John Cummins
Waterford · Fine Gael · Ireland
“To ensure a structured and comprehensive examination of the issues, the task force was organised under four work themes: structures, funding, functions and governance and accountability within the local government sector.”
“At the outset, I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for raising this important issue this morning. I am acutely aware of the strong interest that exists within this House in matters relating to local government.”
“Engagement took place with a wide range of organisations and representative bodies, including employer and employee representatives, community and voluntary organisations, academic experts and other key stakeholders.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2026, Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 2) Regulations 2026, Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.”
“In that context, I welcome the opportunity to address the House and to provide an update on the progress made today in advancing that recommendation and strengthening local democracy more generally.”
“The task force was charged with delivering its report within the challenging timeframe of six to nine months. However, considerable preparatory work already completed across the sector provided a strong foundation and enabled that timeline to be achieved. The task force, as the Senator rightly pointed out, was chaired by Mr.”
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“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which he consistently does. The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site as defined in the Act. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. Each local authority maintains a derelict sites register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider are derelict under the Act. Sites entered on the derelict sites register are subject to an annual derelict sites levy of 7% of market value, which will continue to apply until the site is rendered non-derelict.”
“I am determined to make that step change to assist and play my role, working in collaboration with other Deputies. Debates like this that are productive and solutions-orientated are beneficial. Debates where we just shout over and back and shout insults are not productive. I hope the remainder of the debate will be conducted in the spirit in which it opened.”
“It will also consider ways for local authorities to increase fiscal autonomy and will review existing revenue-raising and debt management options, match-funding requirements and new alternative revenue-raising powers. Our new national housing plan will be delivered in the coming months to ensure we put in place the right policies. Many of the items in the motion before the House are items that we as a Government are working on extensively. I assure the Deputies that as we move through the next weeks and months, they will continue to see a range of measures implemented which seek to stimulate the construction sector, reduce the overall cost of development and deliver the step change to get to 50,000 housing units. I am under no illusions as to the challenges in getting to that figure but that is what gets me up in the morning.”
“There is a need to ensure they are carefully calibrated to support the development of rural one-off housing while also ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place. These changes will improve transparency, timeliness and accessibility in our planning process. The motion calls for changes to the performance and functions of local authorities. I refer Deputies to the local democracy task force, which I have established. It will have its first meeting tomorrow in the Custom House. It will develop proposals to rebalance the power between elected councillors and the executive. It will also explore mechanisms to ensure the policy decisions of local authority executives are transparent and that executives are fully accountable to the council.”
“Section 90 of the recently enacted Planning and Development Act 2024 provides for a pre-application and consultation with planning authorities. It also allows a member of the public to make submissions on a planning application as part of the public participation process. The Act will also introduce a new procedure to deal with spurious planning submissions and appeals. A submission in relation to a planning application, appeal or judicial review must be accompanied by a statutory declaration stating that the submission, appeal or judicial review is not being done for the purpose of delaying a development or receiving a payment. Penalties are being introduced in respect of anyone making a false declaration. The motion also refers to rural housing guidelines, which are under review by the Department.”
“A public consultation is expected to commence next week on those. Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which was commenced on 18 June, enables the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála to replace An Bord Pleanála. All these measures are about bringing forward supply and ensuring we do not lose out on important developments through delays or because of developments timing out. It is about ensuring we have timely decision-making across our planning system so that we can introduce certainty for developers to allow them to get on and do what they do best, which is building homes. The motion calls for further reform of the planning process including governance, implementation and reporting structures. Again, we have made significant changes in this regard.”
“As part of the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024, the new urban development zones will enable strategically placed housing developments with the order already signed, which will enable local authorities to identify suitable sites for urban development zones, UDZs, in the context of their variation process. Furthermore, the planning and development Bill 2025, which was approved by Cabinet for priority drafting on 27 May, will ensure sufficient time is given to activate planning permissions for much-needed housing across the country. It is intended to have the Bill enacted before the summer recess. Deputies opposite have also raised exempted development regulations. The Department is undertaking a review of these provisions that will provide further options for the provision of housing.”
“On the planning system, we have progressed a number of reforms to streamline a well-resourced planning system. I sat on the Oireachtas joint committee on housing with the Deputies sitting opposite me for years when we went through that Bill, which was the third largest piece of legislation in the history of the State, and a comprehensive review of our planning system, which will ensure we have a streamlined planning process into the future. That Act is being commenced on a phased basis and does represent a radical reform of our planning system.”
“On the planning matters that were raised in the motion, the revised national planning framework provides the basis for the review of the regional economic and spatial strategies and the local authority development plans. Given the urgent need to ensure that we have updated housing requirements incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible to address housing need and demand, local authorities will be required to vary their current development plans in order to ensure we have sufficient zoning of land to deliver the homes we need. We will be informing local authorities very shortly as to their housing growth requirements to ensure that what we approved in this Chamber on the NPF is translated into local authority development plans as quickly as possible.”
“Nearly 13,000 affordable housing supports were delivered since the launch of Housing for All to December 2024 by AHBs, local authorities and the LDA, alongside schemes such as the first-home scheme, the local authority affordable purchase scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant, which a number of Deputies have mentioned during the debate. Over 7,100 affordable supports were provided last year, which was the highest year of delivery to date. The Government has introduced a range of measures in recent months that will ensure we are in a position to continue with the largest social and affordable housing programme in this country, investing nearly €7 billion of taxpayers' money.”
“Of course we need to do more; I am not for one second suggesting we are doing enough. More than 92,000 homes have been delivered in recent years but it has to grow to 50,000 a year on average. Over 48,000 social homes have been delivered in the last five years. That is the highest rate since the 1970s, which was before I was born. There is also a very strong pipeline of over 24,000 social homes at various stages of design build that will be delivered over the coming years. Housing for All has provided for the introduction of a number of new affordable housing supports enabling the delivery of significant numbers of affordable homes, both new builds and those that have been brought back into use.”
“That includes using our local authorities, our approved housing bodies, AHBs, the Land Development Agency and the private sector. Many ideological debates happen in this Chamber every day, and the people out there do not really care for those ideological debates. They want homes and they do not care whether it is local authority, approved housing body, the LDA or the private sector that delivers those homes. They just want those homes. That is what we are about as a Government. I acknowledge the disappointing dip we saw last year in the number of homes built due to the 23% reduction in apartment completions. However, it is important to reflect on the progress we have seen in recent years. Back in 2012 and 2013, fewer than 5,000 homes were delivered. In 2022 and 2023, it was 30,000 and 32,000, respectively.”
“I thank Deputies Fitzmaurice, Collins, O’Donoghue and O’Flynn for their motion and for instigating an important debate. I believe in productive debates that are solutions orientated and I acknowledge many of the items in the motion before us. It is in that spirit of taking on board those items, while acknowledging the work that is going on within the Government, that I will make my comments here and address some of the items that have been raised in the Independent Ireland motion. Everything we seek to do as a Government is to build on the progress made through Housing for All. It is the Government’s number one priority to ensure we use every means available to us to increase the supply of homes across the country.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — Housing for All sets out an ambitious multi-annual programme that seeks to deliver more than 300,000 new homes by 2030; — record levels of investment are being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding now available of almost €6.8 billion; — the capital provision for 2025 is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need; — over 36,700 social homes have been delivered under Housing for All to Q4 2024, and, in 2023, nearly 12,000 social homes were delivered, including 8,110 new-build social homes, the highest level of delivery of new-build social housing since 1975, and, in 2024, 10,595 social homes were delivered, including 7,871 new builds, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 leasing units; — nearly 13,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All to December 2024, by Approved Housing Bodies, local authorities, and the Land Development Agency (LDA), alongside schemes, such as the First Home Scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant; and — over 7,100 affordable housing supports were delivered in 2024, the highest yearly delivery to date, exceeding that year's target of 6,400; further recognises that: — while housing supply has increased significantly in recent years, much more needs to be achieved; — the measures introduced under Housing for All have helped establish a solid platform to 'scale-up' delivery of housing in the short-term and secure a sustainable level of supply that will help us meet demand; — the measures committed to in the Programme for Government 2025, including a new housing plan, building on the successes of Housing for All, will help us meet the enormous challenge of delivering more than 300,000 new homes by 2030; — the Government's new national housing plan will incorporate pragmatic actions to boost housing activity in the short-term, coupled with strategic deliverables to drive comprehensive systemic change, and a subsequent increase in supply into the long-term; and — there has been record levels of investment in infrastructure under the current National Development Plan 2021 to 2030 (NDP); acknowledges that: — new capital investment in infrastructure, particularly to support housing targets, is being considered in the context of the ongoing review of the NDP; — our water networks require ongoing and sustained investment, to bring these up to the required standard of treatment, to deal with population growth, and to adapt to the impacts of climate change; — this Government is delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services; — record funding has been allocated between 2020 and 2024, and this will continue under the NDP 2026-2030, to prioritise water and wastewater infrastructure, and to deliver the capacity to facilitate housing development in our towns and villages; — Uisce Éireann has ramped up capital delivery for water services and infrastructure, from €300 million in 2014, to roughly €1.3 billion in 2024, and in 2025, the Exchequer will provide just over €2.2 billion in funding to Uisce Éireann; — in 2024, Uisce Éireann issued 4,252 connections agreements associated with 41,169 housing units; — the Programme for Government 2025 commits to introduce statutory timelines for pre-connections, water and wastewater, and energy connection agreements, to ensure large developments can proceed without delay, and to establish a new procedure for large developments, above 100 units, where a developer can meet local authority planners and Uisce Éireann on site, to resolve issues at pre-planning stage; — Ireland is currently experiencing high demand for new electrical connections driven by population growth, industrial development and accelerated electrification targets; — over the last four years, ESB Networks has connected over 147,000 homes and businesses to the distribution network; — in response to increased demand the electricity system operators, ESB Networks and EirGrid, have prepared business plans that propose significantly increased investment in the electricity grid for the period 2026-2030, and the Government looks forward to the conclusion of the Sixth Price Review by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, which will provide a clear framework for investment in the electricity grid; — with regard to the provision of water services, energy and roads infrastructure, Uisce Éireann, ESB and individual road authorities, have statutory responsibility for the planning, delivery and maintenance of infrastructure at local levels, and the scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for the respective statutory body, and is subject to obtaining the necessary consents; and — the Housing Activation Office (HAO) being established in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will engage and align stakeholders, including local authorities, utility and infrastructure providers, industry and others, to ensure that infrastructure blockages are addressed in a coordinated way, in order to enable housing development; further acknowledges that: — significant legislative and system level reform of the planning system is progressing; — on 30th April, 2025, Dáil Éireann approved the revised National Planning Framework (NPF), which provides the basis for the review and updating of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and local authority development plans to reflect critical matters, such as updated housing figures or projected jobs growth, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes; — to see the revised NPF translated to a local basis as urgently as possible, local authorities have been advised to prepare for the process of reviewing and updating their development plans, to align with the revised NPF; — a series of reforms have been progressed to support a well-resourced planning system, including the implementation of the Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources, which will strengthen the planning system and support the timely delivery of critical infrastructure and housing; — the Government is prioritising the commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024, on a phased basis as outlined in the Programme for Government, and that the Act represents the most comprehensive review of planning legislation since 2000, and will reform and streamline the planning process, and support timely decision making for housing and strategic infrastructure projects; — Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 was commenced on 18th June, to enable the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála to replace An Bord Pleanála; — under the Planning and Development Act 2024, the new Urban Development Zones provisions will enable the identification by local authorities of suitable locations for further housing development at scale, and the ability for the LDA and Regional Assemblies to bring appropriate sites to the attention of local authorities and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with work to begin as soon as possible; — the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025, to be enacted before this summer recess, will ensure sufficient time is given to activate planning permissions for much needed housing; and — a review of the exempted development provisions is underway, that will provide further options for the provision of housing, with a public consultation to commence this month and updated regulations to come into force later this year; notes that: — Section 90 of the recently enacted Planning and Development Act 2024, provides for a pre-application consultation with planning authorities; — the Planning and Development Act 2024, allows a member of the public to make a submission on a planning application as part of the public participation process, and the Act of 2024 will introduce a new procedure to deal with spurious planning submissions and appeals, and a submission in relation to a planning application, an appeal or a judicial review must be accompanied by a statutory declaration stating that the submission, appeal or judicial review is not being done for the purposes of delaying a development or for receiving a payment, and also, penalties were introduced in respect of anyone making a false declaration; — updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high-level policy framework set by the NPF; — in May, 2021, the Government introduced a series of measures to prevent the bulk buying of houses and duplexes by a single buyer, and to increase home ownership; — overall, since May, 2021, a total estimate of over 50,000 houses and duplex units received planning permission, with conditions restricting the bulk purchasing or multiple sales to a single purchaser; — a higher stamp duty on the cumulative purchase of 10 or more residential properties, excluding apartments, was increased to 15 per cent in Budget 2025; and — the Programme for Government 2025 commits to maintaining the owner occupier guarantee in planning regulations for houses and duplexes, and keeping the stamp duty surcharges under review, to ensure they prohibit bulk purchases; further notes that: — the Government continues to support local authorities in the delivery of housing programmes, with almost €4.8 billion provided to the authorities in 2024, and this will increase further in 2025; — the recently established Local Democracy Taskforce will: — develop proposals to rebalance the power between elected councillors and the executive, including identifying opportunities to better use the existing, or specify more reserved powers/functions, and mandatory oversight responsibilities for councillors, either at plenary or municipal district level, particularly in respect of budgetary oversight; — explore mechanisms to ensure that the policy decisions of local authority executives are transparent, and that executives must consult with and be accountable to the council for those policy decisions; — consider ways for local authorities to increase fiscal autonomy, through the amount of own resources, including wider variation options for Local Property Tax, by reviewing existing revenue-raising and debt management options, and matched funding requirements and new/alternative revenue raising powers; and — examine ways to ensure that local priorities for central Government grant funding are decided upon by the council; — a concerted effort is being made to expand capacity on existing apprenticeship programmes, and Budget 2025 has seen the single largest investment in core apprenticeship funding since the formation of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in 2020, an increase of 83 per cent to €77.4 million, and this investment will support the continued growth of apprenticeship training capacity, with 6,319 registering to join construction and construction related programmes in 2024, a rise from 4,463 in 2019; — the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science works with sectoral partners, such as SOLAS, the National Construction Training Centre, Skillnet Ireland, and Education and Training Boards (ETBs), to increase skills supply through the existing network of skills provision across the tertiary system; — the number of enrolments in Nearly Zero Energy Building/Retrofit training courses, has increased steadily from 363 when the first centre opened in 2020, to 7,166 enrolments in 2024, and there has been a cumulative total of over 15,000 enrolments across the Centres of Excellence; — the Careers in Construction Action Plan, outlines structural, promotional, and upskilling initiatives to tackle barriers to construction careers, promote career opportunities and make construction jobs more attractive to women; and — in addition, the Future Building initiative operates jointly between the Department of Social Protection and ETBs Ireland, and works to match job seekers with training and employment opportunities in the sector, and Skillnet Ireland and CitA launched the MMC Accelerate platform in May, 2025, which includes information on training opportunities around the country; and recognises that: — the Government is investing record levels of capital funding in critical infrastructure, including in the areas of water and energy, and will continue to do so under the review of the NDP for the period 2025 to 2035, to be finalised by end July; — a HAO in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is being established to identify and seek to address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development at local level, through the alignment of funding and coordination of infrastructure providers; — an Infrastructure Division has been established in the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, that will lead a process of infrastructure reform; and — the Government agreed to an ambitious expansion to the remit of the LDA to support the delivery of housing, including unlocking key strategic public lands for urban brownfield delivery, through infrastructure investment, and to support local authorities, the HAO and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in master planning and infrastructure provision in new towns and districts.".”
“I thank the Senator for raising this matter again. As I said in my opening statement, the State already provides a mechanism to its citizens to support the Exchequer through the State savings scheme, and the Government can use that funding to invest in infrastructural projects which we all agree are much needed in our country. The remarks from the Minister for Finance point to the fact that any savings that might be used by the State in an alternative mechanism to derive a higher return for depositors ultimately would go on the Government debt and would result in the State having to repay those sums. There is a feeling that it would not add anything more than what is already done through the State savings mechanism. Nonetheless, I appreciate the comments the Senator made, which I will take back to the Minister for Finance.”
“I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this issue today, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, who sends his apologies to the House. As I understand it, the proposal is to utilise individual savings in financial institutions to fund infrastructure provision in the State and that this could result in higher returns for depositors than are currently paid by financial institutions. As regards the proposal, I would say any intention to use existing deposits for the purposes proposed would mean the borrowing of such funds by the State from depositors. Such borrowing would ultimately have to be repaid by the State.”
“Through that, the Department is investing some €50 million in national Defence Forces infrastructure, with a further €12.5 million being provided to the Defence Forces on a fully delegated basis to maintain the current building stock. I emphasise that the future master planning exercise will be important in identifying future uses for the buildings the Senator referred to and in ensuring we have modern fit-for-purpose infrastructure for members of our Defence Forces, who serve our country with distinction day in, day out.”
“I thank the Senator. I assure her that the Tánaiste is committed to radically overhauling the built environment for the Defence Forces throughout the country. The historical importance of the Curragh Camp to many members of the Defence Forces, their families and the wider local community is fully understood. In that context, several capital works are ongoing at the Curragh Camp training centre, at various stages of construction, tender procurement, design and planning. These form part of the Defence Forces infrastructure development plan, which sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027.”
“I understand there has been some discussion about the repurposing of the fire station building for other uses by the Engineer Corps; however, a final decision on this matter will be made in the context of the future master planning of the Defence Forces Training Centre. I thank the Senator for raising these important matters. I know of the two buildings in question and have seen them, and I am aware that the post office is of historical importance in the area. I look forward to the master planning exercise and working with the military authorities on developing their plans.”
“This collaborative approach has worked very successfully with Dublin city and Cork county councils in relation to major renovation projects for important historical buildings in McKee Barracks and at Block 8 on Haulbowline Island. I am advised that some remedial works were carried out in 2022 to ensure the structural integrity of the building. With regard to the fire station in the Curragh Camp, to which the Senator referred, I am advised that in December 2024 the Department was informed an operational decision had been taken by the military authorities to proceed with the closure of the Defence Forces Training Centre fire station. The fire service was formerly operated by the Defence Forces Engineer Corps.”
“This approach will identify from the outset the infrastructure requirements in line with capability development for each installation, including the Defence Forces Training Centre, with associated prioritisation of projects and a phased timeline for delivery. The future plans for the building will be considered within the context of the master planning process for the Defence Forces Training Centre, which is due to begin next year. In that context, the future use and any associated refurbishment works for this building will be determined by the Defence Forces in the context of their operational requirements. Of course, with regard to any works which may be required to safeguard the architectural importance of the building, the Department and the military authorities will be guided by Kildare County Council.”
“The post office building in the Defence Forces Training Centre, which was a feature of the military installation for many years, was, as the Senator rightly pointed out, closed in July 2019. The Department of Defence was not involved in the decision to discontinue its use as a post office. As this building is within an active military installation, its long-term use will be determined first and foremost by the military authorities. To further progress the development of Defence Forces infrastructure more quickly and increase economies of scale, it is planned to develop a series of master plans for each installation to future-proof for the next 20 to 30 years.”
“Cavan County Council received an Exchequer allocation of €1.86 million for 2025, an increase of 36% on the initial allocation of €1.37 million for 2024. This is actually €2.19 million when the council contribution is included. In 2024, the county council received an allocation of €1.7 million, comprising €1.37 million funding and over €300,000 to be funded from the local authority's own resources. An additional allocation of €430,000 was allocated to Cavan County Council from the Supplementary Estimate, totalling an Exchequer spend of €1.8 million, or €2.26 million when including the local authority contribution.”
“In 2024, Exchequer funding of €74.5 million was initially allocated. Additional funding was secured for the scheme through a Supplementary Estimate of €8 million, resulting in Exchequer funding of €82.6 million overall. Over €103 million was allocated when this was including the local authority contribution, which was 20%, facilitating the payment of more than 15,000 grant claims. The Exchequer funding available for these grants in 2025 has been increased substantially by €25 million to €99.5 million, or over €117 million when accounting for the local authority contribution, continuing the year-on-year increases in funding that have occurred since 2014. Local authorities were recently informed of their 2025 allocations, with each local authority receiving a substantial increase on the 2024 allocation.”
“I thank Senator Tully for raising this important matter and allowing me the opportunity to provide an update to the House. My Department provides funding to local authorities under the housing adaptation grants for older people and disabled people scheme to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants includes the housing adaptation grant for disabled people, the mobility aids grant and the housing aid for older persons grant, which are now 85% funded from the Exchequer, with a 15% contribution from the resources of the local authority, under the revised scheme which commenced from 1 December of last year. The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval, prioritisation and allocation, is a responsibility of local authorities.”
“Everything the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is doing in the space of health is in the form of proactive measures to protect people. We look forward to working with this House and the Dáil in progressing those changes.”
“I thank the Senator for raising what is a very important issue. The Minister is committed to bringing this legislation forward. The Senator rightly pointed out that the targeting of young people by the tobacco and nicotine industries is not a new issue, and that is why we as Government are committed to tackling issues such as the single-use vapes, advertising and the display of these products to protect our young people and our population. There has been a huge increase in shops across Ireland selling vapes and we want to tackle that. The measures the Minister is looking to bring forward are a proactive step in the right direction. We want as a Government to ensure we have achieved the target of less than 5% of the population smoking.”
“It will also include a ban on devices which resemble toys or games, which the Senator referenced in his opening remarks, for the same obvious reasons. The Bill will significantly restrict the flavours available for sale and ensure only basic flavour names are used. The Bill will also prohibit the sale of single-use vapes, as these are disproportionately used by young people, not to mention the environmental impacts associated with them. In short, the Government has already taken steps in this area, but there are more items to progress. The Minister hopes the Senator and colleagues in this House will support the upcoming implementation of the 2023 Act and the new proposed legislation when it comes before the Oireachtas.”
“The public health (nicotine inhaling products) Bill will require shops to hide nicotine inhaling products in the same way as they do for tobacco so that they are out of sight in shops where children may be present. As with tobacco, this will not apply to shops that only sell nicotine inhaling products. However, the legislation will also introduce an advertising ban in all retail premises where nicotine inhaling products are sold. It will also regulate the actual product characteristics to reduce their appeal to young people. This includes restrictions on the use of colours and imagery on devices and their packaging so that any products on display or seen by young people are not brightly coloured or covered in cartoons.”
“This Act will also prohibit the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products from self-service vending machines and events aimed at children, and licences will not be granted to temporary or moveable premises, such as those at festivals. Regarding the marketing of nicotine inhaling products, advertising of these products is already prohibited online, in print, on TV and on radio. The 2023 Act expanded this to include restrictions near schools, on public transport and in cinemas. The Government is taking regulation of the retail environment and restrictions on marketing further in legislation that is currently being drafted by the Minister for Health.”
“Currently there is a one-off registration system for tobacco and no registration system for the sale of nicotine inhaling products such as vapes. This has led to vapes being sold in the likes of sweet shops, butchers, phone repair shops and fast food takeaways. From February 2026, retailers will have to apply annually for a licence, including a declaration that they comply with all relevant law in this area. There will be increased penalties for retailers who commit offences, including minimum licence suspension periods and revocation of the licence entirely for retailers who commit two or more serious offences, such as selling to a minor.”
“I too welcome the students to the House. I hope they have an enjoyable day in Leinster House. I thank Senator Duffy for raising this very important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health. Nobody can deny we have seen an increase in vaping in recent years, particularly among young people. Work is already under way to tackle it. The Senator specifically raised the issues of regulation of retailers and the marketing of these products to young people, so I will focus on those in my response. First of all, the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 brought in a minimum age of sale of 18 for nicotine inhaling products and will introduce a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products.”
“This Bill is an interim measure before we bring forward wider changes announced by the Government last week. I thank all the Deputies for participating in this legislative process in advance of what I referred to occurring. I am sure plenty of points will be made, but I assure the House that all efforts of the Government are about striking the balance between protecting renters and encouraging new investment in the private market. This is an interim measure to allow us to bring all the areas not currently covered by RPZs within the legislation. It is a positive measure that we hope the Opposition will support.”
“Section 3(b) provides for a two-month extension until 28 February 2026 to the operation of the RPZ in the local electoral area of Drogheda Rural, which was deemed to be an RPZ under section 24B(2) of the Principal Act. Section 3(c) provides, through a new section 24B(3), for the deeming of any area not already an RPZ to become an RPZ from the day after the passing of this Bill until 28 February 2026. Section 4 amends section 8(2) of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 to provide for a two-month extension until 28 February 2026 to the operation of existing RPZs designated under section 24A(5) of the Principal Act. The Bill strikes a balance and takes into account the legal advice of the Attorney General. It will safeguard tenants from high rent inflation during the period to next March.”
“Section 2 amends section 20, frequency with which rent review may occur, of the Principal Act to provide for the termination of biannual rent reviews outside RPZs, and the entire country will become an RPZ from the day after the passing of the Bill. Section 3 amends section 24, areas deemed to be rent pressure zones, of the Principal Act. Section 3(a) provides for a two-month extension until 28 February 2026 to the operation of the RPZs in the administrative areas of Cork City Council, Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council, which were deemed to be RPZs under section 24B(1) of the Principal Act.”
“This is positive news for tenants and sends out a clear message that those who deliberately breach RPZ legislation will be challenged. Last month, 36 sanctions were published, resulting in €102,490 in monetary sanctions being issued for serious breaches of rental law, and 105 formal RTB investigations are under way. I will briefly outline the provisions of this Bill, which contains five sections. Sections 1 and 5 contain standard provisions. Section 1 defines the "Principal Act" to mean the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. Section 5 provides for the Short Title, commencement, collective citation and construction of the Bill.”
“This includes measures to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Residential Tenancies Board. As highlighted in the RTB director’s quarterly update for the first quarter of 2025, the RTB’s ongoing compliance and enforcement campaign is focusing significant resources on several in-depth investigations into serious, deliberate and repeated breaches of rental law. The ongoing RPZ compliance campaign, launched by the RTB last October following the publication of the inaugural property level analysis, has targeted 16,052 tenancies where rent increased by more than 2%. As a result, €70,911 in overpaid rent has been returned to tenants following 114 compliance interventions.”
“Given the potential risk of high rent increases for tenants outside of RPZs who have not had their rent reviewed in the last 24 months, the intention is to seek the early signing of this Bill into law by the President. It is important for all tenants to be protected as soon as possible under the current rent increase restrictions applying in RPZ areas. This Bill provides the necessary protections for all tenants from the day after the passing of this legislation until 28 February 2026. Currently, 17% of tenancies are located outside RPZ areas. Introducing stronger protections for tenants will not work without a concerted effort in enforcement. The Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, published on 23 January 2025, commits to continuing Government support for renters and landlords.”
“This legislation, which we expect to have passed by the summer recess, could protect permissions for upwards of 20,000 housing units from expiry. The Government wants to see shovels in the ground and homes built, and I am sure the Opposition will agree with that. Developers will need to step up and benefit from the extensions that we are bringing forward in this respect. Returning to the Bill, the upcoming changes to rent controls and tenancy protection feed into a broader suite of measures to bring on housing supply. In return and to balance that, there have to be protections for tenants in that respect. We expect to see progress on this through both Houses of the Oireachtas this week. I certainly hope the officials' briefing to the joint Oireachtas committee, which I understand took place yesterday, was helpful.”
“This will allow holders of permission for housing development with less than two years left on the permission and have not yet commenced to apply for an extension of up to three years. The Bill will also allow for the provisions of section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to retrospectively apply to permissions that have already been through the judicial review process or are currently in judicial review and are subsequently permitted. In other words, this will allow for the duration of the judicial review period to not be counted as part of the effective life of the planning permission, avoiding a situation whereby in the past, planning permissions have expired due to delays caused by the judicial review process.”
“The urban development zone, or UDZ, process under Part 22 of the Planning and Development Act 2024 aims to provide for an updated and more flexible approach to the planning and delivery of areas with significant potential for large-scale development and the associated necessary infrastructure. This element has been commenced by the Minister, Deputy Browne, and will be an important part of the variation process which local authorities will undertake shortly. Given that there are a significant number of planning permissions for housing that are due to expire shortly, the Government is now bringing forward the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025 to deal with expiring permissions and to encourage activation of housing.”
“The Government is committed to delivering more homes, more quickly, for more people to build on the increases we see in the quarter 1 delivery figures so far this year. The new programme for Government aims to ramp up supply further and deliver 300,000 new homes between now and the end of 2030. The Government continues to review and modernise the planning system and has prioritised the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024 to support increased supply across all tenures of housing. This is a key priority of mine as Minister of State with responsibility for planning. This Act represents the most comprehensive review of planning since 2000 and will reform and streamline the planning process, reducing delays in housing and strategic infrastructure projects.”
“This is demonstrated by the record level of investment being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding now available of almost €6.8 billion. This provision includes the additional capital funding for 2025, which was recently agreed by the Government, namely, €450 million to support the delivery of 3,000 additional social, affordable and cost-rental homes in the period 2025 to 2027 and €265 million to allow for a significant programme of acquisitions in 2025 for priority categories of need. The capital provision for 2025 is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. Increasing the supply of new homes is key to addressing many of the challenges in the housing market.”
“I am pleased to speak today on this very important Bill. The two-month extension to the operation of all existing RPZs, and the deeming of all remaining areas of the country to become RPZs from the day after the passing of this Bill until 28 February 2026, are critical to quickly protect all tenants from high rent increases in anticipation of the broader changes announced last week and planned to take effect next March. As the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, outlined, the new policy measures from March aim to boost investment in the supply of homes while protecting renters. 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 including rental.”
“That is why I have outlined several schemes available to assist local authorities in maintaining and upgrading our built heritage assets. Those schemes are set out as I set out in my original remarks and I will be more than happy to work with Galway County Council regarding them, but there is a difference between providing funding to one site as opposed to four whose transfer was complex and involved the transfer of staff. I acknowledge the Deputy's representations on this matter.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There is no question but that investment in our archaeological and built heritage delivers great benefits to the public through enhancing the character of an area. I acknowledge the representations the Deputy has made on this specific case. As indicated, Shannon Airport Group operated Sharon Heritage on a commercial basis in line with its commercial mandate, meaning the sites were likely to open only on a seasonal basis. The Deputy referred to the transfer of four sites to Clare County Council, which did receive support through funding, but the Deputy must acknowledge that the transfer of four sites was exceptionally complex and involved the transfer of staff. St. John's Castle was transferred to Limerick City and County Council without any financial support from the Government.”
“In recent years, these conservation schemes have allocated in excess of €50 million for works on archaeological monuments, historic buildings and the public realm, which is a testament to the dedicated and hard work of all involved, including local authorities, community groups, private owners, the professional heritage sector and officials within the Department, to ensure the ongoing protection, conservation and maintenance of our heritage assets. In addition to the aforementioned conservation schemes, local authorities seeking funding should, depending on the exact nature and circumstances of the structures and buildings in question, engage with the urban regeneration and development fund, the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme or Údarás na Gaeltachta funding schemes.”
“The built heritage investment scheme provides grants of between €2,500 and €50,000, while the historic structures fund offers funding of between €50,000 and €200,000 for works on a larger scale. Where the structure is an archaeological monument, the community monuments fund can provide grants of up to €100,000 for conservation works, where eligible. In 2025, the community monuments fund awarded 122 projects €7.5 million in funding. All of these grants help owners and the custodians of archaeological monuments and built heritage assets alike to safeguard them into the future.”
“He understands that in response to this request, the National Monuments Service wrote to the CEO of Galway County Council in December 2024 advising that a voted funding stream to facilitate the purchase of heritage sites by local authorities is not available. However, he is aware that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funds a range of relevant grant streams intended to support local authorities and other owners in respect of the repair and conservation of archaeological and built heritage sites. Where the structures concerned are protected or are within a designated architectural conservation area, the built heritage investment scheme and the historic structures fund can provide support for the repair and conservation work.”
“King John's Castle was successfully transferred to Limerick City and County Council in April 2022 and the Shannon Heritage business and four sites in County Clare were transferred to Clare County Council in May 2023. Dunguaire Castle is the only remaining site under the ownership of Shannon Airport Group. The Minister understands that Galway County Council has engaged with the group on the possible transfer. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has informed the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, that the national monument service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage received a funding request from Galway County Council in November 2024 in relation to the castle.”