Written Answers Nos. 188-210
188. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the tenant in situ scheme for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; if he can commit to multiannual funding of this scheme; if allowances for the increased cost of housing in Dublin can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37223/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTenancy sustainment, or tenant-in-situ, is not a stand alone programme or scheme. Rather it is an eligible category of acquisition introduced as part of 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. Such acquisitions are, and will continue to be, available to local authorities for use as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. However, they 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 re-let.
Ultimately, the delivery of new additional social homes is the only strategic solution to address long-term homelessness, with allocations from new and existing local authority and AHB social homes the primary means through which social housing qualified households should be accommodated. With the social housing new build programme gathering momentum and providing more social housing, this will allow for a reduced reliance on the Second Hand Acquisitions Programme over the coming years.
Funding allocations under the 2026 Second Hand Acquisitions Programme, including individual local authority priority category allocations, were notified to local authorities in February this year. Some €373 million is available for drawdown by local authorities and AHBs as follows:
• Exits from Homelessness - €150 million
• AHB Priority Delivery (supporting older persons, persons with disabilities, care leavers) - €50 million
• LA Priority Delivery (including tenancy sustainment or tenant-in-situ acquisitions) - €157 million.
Some €16.2 million is available for draw down by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council this year, an increase of €4 million on the Council's initial 2025 allocation.
The multi-annual funding approach introduced last year will continue in 2026. This will facilitate Dun Laoghaire Rathdown to commit up to the value of 30% of its 2026 allocation (some €4.1 million) for acquisitions that may only complete or drawdown funding in 2027, ensuring acquisitions can progress in the closing months of 2026 with certainty funding will be available in 2027.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council also has recourse to the contingency fund of €16 million set aside for local authorities that have drawn down most of their initial allocations and have capacity to complete further acquisitions and draw down the relevant funding this year.
My Department's Acquisition Cost Guidelines provide cost guidance for the acquisition of second hand properties. They reference lower and upper cost ranges, as well as average benchmark costs, and reflect the prevailing range of prices across local authorities at the time of issue. They are not ceilings or limits but benchmarks. My Department considers all acquisition proposals where the cost of acquiring the property exceeds guidelines, on a case-by-case basis, and having regard to appropriate value for money considerations. Guidelines are issued annually and updated guidance is expected to issue in near future.
189. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes delivered by the LDA since June 2025; the efforts being made to enhance the delivery of affordable housing and rebalance the tenancy mix for LDA developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37556/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDelivering Homes, Building Communities is a wide-ranging action plan focused on activating housing supply and targeting homelessness.
The Plan provides for an expanded remit for the Land Development Agency (LDA), which will enable the agency to support the acceleration of supply of new starter homes, providing thousands of individuals and families with increased access to secure and affordable housing solutions nationwide.
Along with the LDA’s role in managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes and regenerate under-utilised sites, the LDA is also tasked in the short-term with unlocking stalled private planning-consented developments through its market engagement and homebuilder partnership initiative - Project Tosaigh. In addition, the LDA also works in partnership with Local Authorities to develop large-scale mixed tenure schemes of affordable and social housing on local authority-owned sites.
Through these various delivery channels, the LDA has delivered almost 3,000 homes to date, is currently working on a pipeline of a further 25,000 homes, including 17,000 homes out to 2030, and is progressing over 40 sites with a series of projects at every stage from design through to construction.
More details of direct delivery projects and their current status are available on the LDA’s website via the following link: https://lda.ie/projects.
With regards to the rebalance of tenancy mix, the tenure mix of a particular area will be informed by the Local Authority in that area through the Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) process. The preparation of plans will be undertaken by local authorities, in collaboration with the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies.
Finally, my Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the Land Development Agency. Data up to and including the end of 2025 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.
190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will re-introduce a development levy waiver for new builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37504/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra221. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to further extend the development levy waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37214/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 190 together.
On 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.
The Government recognised that measures needed to be put in place to help address cost and viability with a view to incentivising the activation of a pipeline of new housing commencements, and assisting in the delivery of supply as quickly as possible. The waiver scheme applied to all permitted residential development including multi-unit developments, self-build houses and one-off houses, student accommodation and sheltered housing.
These temporary measures were always meant to be time-bound and this waiver has had the desired effect to deliver more housing. The waiver came to an end for development commenced in 2024 and the largest number of new housing completions since 2008 was recorded in 2025. The waiver applies to new homes completed by the end of 2026 that commenced before the relevant deadline in 2024.
I confirm that there are no plans to extend or re-introduce the waiver scheme.
191. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the work undertaken to date as part of the Developer-Led Wastewater Services Infrastructure Initiative since its implementation in March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37560/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Developer-Led Wastewater Services Infrastructure initiative was introduced in March of this year to support the delivery of housing in areas where wastewater infrastructure constraints have restricted development. The initiative enables developers, in partnership with Uisce Éireann, to deliver wastewater infrastructure for new housing developments, with completed assets transferring into public ownership for operation and maintenance.
Since its introduction, work has focused on operationalising the initiative, with supporting procedures and guidance developed by Uisce Éireann in consultation with relevant statutory bodies.
Uisce Éireann has put in place arrangements to manage developer engagement under the initiative, including a structured pre-connection process and ongoing technical engagement on proposed developments.
Developments progressing under the initiative remain subject to all relevant statutory planning and environmental approval processes.
The initiative forms part of wider measures to support housing delivery and the timely provision of enabling infrastructure.
192. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific legislative, regulatory or planning barriers identified by his Department that continue to limit the delivery of higher density apartment and duplex developments in existing urban areas, particularly in Dublin city and suburban locations with access to high capacity public transport; whether consideration is being given to further reforms in relation to height limits, dual aspect requirements, car parking standards, judicial review processes or infrastructure connections; the current status of any such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37527/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational Strategic Objective No. 1 of the National Planning Framework (NPF), which was first published in 2018 and revised in 2025, is ‘Compact Growth’. The NPF has, since 2018, included policies and objectives relating to ‘compact growth’, setting out the need to promote a more compact and sustainable approach to development patterns to counteract decades of sprawl.
In support of the NPF objectives the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities, “the Settlement Guidelines”, were issued as Ministerial Guidelines in January 2024, under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Under the provisions of Section 28 of Act of 2000 Planning Authorities are required to have regard to Ministerial Guidelines in performing their functions and to apply any Specific Planning Policy Requirements contained within the Guidelines. Following the commencement Part 3, Chapter 3 (National Planning Statements) of the Planning and Development Act 2024, on 2 October 2025, Section 28 of the Act of 2000 has been repealed. National Planning Statements will, over time, replace Ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Until such time Ministerial Guidelines are revoked or replaced, they will continue to have effect under Section 27 of the Act of 2024.
The Settlement Guidelines expand on higher-level policies of the NPF, setting policy and guidance in relation to the growth priorities for settlements, residential density, urban design and placemaking and development standards for housing. This includes delivering brownfield and infill development at suitable locations. The Settlement Guidelines state that to achieve compact growth, it will also be necessary to increase the scale of new buildings in all parts of our cities and towns, with highest densities at the most central and accessible urban locations, particularly in city centres and close to public transport nodes and interchanges. The Settlement Guidelines contain graduated density ranges that respond to settlement sizes (e.g. cities, towns and villages). The Settlement Guidelines also provide for densities to be further refined with regard to centrality and accessibly to services, public transport and site-specific considerations regarding character, amenity and the natural environment.
The Settlement Guidelines also set out maximum car parking rates maximum parking rates for new residential developments. These rates are graduated based on proximity to centres and accessibility to public transport services. The Settlement Guidelines state that in highly accessible locations car parking should be minimised, substantially reduced or wholly eliminated at locations that have good access to urban services and to public transport.
The Settlement Guidelines are one of a number of Section 28 Ministerial Guidelines that are concerned with sustainable forms of residential development and compact growth. Other Guidelines include the Urban Development and Building Height Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2018) and the Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2025) “the Apartment Guidelines”.
The Building Height Guidelines expand on higher-level policies of the National Planning Framework to encourage compact growth through increased building heights in urban areas. The Building Height Guidelines set out strategic policy considerations and performance criteria for determining appropriate locations for taller buildings. The Building Height Guidelines states that the preparation of development plans, local area plans and Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) Planning Schemes and their implementation in city, metropolitan and wider urban areas must be proactive and flexible in securing compact urban growth through a combination of both facilitating increased densities and building heights.
The Apartment Guidelines set out technical standards relating to apartment mix/typologies, space standards, dual aspect ratios, floor to ceiling heights, stair/lift cores, and amenity spaces. Viability presents an ongoing challenge to the delivery of apartments, where a considerable gap has emerged between the cost of delivering apartment development and comparable general housing market prices. The overall purpose of the Guidelines is to reduce costs and strike an effective regulatory balance, ensuring that apartment development meets the needs of society in terms of standards and quality, while promoting an increased level of output overall.
This approach provides planning authorities with a degree of flexibility so they can operate a plan-led approach and take the circumstances of a plan area or an individual site into account as part of the decision-making processes prescribed under the Planning and Development Acts.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) introduces a range of measures to streamline the planning process and provide clarity on decision making timelines. The Act of 2024 introduces statutory time periods for decision making for An Coimisiún Pleanála (An Coimisiún) for the first time. The headline time periods for An Coimisiún will range from 18 weeks for appeals of decisions of planning authorities to 48 weeks for larger-scale Strategic Infrastructure Developments. The varying timelines reflect the differing complexities of applications dealt with by An Coimisiún.
The Act of 2024 also makes important reforms in relation to Judicial Review (JR). Amongst a range of reforms, a number of examples below demonstrate that there is a need to support housing developments while balancing this against the rights of parties to take Judicial review proceedings. These include:
• removing the requirement to apply for leave to apply for JR proceedings which reduces time and removes unnecessary additional legal costs to all parties.
• requiring that an application for JR may only be made on the grounds of challenge raised by the applicant in the statement of grounds filed with their application and sets out limited criteria by which the Court may allow subsequent amendments to that statement of grounds.
• providing that an applicant for JR will not be permitted to plead a ground in JR proceedings unless they have a sufficient interest in the matter to which the ground relates.
The Housing Activation Office, established in 2025 and based in my Department, works across Government, local authorities and infrastructure providers to coordinate and accelerate the delivery of enabling infrastructure necessary to unlock housing development. In January 2026 the Government announced a new multiannual €1 Billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) to support direct investment in housing enabling infrastructure. Funding will be directed towards projects that directly support housing delivery and ensure that lands identified in development plans are serviced and ready to deliver homes. The fund is managed by the Housing Activation Office in my Department.
193. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to each local authority in 2024 and 2025 under the housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability, the mobility aids grant, and the housing aid for older people schemes; the amount drawn down by each local authority in those years; the level of underspend, recorded by each local authority; if unutilised funding from local authorities that do not draw down their full allocation can be reallocated to local authorities that have exhausted their allocation or demonstrated additional demand, in order to reduce waiting lists and ensure full use of the national budget for these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37212/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra231. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that applications for housing adaptation grants have been paused since 1 May 2026, and have not indicated when they will be open again; whether additional funding will be provided this year for these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37524/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide additional funding to Louth County Council for the three housing adaption grant schemes which have closed for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37365/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 231 and 607 together.
My 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 detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The Exchequer funding available for these grants in 2026 increased substantially by €30 million to €129.5 million, or over €152 million when accounting for the local authority contribution, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
My Department is aware that some local authorities have paused the acceptance of priority 2 and priority 3 applications but are continuing to consider priority 1 applications. Priority 1 is defined as individuals who are terminally ill, primarily dependent on family or a carer, or where adaptations to the home would support applicants leaving hospital or residential care.
Louth County Council has received an allocation of over €3.5 million in Exchequer funding for 2026 an increase of 30% on the original allocation in 2025. During 2025, my Department considered and approved additional funding allocation of €150,000 from Louth County Council bringing the total Exchequer allocation for 2025 to over €2.8 million.
My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity and my Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. My Department is actively engaging with local authorities to facilitate redistribution of any such savings as early as possible this year.
Details of the allocations and drawdown for 2024 are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/
Details on the original Exchequer allocations for 2025 are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/13000-older-and-disabled-people-to-benefit-from-over-117-million-housing-adaptation-grant-funding/. The final drawdown per local authority for 2025 will be published shortly on my Department's website.
Details on the allocations for 2026 are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/increased-funding-of-almost-130m-announced-to-improve-homes-for-older-people-and-disabled-people/.
194. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the status of planned reforms to the planning system to ensure that appropriate childcare facilities are planned for and delivered as part of new residential developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37310/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out a number of priorities for Government in relation to access to early learning and childcare services including a commitment to ‘review the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities to ensure childcare spaces are provided and put to use’.
Further to the commencement of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 on 2 October 2025, provisions for National Planning Statements have been introduced to replace the provisions for Ministerial guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
All existing Section 28 guidelines will, over time, be revoked and replaced with new National Planning Statements. The current section 28 guidelines will however remain in force until revoked or replaced by a corresponding National Planning Statement. The timing of the issuing of National Planning Statements will be based on Government priorities.
The current Guidelines set out a methodology for calculating an adequate provision of childcare places and are intended to ensure a consistency of approach to the treatment of applications in respect to the land use planning aspects of childcare provision, for relevant planning applicants, developers and childcare providers in formulating and considering development proposals.
These Guidelines currently set out that a standard of one childcare facility providing for a minimum 20 childcare places per approximately 75 dwellings may be appropriate. This is a guideline standard and will depend on the particular circumstances of each individual site. Consideration of childcare facilities provision should be raised as early as possible in preplanning discussions for larger housing developments.
National Policy Objective 41 of the NPF in particular prioritises the alignment of targeted and planned population and employment growth with investment in a number of areas including a Childcare/Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) planning function, for monitoring, analysis and forecasting of investment needs, including identification of regional priorities; and the provision and timely delivery of childcare facilities and new and refurbished schools on well-located sites within or close to existing built-up areas, that meet the diverse needs of local populations and support the development of sustainable communities.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), who hold policy responsibility for childcare matters, has established a Working Group, chaired by DCDE in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Education and Youth (DEY), to create a clear mechanism for information sharing and discussion in relation to current and future policy related to planning of early learning and childcare services, including examining the role of the existing Childcare Guidelines for Planning Authorities.
195. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to amending the provisions relating to Section 42 licences under the Wildlife Act 1976, issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to allow for their use not only to prevent serious damage to crops, forestry, or property, but also to address public safety concerns arising from deer on or near public roads; if such licences could be extended or adapted to permit targeted culling where there is a demonstrable risk to motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34602/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department issues licences to hunt deer under the Wildlife Act 1976, and actively manages deer on its own property. However, the NPWS does not own the deer population. Deer populations by their nature are mobile and have a home range that is not constrained by landownership boundaries.
Deer management in Ireland is being managed through the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group (IDMSG) established in 2022 by the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) with support from my Department and it includes officials from the NPWS and Coillte. The role of the IDMSG is to develop initiatives to ensure sustainable deer numbers while achieving the objectives of landowners ranging from biodiversity, forestry, agriculture, animal health and road safety. The group published its report “Developing a Sustainable Deer Management Strategy for Ireland” in December 2023.
The NPWS is currently undertaking an important project to update wildlife legislation, including the Wildlife Act 1976, the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and significant regulations made under these provisions. The project is examining closely the effectiveness of our legislation in protecting wildlife and regulating activities that adversely impact on wildlife and biodiversity.
A number of the recommendations set out in the IDMSG report relates to legislative changes and one of these, to align the deer hunting season to Northern Ireland, was delivered shortly after the report was published. The other legislative recommendations, including provision for clearer licensing arrangements in respect of public health and safety, are being considered in this overall review of the legislation.
196. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it will be ensured that the current rezoning project being carried out by local authorities will result in the social and affordable housing that is needed across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37550/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe First Revision to the National Planning Framework (NPF) was finalised and approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. The NPF identifies the need to plan for approximately 50,000 additional households per annum to 2040.
To ensure that local authority development plans reflect the requirements of the NPF in respect of housing as soon as possible, I issued the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in July 2025. These guidelines set out the housing demand scenario to 2040 for each local authority, by translating the NPF housing requirements into average annual figures and require planning authorities to commence the process of varying their development plan to meet the new housing growth requirements.
In addition to the baseline housing growth requirement, planning authorities have been requested to address the scope for additional provision of up to 50% in excess of the baseline figure, in light of the urgent need to increase housing delivery, and to optimise the ability to deliver on the housing requirements of the NPF.
Planning authorities are currently assessing their respective development plans and undertaking a review of the adequacy of existing zoned lands in their functional area to cater for the new Housing Growth Requirements and the potential for ‘additional provision’.
To date, 28 variation processes have been commenced, with 12 of those either partially or fully completed. The remaining local authorities have presented a Chief Executive’s report to elected members setting out their proposed response to the Guidelines and will commence the variation process in due course.
The zoning of land for particular purposes, including residential development, is an exercise undertaken by planning authorities as part of their overall statutory plan-making function and is a reserved function of the elected members.
With regard to social and affordable housing, the Government’s Housing Action Plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver an average of 12,000 social homes and 15,000 affordable housing supports under the Starter Homes Programme annually to 2030.
To achieve this, all local authorities will shortly commence preparing their Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), for review by my Department, setting out their planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030. The preparation of HDAPs will be undertaken by local authorities in collaboration with their delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency, Approved Housing Bodies, and the development sector.
Existing HDAPs run to the end of 2026 and are currently published on individual local authority websites. It is expected that new HDAPs, which will run to 2030, will be in place by the end of the year and will also be published by each individual local authority once finalised.
197. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the target of the 7,500 affordable purchase and cost rental homes for 2026; the reason only 935 affordable purchase homes were delivered in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37481/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, reinforces and expands the range of existing starter home 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 starter home supports annually to 2030.
To underpin the delivery of this Starter Homes Programme, the Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding, including through a number of important affordability measures, supported by direct Exchequer funding, investment through the Land Development Agency and lending by the Housing Finance Agency.
This expanded delivery, under the new housing plan, will build upon the significant progress already made under our previous plan Housing for All, with over 22,000 starter home supports, excluding the Help to Buy Scheme, having been delivered from its launch to the end of 2025. In 2025, 935 Affordable Purchase Homes were delivered by the local authorities, along with 1,835 First Home Scheme drawdowns, which provided real solutions for individuals and households seeking to purchase an affordable home.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis for starter home delivery activity by local authority and delivery partners, for each local authority area. Data from 2022 to 2025 is currently published on the statistics page of my Department’s website.
Under the housing action plan, local authorities will shortly commence the updating of their Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. Each local authority HDAP will be informed by identifiable affordable housing need within their area and will include collaboration with their delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency and the Approved Housing Bodies, as applicable. These plans are expected be completed and published by the local authorities by the end of Q3 2026.
198. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on a review of eligibility criteria and the identification of priority areas for grant aid schemes administered by local authorities to upgrade, repair or replace domestic wastewater treatment system/septic tank systems; when it is likely that these changes will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37228/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGrant support is available in specific circumstances where defective Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, pose a significant risk to the environment or public health. This is an exception to the general rule whereby property owners, who remain responsible for ensuring that their systems are properly maintained, are required to fund all maintenance and repair costs.
Grants are targeted at priority areas, including where a system has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan or where a dwelling is located in an area identified as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of defective systems.
A review of the grant scheme has recently been completed. I have approved amendments to provide for additional locations to be designated as priority areas for support under the scheme. Funding will continue to be made available according to environmental and public health priorities and will not be accessible on demand.
My Department is finalising the revised regulations to give effect to the changes to the scheme and it is expected that the revised arrangements will come into effect shortly.
Question No. 199 answered with Question No. 165.
200. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans for housing options for older people properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37522/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, includes measures which will increase delivery of housing for older people through increased delivery of social housing, increased delivery of more suitable homes and choice in private housing and increased choice to support voluntary rightsizing. Government is committed to increasing housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence and to supporting rightsizing on a voluntary basis.
My Department is advancing these measures, now incorporated in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, including the implementation of these commitments through an action plan that is currently being prepared by my Department, and it is expected it will be advanced in the first half of this year.
201. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the total expenditure in 2025 on emergency homeless accommodation, with a breakdown for the amount paid out to private providers. [37508/26]
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 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.
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 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. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services including emergency accommodation, the amounts paid to private operators, as well as the type and operation of homeless services are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis and a lead authority is in place for each region. The table below sets out the Exchequer funding provided to the each of the nine homeless regions for 2025:
Exchequer funding provided to Homeless Regions - 2025
|
Region (Lead Authority) |
€ |
|
Dublin (Dublin City Council) |
318,905,871 |
|
Mid East (Kildare County Council) |
16,840,551 |
|
Midlands (Westmeath County Council) |
7,901,940 |
|
Mid West (Limerick City & County Council) |
19,908,438 |
|
North East (Louth County Council) |
7,895,555 |
|
North West (Sligo County Council) |
3,905,472 |
|
South East (Waterford City & County Council) |
11,605,166 |
|
South West (Cork City Council) |
43,412,017 |
|
West (Galway City Council) |
18,402,333 |
Financial reports from each of the homeless regions setting out their expenditure on homeless emergency accommodation and related services are published on my Department's website at the following link: [www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data].
202. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities have adequate powers and flexibility to respond to parking pressures arising from new developments, particularly in suburban areas with high levels of car dependency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37540/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaximum parking rates for new residential developments are addressed at a national level in the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines “the Settlement Guidelines”, issued in 2024 under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Section 28 provides that planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial Guidelines and shall apply any specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs) of the Guidelines, within the meaning of Section 28 (1C) of the Act of 2000, in the performance of their functions. Whilst Section 28 of the Act of 2000 has been repealed, all current Ministerial Guidelines continue to have effect under Section 27 of the Act of 2024 until such time as they are replaced by a National Planning Statement.
Specific Planning Policy Requirement (SPPR) 3 of the Settlement Guidelines sets out graduated maximum car parking rates based on proximity to urban centres and sustainable transport options, in order to promote more sustainable travel choices. These range from 1 space per dwelling in central or accessible locations to 2 spaces per dwellings in more peripheral or intermediate locations with higher rates of car dependency. These rates do not include bays assigned for use by a car club, designated short stay on–street Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations or accessible parking spaces.
Where planning permission is sought for residential development, planning authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála will need to be satisfied that the necessary and appropriate provision of parking is provided in accordance with the requirements of the Settlement Guidelines. This approach provides planning authorities with a degree of flexibility so they can operate a plan-led approach and take the circumstances of a plan area or an individual site into account as part of the decision making processes prescribed under the Planning and Development Acts.
203. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans for social and/or affordable housing for Arklow, County Wicklow, with projected completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37477/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. These statistics provide delivery data at local authority level. Data is available to the end of Q4 2025 and 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/ .
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2025. All CSRs are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/ A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority, location etc. at this link: https://opendata.housing.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2025
Under the new housing plan, Building Homes, Delivering 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. My Department will be communicating with local authorities in this regard in Q1 2026.
It should be noted that existing HDAPs run to the end of 2026 and it is expected that new HDAPs, which will run to 2030, will be in place by 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.
Question No. 204 answered with Question No. 168.
205. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the work of the Housing Activation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Activation Office (HAO) continues its work to drive the coordination and acceleration of critical infrastructure required to unlock housing on sites nationwide. The office is focused on identifying and resolving infrastructure constraints, aligning investment across agencies and progressing infrastructure projects that will unlock housing lands and accelerate the delivery of housing.
Since its establishment, the HAO has undertaken engagement with various stakeholders, including ongoing engagement with the 31 individual local authorities and LDA. The office is maintaining structured engagement with various stakeholders, infrastructure providers and key delivery partners.
The Housing Activation Delivery Group and the Housing Activation Industry Group have met twice since November 2025 and will continue to meet on a quarterly basis to strengthen coordination and ensure that momentum across infrastructure and housing delivery is maintained.
On 21 January 2026, the Government launched a new multiannual €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) to support direct investment in housing enabling infrastructure. The Housing Activation Office in my Department manages the fund.
The core objective of the HIIF is to unblock infrastructure constraints and activate lands that are identified for housing development. By investing directly in transport, water, electricity and other enabling infrastructure, the fund will ensure that land is properly serviced and ready to deliver homes.
Call 1 of the HIIF opened for applications from local authorities and the Land development Agency (LDA) on 21 January 2026 and closed on Friday 27 February 2026. Applications have been received from local authorities across the country and from the LDA.
The Housing Activation Office team is actively reviewing all applications received against the scheme criteria and recommendations will be brought forward shortly in accordance with the governance arrangements for the fund. As this process is ongoing I am not in position to comment on any specific application.
My Department will continue to develop the HIIF and intends to broaden its scope in 2026 to include a wider range of public and private sector delivery partners. The primary aim is to build a rolling programme of investment that addresses obstacles to the delivery of housing.
The initial focus of the Housing Activation Office has been on local activation, and the focus will now broaden to include a more strategic phase of work. This includes the identification of larger and more transformative infrastructure investments that are required to support housing delivery at scale.
206. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of first-time buyers in Galway that have benefitted from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37340/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe First Home Scheme supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, or building their own home, through the use of an equity share model, within price ceilings established across the country.
The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (DAC), on behalf of the shareholders - the State and participating mortgage lenders (AIB, BOI, and PTSB).
This DAC is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. To Q1 2026, the scheme has approved a total of 261 eligible applicants to purchase their homes in Galway, (95 in Galway City and 166 in Galway County). In the same period, 124 applicants have drawdown funds to purchase their first home (50 in Galway City, and 74 in Galway County). Information on First Home Scheme delivery by local authorities can be found on the FHS website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/quarterly-updates/.
The Starter Homes Programme, of which the First Home Scheme is a central component, is supporting thousands of individuals and families get access to a home. More information on the delivery under this Programme, broken down by Local Authority, is available in the quarterly affordable delivery statistics published by my Department on www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
207. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when his Department will provide the funding to Donegal County Council to proceed with affordable housing projects in the county. [37484/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting home ownership is at the centre of Government’s housing policy and our housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
The new housing plan 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.
Under the new plan, local authorities will shortly commence the updating of their Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. Each local authority HDAP will be informed by identifiable affordable housing need within their area and will include collaboration with their delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency and the Approved Housing Bodies, as applicable. These plans will be completed and published by local authorities by end of Q3 2026.
In addition, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities, including Donegal County Council, to assist towards the cost of developing affordable housing at locations where significant affordability needs have been identified.
I understand that Donegal County Council has recently submitted its first AHF application to the Department which is currently under consideration.
Furthermore, measures such as the First Home Scheme, the Help-to-Buy Scheme, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant are also available to help make home ownership more affordable.
My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist Donegal County Council to develop an affordable delivery programme that will continue to respond effectively to identified localised affordability needs in key urban locations including where appropriate affordable purchase homes that may be delivered with the support of the AHF and Part V planning obligations.
208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when will the planning exemptions be introduced to allow for modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37502/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant progress on the review of Exempted Development Regulations has been made. A successful public consultation took place last year with over 900 submissions received via the online portal. The details in these submissions have been reviewed and have informed the on-going drafting of the updated Exempted Development Regulations that will be forthcoming across 2026.
The implementation of the update of these regulations is being done on a phased basis, by theme, with priority already having been given to the exemptions relating to domestic dwellings. These domestic dwellings regulations are at advanced draft stage and include exemptions for detached auxiliary dwellings to the rear of the main dwelling. The final decisions on the specifics of these regulations will be communicated and brought forward for implementation as soon as possible.
It is intended that updated Exempted Development Regulations for residential development will be signed into law as soon as possible.
The new draft Exempted Development Regulations are subject to formal environmental consideration, before being laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This process will also necessitate formal engagement with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and an appearance will be sought before the Committee at the earliest opportunity, once the environmental assessment process is complete.
209. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the interim fire safety defects remediation scheme. [37506/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra597. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the legislation for the Celtic tiger era building defects redress scheme will be published. [37101/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 597 together.
Government approval was received on 18 September 2024 for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill. The purpose of this legislation is to place the defects remediation Scheme on a statutory footing, further to commitments contained in the Programme for Government.
The legislation will provide supports for the remediation of relevant fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. It is envisaged that 100% of eligible remediation costs will be funded in the relevant apartments and duplexes.
An Interim Remediation Scheme has been in place since December 2023, to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending introduction of the Statutory Scheme and completion of the full remedial works.
As of the end of April 2026, 264 applications to the Interim Remediation Scheme have been validated, having met the required eligibility criteria. These applications represent 22,607 residential units, with circa 75% in the Dublin region.
As part of the Interim Scheme process a number of pathfinder projects were identified to help inform the development of the legislation. I have just recently approved the final pathfinder project and all four projects across Dublin City Centre, Portmarnock, West Dublin and Kilcock are now approved for funding from my Department in the amount of €24m. Remediation works have commenced or will be commencing shortly in each case.
In February 2026, the Government announced some significant amendments to the interim Scheme in order to simplify procurement and cut through administrative hurdles, allowing works relating to fire detection and alarm systems to be completed more quickly, while ensuring residents can remain safely in their homes until full building remediation is finished.
I am conscious that a large number of homeowners in affected apartment developments have, on their own initiative and at their own expense, already addressed the defects in their homes. I brought a Memorandum for Government to Cabinet on 21 April 2026, and approval was received on a number of policy recommendations on Retrospective Grant Payments. These recommendations will inform the ongoing drafting of the legislation. I can confirm, that where works have been completed that fit the eligible parameters of the Scheme, then these costs will be reimbursed.
The General Scheme of the Bill completed pre-legislative scrutiny in January. Drafting of the Bill has been progressed and I am hoping to be in a position to publish the Bill before the Summer recess.
Question No. 210 answered with Question No. 166.
