the merging of Ordnance Survey Ireland into Tailte Éireann; the actions he is undertaking to ensure this pay agreement is implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36735/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of my Department. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8 of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.
I am aware of the issue raised in relation to the transfer of staff from Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) to Tailte Éireann.
By way of background, Tailte Éireann is the State agency formed on 1 March 2023 following the merger of Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office. All the functions previously carried out by the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office, and Ordnance Survey Ireland are now being performed by Tailte Éireann.
As I understand it, public pay policy, which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, allows for public servants assimilating into a new organisation to transfer to the equivalent general service grade where doing so is equal to, or more beneficial than, their current terms. Grades of a higher value than the equivalent general service grade can be ring-fenced on a personal to holder basis. This ensures that no staff member is disadvantaged by the redeployment process.
My Department continues to engage with the Department for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation with a view to exploring approaches to progress the matter in a manner that is consistent with established Government pay policy and the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026.
595. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the treatment of AVC pension contributions in the calculation of rent under the differential rent scheme (details supplied). [36752/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities. Accordingly, decisions regarding the sources of income, such as AVC pension contributions, included and disregarded for rent assessment purposes are matters solely for individual local authorities. I have no role in this regard.
596. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether State agencies must pay the derelict sites levy. [37093/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Derelict Sites Act 1990 (or the ‘Act’) imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site as defined in the Act. The Act also imposes a duty on Local Authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
Each Local Authority maintains a Derelict Sites Register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider are derelict under the Act. Sites entered on the Derelict Sites Register are subject to an annual Derelict Sites Levy of 7% of the market value of the property which will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.
Section 9 of the Act states “It shall be the duty of every owner and occupier of land, including a statutory body and a State authority, to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become or does not continue to be a derelict site.”
Section 23(2) identifies that the derelict site levy shall be paid by the owner of urban land to the local authority. The placing of sites on the Derelict Sites Register and the collecting of levies on those sites is part of the overall process that Local Authorities undertake with the owners of derelict sites they identify. Local Authorities will engage directly with site owners in the early stages of the use of the Derelict Sites Act before the site is formally listed on the Register. This direct engagement can often lead to resolution of the dereliction issues by agreement between the Local Authority and the landowner involved, which can lead to significant variation in the number of sites being formally placed on the Register across local authorities.
598. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Planning Policy Statements on short-term letting, rural housing, Gaeltacht housing, islands housing will be published. [37102/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commencement of provisions within Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 on 2 October 2025 provides the statutory basis for the issuing of National Planning Statements. Under the provisions of the Act of 2024 the Minster may, at any time and with the approval of Government, issue a National Planning Statement in relation to planning matters to support proper planning and sustainable development.
National Planning Statements will replace Ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Existing Ministerial Guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Act of 2000 will, over time, be revoked and replaced with National Planning Statements. Section 27 (1) of the Act of 2024 states that, notwithstanding the repeal of Section 28 of the Act of 2000, guidelines issued under that section that were in force immediately before the repeal of that section, shall continue in force until revoked or replaced by a National Planning Statement.
The delivery of housing is a top priority for Government. The Government’s new housing action plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities sets out a series of actions aligned with the Revised National Planning Framework housing projections which set out the need to plan for the delivery of approximately 50,000 additional homes per annum to 2040.
The Housing Action Plan commits to the preparation of National Planning Statements with regard to short-term letting, rural housing and housing within Gaeltacht areas. The timelines are in the table below:
|
Action No. |
Action |
Timeline |
|
7.16 |
Introduce increased regulation of the Short-Term Letting sector by: introducing a Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill; and a National Planning Statement which will provide guidance for local authorities when deciding on planning applications for short-term lets |
H1 2026 |
|
8.5 |
Publish a National Planning Statement relating to rural housing to provide clarity and consistency within the planning system |
H2 2026 |
|
8.7 |
Publish a National Planning Statement for housing in Gaeltacht areas. |
H1 2027 |
