James Browne
Wexford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I cannot accept amendments Nos. 10 and 11. The interpretation of "lawfully resident" and "habitually resident" is construed in accordance with section 20A, which sets out the new residency requirements for social housing applicants.”
“The safety net provision is to be provided by the local authority on a night-to-night basis, and this is to allow local authorities to reassess the circumstances each day to determine whether the safety net should still be provided.”
“I cannot accept amendment No. 21. This amendment proposes the introduction of a social housing passport allowing households to transfer between local authority areas while retaining their original waiting list or transfer list position. The amendment as it stands is well-intentioned.”
“No one factor is intended to be decisive and it is not necessary for a person to score strongly on all five factors outlined in section 20A(7) in order to get a positive decision. However, the local authority decision-maker must be confident that there is strong evidence that it is the applicant's main centre of interest.”
“In relation to Senator McCarthy’s amendment, while it was a very well intentioned and constructed amendment, it has been disallowed. It was not my decision on those matters. I am satisfied the safeguards and safety net are there for those who are not entitled by way of legal or habitual residence.”
“In practical terms, if an Irish citizen has severed ties abroad and has decided to return home, the process of establishing habitual residency could be determined from day one.”
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“Following on from a review of the private rental sector published by my Department in July 2024, the Housing Agency was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of the current system of rent controls using RPZs. The key focus of the review was to assess the operation of RPZs since their introduction and consider their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, including the retention of landlords and new investment. It considered whether RPZs should continue without change or be removed, modified or replaced. The review, which was extensive and detailed, also included options and recommendations in relation to potential amendments to rent control.”
“The Deputy can have his spin and his guff - that is fine - but the reality is that we are taking very real action to challenge derelict sites across this country. They are a blight and they are antisocial behaviour. There is no more powerful statement to say we are tackling it than bringing in the Revenue Commissioners to ensure that anybody with a derelict property is going to face very real and serious charges. We have the 7% but the problem is that it is not being applied to derelict sites by local authorities across the country. I accept there are local authorities that are under pressure for staffing. That is not a criticism of local authorities although you can see the significant variation between different local authorities and they are making their own priorities in terms of what they are doing.”
“Anyone who has a derelict property and is not doing anything with it is little more than a rent seeker. I do not care whether you are left wing or right wing; nobody can justify that kind of rent seeking because those properties are going up in value as the State invests money and as people invest money around it. I am determined to tackle dereliction and those who hold onto properties that are derelict. Giving power to the Revenue Commissioners is crucial to that.”
“I am very familiar with the streets of Dublin and the streets of Cork. The Deputy might have noticed while walking the streets of Cork himself the extraordinary amount of money and regeneration going on in Cork city as a result of Government investment into it. If it was the case that compulsory purchase orders were that difficult, we would see a consistent problem with them across the State. However, some local authorities are using them to very effective use, while others are not. That tells me that local authorities have different priorities. Some are using their priorities to target compulsory purchase orders to tackle dereliction and some are not. We have decided to now bring in the Revenue Commissioners to target dereliction. As far as I am concerned, dereliction is antisocial behaviour.”
“My Department has also made funding for staff resources available to local authorities as part of call 3 of the urban regeneration and development fund to support their work tackling vacancy and dereliction, while a total of €150 million has been provided as a revolving fund for local authorities to acquire long-term derelict properties where necessary. Since 2023, the compulsory purchase order, CPO, activation programme has also provided support to local authorities in identifying derelict properties and engaging with owners to bring those properties back into use. It includes the use of compulsory purchase powers under the Derelict Sites Act when engagement with property owners is unsuccessful, and is supported directly by my Department and the Housing Agency.”
“My Department is working on a number of measures to increase staffing levels in the local government planning sector. In this regard, my Department is collaborating with the Local Government Management Agency on the delivery of programme supports to planning authorities. These supports include the provision of staffing resources and expertise to enable planning authorities to perform their functions effectively and efficiently. Resources to ensure a focus on tackling dereliction within the local authorities have also been provided through the funding of dedicated vacant homes officers and town regeneration officers, who are working in relevant dereliction and regeneration teams to ensure a planned and a proactive approach is taken.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question on derelict site levies. The introduction of a derelict property tax was announced in budget 2026 and it is intended to introduce legislation providing for the tax in the Finance Act in 2026. The tax will, when it comes into effect, replace the derelict site levy and be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. Action 4.1 of Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 addresses the new tax measure. Local authorities will, however, continue to have a role in the process, as updating and maintaining their derelict sites registers will continue to remain the responsibility of local authorities. Derelict site levies that remain outstanding when the new tax is introduced will remain as a charge on the properties concerned and remain the responsibility of each local authority to collect.”
“This is what we are working towards as we go through each local authority and as we look at the national landscape, for how we can best and most quickly deliver that. Rather than getting obsessed about the minutiae of small targets, we look at how we can unleash the deliverability of homes. My purpose and my aim is to ensure that people can get access to a home.”
“We have not abandoned it. We have our key target of 300,000 new homes and 15,000 affordable homes. What we have learned over the last number of years is that we need to be flexible in figuring out exactly how we are going to manage to deliver the affordable homes that people need across this country. We do have a plan, which is clearly set out and was launched only very recently, with the methods and the means by which we are going to deliver social homes and affordable homes and increase the activity of private homes that also need to be delivered. Without the private investment to deliver private homes, we are never going to solve the housing crisis because we are never going to be able to deliver enough homes. The supply of homes is what is crucial here. We have our target of 15,000 affordable homes annually.”
“We have targets of 300,000 new homes overall, including 15,000 affordable homes annually, and each local authority is now working on their housing delivery action plans. They are looking at and working with their partners as well to ensure they can meet the Government's target of delivering homes. That is what we are doing and that is how we will deliver the homes.”
“Each local authority's starter homes programme, as outlined in its housing delivery action plan, will be informed by the housing needs and demand assessment framework, which will assist in identifying and quantifying new housing need with affordability constraint within their administrative area. Quarterly housing delivery reports will continue to be published on the Department's website, tracking the progress of affordable delivery output in each local authority area. The delivery of 300,000 homes and 15,000 starter homes supports, over the lifetime of the plan, is ambitious but it is achievable.”
“It is intended that the plans will set out how the starter homes programme will be implemented in each area, including the full suite of affordable housing supports to be provided and taking account of local and national affordability needs. They should be responsive to the housing system landscape in each area, as it is evident that starter homes supports needs and requirements vary by location. The preparation of housing delivery action plans for starter homes will be undertaken by local authorities, in close collaboration with their delivery partners, including the LDA, and approved housing bodies.”
“I thank the Deputy for this important question around targets for the delivery of cost-rental and affordable purchase homes by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the LDA under the Government's new housing plan. Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of Government's housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030. Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding to support new housing delivery, which will underpin the new starter homes programme, delivering an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030. To further drive the delivery of affordable housing under the plan, local authorities will shortly commence the preparation of new housing delivery action plans.”
“An coimisiún's research, advisory and public information function enables it to carry out research on electoral policy and procedure. It is also empowered to advise and make recommendations to the Minister and the Government in relation to any proposals for legislative change or any other policy matters concerning electoral and legislative proposals. I thank the Deputies for raising these important issues and for providing me with an opportunity to inform and contribute to this debate.”
“In relation to the candidate nomination process, similar to the position with regard to the extension of voting rights at presidential elections, proposals to amend the candidate nomination process for election to the Office of the President would require an amendment to Article 12.4.2 of the Constitution. If such a referendum was successful, it would be necessary for me, as the Minister responsible for electoral legislation, to bring forward appropriate amendments to the Presidential Election Act 1993, as amended, to give practical effect to the constitutional change. In this regard, it is important to note that we now have an independent statutory Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin. Ireland's independent Electoral Commission was established in February 2023.”
“I also note for the House that the management, upkeep and maintenance of State properties and expenditure in that regard are a matter for the Office of Public Works, which, I am sure Deputies will agree, does a fine job with so many of our historic buildings around the country. The annual accounting financial reporting arrangements for the OPW are the same as for other Votes. In short, there is nothing to suggest that there is a particular value added in any other arrangements being applied uniquely to the Office of the President in respect of financial accounting and reporting.”
“The detail of these allocations is made publicly available when the Estimates are published at budget time. In addition, the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach scrutinises the allocation to the President's establishment Vote as part of its consideration of the annual Estimates. The management of the day-to-day expenditure over the year under the various subheads in the Vote falls to the personnel in the Office of the President who are subject to public financial procedures and audit controls in the same way as everybody else. Expenditure on the President's Vote is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and it is reported annually to the Committee of Public Accounts for examination in the usual way.”
“Therefore, the perceived gains of subjecting the Office of the President to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act may not outweigh the potential risk of injuring the independence or apoliticality of the Presidency. I should emphasise that the annual accounting financial reporting arrangements for the Office of the President are managed in the same way as the expenditure arrangements for other public services Votes. As is the case with all Government Departments and many other public service offices and agencies, each year, in the course of the Estimates process, the Office of the President engages with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to establish its budget for the forthcoming year.”
“The Government did not oppose the motion and during that debate, the Minister of State with responsibility for international development and the diaspora confirmed that the Government was reflecting on this important matter. In relation to freedom of information, as Deputies are aware, section 42(h) of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 provides an exclusion of the Presidency from freedom of information. The Office of the President is subject to a separate and discrete Vote of its own. The Vote of the President, which covers all expenditure of the Office of the President, in agreement with the Oireachtas, is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and its expenditure is subject to examination by the Committee of Public Accounts.”
“Over several years, my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked closely on this issue and on 16 September 2019, the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Elections) Bill 2019 was initiated in Dáil Éireann by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs to facilitate the holding of a referendum on this important issue. However, as Members will recall, with the advent of Covid-19 and the ensuing restrictions that arose in response to the pandemic, the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Thirty-second Dáil on 14 January 2020. Notwithstanding the lapsed Bill, I am aware that on 24 June 2025, a Private Members' motion was tabled in Dáil Éireann calling for the extension of the franchise in presidential elections to those living in Northern Ireland.”
“In response to the evolving needs of our society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, in March 2017, the Government at the time agreed to accept, in principle, the main recommendation in the Fifth Report on the Convention on the Constitution that Irish citizens resident outside the State, including citizens resident in Northern Ireland, should have the right to vote at a presidential election and that a referendum would be held to seek to amend the Constitution to give effect to this.”
“By way of some background, the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution, published in November 2013, recommended that citizens resident outside the State should have the right to vote in presidential elections. While 73% of the members of the Convention on the Constitution voted in favour of extending the right to vote in presidential elections to our citizens in Northern Ireland, at a separate vote a total of 78% supported the right for our citizens resident outside the State, irrespective of particular jurisdiction, to vote in presidential elections. I note that the Private Members' Bill does not propose to address the latter.”
“In the event that any such referendum on extending voting rights at presidential elections was held and approved by the people, it would then fall to me, as the Minister responsible for electoral legislation, to bring forward appropriate amendments to our electoral laws to give practical effect to the constitutional change. Such legislation would need to include provisions covering issues such as registration of voters from Northern Ireland, the method of voting, for example, postal voting or otherwise, and a constituency where voters would vote, for example, a separate or reserved constituency for the purposes of collating and counting the votes from Northern Ireland. These are all important practical considerations.”
“I thank the Deputies for raising these important matters. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on behalf of the Government. The Government is not opposing this motion. However, I would like to make a number of points in respect of each of the proposals raised in the motion, which might warrant further consideration by the House. In relation to voting rights, it should be noted that to extend the franchise at presidential elections to our citizens resident in Northern Ireland would require the holding of a referendum to amend the Constitution. In this regard, I am going to propose as set out in the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Voting Rights in Presidential Elections) Bill 2025, which was published by Aontú on 17 June last.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 7th October, 2025.”
“I put on record today my own engagement with the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, in particular in recent months in my role as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is my true and fair experience of the Tánaiste that he works exceptionally hard with his Government colleagues with a focus on implementing the programme for Government to make our country a better place for all. The programme for Government itself is an ambitious plan and contains significant commitments in housing. The Tánaiste has been clear from the start of his term that housing and the delivery of homes for people across the country are a major priority for him.”
“I also welcome the recent key appointments by the Minister for Health to the Children's Health Ireland board, including Dr. Yvonne Traynor as chairperson, along with Mr. Fergus Finlay and Ms Suzanne Garvey. I echo what the Taoiseach said in his opening remarks - that this Government is steadfast and determined to engage robustly on matters faced by the families that have been impacted. I also acknowledge that we have more things to do for those families and their children in services and communications. I also echo the Taoiseach's earlier remarks about the determination of the Government to deliver a transformative programme of work in this area in partnership with the Tánaiste. As someone who's own sister has spina bifida and hydrocephalus, I am aware that parents and carers know best for their children.”
“First, it is essential that this conversation start with the people - Harvey and his parents Stephen and Gillian and the many more incredible advocates acting with courage on behalf of their children and all those who have been impacted. I understand the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health met a number of weeks ago with Harvey's parents and they agreed to work in partnership on the structure of an inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis services and to hold a further meeting in a number of weeks. I understand from the Minister that paediatric spinal services are a priority for the Government under the Waiting List Action Plan 2025 and are overseen by the waiting list action plan task force. I am very anxious to see movement and progress on this.”
“One thing we all agree on is how important this issue is and that everything that can be done to alleviate the distress of homeowners is being done. I thank the Deputy and look forward to hearing thoughtful and further helpful contributions here this morning. I may have to step out quickly for an incorporeal Cabinet meeting and will be gone for about 60 seconds.”
“Appeals under the defective concrete blocks scheme are covered by a statutory process under an appeals panel led by a senior counsel, and with experts from the legal and engineering professions appointed by the Minister under a clear and transparent process managed on his behalf by the Public Appointments Service. I am aware of a degree of concern about the speed of the appeals processes. My Department, which provides administrative support to the appeals panel, has passed on these concerns. However, it should be noted that the appeals system is an independent statutory function under the 2022 Act. Thankfully, I understand it has now begun to issue determinations to appellants and it is expected to accelerate its work in the coming weeks.”
“The National Standards Authority of Ireland, with the aid of comprehensive public consultation, which closed in July this year, is in the process of finalising its review of IS 465:2018, the national standard that underpins our defective concrete blocks scheme. It is considering close to 650 submissions that were received. My colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, recently confirmed he has been informed by his officials that an estimation of finalisation of the review of comments, and subsequent publication of the revised national standard, will be provided shortly. He has requested that the NSAI publish this update on its website when available. The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 includes the provision of an appeals process for homeowners.”
“The ongoing commitment from the Government is that the scheme will be amended in line with any new scientific evidence that is required. We will follow the science. In this regard, in November 2024, following receipt of preliminary results from scientific research on damage to dwellings in County Donegal, all homeowners who have been given a non-demolition option were offered the 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. This review will be informed by the current research, once the full review of the national standard is complete. I believe it is a pragmatic and equitable approach that offers flexibility, real choice and options to affected homeowners.”
“A major focus of this motion is rightly on protecting the mental health of homeowners and residents. This Government is committed to providing mental health supports for individuals and families affected by the defective concrete blocks issue. Free counselling sessions are available to individuals and families in the five relevant counties, and the Department of Health has worked with the HSE to ensure that mental health supports are available through MyMind. Homeowners can visit its website and register for the service. The Department of Health has also agreed to consider a face-to-face offering, instead of online telephone support, and will consider additional support and advice for children. Deputies will be aware that the current grant scheme was designated in accordance with the prevailing scientific evidence available at the time.”
“In addition, I plan to make a number of amendments to the legislation to the scheme to ensure it can continue to be applied in as efficient and equitable a manner as possible to all homeowners. This legislation is being progressed as expeditiously as possible and a Bill is included in the autumn 2025 Government legislation programme for priority publication. I expect it will be brought before the House shortly. I am confident that the proposed amendments in the forthcoming Bill will address a number of matters of concern for homeowners, as are covered by the Deputies in this motion. I am acutely aware of the terrible effect and hardship that deleterious materials have caused and the toll this has had, and continues to have, on many individuals and their families.”
“Government funding for this work continues to be provided, with a record €175 million allocated to fund the scheme in 2026. That is more than double the amount allocated to the scheme this year and reflects the strong take-up of the scheme as it begins to take hold, particularly in the north west of the country. In line with the commitment to keep the scheme under review and to improve it, the Government has approved the priority drafting of legislation to provide for the increases in the grant scheme cap and rates that were announced late last year, which have applied to all new applicants since that time, to be extended to a wider group of homeowners who have incurred eligible costs under the grant scheme since 29 March 2024.”
“I therefore say with confidence that the scheme is now really beginning to deliver for many homeowners in the affected counties. Over 3,000 homeowners are now at various stages of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and will be supported with grants for eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of €460,000 per household. This represents a 10% increase in the maximum cap since the scheme launched in 2023. As at the end of August 2025, 247 homes have been remediated, with a further 983 homeowners notifying their relevant designated local authority of the date of commencement of the works to remediate their homes. I believe that is good progress. That is why we are redoubling our efforts, in partnership with the local authority sector, the Housing Agency and the homeowners to accelerate funding and work under the scheme.”
“Each group raised important matters, including the need to extend eligibility for the cap and rate increase to a larger group of homeowners. Through this series of meetings and site visits to homes affected by defective concrete blocks, I saw at first hand the real difficulties that the owners of such homes are facing through no fault of their own. It demonstrated to me the continued importance and contribution of the current scheme, in place since July 2023, in helping those affected to fix their homes and move on with their lives. My Department remains in regular contact with those affected, not just in Donegal but throughout the country. We continue to work to listen to homeowners as we keep the scheme under review to identify where we can improve how it operates.”
“Today's motion, which is comprehensive in its coverage, sets out a number of matters for discussion and I will do my best in the time I have to address as many as I can. The Government recognises the distress experienced by thousands of homeowners caused by the use of defective concrete blocks in their homes. My Government colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that all such homeowners are financially assisted to remediate their homes and to allow them to move on with their lives. I met with various stakeholders in Donegal earlier this year, including representatives of the Mica Action Group. I also met with a large number of Donegal councillors from all parties and none, alongside senior management of the council.”
“465 "Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials" on 31st March, 2025, the consultation closed on 11th July, 2025 and yielded in excess of 640 submissions the NSAI 's Technical Committee is currently in the process of reviewing the submissions received; and — the DCB Scheme is a residential homes scheme, the focus and priority has and will continue to be to assist individual homeowners who find themselves in distress; Non-residential properties can and are dealt with under other funding streams; and further notes that: — in line with the commitment to keep the scheme under review and improve it, the Government approved the priority drafting of legislation that will provide that the increases in the grant scheme cap and rates from October and November 2024, will be extended to a wider group of homeowners who incurred eligible costs under the grant scheme since 29th March, 2024; — in addition, a number of small amendments to the legislation are also proposed to provide for to ensure the scheme can be continued 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; — Local Authorities, working together with the Office for Emergency Planning and the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management have systems in place to assist all homeowners to remain safe and to secure alternative accommodation should it be required in the case of any severe weather occurrence; — the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has engaged proactively with the financial sector (banks and insurance companies) around the interaction of the DCB Scheme with their services, banks and insurance companies have clearly stated that homes certified, as being remediated under the DCB scheme will be treated in the same manner as all other homes; — the Banking Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) chairs a forum which brings together various stakeholders including the banking industry, engineers, construction, insurance, and the legal sector; — the remediation option grant amount paid to homeowners, which is based on estimates provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and augmented by the Expert Group, includes an amount for Value-Added Tax charged to homeowners; — any additional costs that apply to the building of houses arising from the concrete levy are minimal, bearable and reasonable in light of the need for the construction industry to make a contribution, however small, towards the cost of the Defective Concrete Block Redress Scheme - the levy has thus far raised in excess of €40 million which has helped fund the homeowner scheme; — following extensive consultation with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage intends to shortly bring forward a DCB social homes scheme as provided for under the legislation, to facilitate the remediation of social housing affected by DCB; — the Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a Building Standards Regulatory Authority, it is intended that it will be an independent central competent authority, with the powers of a national Building Control Authority, and national Market Surveillance Authority for construction products, the Authority will act as a centre of best practice, driving, promoting and fostering compliance, competency and consistency in building control and market surveillance systems and throughout the construction industry, a Building Standards Agency will be established under the Local Government (Corporate Bodies) Act pending the establishment of a Building Standards Regulatory Authority; and highlights that: — over 3,000 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB Grant Scheme and will be supported with grants for 100 per cent of eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of €462,000 per household - this represents a 10 per cent increase in the maximum cap since the scheme launched in 2023; — more than €193 million has been spent on the scheme to date with a commitment to more than double the level of funding for 2026 to €175 million; — the DCB Scheme is actively helping homeowners to rebuild their homes, allowing them to move on with their lives; — the Government remains committed to funding the full remediation of all homes affected by DCB and recognises that this may cost more than €2.2 billion (excluding inflation) and as such this scheme ranks as the most generous in the world; — additional counties continue to be added to the Scheme clearly showing the Government's commitment to help all those affected by the legacy defects caused by defective block; and — a formal review of the Scheme will be initiated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in July 2026, in accordance with the provisions of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, in the interim, a DCB Implementation Steering Group made up of officials from the Department, all relevant local authorities, the Housing Agency and the Homeowners Liaison Officer monitors and keeps the various elements of the scheme under review." I thank the Independent and Parties Technical Group and others for the opportunity to speak on this important matter.”
“Donegal, all homeowners who have been given a non-demolition option were 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, this review will be informed by the current research once the full review of the national standard (I.S. 465) is complete, if homeowners choose to continue with their works, they continue to avail of the 40-year government guarantee; — the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) launched a public consultation for the draft I.S.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That Dáil Éireann notes that" and substitute the following: "— the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 underpins an enhanced Grant Scheme which provides grant funding to people whose homes have been affected by Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) and replaced a previous scheme; — the DCB Scheme is neither a redress nor a compensation scheme, rather it is a grant scheme of last resort to enable affected homeowners remediate their homes and move on with their lives; — over 3,000 homeowners are now at various stages of the Scheme and will be supported with grants for 100 per cent of eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of €462,000 per household; — applicants under the previous grant scheme have not been disadvantaged from being early movers, this was allowed for in the 2022 Act under transitional provisions and these early movers have benefited from the increased scheme cap and grant rates provided for; — decisions regarding remediation options are made by independent engineers acting on behalf of the Housing Agency under the Scheme and can be appealed by homeowners who are dissatisfied with decisions made; — appeals under the DCB scheme are covered by a statutory process under an Appeals Panel led by a Senior Counsel and with experts from the legal and engineering professions appointed by the Minister under a clear and transparent process managed on his behalf by the Public Appointments Service; — the appeals system is an independent statutory function under the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 and it has now begun to issue determinations to appellants and is expected to accelerate its work in the coming weeks; — the approach taken under the Pyrite Remediation Scheme (PRS) in Leinster was considered in the development of the DCB Grant Scheme, however, due to the different scale of both schemes, the homogenous nature of the damage caused in the PRS relative to DCB, and the flexibility sought by DCB homeowners, the DCB Grant scheme required a different approach more responsive to the needs of DCB homeowners; — further to Government and the Department of Health's commitment to enhanced mental health supports for individuals and families affected by the defective concrete blocks issue, free counselling sessions are available to individuals and families in the five relevant counties; — the Grant Scheme was designed in accordance with the prevailing scientific evidence available at the time and will be amended as and when required should the scientific evidence indicate that to be necessary; — in November 2024, following receipt of preliminary results from scientific research into damaged dwellings in Co.”
“In addition, €1.2 billion has been committed to the affordable purchase and cost-rental schemes, which deliver long-term secure housing at 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 increased level of capital investment secured will support the new housing plan and provide certainty and confidence to citizens and the wider housing market. Should this 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 Housing Finance Agency's 6 November credit committee meeting, thereby ensuring the continued smooth lending capacity of the Housing Finance Agency.”
“The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority, AHBRA, will continue to be supported to ensure a robust and effective regulatory regime that continues to support high standards of governance, financial management and tenant management in the sector. Budget 2026 reinforces the Government's commitment to boosting housing supply. The total Exchequer funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes in the budget is €7.21 billion, comprising capital funding of €5.19 billion and current funding of €2.02 billion. An increased capital allocation of €2.9 billion has been provided to support local authorities and approved housing bodies in the delivery of newly built social homes.”
“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 supported mixed-tenure communities or modern student accommodation. The HFA continues to demonstrate sound financial management and good corporate governance, both of which are essential to the success of any organisation. With a number of additional staff and new board members appointed in recent months, the Housing Finance Agency is more capable than ever of addressing the challenges ahead. Approved housing bodies continue to deliver social and cost-rental homes for the State. The sector has built up capacity, knowledge and expertise in the delivery of housing. These capabilities and oversight of the AHB sector are essential to that sector's effective operation.”
“It should also be noted that the Housing Finance Agency is totally self-funding and requires no current expenditure subvention from the Exchequer. The 2024 annual report of the Housing Finance Agency reports that, during 2024, the agency reached its highest level of loan approvals thanks to the continued dedication and hard work of staff, customers and key stakeholders. The HFA provides long-term competitive finance to approved housing bodies, local authorities and higher education institutes and uses its collective financial expertise and resourcing to support customers in the development and implementation of effective housing programmes.”
“By mid-2026, the Housing Finance Agency will have had time to consider the relevant aspects of the national development plan and the new national housing plan and to develop its own new corporate plan. The HFA's new corporate plan will include reformed forecasts for its future SBL requirements, factoring in delivery partner-specific and scheme-specific funding requirements over the period of the national housing plan. As the role of the Housing Finance Agency continues to be vital in supporting the Government's ambitious housing delivery plans to 2030 and beyond, it should be noted that this proposed increase to the Housing Finance Agency's statutory borrowing limit from €12 billion to €13.5 billion should be seen as an interim measure.”
“On 23 September, the Government approved the publication of the Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025 and authorised me, as Minister, to arrange for the presentation of the Bill to Dáil Éireann and for it to be circulated to Deputies at the earliest opportunity. Officials in my Department met with the Oireachtas joint committee on Monday, 6 October. Following this engagement, a pre-legislative scrutiny waiver was granted. The increase to €13.5 billion will provide sufficient headroom for the Housing Finance Agency to continue lending until mid-2026 and will enable the delivery of 5,650 new social and cost-rental homes in the coming three years.”
“Based on its recent projections, the Housing Finance Agency has advised that its €12 billion statutory borrowing limit will be reached at its 6 November credit committee meeting, at which point no additional lending can be approved. As a consequence, it is proposed to increase the SBL to €13.5 billion with this Bill, enabling the agency to continue to support the ever-increasing delivery of social and cost-rental homes. On 18 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 was also approved and we have sought that pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Bill be waived given the urgency associated with the proposal.”
“Having been established in 1981 with a borrowing limit of €200 million, the agency's statutory borrowing limit, SBL, has increased six times since, reflecting the ever-increasing demand on funding for social, affordable and cost-rental housing. The HFA is the main lender to the AHB sector, which provides almost half of all new social and cost-rental homes. Following Government approval of additional funding for social and cost-rental housing in July of this year, the Housing Finance Agency's flow of borrowing applications increased, with the majority of applications coming from the approved housing body sector.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Bill intends to make an amendment to the Housing Finance Agency Acts 1981 to 2024. Section 1 of the Bill amends section 10 of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 to increase the agency's statutory borrowing limit from €12 billion to €13.5 billion. Section 2 of the Bill sets out the Short Title, collective citation and construction. The mission of the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, is to facilitate the delivery of social and affordable housing in Ireland and to advance funds to local authorities, approved housing bodies and higher education institutes for this purpose. The borrowing capacity of the agency is set out in primary legislation and the current limit is €12 billion.”