Written Answers Nos. 435-454
435. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider publishing a partial SAC management plan to cover salmon restoration actions for this environmental emergency given the Boyne salmon stocks only achieving 10 percent of its conservation limit, a qualifying interest for the Boyne /Kells Blackwater SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50922/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra436. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 27 January 2026 and 200 of 18 February 2026, the circumstances or criteria that apply in order for an SAC management plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50923/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 436 together.
The Habitats Directive does not require Member States to publish conservation plans. Consequently, there is currently no commitment to produce individual conservation plans for each Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the conservation, protection and management of our inland fisheries resources. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis, including in rivers that occur in Special Areas of Conservation.
437. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE biodiversity data specialists employed by National Parks and Wildlife Service as of 29 June 2026, in tabular form. [50945/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent competition for a Biodiversity Data Specialist was run by Public Jobs in 2022. At present, there is 1 WTE Biodiversity Data Specialist in NPWS.
438. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the date on which the vacant above the shop grant scheme became operational; the date on which applications first opened; the date on which the first application was received; the date on which the first application was approved; and the date on which the first grant payment was made, in tabular form and by local authority. [50962/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra439. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the number of applications received under the vacant above the shop grant scheme; the number approved; the number refused; the number deemed invalid or withdrawn; the number currently awaiting decision; the number of applications awaiting decision for less than one month, one to three months, three to six months and more than six months and by local authority, in tabular form. [50963/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra440. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the amount of funding allocated under the vacant above the shop grant scheme in 2026; the amount committed; the amount drawn down or paid to date; the remaining balance available; and whether funding is allocated in advance to local authorities or drawn down on foot of approved applications, and by local authority, in tabular form. [50964/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total Exchequer funding provided for the vacant above the shop grant scheme in 2026; the total amount committed and paid to date; whether the scheme is a new standalone scheme or a continuation or expansion of an existing scheme; and the annual Exchequer funding provided for a predecessor scheme in each year from 2021 to 2025 inclusive. [50965/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra442. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether every local authority is fully operational in administering the vacant above the shop grant scheme; if not, to identify the local authorities that are not yet fully operational; the reasons therefor, whether a local authority has reported staffing, administrative or operational difficulties to his Department; and the measures being taken to address any such issues. [50966/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra443. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the average processing time for applications under the vacant above the shop grant scheme; the number and value of grant payments made to date; the estimated number of residential units expected to be delivered through approved applications, by local authority, in tabular form. [50967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 438, 439, 440, 441, 442 and 443 together.
The 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.
Under the Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, a commitment was given to provide additional support for the refurbishment and conversion of above the shop vacant space for use as homes. The Government approved the introduction of a Vacant Above the Shop Grant with a package of up to €140,000 to be made available in cases where vacant above the shop space is being converted/refurbished for residential use and the commercial element is remaining. The additional grant amount for these properties recognises the complexities involved in bringing this space into use. The package includes an Expert Advice Grant of up to €5,000. The new Vacant Above the Shop Grant and Expert Advice Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe Town Fund were launched and opened for applications in all local authorities on 1 April 2026. Application forms and information on the Grants available from each local authority and at the following link www.gov.ie/vacancy.
Applicants approved for the Above the Shop grant have a period of 18 months to complete works, therefore it is anticipated the first grant payments will issue in Q3/Q4 2027.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Grants 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 includes a breakdown of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Derelict Property Top-up Grant. Data on the Vacant Above the Shop Grant and the Expert Advice Grant will be available in the published data from Q2 2026 which will be published in July 2026. The Q1 2026 grant statistics were published on 24 April 2026. This data can be accessed at the following link: Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/#2025
A capital budget of €165 million has been provided for 2026 for the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund which funds the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and Vacant Above the Shop Grant. The budget for the fund for future years will be decided and allocated within the funding envelope awarded to the Department following the National Development Plan Review in 2025. The amount spent under the Fund since its introduction can be found from the Comptroller and Auditor Generals website under the Appropriation of Accounts, link here: Appropriation Accounts - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation-accounts/.
All 31 local authorities have a full-time Vacant Homes Officer in place as a key point of contact in their Vacant Homes Office teams. My Department provides annual funding of €60,000 to each local authority to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. Vacant Homes Officers are supported in their role by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department, the Housing Agency and through the Vacant Homes Officer Network.
My Department has also provided €180,000 to each local authority to support administration of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Technical and legal support is also available to support local authorities in administering the grant through the Housing Agency.
The Housing Plan committed to providing additional support to local authorities for the administration of the grant. In December 2025 the Government approved additional annual funding of up to €100,000 for local authorities in this regard. In June my Department contacted all local authorities advising them of the process to drawn down additional funding awarded for grant administration.
While my Department has a role in strategic workforce planning within the local government sector, Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
444. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51006/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the quasi-judicial nature of the work of the Residential Tenancies Board, neither I as Minister nor my Department are permitted to comment on, or to intervene in the specifics of any individual case.
While I have no function in the matter raised, I wish to advise that the national housing charity, Threshold, operates the Tenancy Protection Service (TPS), which is a service supported by Government, providing advice and support to households living in private rented accommodation who are experiencing tenancy problems, including where a tenancy is at risk of termination. The TPS seeks to protect existing tenancies and keep tenants in their homes. The Tenancy Protection Service (TPS) helpline on free-phone 1800 454 454 – available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm. Further information is also available at www.threshold.ie.
I urge anyone who may be at risk of homelessness to contact their local authority, which can offer guidance to any individual or household who presents with a Notice of Termination and advises the housing officer that they are at risk of homelessness. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority. This includes determining whether it is appropriate to refer a household to the Homeless HAP Place Finder service, which is a targeted support for households in emergency homeless accommodation, or who are at immediate risk of entering emergency accommodation, who may find it difficult to secure accommodation via the HAP scheme.
445. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the proposed transfer of responsibility for the regulation of owners' management companies and apartment management from the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration to his Department; the actions taken to-date to progress this transfer; the expected timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51027/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra446. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the regulations relating to service charges and sinking funds for owners' management companies, provided for under the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, remain under consideration; when it is expected that these regulations will be introduced; whether additional resources are planned for the Housing Agency to support its proposed regulatory role in the owners' management company sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51028/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together.
The primary purpose of the Multi-Unit Developments Act, 2011 (MUDS Act) is to reform the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and to facilitate the fair, efficient and effective management of Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs).
The Programme for Government committed to moving the responsibility for the MUDS Act to my Department to streamline support for OMCs and improve oversight.
At present, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and his Department continue to have responsibility for the oversight of Owner Management Companies (OMCs) and related regulations.
A timeline for the transfer of functions from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (DJHAM) is currently being advanced. Engagement between our Departments is ongoing to ensure this happens in a well-managed and efficient manner.
447. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available from the Government and State agencies for old age pensioners in vulnerable positions whose mortgages and properties were bought by private equity funds and are now being evicted by such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51077/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, aims to speed up the delivery of new homes and tackle homelessness. The plan targets the construction of 300,000 homes, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports by the end of 2030.
The Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. To achieve this, the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State has been secured in 2026, with in excess of €9 billion in capital funding through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).
Delivering Homes, Building Communities includes measures which will increase delivery of housing for older people through increased delivery of social housing, increased delivery of more suitable homes and choice in private housing and increased choice to support voluntary rightsizing. Government is committed to increasing housing available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence and to supporting rightsizing on a voluntary basis. Delivering Homes, Building Communities also includes a commitment to develop an action plan on delivering housing for older people and this plan is currently under preparation.
Government’s focus is to ensure that where possible, households remain in their homes and I would also encourage borrowers to engage with the Abhaile Service, the national mortgage arrears resolution service, which is available free of charge to the borrower. Abhaile brings together the full range of supports and services required by borrowers in mortgage arrears. A dedicated adviser will work with the borrower and their lender to find the best solution for their particular situation. MABS acts as the gateway for the service and can be contacted by telephoning (076)1072000 or by accessing their website at: www.mabs.ie/abhaile.
The Mortgage to Rent scheme (MTR) offers households in acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears situations, with little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the opportunity to surrender a property to a lender and become a social housing tenant, whilst staying in their own home and community. The households in mortgage arrears must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) and agree to the voluntary surrender of their property. The MTR is a demand led scheme where borrowers must be fully engaged with their lenders in order to progress their application.
The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2026 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the residential rental sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Acts protect tenants and landlords of all ages.
The Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions. Dwellings covered by the Acts include the private rental sector, the cost rental sector, the approved housing body sector and student specific accommodation.
Significant legislative changes have been introduced over the past number of years to enhance security of tenure for all tenants. From 6 July 2022, the Residential Tenancies Acts have been amended to further enhance tenancy protections, including by providing for tenancies of unlimited duration (after 6 months under tenancy without a valid notice of termination having been served) and the extension of termination notice periods where there has been no breach of obligations.
The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 came into operation on 1 March 2026. The reform of the rental sector provides stronger protections for tenants and encourages investment in the sector through updated rent controls.
In order to provide greater security of tenure for tenants, the Act provides stronger tenant protections by significantly restricting “no fault evictions” for new tenancies. The existing provision for tenancies of unlimited duration is strengthened by the incorporation of rolling 6 year tenancies of minimum duration.
It is also recommended that households engage as early as possible with their local authority regarding their housing needs.
448. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of projects approved from the €650 million allocated to his Department to support improvements in water quality as part of the €3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51106/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the updated National Development Plan €650m has been allocated out to 2030 for water quality projects from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. A number of wastewater treatment plant projects are under consideration as part of the designation process which is ongoing at present.
449. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns that local authority planning policies relating to residential driveways and the protection of mature trees may, in some cases, create unintended barriers to the installation of domestic electric vehicle charging infrastructure; whether consideration has been given to issuing national planning guidance to local authorities on achieving an appropriate balance between protecting existing trees and facilitating home EV charging where feasible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51134/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Planning and Development Act 2024 (Act of 2024) was enacted in October 2024, it is in the process of being commenced on a phased basis. As such, for the purposes of decisions on planning applications, the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (Act of 2000), and associated Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (Regulations of 2001) remain in force until the relevant sections of the Act of 2024 are commenced and the corresponding sections of the Act of 2000 are repealed.
Currently, EV charging points are exempt from the need for planning permission under Classes 29A and Class 29B of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations of 2001. Class 29A provides for the construction of a charging point for electric vehicles. It is open to a property owner to make use of planning exemptions subject to the requirement to adhere to any conditions imposed within the Regulations.
Under Section 13 (10) of the Roads Act, 1993, it is illegal to excavate a public road without lawful consent. Where housing is along a public road a road opening licence is required to excavate a section of public road, such as a carriageway, footway and associated landscaped area, to facilitate a driveway entrance to a house. A road opening licence can be obtained from the relevant roads authority (such as the city or county council). Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, falls under the responsibility of the Minister for Transport.
450. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, as part of the new national planning statement, he will review or amend the provisions of the national roads guidelines that restrict one-off housing on national secondary roads such as the N56; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51135/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government agreed a proposed policy direction for rural and Gaeltacht housing on 30 June 2026. This means that the Draft National Planning Statement (NPS) on Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing, prepared by my Department under Section 25 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, can now move to environmental assessment under relevant EU Directives, prior to its approval by Government.
The new draft Statement refines and updates the existing 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines to reflect the 2024 Act and the established policy in the Revised National Planning Framework (NPF), which is to facilitate new rural housing for those with a local rural housing need, balanced with preventing urban generated sprawl in rural areas under urban development pressures, protecting and promoting the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Gaeltacht, and the regeneration of rural towns and villages.
The proposed new policy approach seeks to provide more clarity and consistency across the various planning authorities by defining the relevant planning and local needs criteria to be applied in local development plans and in the consideration of planning applications for single rural housing in rural and Gaeltacht areas.
The draft NPS will now be assessed for purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the EU SEA and Birds and Habitats Directives, including any necessary associated consultation, in advance of the planned publication of a final NPS, further to Government approval, before the end of 2026.
Under Section 25 of the 2024 Planning and Development Act, draft National Planning Statements are subject to approval by Government prior to issue by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Until they are replaced by any final National Planning Statement, the 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines for Planning Authorities, 2005 remain in effect.
With regard to development on national roads, the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines, issued in 2012 as Ministerial Guidelines by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), set out the circumstances under which access can be provided. Planning authorities are required to have regard to the Guidelines in the performance of their functions.
The Guidelines state that local authority Development Plans must include policies which seek to maintain and protect the safety, capacity and efficiency of national roads and associated junctions, avoiding the creation of new accesses and the intensification of existing accesses to national roads where a speed limit greater than 50 kmh applies. The guidelines do state that, in certain circumstances, planning authorities may identify stretches of national secondary roads where a less restrictive approach may be applied as part of the process of reviewing or varying the relevant development plan.
Development plans and any relevant local area plans may provide for a limited level of direct access to national roads to facilitate orderly urban development on the approaches to or exit from urban centres that are subject to a speed limit of 60 kmh before a lower 50 kmh limit is encountered. The Guidelines also state that access to national roads will be considered by planning authorities in accordance with normal road safety, traffic management and urban design criteria for built up areas where a 50 kmh limit applies.
Both the zoning of land under the Planning and Development Acts, and the setting of speed limits under the Road Traffic Act, are reserved functions of local authorities. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a Local Authority is independent in the performance of its functions.
The local authority development plan is the principal planning policy tool to achieve these national objectives at a local level. When preparing a development plan, planning authorities were required under the 2000 Act to have regard to any Ministerial Guidelines issued under section 28 of that Act, and to apply any specific planning policy requirements contained within those Guidelines. Ministerial Guidelines will, over time, be replaced with National Planning Statements (NPSs) issued under Section 25 of the new Planning and Development Act of 2024. Going forward, all development plans must be ‘materially consistent’ with any National Planning Policies and Measures and take ‘due account’ of any National Planning Policy Guidance in an NPS.
451. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will direct his Department to publish the 2017 review into Donegal County Council planning matters by a person (details supplied) with all personal identifying data completely redacted; if not, the specific legal provision that prevents an anonymised version from being made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51180/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the exact date his Department last sought legal advice from the Attorney General regarding the release of a report (details supplied); the specific conditions or legal benchmarks that must be met before this document can be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51181/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra453. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has exercised his Ministerial discretion to weigh the public interest in transparency against the privacy rights of individuals named in a report (details supplied); his Department's definitive timeline for resolving this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51182/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451, 452 and 453 together.
I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.
The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. The Attorney General's office has been consulted on both the content of the report and also on the issue of its potential publication and dissemination.
Further, regarding the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (OCE-103174-W9G4J2 (Legacy Reference CEI-18-0019)) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Furthermore, the decision of the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information notes that the report does not contain "significant "wider" recommendations" that could be applicable to the planning system as a whole.
Therefore, the publication of the report, or any summary which may allow the identification of individuals, requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named persons.
454. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the proposed rent increases for residents of a facility (details supplied), whereby monthly rents are proposed to increase from approximately €371 to €571, with some individual tenants facing increases of up to 176%; his views on whether such increases are compatible with the objectives of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51240/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra457. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the oversight his Department exercises over rent-setting policies of approved housing bodies funded under the capital assistance scheme; whether his Department has the power to intervene where proposed rent increases would cause financial hardship to elderly social housing tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51243/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra460. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will review the operation of the economic value provisions applied by approved housing bodies in determining rents, particularly in the case of elderly tenants living in social housing funded by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51246/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 454, 457 and 460 together.
The social homes referenced were funded under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), with in more than €6.5 million provided for the delivery off 48 social homes. The Scheme provides up to 100% capital funding to support AHBs to deliver priority needs housing, including age-friendly or older persons housing.
In line with the Scheme requirements, AHBs must set rents for homes at a reasonable level having regard to tenants' incomes and the cost of managing and maintaining those homes. Such a rent is considered an 'economic rent', and AHBs must consult with the respective local authorities when setting and reviewing same.
As my Department has no role in setting or reviewing rents, or monitoring individual tenant means and the cost of maintaining the properties, it would be inappropriate to comment on the specific matter raised.
That said, I can confirm the Housing Agency is assisting and providing guidance to the local authority vis-à-vis determining an appropriate rent in the circumstances.
A process is underway and being led by my Department, arising from the recommendations of the AHB Strategic Review, to consider, among other things, the management and maintenance of social homes by AHBs, and make recommendations regarding securing a fully sustainable approach into the future. The operation of the 'economic rent' model by AHBs and local authorities in the longer-term will be considered having regard to these recommendations.
