Written Answers Nos. 211-230
211. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the provision of affordable housing schemes in East County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36515/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
The new action plan builds upon the significant progress made under our previous plan Housing for All, with over 22,000 starter home supports delivered from 2022 to 2025, including 178 in Galway City and 311 in Galway County.
The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist local authorities in the delivery of starter homes solutions, where significant affordability need is identified. In terms of new delivery, Galway City and Galway County have received funding approval to facilitate the delivery of an additional of 113 and 130 starter homes respectively, with the support of the fund.
Galway County Council has received funding approval of €17.475m to assist towards the development costs of 236 starter homes with AHF support, of which 33 of these homes were delivered by end of 2025.
My Department has recently met with the affordable delivery team in Galway County and understands that a number of further proposals are in the process of being developed.
The Government has agreed the transfer of 1.4 hectares of land at Galway Harbour to enable the LDA to deliver 356 new social and starter homes. Subject to planning permission, construction is provisionally scheduled to commence in 2027.
It is also worth noting that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers and has been availed of in the Galway City and County areas.
Additionally, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties. Both of these schemes have been, and will continue to be, availed of within Galway as an affordable pathway to housing, and in the case of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, as a valuable support in the tackling of the serious problem of vacancy and dereliction.
Under the new housing plan, all local authorities are required to prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans, replacing their existing action plans, to be completed during 2026. These will identify affordable starter home need within their areas and set out how this will be met, over the lifetime of the plan.
My Department, along with the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continues to be available to advise and support all local authorities in providing starter home solutions that will respond effectively to identified affordability needs in their areas.
212. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to undertake a fundamental review of the Local Authority Home Loan to make it more widely accessible. [37497/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders to purchase or build a home. The loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The Local Authority Home Loan is a successor loan to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. The loan can be used for both the purchase of new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The operation of the Local Authority Home Loan is under constant review to ensure that it remains sufficiently accessible. As part of this process, both the Programme for Government 2025 and Delivering Homes: Building Communities committed to reviewing house price and income thresholds of the Local Authority Home Loan to ensure that it remains an accessible route to home ownership in the current housing market. My Department has completed a review of house price and income thresholds and I considered its recommendations. In February 2026, I announced that property price limits and the single income limit would increase for all local authority areas, making more homes and more people eligible for the Local Authority Home Loan. These changes came into effect on 1 April 2026 and will ensure that the Local Authority Home Loan remains an effective support for people who are ready to buy a home but face challenges accessing finance from commercial lenders. My Department will monitor the effect of these changes on the uptake of the loan and will consider if they have had a positive impact on accessibility or if other measures would be beneficial.
213. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes developed, including by approved housing bodies, specifically for disabled people, and separately, people with an intellectual disability, by local authority, in the last five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36513/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will mandate local authorities to include targets for housing for disabled people, including intellectual disability, in their five-year plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36512/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 226 together.
My Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 and Implementation Plan with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality. The Implementation Plan sets out the actions to achieve the vision of the joint Strategy for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people to 2027 operating under the new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
Existing social housing targets set under Housing for All run to the end of 2026. These targets were developed based on the social housing waiting list for each local authority and data obtained from the Housing Needs Demand Assessment, which profiles future demand for social housing. My Department is currently reviewing data sources and methodology in order to prepare appropriate individual local authority social housing targets to meet local needs and demand out to 2030.
Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, each local authority will prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) setting out their planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030 in line with targets which will be set by my Department in order to ensure the 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports will be delivered by 2030. In preparing their HDAP, each local authority will reflect local need to ensure the right mix of homes to respond to need and priorities, including housing for disabled people.
Housing for disabled people is funded under the capital schemes for local authority housing through the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and, in particular, the AHBs through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for the provision of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of people with specific categories of needs, including disabled people.
While my Department does not hold disaggregated data on disabled housing provided under SHIP, the number of units of housing delivered under CAS for disabled households and de-congregation from 2021 to 2025 is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Total Disability and De-Congregated Settings Units Delivered |
|
2025 |
68 |
|
2024 |
85 |
|
2023 |
93 |
|
2022 |
102 |
|
2021 |
111 |
Between 2021 and 2025 a total of €92.2 million of CAS funding has been provided specifically for housing for disabled people and de-congregation by the Department and 459 units were delivered in those five years.
Information on the delivery of units specific to a category of disability is not available in my Department. This information may be available directly from local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies.
Question No. 214 answered with Question No. 168.
215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the expanded role of the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37518/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has agreed a significant expansion of the role and remit of the Land Development Agency (LDA) to further accelerate housing delivery. This includes supporting the increased acquisition of private land and the delivery of private housing where appropriate; enabling a wider geographical spread of housing delivery; unlocking key strategic public land and investing in enabling infrastructure, particularly on urban brownfield sites and strengthening land transfer powers in respect of relevant public lands held by commercial State bodies. In addition, measures are being advanced to enhance the Agency's capacity to support the Department, local authorities and the Housing Activation Office in master planning infrastructure provision, particularly in Transport Oriented Development and new urban areas. Further support for cost rental delivery has been delivered through an exemption from corporation tax for cost rental income, introduced in Budget 2026.
The Government has committed to providing additional equity funding of €2.5 billion to support this expanded role. This investment will enable the LDA to deliver approximately 14,000 homes by 2029, while supporting the transition to its next business plan period. The funding provides the Agency with the certainty required to scale up delivery and meet its targets over the lifetime of the current business plan, without impacting housing output in the short to medium term.
These changes to the role, remit and funding will be reflected in an updated Shareholder Letter of Expectation and in legislative amendments to be progressed by my Department. My Department is currently developing the necessary proposals, including a Land Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, which is expected to be brought forward in Q2 2026.
216. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the State currently receiving a pension for having worked as retained firefighters. [26565/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of retained fire fighters employed in the State. [26564/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 227 together.
Under 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 they are responsible.
The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981 & 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Retained firefighters in place in 2008 and those hired thereafter until the end of 2012 were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) and receiving a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service. All retained firefighters appointed after 1 January 2013 must join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
Those who opted not to join the LGSS, on retirement from the fire service receive a one-off non-contributory retirement gratuity. This is calculated at one eighth of their annual retainer payment, multiplied by the number of years’ service, to a maximum of four times the annual retainer.
As local authorities are responsible for the provision of fire services, my Department does not hold the information sought, which would be available from individual local authorities.
217. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the increasing number of people presenting to Kerry County Council as homeless following the introduction of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37566/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness is a priority for me, my Department and Government. My Department closely monitors the reason for presentation of new households entering homeless emergency accommodation.
The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into effect on 1 March 2026, introducing a new national rent control for all tenancies, which limits rent increases to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up to a maximum of 2%. For new build apartments and student-specific accommodation, however, rent increases are capped at the level of inflation (CPI) only. These changes were introduced to promote greater investment in the rental market and to increase the supply of rental properties. The Act also provides significant improvements in security of tenure for renters. The latest data published by the Residential Tenancies Board on 14 May 2026 shows that the number of registered landlords and tenancies have increased, both on a quarterly and yearly basis.
Our new housing plan is an integrated housing and homelessness plan based on two key pillars: activating the supply of 300,000 more homes; and supporting people to have a home of their own.
Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness, meeting need and addressing the challenges in the housing market. Government is focused on making sure that everyone has access to good quality, affordable and secure homes that suit their needs. Over €9 billion in capital funding will be made available for housing in 2026.
Our new Plan recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that we face and introduces a number of key measures to address homelessness. Ensuring the implementation of these measures will be a priority for me in 2026.
Meeting the Government commitment to eradicate homelessness requires a whole-of Government response. The National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC), which I chair, supports the coordination of the response by Government, local authorities and their service delivery partners. The most recent meeting of NHAC took place on Wednesday 4 March 2026. I will continue to work with the Committee to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in the new Housing Plan.
Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is an absolute priority. There are many prevention initiatives already underway in my own Department and across Government. This includes the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation.
In order to ensure a fully aligned all-of-Government approach under the Plan, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to a holistic, cross departmental approach to homelessness prevention. Work has commenced on developing a national Homelessness Prevention Framework to ensure all possible measures are being taken across Government to prevent homelessness. It is intended that this Framework will be in place later on in the year.
Addressing family homelessness is another key priority for me, my Department and Government. Under the new housing plan, we will develop a dedicated Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan. This will bring together key stakeholders to drive the continued focus on preventing children and families entering emergency accommodation, providing enhanced supports for children experiencing homelessness, as well as measures to accelerate exits and reduce the time spent by children and their families in homeless emergency accommodation. I expect that this Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan will be in place by the end of Q2 2026.
Continued investment in the social housing programme is central to providing a supply of homes suitable to allocate to households on the social housing list, including homeless families. €2.9bn of the capital funding for housing in 2026 has been allocated to support the delivery of social homes. This continued investment in the social housing programme will increase the supply of stock available to allocate to households on the social housing waiting list, including households in emergency accommodation.
In the short-term I am also ensuring that our second-hand acquisition programme is targeted at increasing more exits from homeless emergency accommodation. In February, I announced that we are making €373 million available to be drawn down by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies under the 2026 Second-Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme. This includes ring-fenced funding of €150m for acquisitions to support households, particularly households with children and Housing First clients, to exit homelessness.
218. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, or ongoing cross Departmental works, his Department is engaged in to reduce second-home saturation, protect year-round local occupancy, and sustain Irish-language community viability without relying on in-home inspections in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37974/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuestion No. 219 answered with Question No. 166.
220. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the planning policy statement for short term lets. [37510/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra615. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a national planning statement is being prepared in relation to short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37465/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 615 together.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has drafted the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill General Scheme in full alignment with the STR Regulation. The introduction of the STLT Bill will provide a more effective legal and administrative basis to regulate short term lettings. This Bill when enacted will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register for all Short Term Lettings in Ireland, which will be implemented and managed by Fáilte Ireland. In line with the proposed introduction of DETE’s STLT Bill, all short-term letting accommodation providers will be required to register with Fáilte Ireland, as part of the registration process, accommodation providers will need to confirm that they are planning compliant.
Government has approved a threshold-based approach to generally preclude new planning permissions for short-term lets in larger towns and cities. Further to this, the Cabinet Committee on Housing have proposed that the threshold be set at towns and cities with a population in excess of 20,000, amounting to twenty five towns at the most recent Census of Population.
Furthermore, in line with existing established rights, where it can be proven that a residential property has been operated by a short-term letting accommodation provider for at least seven years and no enforcement action has been taken by the planning authority, planning permission for retention may be sought to regularise an established but unauthorised use.
To ensure that there is a clear view, both at national level and local authority level, as to the overall policy approach to determining planning applications for short-term lets, my Department is currently finalising a National Planning Statement (NPS) on short-term letting to supplement and support the introduction of the STLT Bill. The preparation of the draft NPS is largely complete, with the NPS being informed by the work of a Working Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the County and City Management Association) and further engagement with relevant stakeholders.
222. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when a scheme will commence to relocate nine families, living in defective concrete block homes away from a location (details supplied); and when his Department officials will consult with the homeowners on the design of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37483/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 commenced on 22 June 2023. It underpins the current grant scheme and the related Regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.
I visited Donegal last year where I met many of the residents affected and I understand the flood issue pertaining to Elm Park in Buncrana, where nine homeowners are particularly affected.
The majority of homeowners impacted are eligible to avail of the Defective Concrete Block Scheme which is funded by my Department. They are understandably worried about availing of the scheme and remediating their homes without the flood risk having been addressed. I know that the Office of Public Works has a plan to undertake flood relief works in the coming period in that area which will address the flood risk.
The residents however, are concerned about the length of time before those flood works would be completed and have asked that consideration be given to relocation options.
I appreciate the genuine concerns of the residents based on their own personal experiences in recent years. Therefore, I am disposed towards exploring solutions to the flooding issue based on the needs of those affected if a workable solution can be found.
My Department and the OPW are currently examining the potential to develop a relocation scheme which might address the needs of the community in Elm Park, whilst remaining consistent with the underlying DCB legislation and the principles of good governance and value for public monies. Legal advice is awaited in relation to same.
Any such scheme must also remain cognisant of the broader flood relief works being undertaken by the OPW in the wider area.
My Department and the OPW will continue to explore the feasibility of relocating the residents and I will consider proposals with the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works with a view to bringing options to Government.
223. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority run rightsizing schemes that are in place for owner-occupiers nationally to support the housing needs of older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37526/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment 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. The 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.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities will increase choice for older people to voluntarily rightsize including through advancing consideration of the availability of bridging finance to support rightsizing, a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes and supporting social housing tenants who wish to rightsize to more suitable accommodation.
I understand that existing financial contribution schemes in place in some local authorities are non-statutory and therefore a matter for the individual local authorities. Consideration will be given to the review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes and my Department is advancing these measures now incorporated in the new housing plan, including the implementation of these commitments through an action plan that is currently being prepared by my Department. It is expected that the action plan will be advanced in the first half of this year.
224. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the infrastructural upgrades deemed necessary to support planned housing delivery in Kildare North; the basis on which these projects have been prioritised relative to other areas; the extent to which current departmental assessments align with local authority development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37558/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanning for the provision of infrastructure is a core element of the statutory development plan-making process and is key to promoting the development of sustainable communities.
The local authority development plan sets the strategy for the development of a city or county area over a six-year period. This includes a requirement under Section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) to include policies and objectives relating to the provision of physical infrastructure.
The power to make or vary a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority.
The Kildare County Council Development Plan 2023 to 2029 and related local area plans identify the infrastructure necessary to support housing delivery in areas including Kildare North. The assessment and prioritisation of infrastructure projects in this area is informed by a range of factors, including the scale of housing and other development planned, and the capacity of existing infrastructure to unlock new homes in the short to medium term.
I have established the Housing Activation Office (HAO) in my Department, to accelerate the delivery of public infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development in towns and cities across the country. The office works with stakeholders across Government, including individual local authorities such as Kildare County Council, to identify and resolve infrastructure constraints that are impacting on housing development.
The Government also announced a new multiannual €1 Billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) on 21 January 2026 to directly support investment in housing enabling infrastructure. The fund is managed by the Housing Activation Office in my Department. The core objective of the HIIF is to unblock infrastructure constraints and activate lands already identified for housing under development plans. 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, including Kildare County Council, and from the LDA. Applications under the first call of the HIIF, are currently under assessment by the Housing Activation office. Funding decisions will be made shortly in line with the scheme’s governance arrangements.
Question No. 225 answered with Question No. 179.
Question No. 226 answered with Question No. 213.
Question No. 227 answered with Question No. 216.
228. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of public expenditure on Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and other rent supports paid directly to private landlords in each of the past five years; the proportion of these payments made to landlords owning multiple properties; and whether he has assessed the long-term cost-effectiveness of this model compared to direct State provision of housing. [37554/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social housing delivery activity in all local authority areas on the statistics page of its website. Data in relation to funding provided by the Exchequer for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies, the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and other relevant delivery schemes under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), to end Q4 2025, can be found on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/
Q1 2026 figures are currently being compiled and will be published when that process is complete.
While overall expenditure on the RAS can be found at the link above, the attached table sets out the annual Exchequer funding recouped to local authorities in respect of rent payments made directly to private landlords under the scheme.
My Department does not hold data on the proportion of payments made to private landlords owning multiple properties.
The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is an integrated housing and homelessness plan that reaffirms the whole-of-Government approach to addressing our housing needs. It sets a target of at least 300,000 homes to be delivered over its lifetime, including 72,000 social homes, and under the Starter Homes Programme, 90,000 affordable housing supports. As we continue to increase the supply of social housing, there will be reduced reliance on HAP, RAS and other current expenditure funded social housing supports.
My Department continually monitors the implementation of policies and objectives in relation to social housing and works to ensure the best value for money taking account of the level of housing need to be met.
Table: Total annual amount recouped to local authorities for rental payments under RAS to private landlords.
|
2021 |
€103,370,926.25 |
|
2022 |
€94,029,378.41 |
|
2023 |
€87,520,544.06 |
|
2024 |
€84,874,935.41 |
|
2025 |
€74,574,998.45 |
229. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated renewable energy planning guidelines will be published; the current status of their preparation and consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37541/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with commitments in the Programme for Government 2025, my Department is working with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), which holds policy responsibility for renewable energy matters, in respect of the introduction of a number of National Planning Statements related to Ireland's Climate Action Plan target to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources up to 80% in 2030. This includes the preparation of National Planning Statements in relation to both wind and solar energy development.
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. Any 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.
In respect of sectoral national planning statements in particular there is also an important role for the relevant policy Department in collaborating with my Department on the development of these National Planning Statements. In that context, my Department is working closely with the DCEE as the Department with policy responsibility for this area of Government policy in order to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation both National Planning Statements.
With regards to wind energy development, a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines has been taken as part of the development the National Planning Statement on Wind Energy under the Planning and Development Act 2024. It will address key matters including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. In the interim, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
With regard to solar energy development, a scoping exercise, which remains at an early stage, to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of this National Planning Statement, including any appropriate environmental reporting and public consultation requirements, European obligations such as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), battery storage facilities and the possible timeframe for publication of the National Planning Statement. In the interim it is the case that, as with the vast majority of development types, there are not specific guidelines for the development of solar energy.
I am satisfied that the existing and evolving planning system, supported by Government policy more generally, provides a sufficiently robust policy and legislative framework to facilitate the rollout of solar energy development in a sustainable manner and to assist with meeting our renewable electricity requirements while balancing the perspectives of local communities and allowing for public and stakeholder engagement.
In line with EU Directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment will be carried out on any draft National Planning Statement regarding wind or solar energy development, with opportunity for consultation by the public and all stakeholders on both draft National Planning Statements.
230. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional measures he will introduce to ensure that HAP recipients are not discriminated against by landlords who refuse to accept HAP tenancies, despite equality legislation prohibiting such practices. [37157/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. Under HAP, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
A landlord or an agent acting on behalf of a landlord is not legally obliged to enter into a tenancy agreement specifically with a HAP recipient. However, on 1 January 2016, the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 introduced “housing assistance” as a new discriminatory ground. This means that discrimination in the provision of accommodation or related service and amenities against people in receipt of rent supplement, HAP or other social welfare payments is prohibited. Further information is available at www.ihrec.ie/your-rights/housing-assistance-payment/housing.
If a person feels that they have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, they can make a complaint under the Equal Status Acts to the Workplace Relations Commission; further information is available on the Commission's website, www.workplacerelations.ie/en/.
