The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, today published figures showing 2,481 vacant social homes were brought back into active use in 2023 under the Voids Programme.
Making more efficient use of existing housing stock is a key action of the Government’s Housing for All plan. The Voids Programme supports local authorities in preparing vacant homes for re-letting and builds on the ongoing work to tackle vacancy and dereliction to bring vacant properties into re-use for housing.
Minister O’Brien said:
"Refurbishment and the return to use of vacant properties helps to reduce pressure on existing housing stock, increase supply, and ultimately, provide much needed homes for people.
Apart from addressing the need for social housing, the refurbishment of these unoccupied social homes also has a positive impact on communities. It prevents the decline and abandonment of vacant properties, which, in some instances, can lead to antisocial behaviour
I commend local authorities’ for working with us to bring these homes back into active use in 2023. Their efforts, will make a real difference in the lives of over 2,400 households All local authorities are encouraged to continue to be as proactive as possible in the return of all vacant properties to use through the use of the Voids Funding Programme as well as other programmes such as the Buy & Renew and Repair & Lease Schemes.


Speed in tackling vacant social housing is also critical to regeneration and improving the vitality and vibrancy of communities in towns and cities across the country. Through this Housing for All action we have now have shifted to a position of planned maintenance of social housing stock to ensure the fastest possible turnaround and re-let times for social housing stock.’’
Of the €46 million recouped to local authorities for the Voids Programme in 2023, €3.4m supported the continuation of payments towards planned maintenance and included funding towards stock condition surveys which help to ensure quicker turnarounds for putting existing stock back into use.
Since 2020, the Government has spent over €163 million to return 10,820 homes to active use, this is almost half (46%) of the homes returned over the lifetime of the programme since 2014 (23,315 units).
Information on voids data 2014 to 2023

-Consent concludes a detailed planning application process-
 
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien has granted approval to Fingal County Council for a foreshore licence, foreshore lease and foreshore consent, paving the way for the full development of the Broadmeadow Way.
Enabling works are underway at the Broadmeadow Way, a new greenway between Malahide Demesne and Newbridge Demesne via the railway causeway across the Malahide Estuary, and the Ministers consent concludes a detailed application process by Fingal County Council ensuring the shared footpath and cycleway can be developed.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “This coastal greenway has been a priority for Cllr Eoghan O'Brien, Cllr Ardian Henchy and I for many years. I’m delighted to see it progressing.
“Each of us have seen the potential for this project and having recently visited the site and talked through the plans with Fingal County Council I know it will be a magnificent amenity for locals and tourists alike when completed.
“Today’s approval is another boost for the project and follows a detailed application by Fingal County Council who must be commended for all their work on this project.
“I look forward to the day when I am walking this greenway alongside the families and individuals from our communities,” he concluded.

Local Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien, has welcomed the publication of new data which shows the total number of new homes commencements in 2023.
 
The data shows that between January and December of last year, 32,801 Commencement Notices for new homes were received by the Building Control Authorities. This is the highest number of annual commencements on record and an increase of 21.7% compared to 2022 (26,957).
 
Minister O'Brien said, "Supply is key to addressing the housing challenges we face. The latest monthly data on commencement notices, showing that a record number of new homes were commenced in 2023, outlines the real progress Fianna Fáil in Government is making in tackling what is the defining issue of this generation.
 
"In December alone, 3,167 Commencement Notices were received, which is an increase of 76% on December 2022. In Fingal, 2,742 homes commenced last year, an increase of over 40% on 2022.
 
"All the key housing indicators - commencements, completions and planning permissions are trending upwards which bodes well for future supply. Fianna Fáil’s top priority remains doing everything we can to help people to afford to buy or rent a home. The figures published today show that our plan is working and my focus is on doing whatever I can to keep this positive momentum going.”

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien today (Wednesday, 17 January 2024) announced the launch of the next cycle of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme which covers the three year period from 2024 to 2026.
 
The announcement today provides for €125m of capital investment in rural water infrastructure under eight different funding measures.
 
Local authorities are invited to submit applications for funding from now until the closing date of 12 April 2024.
 
Speaking on the launch today, the Minister said, 
 
“I am delighted to launch the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme that covers the next three-years to 2026.This programme is of vital importance in helping to provide safe and secure water services to rural areas that do not have access to Uisce Éireann services. “MARWP 2024-2026 aims to build upon the success of previous multi-annual rural water programmes. In designing the programme I have recognised the need to be responsive to the changing needs and requirements within the Rural Water Sector. As a result of extensive engagement and working in partnership with the key stakeholders in the Sector I have made some key improvements on previous programmes.
 
I believe that these improvements will support Group Water Schemes to maintain, renew and develop their systems and networks, increasing their ability to provide safe, secure, resilient, high-quality water services to people in rural Ireland,” he concluded.
 
Some of the key changes are a significant increase in the maximum grant available per house, to €15,000 from €9,000, and recognising the fragmented nature of the sector there is a dedicated funding measure for group water schemes to amalgamate and/or rationalise, supporting their sustainability and improved water quality for consumers into the future.
 
To underpin the implementation of the programme the Department has drafted comprehensive documentation and extensive guidance for local authorities and group water schemes setting out their respective responsibilities and obligations.
 
The Department will meet with local authorities in the coming weeks and will organise workshops to support them in the preparation of their submissions. The National Federation for Group Water Schemes has been requested to provide support to their members in the preparation of applications and crucially to deliver on projects. 

• Guidelines will support attractive, liveable, well-designed housing typologies  
• New Guidelines for Planning Authorities aim to meet housing needs of more diverse and smaller households 
• Guidelines aim to support ‘own door housing’ and responsive, flexible innovative housing design in communities
• Guidelines set out quality design and placemaking principles  

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and the Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell TD today published the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines which are aimed at creating more attractive, liveable, well-designed, high quality urban places. The guidelines will also provide a broader range of housing options to meet the needs of a growing population.
The ‘Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ have now been issued to local authorities following previous public consultation in 2023.  
The Guidelines expand on Government policy in the National Planning Framework, in particular policies in relation to compact growth and sustainable living spaces. 
Issuing the Guidelines, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD said:
“I very much welcome the publication of the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities.  They are timely particularly in light of the Government’s overall objective to increase housing supply as set out under Housing for All and expand on the higher-level policies of the National Planning Framework (NPF) in relation to the creation of settlements that are compact, attractive, liveable and well designed.  While progress continues to be made on housing delivery, the greater flexibility offered by these guidelines will help in achieving our aim of providing a broader range of housing options to meet the needs of a growing and more diverse population.” 
The Guidelines focus on the interaction between residential density, housing standards and quality urban design and placemaking. The Guidelines outline:   

• density ranges that respond to settlement size (e.g. cities, large towns, small and medium sized towns) and general locality in each settlement (i.e. central, urban and suburban or edge areas). 
• highest residential densities at the most central and accessible urban locations, and more compact and sustainable forms of urban development overall. The preferred policy approach states that very high densities should be developed on a plan-led basis only.
• greater flexibility in design standards for housing such as building separation distances and open space standards. This is to support the construction of more compact ‘own-door’ housing, alongside traditional housing and apartment developments.

The Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell TD, said: 
“The approach in relation to residential density enables appropriate standards to be applied across a greater range of settlements. Furthermore, greater flexibility in residential design standards will support the delivery of compact ‘own door’ housing and a greater range of affordable housing options.  The Guidelines also respond to our national obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and biodiversity and the transition towards net zero by 2050.”
The Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities are issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.  Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions. Where the guidelines contain specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs), planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to apply these requirements in the performance of their functions.  
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
A copy of the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities is available here. 
Housing standards: recognising the significant population growth forecast and changing demographics, and to achieve compact growth, medium density housing models should be facilitated, alongside traditional housing and apartment developments.  Among the standards contained in the Guidelines are:

• Separation:  minimum separation distance of 16 metres between opposing windows serving habitable rooms at the rear or side of houses, duplex units and apartment units, with provision for further reductions in certain circumstances.
• Private Open Space: minimum private open space provision of:

1 bed house      20 sq.metres
2 bed house      30 sq.metres
3 bed house      40 sq.metres
4 bed + house  50 sq.metres
 
with provisions for further reductions where an equivalent amount of semi-private open space is provided in lieu of private open space. 

• Public Open Space: minimum public open space requirements in statutory development plans for new residential development to fall between 10% to 15% of net site area, and provision to be made for public parks in development plans.   
• Car Parking: car parking in more accessible urban areas to be minimised, substantially reduced or wholly eliminated based on location and access to public transport.  Car parking requirements for new residential development in statutory development plans to be maximum standards.
  
  

The Guidelines are issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.  Section 28 of the Act provides that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála shall have regard to Ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions. Where the guidelines contain specific planning policy requirements (SPPRs), planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to apply these requirements in the performance of their functions.  
Subject to the enactment of the Government’s Draft Planning and Development Bill 2023, these Ministerial guidelines are proposed to be updated to National Planning Statements.  The National Planning Statements are proposed to be approved by Government and alignment with Policies and Measures contained therein will be mandatory, in that there will be a requirement for other plans to be materially consistent with them.   Associated Policy Guidance will outline how these policies may be implemented.  This will bring greater clarity and consistency to where national policy and guidance interacts with the planning system.