Written Answers Nos. 583-609
583. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that it is now over three years since An Coimisiún Pleanála has appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts to examine its annual reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025; to address the serious governance failures which occurred in the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45452/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Coimisiún Pleanála is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2024, as amended, and certain other Acts.
The Planning and Development Act 2024, included a number of new provisions relating to An Coimisiún Pleanála, as part of a significant governance restructuring. The Act introduces statutory time periods for decision making for all consent processes, including, for the first time, for An Coimisiún Pleanála. This will bring increased certainty to the planning consent processes, for both the public and stakeholders involved in the delivery of key infrastructure such as housing and renewable energy.
The governance restructuring now means that there is a Governing Board in place, and that the running of the main organisation by the CEO is separated from the decision-making process on appeals which is handled by the Planning Commissioners. My Department manages the governance and oversight of An Coimisiún Pleanála, and through close engagement with the CEO and other An Coimisiún officials I am satisfied that the governance issues in the organisation have now been addressed and the planning appeals process is running effectively, as demonstrated by the clearance of the backlog of planning appeals cases in recent years. I am confident that An Coimisiún Pleanála will be able to meet the statutory targets for planning appeals when Part 4 of the 2024 Act is commenced later this year.
The schedule of the Committee of Public Accounts is a matter for that Committee, and I will note that the CEO of An Coimisiún Pleanála appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing on 19 May 2026 on the operations of the organisation.
584. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for water connections for Developer Provided Infrastructure broken down by local authority, schemes in each local authority and number of units associated with each scheme; and the number of DPI connections that have been completed, broken down by local authority, number of schemes and units in each scheme, in tabular form. [45484/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decided, effective 1 January 2024, that Uisce Éireann, as the national water utility, is responsible for remediating developer-provided water and wastewater infrastructure (DPI).
The scope and progression of individual projects are determined by Uisce Éireann in consultation with the relevant local authorities, in line with agreed governance arrangements. Uisce Éireann coordinates internally and with local authorities to oversee project delivery and agree next steps, ensuring alignment with national priorities and local needs.
The detailed information sought by the question is maintained by Uisce Éireann as part of its operational responsibility for the DPI programme.
To support public representatives, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to respond to queries and representations regarding DPI projects. The team can be contacted by email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone at 0818 578 578 and is committed to providing timely updates on project progress.
585. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the operation of the capital assistance scheme (CAS) in County Mayo; the total number of homes delivered to date under the scheme, broken down by client group older persons, persons exiting homelessness, people with disabilities and other priority cohorts; the number of CAS projects currently approved, in construction or at planning stage in the county; the level of funding allocated to Mayo County Council and approved housing bodies for this purpose; and the expected delivery of CAS-supported homes in the county over the next three to five years. [45495/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides capital funding to Approved Housing Bodies for the construction and targeted acquisition of social homes for priority categories, including:
• persons with a disability (to include persons coming from a congregated setting),
• older people (age friendly housing),
• persons and families who are homeless, and
• care leavers (persons leaving state care at age 18 especially those who have complex needs and are in danger of falling into homelessness).
Applications to deliver new CAS supported social housing are made by AHBs to the relevant local authority and it is a matter for local authority to prioritise projects on the basis of how they propose to meet their respective areas' housing need.
Some €181 million available under CAS in 2026. Specific allocations are not provided to local authorities or AHBs, rather eligible delivery costs are generally recouped as projects advance and claims fall due for payment in line with the relevant scheme conditions.
My Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report, which provides a breakdown of local authority and Approved Housing Body social housing new-build activity. The Report includes scheme-level details on the completion of social housing new builds, as well as information on each construction scheme as it progresses through the design and tender processes. The Report is available on my Department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
A breakdown of CAS supported homes delivered in Mayo per priority category since the scheme was introduced in the mid-1980s is not available. Data is generally available for CAS delivery per priority category from 2017, with delivery in Mayo to end-2025 set out in the table below.
|
Category |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
Total |
|
Older Persons |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Care Leavers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
|
Disability (incl. De-congregation) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
28 |
|
Homeless |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Total |
7 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
18 |
0 |
9 |
7 |
56 |
Data on CAS social housing delivery, broken by local authority, can be accessed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision.
There are currently a potential 48 additional social homes in the CAS delivery pipeline which are expected to deliver over the next three years. Data on social homes at planning stage can be sought directly from Mayo County Council.
I expect the pipeline to expand further and additional projects to come on stream over the lifetime of the new Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which will support Mayo County Council to deliver on its social housing targets as per their forthcoming new Housing Delivery Actions Plans for 2027 to 2030, due to be published later this year.
586. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of housing units which were necessary to meet demand in each year from 2016 to date; and the total number of units which were actually completed in each year, in tabular form. [45520/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraData on New Dwelling Completions are published quarterly on the Central Statistics Office (CSO) website at: data.cso.ie/table/NDQ01 . More than 238,000 homes have been delivered in the last decade.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities, seeks to build on this progress already made by further enabling the delivery of at least 300,000 new homes by 2030.
It will do this by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity – including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with €275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the National Development Plan.
Under the new housing plan each local authority will prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan (HDAP) which sets out their planned delivery of social and affordable housing to 2030 in line with targets which will be set by my Department.
The unprecedented level of investment Government have committed, will bring about a very significant scale up in the delivery of housing over the coming years, address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, make buying and renting homes more affordable and support the development of villages, towns and cities across the country.
587. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of funding provided under Traveller accommodation programmes, including Traveller housing grants, to Mayo County Council over the past five years and to date in 2026; the proportion of that funding drawn down and spent; the number of Traveller-specific housing units delivered, refurbished or upgraded over that period; the current targets set under the Traveller Accommodation Programme; and the projected delivery of additional Traveller accommodation units in County Mayo over the next three to five years. [45550/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist local authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
Local authorities are currently implementing their Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) which include targets for delivering Traveller accommodation between 2025 and 2029, and these are published on local authority websites, including by Mayo County Council.
Since 2020, new arrangements are in place for the disbursement of funding whereby it is open to all local authorities to apply for and draw down funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. The Traveller-specific accommodation budget has been fully drawn down by local authorities in the five-year period 2021-2025, amounting to over €110 million capital expenditure.
Traveller-specific accommodation is focused primarily on the provision of group housing, halting sites, the provision of mobiles and caravans through emergency replacement and the Caravan Loan Scheme, and also includes the acquisition of properties. The drawdown and outputs by Mayo County Council for Traveller-specific accommodation per year since 2021, and drawdown to date in 2026, are set out in the following table:
|
Mayo |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 to date |
Total |
|
Draw down |
€591,614 |
€965,435 |
€1,604,352 |
€464,482 |
€1,009,349 |
€239,875 |
€4,875,107 |
|
Caravan Loan Scheme |
|
|
|
|
1 |
Outputs for 2026 not available until Q1 2027 |
1 |
|
Emergency Replacement Units |
|
|
|
|
3 |
Outputs for 2026 not available until Q1 2027 |
3 |
|
Acquisitions |
3 |
6 |
10 |
2 |
3 |
Outputs for 2026 not available until Q1 2027 |
24 |
588. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications under the croí cónaithe cities scheme to date since the inception of the scheme; the number that have been approved, by year, the total value of each approval and the number of applications currently on hand. [45725/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments in urban cores for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current "Viability Gap" between the delivery cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). There have been four calls for Expression of Interest undertaken to date. 101 applications have been received under the Scheme, 26 under Call 1, 11 under Call 2, 21 under Call 3 and 43 under Call 4.
Since the inception of the Scheme, support for the delivery of over 2,660 apartments has been approved across 25 developments. This represents a funding commitment of roughly €321m. The Housing Agency continues to assess remaining applications under the previous calls. Details of the contracted schemes are available on the Housing Agency website: www.housingagency.ie/CroiConaitheCities
589. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the minimum permitted number of car parking spaces per apartment or housing unit in a development. [45730/26]
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.
For developments of 100 residential units or more, the Settlement Guidelines recommend a Mobility Management Plan/ Travel Plan be prepared in support of the proposed parking provision.
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.
590. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for a first-time buyer purchasing an apartment (not a new build) in Dublin under the Government’s housing policy. [45739/26]
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 Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030.
The new Plan reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by the Government to tackle the issues of supply and affordability, thereby supporting the increased provision of new homes to purchase and rent.
The Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding to increase housing supply, including through the new Starter Homes Programme with a view to delivering an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030. With a strong focus on delivery, the Plan will enable housing delivery partners to accelerate the supply of new starter homes, providing thousands of individuals and families with increased access to secure and affordable housing solutions nationwide.
While the focus is on increased and accelerated delivery of new homes, there are some schemes that may be used to support the purchase of second-hand homes including apartments. These include:
• Local Authority Home Loan:
• assists first time buyers, who have been unable to obtain finance from traditional mortgage providers, to buy or build a home.
• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
• assists purchasers of vacant or derelict properties to turn a vacant house or building into a permanent home or a rental property
Information on these initiatives is available at the follow link www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/.
Furthermore, in relation to the First Home Scheme, the new housing plan, “Delivering Homes, Building Communities”, states the Government will work with the Banks to expand the First Home Scheme to support first time buyers seeking to purchase and renovate derelict or long-term vacant properties. I have requested the First Home Scheme undertake the required analytical and technical work to examine the potential for such an expansion and the matter is under consideration.
591. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/ total amount paid out on the housing assistance payment HAP in each of the past fifteen years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45760/26]
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. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. The HAP scheme started in 2014.
My 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 the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), including funding provided to end Q4 2025, can be found on my Department’s website at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#housing-assistance-payment
Q1 2026 figures are currently being compiled and will be published when that process is complete.
592. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/total amount paid out on the Rental Accommodation Scheme RAS in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45761/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level data on it’s website on a quarterly basis which sets out social housing delivery and spend activity. Data in relation to spending on the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) dating back to 2011 can be found at the following link:
assets.gov.ie/static/documents/642bfe4b/RAS_Funding_and_Delivery_Statistics_Q4_2025.xlsx
593. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/total amount paid out on the provision of emergency homeless accommodation in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/26]
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.
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 Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. 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 the amounts spent on emergency accommodation facilities 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. Total funding provided for each of the years 2011 – 2025 is set out in the table below;
|
Exchequer Funding Provided under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 - €m |
|
|
2011 |
€48.12 |
|
2012 |
€46.55 |
|
2013 |
€45.00 |
|
2014 |
€49.21 |
|
2015 |
€64.77 |
|
2016 |
€88.68 |
|
2017 |
€109.24 |
|
2018 |
€140.00 |
|
2019 |
€164.99 |
|
2020 |
€270.89 |
|
2021 |
€223.50 |
|
2022 |
€242.45 |
|
2023 |
€316.99 |
|
2024 |
€385.00 |
|
2025 |
€448.78 |
Financial reports from each of the homeless regions setting out total expenditure on homeless services including on emergency accommodation are published on my Department's website at the following link;
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
594. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and grade of staff employed by the National Parks and Wildlife services for each year since 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45812/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks and Wildlife Service joined my Department in September 2020 under a transfer of functions and consequently I do not have their staff numbers for 2019. Please see the information requested for the period 2020 to May 2026 in the table attached.
595. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed explanation of every public jobs competition for recruitment of roles to the National Parks and Wildlife services for each year since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45813/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which is part of the Heritage Division of my Department, transferred to the Department in September 2020 following a transfer of functions. Consequently, data only available from that date.
Publicjobs is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services across the civil and public service. Publicjobs has managed nine competitions for staffing resources for the NPWS since 2020. This information is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Competition |
|
2021 |
Conservation Ranger
|
|
2021 |
Head of Ecological Assessment
|
|
2022 |
Biodiversity Data Manager |
|
2022 |
GIS and Remote Sensing Data Manager |
|
2022 |
Biodiversity Data Specialist |
|
2023 |
Specialist Ecologist Grade III |
|
2023 |
General Ecologist Grade III |
|
2023 |
Conservation Ranger |
|
2026 |
General Ecologist Grade III |
Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing, as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
596. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the standard enforcement process undertaken by the national Parks and Wildlife service; the reason enforcement levels are so low in comparison to cases submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45814/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra597. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to tackle the high level of environmental incidents in north-eastern and mid-west regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45815/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 597 together.
Combatting wildlife crime and environmental damage forms a core part of the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department in delivering on its mission to protect nature. My Department, through the NPWS, is committed to strengthening the protection of Ireland’s natural heritage and ensuring compliance with wildlife and nature conservation legislation across all regions of the country.
It is important to note that while reported wildlife crime incidents in the available data may be reported as an alleged wildlife crime, not all reports result in a finding that an offence has occurred. Each report of alleged wildlife crime is assessed on its own merits and investigated, where appropriate. The existence of a reported wildlife crime incident, does not, in itself, indicate that a breach of the Wildlife Acts, the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, or other relevant wildlife (environmental) legislation has taken place.
Once a prosecution case is before the Courts, the process can take a number of months or years before a case is concluded. Each case may involve multiple defendants and summonses. Furthermore, it is at the discretion of the Judge as to whether a conviction is applied or whether the probation act is applied to offenders on their first offence. On occasion, restoration agreements are also put in place by the Court, and the case cannot conclude until such time as the agreements are fulfilled.
A dedicated NPWS Directorate for Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection leads on the development of policies and strategies relating to wildlife crime and enforcement. All alleged wildlife crime reports received by the NPWS are coordinated by this Directorate for investigation by authorised officers.
The enforcement work of NPWS staff across the organisation has seen an increase of 39% in prosecution cases taken from 2022 to 2023, with a total of 169 prosecution cases sent by the NPWS to the Chief State Solicitors office since 2019. 118 cases have been successfully closed since 2020.
The NPWS adopts a multi-faceted approach that combines enforcement activity with awareness raising, engagement and education initiatives, alongside cooperation with other State agencies.
The NPWS is committed to working with member organisations of the National Rural Safety Forum developed by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration as part of the Rural Safety Plan 2025-2207 to tackle threats posed by wildlife crime and liaises regularly with An Garda Síochána both in investigations and at a national level.
The NPWS continues to strengthen its enforcement capability through the recruitment of additional staff, including authorised officers (Conservation Rangers). This enhanced capacity is improving NPWS’s ability to monitor activities, investigate alleged wildlife crime reports, gather evidence and where appropriate support enforcement action.
Citizen engagement and reporting of alleged wildlife crime remain an important element in protecting biodiversity and assisting my Departments enforcement efforts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected breaches of wildlife and nature conservation legislation to the NPWS or An Garda Síochána.
598. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the price ceilings under the first homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45858/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe First Home Scheme is a shared equity scheme, supporting first-time buyers, self-builders and fresh start applicants to bridge the gap between their mortgage capacity and deposit, and the price of the new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC) is fully responsible for the operation of the First Home Scheme on behalf of all shareholders - the State and participating pillar banks. At its launch, the First Home Scheme DAC announced it would review all price ceilings at 6-month intervals. The DAC take into account a range of factors as part of these reviews, including the median price and volume of new builds purchased by first time buyers in each local authority area.
At the end of December 2025, the First Home Scheme DAC published the outcome of its seventh scheduled review of the price ceilings that apply to qualifying homes. Following this review price ceilings were revised for 17 local authority areas. The new price ceilings came into effect on 1 January 2026. The First Home Scheme DAC will continue to monitor the price ceilings nationwide as part of any future review. The next price ceiling review is in progress, and if there are any changes then these would be expected to be implemented in July 2026.
599. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the 2026 Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) Circular requires local authorities to include a mix of properties across a range of building energy ratings (BERs) when selecting dwellings for retrofit works; whether this approach means that estates with the poorest-performing homes are not prioritised for deep retrofit works; the rationale for balancing higher-cost deep retrofits with more moderate interventions; if he will consider revising the selection criteria to ensure that priority is given to homes with the lowest BER ratings and greatest energy inefficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45859/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for local authority social housing was rolled out in 2013 to support the insulation and energy efficiency upgrades in eligible social homes. To end 2025, almost 85,000 grants have been provided to local authorities under the programme, supported by Exchequer investment of over €487 million. During that time, a further €21 million was provided to support the retrofit of 700 or so homes under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot.
The EERP was revised in 2021, introducing a more holistic and flexible approach, and affording local authorities greater discretion in selecting properties for retrofit, ranging from those requiring minor improvement works to those needing deeper retrofit to achieve a post-works Building Energy Rating (BER) of 125 kWh/m²/yr. By adopting a balanced mix of interventions, local authorities can maximise the number of homes upgraded within the available budgets, while progressing towards the programme’s target of retrofitting 36,500 local authority owned social homes to this standard by 2030. Ultimately, responsibility for selecting and prioritising properties in line with programme requirements rests with each individual local authority.
Since the revised programme was introduced, the average level of funding available per home has increased by 41%, with €38,000 now available per retrofitted home. Funding available this year is also significantly increased on last year, with €140 million allocated to the retrofit of approximately 3,500 homes, an increase of €50 million compared to 2025. The increased grant levels, and considerable increase in overall programme funding, mean local authorities can support an even greater range of properties for retrofit.
More broadly, across all stock improvement programmes, some €260 million in funding is available to complement local authorities' own investment in the management and maintenance of their social homes.
Through the combined impact of ongoing retrofit programmes and new housing delivery, it is projected that 70% of local authority social housing stock will achieve a minimum BER rating of B by 2030.
600. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the costs associated with planning permission for rural one-off homes is being considered as part of examining rural planning and ahead of the publication of the Rural Planning Guidelines, if the Minister will look at this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45862/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra601. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the length of time it takes to apply for planning permission for rural one-off homes is being considered as part of examining rural planning and ahead of the publication of the Rural Planning Guidelines, as well as the process up to decision; if he will examine reducing this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45863/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
As set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, I intend to publish a National Planning Statement in of the second half of 2026 that will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set in the National Planning Framework (NPF).
My Department is currently preparing a draft Statement for Government approval, to be issued under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act of 2024 in order to provide consistency in the approach to rural housing across the country.
The NPS will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework, in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 28 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, large towns and centres of employment), where the policy approach is to facilitate new rural housing for those with a local rural housing need, and wider rural areas where there is greater flexibility to build single rural housing. NPO 28 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in the assessment of development proposals for new one-off housing in rural areas under urban influence.
Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system and our obligations under European Directives and international agreements. Due care is being taken to ensure the draft Statement will not conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, will comply with EU environmental requirements and will have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice.
Under Section 25 of the 2024 Act, draft National Planning Statements are subject to approval by Government prior to issue by the Minister.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) is a major reform to streamline the planning process and provide clearer pathways and timeframes for planning consent.
Part 4 of the Act, which is scheduled for commencement in 2026, outlines clearly the processes and procedures relating to planning decisions and introduces statutory time periods for decision making for all consent processes, including, for the first time, An Coimisiún Pleanála. The 8- week timeline for a planning authority to make a decision on an application for a rural dwelling is retained, except where environmental assessment is involved and 12 weeks is provided for. The 2024 Act includes a new statutory 18 week time period for An Coimisiún Pleanála decisions for appeals of planning authority decisions on smaller-scale development proposals such as a single rural house.
The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2024, prepared under the Planning and Development Act of 2000, set out standard planning fees, including those relating to rural housing. The statutory €65 planning application fee for a single rural house in Ireland remains in place currently under these Regulations.
603. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration is given to appropriate childcare infrastructure when new residential developments are being built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45950/26]
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 Childcare 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) 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.
604. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any Government bodies currently who can take cases to court on behalf of Irish tenants in relation to broader housing related issues, for example in a case where an OMC does not take responsibility for tenant issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45960/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2026 (the RTA) to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
A dispute may be referred to the RTB under Part 6 of the RTA and information is available on www.rtb.ie with regard to its dispute resolution service.
Where there is a dispute between a landlord and tenant in respect of a failure of either party to fulfil their obligations under the RTA, or a dispute in relation to whether or not a tenancy exists, the dispute may be referred to the RTB for resolution.
If the tenant seeks to resolve a tenancy dispute via the RTB’s adjudication service and their landlord fails to engage in the process, the independent adjudicator can proceed with a hearing and make a decision based on the evidence before him or her. On the hearing of the complaint the RTB, if it considers it proper to do so, may make a direction that damages are paid to the tenant.
Section 15 of the RTA provides that a landlord of a dwelling has a duty to enforce the obligations of the tenant under the tenancy to a third party who may be affected.
Section 77 of the RTA provides that such third parties may, subject to certain conditions, refer a complaint to the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) against a landlord who has failed to enforce the tenant’s obligations. However, a specific condition is that the third party complainant must have taken reasonable steps to resolve the matter by communicating or attempting to communicate with the parties to the tenancy concerned.
When landlords, tenants and third parties bring disputes to the RTB through mediation, adjudication or tribunal, they receive a legally binding Determination Order, which, if not complied with, can be enforced through the District Court. Further information is available at: www.rtb.ie/dispute-resolution-services.
There is no legal obligation on the RTB to enforce its Orders. However, non-compliance with Orders is taken extremely seriously. The RTB will provide Legal Assistance to enforce its Orders in as many cases as possible. If an RTB Determination Order is not complied with, there are two options for enforcement –
1. The injured party can seek help under the RTB Legal Assistance Programme to enforce a Determination Order through the District Court -
In order to provide legal assistance to people enforcing Determination Orders in the District Court, the RTB has set up a panel of Solicitors, local to each District Court, who have agreed to enforce orders on their behalf. The RTB is given a budget each year to provide assistance to those seeking to enforce its Orders, and it assists as many as possible within this budget, but cannot provide assistance to all who request it.
Requests for Legal Assistance in urgent cases are prioritised, this includes cases concerning overholding, serious rent arrears, the non return of deposits and unlawful termination.
or
2. The injured party takes their own enforcement proceedings in the District Court -
In order to support parties who wish to take their own enforcement proceedings, the RTB has developed a step-by-step guide to the process in the District Court which is available on its website.
Where non-compliance occurs, the RTB initially seeks to secure compliance by non-judicial means. Where non-compliance persists, the RTB will consider requests from injured parties to provide legal assistance to enforce the Order. The RTB has set out the policy and criteria it follows in this regard, which is available on its website.
Enforcement proceedings may involve the registration of the judgment of the Court and these judgments may then be published in the various Trade Gazettes, etc. The RTB website also displays the details of persons against whom it obtains court orders for any non-compliance with its determination orders.
If a party fails to comply with a Court order, the RTB may in certain circumstances seek further orders from the Court such as execution orders to engage the local sheriff to seize goods, orders for attachment on earnings and, in extreme circumstances, orders from the Court for attachment and committal.
The execution procedure is carried out in Dublin and Cork by Sheriffs and in other counties by County Registrars. Matters relating to the Sheriff fall under the remit of the Department of Justice.
When landlords, tenants and third parties bring disputes to the RTB through mediation, adjudication or tribunal, they receive a legally binding Determination Order, which, if not complied with, can be enforced through the District Court. Further information is available at: www.rtb.ie/dispute-resolution-services.
605. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if Ukrainian refugees here can continue to participate in State employment schemes under the temporary protection transition scheme. [45687/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of supports and programmes catering for the long term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús, which are available to Ukrainian refugees who fulfil the scheme criteria.
In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, the schemes also provide important and, in many cases essential services to their local communities.
CE and Tús are employment activation measures designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
There has been no change to the entitlement of Ukrainians to participate in these employment schemes and they continue to participate on the same basis as all other unemployed persons. Any changes that may arise under the temporary protection transition scheme (TPTS) will be considered and notified to scheme sponsors in advance of the planned implementation date of the TPTS in March 2027.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
606. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently review a disability allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44976/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the person concerned was awarded Disability Allowance in a decision dated 7 February 2025.
On 24th February 2025 a request for a review and back payment of Disability Allowance was requested. The Department considered the request for backdating and decided not to backdate the payment by decision dated 15th July 2025.
The person concerned submitted an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 2nd September 2025. The appeal was registered on 4th September 2025.
Having fully considered all of the available evidence, an Appeals Officer decided to disallow the appeal by way of a summary decision, and the person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 23rd December 2025.
Under Section 320 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, an Appeals Officer’s decision is generally final and conclusive. It can only be revised in certain limited circumstances:
• By an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where new facts or evidence have been provided which were not before the Appeals Officer when the decision was made, and which are relevant at the date the claim was made.
• by the Chief Appeals Officer under Section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where it has been established that in making the decision the Appeals Officer has made a mistake in relation to the law or the facts; or
• by an appeal to the High Court on any question of law in accordance with Section 327 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
If the person concerned wishes to request a review of the Appeals Officer’s decision under (i) above, they may do so by completing an SWAO2 form specifying what new facts or evidence the person concerned has that was not before the Appeals Officer when they made their decision. An SWAO2 form was provided to the Deputy's office by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 9th January 2026, and again on 12th June 2026 but to date no request for a review under Section 317 has been received by the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
If the person concerned wishes to request a Section 318 review of the Appeals Officer’s decision as outlined in (ii) above, please specify on what grounds you believe that the Appeals Officer made an error of fact or law in reaching his decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
607. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount disbursed to organisations under the Work and Access Disability Equality and Inclusion Training grant; and the names of recipient organisations, in tabular form. [45004/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to improving the position of disabled people and supporting disabled people to take up and remain in employment. My Department provides a number of schemes in this regard. One of these is "Work and Access" which replaced the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme in 2024, following a review.
The scheme offers seven supports to help reduce or remove barriers in the workplace for disabled people. It is open to all non-public sector employers, including the self-employed, and the community and voluntary sector. Supports are available for both business premises and remote workplaces.
Supports include communication support/Irish Sign Language, workplace needs assessment, in-work support, personal reader, work equipment, workplace adaptation and training.
An employer or organisation can apply for funding to arrange and pay for Disability Equality and Inclusion training for their staff. Up to €20,000 a year is available to employers for eligible training costs. The level of funding available varies between 80% and 90%.
There are three training options available: general Disability Equality and Inclusion Training, disability specific training, and inclusive recruitment and management training for managers. It is recommend that the trainer or training provider has a disability themselves or co-delivers the training programme with a disabled person or has developed their training programme in consultation with disabled people.
Recently, following feedback from disabled people and employers, we published updated guidelines and application forms for Work and Access. The changes included expanded eligibility for the 90% funding for training. As a result the scheme covers 90% of the cost of eligible training where:
- the trainer or training organisation has a recognised qualification or professional qualification linked to disabilities, and can show the knowledge and experience described in the scheme guidelines, or
- the training course is disability-related and recognised by an accredited training body in Ireland or the UK.
There have been 102 training grants paid out since the scheme began at the end of July 2024. The table below shows the yearly expenditure on the Disability Equality and Inclusion Training support since that date.
|
Year |
Disability Equality and Inclusion Training Expenditure |
|
2024 (From 31 July) |
€2,340 |
|
2025 |
€125,777 |
|
2026 |
€75,407 |
|
Total |
€203,526 |
An additional €32,395 was provided to employers under the previous Disability Awareness Support Scheme for the first part of 2024.
The list of organisations that have availed of this support is not published information.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
608. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) would be financially better off on the State pension (non-contributory) and living alone allowance rather than their current adult dependent allowance given their spouse is in long-term care with no prospect of them returning home. [45015/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person’s spouse is in receipt of State pension contributory, including an increase for qualified adult allowance in respect of the person concerned since 24 December 2004, at the current weekly rate of €268.40.
A state pension non-contributory application was received from the person concerned on 3 March 2026. It was decided that the person concerned was entitled to the state pension non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of €188.00. A decision letter issued on 13 May 2026, advising that it was financially more beneficial for them to remain as a qualified adult on their spouse’s state pension. On that basis their state pension non-contributory application was withdrawn.
As the increase for living alone is paid at the weekly rate of €22.00 per week, it is still financially more beneficial for the person concerned to remain as a qualified adult on their spouse’s payment rather than claim this allowance with the state pension non-contributory.
Application forms for the household benefits package and for the national fuel scheme have issued to the person concerned. Entitlement to these schemes will be assessed on receipt of completed applications.
If there is a change in the person’s circumstances, they may reapply for the state pension non-contributory at that stage.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
609. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32, 40 and 52 weeks per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45031/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of increasing the Fuel Allowance season to 32 and 40 and 52 weeks is as follows: -
|
Weekly rate the Fuel Allowance Payment |
Number of Additional Weeks Payable |
Number of Recipients |
Estimated Additional Cost |
|
€38 |
4 (32 week season) |
468,000 |
€71.14 million |
|
€38 |
12 (40 week season) |
468,000 |
€213.41 million |
|
€38 |
24 (52 week season) |
468,000 |
€426.82 million |
This costing is based on the number of recipients in May 2026 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
The provision of any additional supports such as increasing the amount of weeks that Fuel Allowance is payable would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
Recent expansions to the Fuel Allowance scheme have resulted in the Budget for the scheme increasing significantly with an estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2026 of €557.4 million compared to an expenditure of €290.45 million in 2020.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
