Written Answers Nos. 165-177
165. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the processes used by the fire brigade and emergency services to locate addresses; if those processes include Eircodes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Fire service issues are managed in my Department by the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM).
The arrangements for mobilising a response to a fire service 999/112 emergency call from the public for fire service assistance are handled at three Regional Communications Centres based in WRCC (Castlebar), MRCC (Limerick) and the ERCC (Dublin).
The new National Mobilisation and Communications System (NMACS) allows Fire Services to avail of new technologies for the location of 112/999 callers. This includes Eircodes, Automatic Mobile Location (AML), Call Line Identification (CLI), Address Gazetteer database (legacy & GeoDirectory), Geographical Information Systems (digital maps) and use of location coordinates.
Typically, the process involves the receipt of a data burst with the telephony coming from ECAS BT via 999 identifying the callers location in the form of CLI/AML and this location is plotted on the mapping system. The professional operator staff employ targeted questioning techniques, gathering essential details from the caller and using information received through AML or CLI. Operators verify the address details gathered via AML/ CLI with the caller. Alternatively, operators search the gazetteer database to pinpoint the relevant Eircode or address, ensuring precise location of the incident and an efficient emergency response.
NMACS is currently live in two of the three Regional Control Centres serving 121 Fire Stations across the Munster and Western Regions. Work is ongoing to migrate the East regional communication centre onto the national system.
It should be noted that a large proportion of fire service emergency response calls are not to individual premises that have designated Eircodes but to non-addressable locations such as roads, motorways, bridges, etc.
Fire services are dispatched based on Pre-Determined Attendances (PDAs), which are instructions established by the Chief Fire Officer for specific incident types (e.g., house fires, road traffic collisions). The system lists the "next nearest appliance" in sequence to ensure operational resilience. If a local station is unavailable (e.g., already attending another incident or "off the run"), the system automatically mobilises the next nearest available resource, regardless of administrative boundaries.
166. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 689 of 12 May 2026, if he will clarify what is meant by "under the microgeneration support scheme led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, 'solar PV is available for all domestic premises'; the way in which this is the case if local authority tenants are not eligible to apply for any solar PV grant and parameters for local authorities to install solar PV on their domestic premises is very narrow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37979/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my response to Dáil Question No. 689 of 12 May 2026, local authorities are solely responsible for the management and maintenance of their respective social housing stock.
That said, my Department is providing €260 million this year to support the remediation and maintenance of local authority social homes across a range of funding programmes. This includes €140 million under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, an increase of €50 million on 2025.
The supports provided under the programme, and the works funded, are sufficient to provide high quality, comfortable and energy effective homes for social housing tenants, while achieving a post works BER of 125KWh/m²/yr. and helping us reach the national target of 36,500 social homes retrofitted to this standard by end 2030.
Supported works generally don't include the installation of solar panels. As set out in my previous response, in limited circumstances for local authority owned dwellings with a floor area less than 55m2, and where it is not practical to achieve a Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) specified by the SEAI guidance, installation of at least 1kWp of solar photovoltaic micro-generators on the dwelling with the heat pump is recommended, and is funded as eligible works under the EERP.
Beyond this, the installation of solar panels by local authorities or their tenants, is entirely a matter for those authorities as landlords and responsible authorities for the management of their social housing stock. This includes the identification of funding options that may be available via other public funded programmes, including those supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the SEAI and others.
167. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of grants approved under the vacant property refurbishment grant since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38021/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes the number of applications, approvals and the total number and value of grants paid per local authority. This data also includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant for every quarter. The Q1 2026 grant statistics were published on 24 April 2026. This data can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025
168. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reviewing the legislation around the approved housing bodies' ability to sell properties to tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38038/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) (also called housing associations or voluntary housing associations) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people.
Under the terms of the various Departmental funding schemes supporting the delivery of social housing by AHBs, AHBs are the legal owners of the properties and must make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage / the availability agreement. Subsequent to the completion of the terms and conditions of any State funding, the AHB is the sole owner of a property.
AHBs are not generally precluded by legislation from selling properties to tenants on completion of the funding terms, but any sale of an AHB property must be in compliance with their Memorandum and Articles of Association. Further, as not-for-profit organisations, AHBs are limited in their ability to sell any property on the open market at a value which is less than the market value of the property and AHBs should engage with the Charities Regulator on any disposal of assets.
Tenant Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications for the schemes must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation. However, the schemes only provide for the purchase of local authority properties and do not extend to properties legally owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). My Department monitors schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, consideration is not being given to extending the tenant purchase schemes for the reasons above.
169. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the working group established by his Department to review the code of practice for pets in social housing and AHBs has met. [38130/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra170. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress of the working group established by his Department in reviewing the code of practice to allow pets in social housing and AHBs. [38131/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.
The new national housing plan, Building Homes, Delivery Communities, commits to reviewing the CCMA Code of Practice - Approved Housing Body (AHB) Allocation Process (the Code). A Working Group, including local authority and AHB representatives, has been established by my Department to examine the Code and its implementation. The Working Group has held four meetings to date.
As part of the work of this Working Group, an examination of how the Code can ensure that social housing tenants, of either AHBs or local authorities, are not precluded from living with domestic pets in local authority or approved housing body properties. The review of the Code of Practice is scheduled for completion by H2 2026.
171. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of septic tank inspections carried out in County Louth under the National Inspection Plan 2022-2026, in each of the years from its inception to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38233/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number LAWPRO requests for septic tank inspection were made to Louth County Council when they were working in a Priority Area for Action in 2024 and 2025; the number of these requests that were granted in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38234/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra173. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number grants given, from all funding streams available through his Department, to residents of County Louth in 2024 and 2025 for septic tank inspections and septic tank repairs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38235/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra174. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which homeowners who require access to grant funding for septic tank inspections and septic tank repairs can access this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38236/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 174, inclusive, together.
Grant 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 remain responsible for ensuring that their systems are properly maintained and for meeting associated maintenance and repair costs.
Grants are targeted at priority areas, including where a system has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has issued, or where a dwelling is located in an area identified as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of defective systems, including Priority Areas for Action and High Status Objective Catchment Areas.
Homeowners seeking to access grant support should apply through the relevant local authority, which administers the scheme on behalf of my Department.
A review of the grant scheme has recently been completed and 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 currently finalising the revised regulations to give effect to the changes and it is expected that the revised arrangements will come into effect shortly.
Detailed operational data relating to inspections carried out under the National Inspection Plan, LAWPRO referrals and grant applications received is held by the relevant local authority. The information requested in relation to County Louth may therefore be obtained directly from Louth County Council.
My Department did not receive any applications for payment from Louth County Council under the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems grant scheme in 2024 or in 2025.
175. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) considering they first applied 14 weeks ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37983/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can confirm that three applications for CA were received from the person concerned on 10 February 2026.
An information request issued to the person concerned on 24 February 2026.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claims.
To date the person concerned has not furnished these documents. The information request reissued to the person concerned on 15 April 2026 and 15 May 2026.
Once the information requested is received, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcomes.
176. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the introduction of the cost of disability payment. [38020/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises the additional costs that disabled people can face in their daily lives and is committed improving outcomes for disabled people by introducing permanent measures. That is why the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a permanent annual cost of disability payment.
In addition, the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, which was developed with significant input from disability groups and advocates, includes a commitment to a Strategic Focus Network Summit on the Cost of Disability, emphasising the cross-government nature of the issue.
To prepare for the summit I ran a public consultation process on how a cost of disability payment can best be delivered. I am very pleased that there was an exceptional response with over 1,000 submissions received.
The submissions helped inform the agenda for the Summit which I hosted in the Aviva Stadium on the 13th of May 2026. It was an in-person and on-line event attended by many people with disabilities, Disability Person Organisations and other advocacy groups as well as representatives of many Government Departments and members of the Oireachtas together with senior Government Ministers including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, and the Minister of State for Disability and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport. This attendance indicates that while the work on the cost of disability has been led by my Department the delivery of a solution will involve a range of Departments and agencies.
Following the Summit, a briefing paper will be produced outlining the key learnings. These will inform the approach that will be taken including the measures that may be taken as part of Budget 2027. While the issue cannot be resolved in one budget cycle I, and my Government colleagues intend, to the best of our ability, to use the resources available in Budget 2027 to make a meaningful difference.
177. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of men and women who applied for parent's benefit in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38033/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraParent’s Benefit supports parents who take statutory parent’s leave in the first two years after a birth or adoption. It gives each parent nine weeks of paid leave once they meet the required PRSI contributions. The payment is €299 per week, available to both employed and self-employed parents.
The number of claims registered for Parent's Benefit amounted to 76,935 in 2023, 92,820 in 2024, and 93,671 in 2025.
My Department's as part of its quarterly statistics report publishes a gender breakdown of persons who receive the Parent's Benefit payment.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, over 25,700 people received at least one Parent’s Benefit payment. Of these, 15,500, or 60%, were female and 10,200, or 40%, were male.
In Q4 2024, around 28,700 people received a payment. Of these recipients, 18,100, or 63%, were female while 37%, were male.
Finally, in Q4 2023, there were 22,000 recipients of Parent's Benefit, with 13,500, or 61%, being female, and 39%, being male.
