Christopher O'Sullivan
Cork South-West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The aim of the hierarchy of the plan-making, as set out in the Act of 2024, is to improve scope for the various tiers of the planning system to more closely relate to one another, therefore providing greater clarity and consistency for all involved, from individual citizens and residents' groups to landowners and developers and ultimately…”
“My understanding is that a ten-year modernisation programme has already been undertaken by the Courts Service and significant progress has been made in improving the availability and use of court data.”
“Under the Act of 2024, the national planning framework continues to spearhead and explicate the planning agenda and sits at the pinnacle of the plan-led system and structure, whereby all tiers of planning from regional to local align with strategic objectives set out in the national planning framework.”
“The Senator has suggested that such plans would identify strategic development priorities, including settlement hierarchy, infrastructure corridors, climate adaptation measures and areas for regeneration; set out indicative phasing for major infrastructure and public investment; include spatial mapping of long-term development objectives;…”
“The Bill also facilitates the completion of the work of the Valuation Tribunal and the facility for the local authority to issue the levy demand and, where necessary, for An Coimisiún Pleanála to deal with any appeals to the demand that may arise in those existing cases currently with the tribunal.”
“As the system of plan-making in the State has just been revised and is being implemented for the first time, the introduction of another layer of plan-making could undermine the new hierarchy that was carefully arranged and agreed following extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Office of the Attorney General, an…”
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“I have listened carefully and with genuine interest to the contributions made by Senators during this Second Stage discussion. I thank them for those contributions and their support in general for the Bill. I commend the Bill to the House.”
“It will enable the HFA to continue to meet its increasing lending requirements in this transitional period, thereby supporting continued momentum in the delivery of more social and cost-rental homes at a time when they are required more than ever. As the role of the HFA evolves in supporting the Government's ambitious housing delivery plans for the period to 2030, its new corporate plan will outline its future statutory borrowing limit requirements and set out how the organisation must evolve its capacity and ability to meet this demand in a well-managed way. The Bill ensures the continued operation of the HFA, a body that will continue to make a tangible difference to the lives of tens of thousands of people by providing good-quality homes and sustainable communities across the country.”
“As mentioned in my opening statement, budget 2026 reinforces the Government's commitment to boosting housing supply, with total Exchequer funding of over €7.21 billion being made available for the delivery of housing programmes. The targeted delivery in 2026 builds on the very significant progress already achieved in the delivery of social, affordable and cost-rental homes, and this has made a huge difference to the lives of individuals and families through providing good-quality homes and contributing to sustainable communities across the country. Having secured the increased level of investment will support the achievement of our programme for Government commitments and offer confidence in meeting our ambitious targets. The Bill before the House is important.”
“Since I came into office, I have noted many of the suggestions made by Senators on how we can accelerate housing supply, provide more homes for people, ensure people have security of tenure and make significant dents in homelessness figures. While work on the new national housing plan nears completion, we will continue to progress critical reforms that will make a difference. Following the publication of the new national housing plan, the HFA will assess its long-term strategy and statutory borrowing limit requirements while at the same time evolving its own capacity and ability to meet the growing demand for its services in a well-managed way.”
“As outlined in my opening remarks, the singular purpose of the Bill is to increase the HFA statutory borrowing limit from €12 billion to €13.5 billion. By doing so, AHBs, local authorities and higher education institutions will continue to be supported by the HFA in its work to deliver more housing. The HFA has a proven body of expertise and an established record of accomplishment in raising and providing long-term competitive rate finance for housing purposes in a cost-effective manner, built up over 20 years. This Bill will enable the agency to continue to meet its increasing lending requirements. The Government remains fully committed to delivering more homes across the various tenures to truly meet the scale of housing demand.”
“The Senator alluded to the numbers in Australia and I am sure that housing affordability is contributing to that. However, it should be acknowledged that people are returning in quite significant numbers, certainly those of my generation and those who are a little younger. I cannot speak of being younger anymore but I do see younger people coming back. That has to be acknowledged because it implies Ireland is seen as an exciting and really good place to live and, in particular, raise a family. In fairness to Senator Fitzpatrick, her contribution to housing policy has been immense over recent years. She knows it back to front and inside out. It is worth reminding people about the number of houses that have been delivered and the acceleration of housing delivery in recent times. This legislation will help in that regard.”
“I thank Senators Murphy and Kelleher for highlighting what appears to be an anomaly with regard to the exclusion of the technological universities. However, I am assured that this issue is being looked at and a feasibility study will be carried out to determine whether the technological universities can be brought into the fold. If they were so allowed, I can imagine the great work they would do in terms of delivering student accommodation on the ground. I appreciate the support expressed by Senator Collins from her side of the House for this legislation. In terms of housing solutions, as I have always said and as I repeated in the Dáil recently, we will take on board any ideas in the context of formulating the new housing plan, which is imminent. We know that people are leaving our shores.”
“I thank all of the Senators who contributed to the debate this evening. It is great to see that there is widespread support for the legislation here, as there was in the Dáil, and for good reason. There is a general acknowledgement of the need for local authorities and approved housing bodies to get access to this extra finance in order to ramp up supply and deliver much-needed homes. Some very valid points were made during the course of the debate. Senator Flaherty referred to vacancy, an issue that is very close to his heart. Longford County Council has certainly shown that it can get bang for its buck and that is something I will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in the context of making extra funding available.”
“Should the Bill pass through these Houses, it is anticipated that it will be signed into law by the end of this month, in advance of the HFA's 6 November credit committee, thereby ensuring the continued smooth lending capacity of the Housing Finance Agency. I look forward to the contributions from Senators in discussing and debating this Bill today and I commend the Bill to the House.”
“The new corporate plan will include informed forecasts for its future borrowing requirements, factoring in delivery partner and scheme-specific funding requirements over the period of the national housing plan. There are thousands of people who, because of the financing made available by the HFA, will have a safe and secure roof over their heads, living in supportive mixed tenure communities or modern student accommodation. By increasing the statutory borrowing limit at this time, the HFA can continue to lend to support the delivery of more social and cost-rental homes throughout the country without interruption.”
“As the role of the HFA continues to be vital in supporting the Government's ambitious housing delivery plans to 2030 and beyond, it should be noted that the proposed statutory borrowing limit increase from €12 billion to €13.5 billion should be seen as an interim measure. The increase to €13.5 billion at this time will provide sufficient headroom for the HFA to continue lending until mid-2026 and will enable the delivery of over 5,000 new social and cost-rental homes in the coming years. By mid-2026, the HFA will have had the time to consider the relevant aspects of the national development plan and the new national housing plan, enabling it to develop its new corporate plan.”
“On 17 September the Government approved an increase to the statutory borrowing limit of the Housing Finance Agency from €12 billion to €13.5 billion, priority drafting of the Bill and seeking a waiver of pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Bill given the urgency associated with the proposal. On 23 September the Government subsequently approved the publication of the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025 and authorised the Minister, Deputy Browne, to arrange for the presentation of the Bill to Dáil Éireann and to have it circulated to Deputies at the earliest opportunity. Officials in the Department met with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on Monday, 6 October and following this engagement a pre-legislative scrutiny waiver was granted.”
“The Bill before the House today is important and its progress will enable the HFA to continue to meet its increasing lending requirements during this transitionary period, which will result in the delivery of more social and cost-rental homes over the coming months. The HFA has advised that, based on its recent projections, the current €12 billion statutory borrowing limit will be reached at its 6 November credit committee, at which point no additional lending can be approved. This is as a consequence of the Government's approval of additional funding for social and cost-rental housing in July this year, following which the HFA's flow of borrowing applications increased. It is imperative that the current borrowing limit is increased without delay.”
“Additionally, €1.2 billion has been committed to the affordable-purchase and cost-rental schemes, which deliver long-term, secure housing below market rates for thousands of individuals and families. This will support the delivery of 7,500 affordable-purchase and cost-rental homes in 2026. Looking to 2030 and beyond, this Government will set out a clear pathway for housing supports and delivery. We now have the main body of the national development plan and the national planning framework in place. The publication of the new housing plan is imminent, and this will underpin the role that will be required on the part of the HFA to support the delivery of housing targets.”
“This diligent work by the HFA team clearly shows tangible results and creates a hugely positive impact on the lives of thousands of people across the country. The Government can also point to strong actions and results, with budget 2026 clearly reinforcing its commitment to boosting housing supply. The total Exchequer funding being made available in the budget for the delivery of housing programmes is €7.21 billion, comprising €5.19 billion in capital funding and €2.02 billion in current funding. An increased capital allocation, of €2.9 billion, has been provided to support local authorities and AHBs in the delivery of 10,200 newly built social homes.”
“Since its establishment in 1981 with a borrowing limit of €200 million, the HFA's statutory borrowing limit has increased six times, reflecting the ever-increasing demand on funding for social and affordable housing and highlighting the Government’s support and commitment in its pursuit of meeting the country's housing demands. The HFA is the main lender to the AHB sector, a sector that provides almost half of all new social and cost-rental homes. The agency continues to interact with local authorities on their financing needs and also has regular engagement with the HEIs and technological universities to support initiatives and funding requirements that aim to increase the supply of student housing.”
“I thank the Chair. It is an absolute pleasure to be here to introduce this legislation, the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025. All Stages of this Bill were passed last week in the Dáil. Its purpose is to amend section 10 of the Housing Finance Agency Acts 1981 to 2024. The amendment, through section 1, will increase the statutory borrowing limit, SBL, of the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, from €12 billion to €13.5 billion. Section 2 sets out the Short Title, collective citation and construction. The mission of the HFA is to facilitate the delivery of social and affordable housing in Ireland and to advance funds to local authorities, approved housing bodies, AHBs, and higher education institutes, HEIs, for this purpose.”
“In my view that was a retrograde step for many of our towns, including my own town of Clonakilty. I assume the task force will look at that. Perhaps, Drogheda's status as a city could also be looked at in that process. It is certainly something I will bring to the senior Minister.”
“The Senator is right that the establishment of a local authority is primary legislation. However, the recognition of somewhere as a city is different. That has been done through charters and by different methods over the centuries. To back up the Senator's point, the CSO will define a city as having a population over 50,000. Drogheda ticks that box. Kilkenny only has a population of 27,000. My view is that there is definitely merit in the recognition of a city. I think the separate local authority creates far more complications. A local democracy task force is being established by the Minister, Deputy Browne. I assume that will look at things like bringing back town councils. The Senator correctly alluded to the fact that town councils were done away with.”
“I have seen a similar situation happen in County Cork where the city boundary expanded, and it had a detrimental impact on the county. However, there is precedence where city and county councils are merged, like in Limerick and Waterford. It is important that we learn from the experience there. Is it the local authority element of the city recognition that the Senator is looking for or is it the potential to give status to Drogheda, similar to Kilkenny city, which also has city status, but to keep working within Louth council local authority? There is potential for discussion on the future of Drogheda, and we might develop that further.”
“Creation of a Drogheda city local authority would have a major impact on County Louth, leaving the county council with much reduced territorial jurisdiction, population and resources. This would be further complicated by the fact that the area being proposed for Drogheda to qualify as a city includes part of County Meath. For a city council to be established, provision will have to be made for this and other consequential matters in the relevant legislation. At the moment, there are no plans for legislation in this regard. We need to be clear what exactly the Senator is looking for. I can see the complications in terms of a separate local authority for Drogheda and how it impacts County Louth and that local authority.”
“The revised NPF retains the strategy approach to Drogheda in relation to its role as a regional driver. Drogheda's role is also reflected at a regional level in the regional, spatial and economic strategy for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area. Local authority areas are specified in primary legislation. The Local Government Act 2001 currently provides for three cities, namely Cork, Dublin and Galway, and for each of these cities to have a city council. If an additional city council were to be established, it would have significant implications for the county in which the area concerned is situated, particularly around loss of functions of the relevant county council.”
“It recognises the strategic importance of Drogheda. It aims to support its development and its economic potential as part of the Dublin-Belfast corridor, which the Senator referenced, and, in particular, as part of the core Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry network. This strategy targets significant growth into the regional growth centres, including Drogheda, to enable them to act as regional drivers. The revised NPF was approved by Government and the Oireachtas in April 2025. This concluded the revision process and allows the revised NPF to take effect in the planning system. The NPF aims for a roughly 50:50 distribution of growth between the eastern and midland region, and the southern, northern and western regions combined, with 75% of the growth to take place outside of Dublin and its suburbs.”
“I thank the Senator for the way she articulated the case for Drogheda to become a city. Clearly it is her home town - or city - and she is very proud of it. This came across incredibly well. She is proud of the progress that it has made but she has also identified some challenges which she sees city status as a key way of overcoming. I will outline the Department’s position and rationale, as well as some opportunities for future discussions. Project Ireland 2040 is the overarching planning and investment framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland. The national planning framework, NPF, together with the 2021 national development plan, NDP, combine to form Project Ireland 2040. The NPF sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040.”
“The Senator said it - there is a huge opportunity here for Ireland. Offshore is a good bit away yet. There is still great scope for more renewable energy on the mainland. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins.”
“I appreciate the Senator's approach. He is clearly indicating that we need more renewables and is simply asking that there are guidelines in order that we can avoid a lot of the stress and strain that has been caused in different communities. That is still happening to an extent. These developments can be quite daunting for many smaller communities. It is such an alien concept to have infrastructure like this in some of the most scenic parts of Ireland. The Senator is right. We should have developed the guidelines for wind generation earlier. We need to accelerate the guidelines for solar energy. It would benefit everybody. Communities would know where they stand and what to expect. They would know where these types of development should be located and the restrictions and conditions of them. I fully agree.”
“We are only just realising the potential in that regard. We need to get to 80% renewables by 2030. That is a big ask. We are going to have to develop more renewable sources in all parts of Ireland.”
“The Senator may have picked up from the response that at the moment the areas that those responsible are scoping out the relevant areas in terms of the guidelines. I dislike the word "scoping" when I see it in an answer because it is almost like it is kicking the can down the road a bit. Within my Department, I will certainly stress the urgency, working with the Minister of State with responsibility for planning, Deputy John Cummins, to ensure that these guidelines are expedited. There is no timeline at the moment. That is not good enough. We need to get timelines in place in order that communities will know what they are dealing with. We need more renewable energy online. I often hear in communities that rural Ireland has already done enough. I am not sure that is the case. There is scope for more onshore wind and solar energy.”
“These allocations will be integrated into regional spatial and economic strategies, which will in turn inform city and county development plans and will lead to the identification of areas towards which large-scale solar energy development will be directed, and areas which may not be appropriate for such development. From a planning legislation perspective, the Planning and Development Act 2024 delivers a range of measures to enhance the existing legislative framework. The Act provides for the alignment of the plan-making hierarchy to ensure greater consistency between national policy and local implementation, as well as providing greater certainty for stakeholders at all stages of the planning process.”
“From a policy perspective, the national planning framework, NPF, which was revised by my Department this year, sets the long-term strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040 and informs a spatial hierarchy of plans that cascade to regional and local levels. The revised NPF enhances policy support for renewable energy development, including, in particular, the introduction of regional renewable electricity capacity allocations for solar generation development to achieve the national targets set out in the climate action plan.”
“Until the planning guidelines for solar energy developments are finalised, it remains the case that there are no specific planning guidelines in place that deal with solar energy development, as is the case for most types of development. In making a decision on a planning application for a solar energy development, a planning authority must consider the specific merits or otherwise of the application, in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. With respect to the regulation of solar energy developments more generally, planning plays an important role in this regard from both a policy and legislative perspective.”
“The second phase of the review, which is currently under way, will seek to identify the key demands on land to inform policies for land use across key Government objectives, improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water and air quality outcomes. From a planning perspective, the programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce planning guidelines in respect of solar energy developments. In light of this commitment, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has begun an initial scoping process to identify the component factors relevant to the preparation of these guidelines, including the possible timeframe for publication.”
“It is really refreshing and encouraging to hear the agreement that we need to push for clean, renewable energy. I totally take the Senator's point on the need for guidelines to be brought forward as quickly as possible. The Programme for Government 2025 - Securing Ireland’s Future reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030 to assist with meeting the requirement of 80% of electricity demand supplied by renewables. Solar energy is a growing source of electricity, with approximately 1.76 GW of solar photovoltaic, PV, capacity currently installed. However, further solar capacity is required. The programme for Government also contains a commitment to a land use review to ensure that optimal land-use options inform all relevant Government decisions.”
“In addition, the Minister plans to make a number of other amendments to the legislation so the scheme can continue to be applied in as efficient and equitable a manner as possible for all homeowners. This legislation is being progressed as expeditiously as possible and the Bill is included in the autumn 2025 Government legislation programme for priority publication, so there is new legislation coming for this session and we hope it will progress. I see that as an opportunity to address some of the issues the Senator was talking about, as well as the NSAI report, which is due to be published very shortly.”
“I thank the Senator again. Her raising and highlighting the matter broadens awareness of the impacts it is having. We were chatting earlier and talking about the technical element in that if you are only partially rebuilding there is a risk of the pyrite seeping into the new blocks, which would have an impact. That is why we have to keep the scheme under review, which is exactly what we are saying in the answer here. The scheme will be kept under review to improve it. The Government approved priority drafting of legislation which will provide for the increases in the grant scheme, cap and rates, which were announced last year and have applied to all new applicants since that time, to be extended to a wider group of homeowners who incurred eligible costs under the grant scheme since 29 March 2024.”
“A report to each House of the Oireachtas on the findings and conclusions resulting from that review is required not later than three months after the completion of the review. I see that last part as the opportunity, perhaps, to examine how the scheme is working, whether it is having the impact it should and whether it is addressing the issues it should be. Once the NSAI publishes its report the Minister will be compelled to provide a further report within three months of that report. That may be the opportunity to address some of the issues the Senator is talking about. The Minister has said repeatedly there is a commitment to keep the scheme under review. I see that as an opportunity to amend where necessary.”
“All homeowners who have been given a non-demolition option, known as options 2 to 5, have been offered a choice of continuing with the work on their dwelling under the option determined or the option of a full technical review of their application by the Housing Agency once the full review of the national standard is complete. I understand the NSAI is progressing with its review of the IS 465 and will publish an update on its website when available. Furthermore, under section 51 of the Act, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is required to commence a review of the operation of the Act within three months of the completion of any review of IS 465 by the NSAI.”
“Under the Act, homeowners may submit an appeal to an independent appeals panel if they are not satisfied with their determined remediation option. I understand the appeals panel is issuing determinations to appellants and is expected to accelerate its work in the coming weeks. In October 2024 an increase to the scheme was provided, bringing the scheme cap to €462,000, and an increase in the scheme rates of between 7.4% and 8.7% was approved on 7 November 2024. In November 2024, following the receipt of preliminary results from scientific research in Donegal, the Department announced changes to the way the scheme works for certain homeowners.”
“The Senator referenced the pyrite remediation scheme and I can confirm this approach was considered in the development of the defective concrete blocks, DCB, grant scheme. However, it is not comparing like with like. The scale of the schemes is different and the homogenous nature of the damage caused to properties in the pyrite remediation scheme, relative to those in the DCB scheme, lends itself to the approach taken. It should be noted an implementation steering group for the current DCB grant scheme has been in place since 2023. The group comprises officials from the relevant local authorities, the Department, the Housing Agency and the homeowner liaison officer and provides a useful forum for discussion and feedback on operational and emerging matters related to the scheme and draws attention to issues faced by applicants.”
“I thank Senator Cosgrove for bringing this up. She is a fellow west Cork person. People are proud of her in west Cork. It is an honour to take this Commencement matter as we fly the flag for west Cork in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I sincerely thank her for raising this. I know she has been to visit those affected and has seen how the houses are crumbling and the psychological impact of what is happening, so she is coming from a well-educated place in terms of what she thinks needs to happen. As the Senator is aware, the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, which contains the current grant scheme, commenced on 22 June 2023, and the related regulations were adopted on 29 June 2023.”
“However, this legislation is very much about increasing the statutory borrowing limit and being a key enabler of local authorities, AHBs and agencies right across the board so they may deliver housing at scale. We look forward to the Committee Stage discussions tomorrow.”
“This is all very valid and will feed into the housing plan. We have heard about the need to address the number of vacant properties, the role of croí cónaithe in doing so and the need to reduce much of the red tape and bureaucracy associated with this type of measure. We have heard about the merits of modern methods of construction and the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing and enable local authorities. We have also heard about the need not only for more investment in infrastructure but also for an acceleration of the rate at which we improve it. We now have the main body of the NDP and the NPF. These will inform our targets. The new housing plan is imminent and many of the suggestions will fit into that.”
“Some have been excellent in meeting their social and affordable housing targets and others less so, but this increase in access to finance will enable all local authorities to do that, in addition to the AHBs, which also play such an important role. I have noted many of the positive comments from right across the floor. There is clearly a lot of support for this legislation and recognition that local authorities and AHBs and other agencies need increased access to finance. That is very much appreciated and noted. We look forward to the Committee Stage discussions. I have noted many of the suggestions made by Deputies on how we can accelerate housing supply, provide more homes for people, ensure more people have security of tenure and make significant dents in homelessness figures.”
“As the role of the HFA evolves in supporting the Government’s ambitious housing delivery plans to 2030, the agency will use the period to May 2026 to develop its new corporate plan, which will outline its future statutory borrowing limit requirements, factoring in delivery-partner and scheme-specific funding requirements. It will also set out how the organisation must evolve its own capacity and capabilities to meet this demand in a well-managed way. This Bill is very much about increasing the statutory borrowing limit. As many have alluded to, local authorities right across Ireland need to do more.”
“The agency has a recognised body of expertise and a 40-year track record in raising finance and providing long-term, competitive-rate loans for housing in a cost-effective manner. It has made a critical contribution to enabling the progress to date. The Bill before the House is important. It will enable the HFA to continue to meet its increasing lending requirements for this transitionary period, supporting continued momentum in the delivery of more social and cost-rental homes at a time when they are required more than ever. The increase to €13.5 billion will provide sufficient headroom for the HFA to continue lending until mid-2026, by which time it will have funded more than 5,000 additional social and affordable homes.”
“Securing this increased level of capital investment will support the achievement of our programme for Government commitments and provide certainty and confidence to the public and to the wider housing market. The targeted delivery for 2026 builds on the very significant progress already achieved in delivering social, affordable and cost-rental homes. This has made a huge difference in the lives of individuals and families, providing good-quality homes and contributing to sustainable communities across the country. The HFA continues to be a vital funding provider for social and affordable housing in Ireland by providing loan funding at attractive rates to local authorities and AHBs.”
“An increased capital allocation of €2.9 billion has been provided to support local authorities and approved housing bodies in delivering 10,200 newly built social homes. Additionally, €1.2 billion has been committed to the affordable-purchase and cost-rental schemes, which deliver long-term secure housing below market rates for thousands of individuals and families across the country. This will support the delivery of 7,500 affordable-purchase and cost-rental homes in 2026. The capital provision of €5.19 billion will be complemented by investment through the LDA and lending from the HFA, bringing total capital funding for housing in 2026 to over €9 billion.”
“To truly meet the scale of housing demand, we must deliver more homes across all types of tenure. To truly meet the scale of housing demand, we must deliver more homes across all tenures. The programme for Government commits to introducing a new national housing plan to follow Housing for All, and this will be published in the coming weeks. While that work is being undertaken, the measures detailed in the existing plan continue to be progressed. Budget 2026 reinforces the Government’s commitment to boosting housing supply. The total Exchequer funding being made available in the budget for the delivery of housing programmes is €7.21 billion, comprising capital funding of €5.19 billion and current funding of €2.02 billion.”
“I thank all the Deputies who have made contributions in the House over the last while. A lot of them summarised some of the challenges we face, including the need to urgently ramp up supply, quite well. There is clearly a common theme among Deputies' contributions, that is, a desire to make housing affordable, to increase supply and to reduce and eventually end homelessness. That has come through quite clearly. All of that will feed into the new housing plan, which is imminent. Many of those themes will certainly be covered. Obviously, a lot of those issues are not necessarily dealt with in this Bill. It is about enabling local authorities and approved housing bodies to access increased amounts of finance to deliver homes. As mentioned at the outset, this Government is committed to ensuring that housing continues to be a priority.”
“I am excited for the potential it brings. On the heritage side, we see a 10% increase for built heritage and the National Monuments Service. This allows communities across Ireland - north, south, east and west - to invest in national landmarks, significant buildings, churches, castles and houses of significance within their areas through the built heritage scheme, the national monuments scheme, the community monuments fund and the historic structures fund. This is very important. There is €41 million in the budget for water quality. That allows us to do things like the farming for water EIP. It allows us to improve water within urban areas and to invest in rural water programmes. It is a significant win for biodiversity, nature and heritage.”