The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has announced that new income eligibility limits for social housing have taken effect.
From 1 January 2023, social housing income eligibility thresholds in Local Authorities across the country have been increased by €5,000.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said:
"It’s been over a decade since any changes have been made to the income eligibility thresholds and under Housing for All a commitment was made to review the eligibility limits.
"The new income limits are now in place across the country and all Local Authorities will have updated their own application forms and systems.
"Work is ongoing in developing a revised income eligibility model and this will be completed in 2023.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, today jointly launched a new public consultation to inform the next phase of the development of the Deer Management Strategy.
The purpose of the consultation coordinated by the Deer Management Strategy Group is to gather views on key issues relating to deer management in Ireland, the impact of increased deer numbers on a variety of issues such as forestry, biodiversity, road safety, animal health and welfare and the welfare of the deer themselves.
The Deer Management Strategy Group is chaired by Teddy Cashman and was convened earlier this year to continue the work of the Irish Deer Management Forum (IDMF).
Launching the consultation, Minister McConalogue said:
“For agriculture as well as our nature ecosystems, it is important that we are aware of the need for the sustainable management of our national deer population. These include the protection of biodiversity, newly planted forestry, pasture and crops, road safety, animal health, public health, and not least the health and welfare of the deer themselves.
“I am delighted to see the Deer Management Strategy group, chaired by Teddy Cashman, progress this important work with officials from my department, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Coillte. Teddy and the group have shown tremendous leadership so far and I look forward to seeing their work progress. I encourage all interested parties, be that individuals, groups or associations to make their views known to the consultation so that the deer can be managed in a sustainable way in the future.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien said:
“Deer are an important part of our natural and cultural heritage. They have benefited in recent decades from protection under the Wildlife Acts and their number and range has been increasing. This expansion in deer numbers can bring challenges for landowners and for biodiversity. The management of deer in Ireland has many facets and it is important that all stakeholders have an opportunity to feed into the process. Minister McConalogue and I encourage everyone with an interest in deer in Ireland to take part in this survey.”
The Deer Management Strategy Group are requesting the views of all stakeholders with the aim of creating a sustainable and effective deer management strategy for both now and for the future.
Interested individuals, groups or organisations can share their views on deer management in Ireland by completing the online survey available on the Government of Ireland website at gov.ie - Consultations (www.gov.ie). Closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday, 10 February 2023.

The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, today reminded landowners that the deadline for making submissions to local authorities on land identified on the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) draft maps, or requests to have their land rezoned, is Sunday 1 January 2023. Only land identified on the draft RZLT maps can be subject to requests for re-zoning.
The RZLT measure, aimed at increasing housing supply, is part of Housing for All, the government’s housing plan to 2030. The aim of the tax, which will apply from 2024 to relevant land at a rate of 3% of market value, is to activate land for residential development throughout the country, rather than to raise revenue. Homes that are subject to the Local Property Tax are not liable for the Residential Zoned Land Tax.
Speaking regarding the 1 January deadline for making submissions to local authorities, Minister Donohoe said:
“The publication of draft residential zoned land maps is an important step in the Residential Zoned Land Tax implementation process whereby land within scope of the tax has been identified by local authorities. It is vitally important that landowners whose land is included on a draft map now review the map and consider if their land meets the criteria for inclusion and make submissions to their local authority accordingly in advance of the deadline of 1 January 2023. Residential properties, while they might be on the map, are not liable for the tax if they are subject to Local Property Tax.
“In the course of 2023, supplemental and final maps will be prepared by local authorities identifying the land within scope; the final map will be revised annually from 2025 onwards.
"Ireland requires increased housing supply to meet our housing needs. The Residential Zoned Land Tax aims to incentivise landowners to activate existing zoned and serviced residential development land for housing on identified lands and lead to the building of more homes.”
Commenting on the upcoming deadline of 1 January 2023 for making submissions to local authorities, Minister O’Brien said:
“It’s estimated that only one-sixth of residential zoned land is activated for housing during a local authority’s six-year Development Plan. We need to increase housing supply and to do this we need to ensure that land which has benefited from appropriate zoning and servicing and has gained planning permission is developed quickly in all counties and settlements in the State. We also need to encourage owners of zoned and serviced land which does not have planning permission to actively engage with planning authorities with a view to applying for permission.
“Landowners are urged to review the draft map and make a submission if they consider their land does not meet the criteria for inclusion. Submissions which may include a request to amend the zoning of the land if necessary should be made to the relevant local authority in advance of the deadline of 1 January 2023.”
People can view a local authority’s RZLT Draft Map and get more information on how to make a submission or request a rezoning by visiting a local authority’s website. More information on the RZLT can be found at: www.gov.ie/rzlt.

The Tailte Éireann Bill 2022 which today (14 December 2022) passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas provides for an authoritative new centralised agency to provide a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. This will be achieved through a merger of the Property Registration Authority, Valuation Office, and Ordnance Survey Ireland into a new body called Tailte Éireann.
Tailte Éireann will be independent in the performance of its functions, which will include all of the functions currently undertaken by the Property Registration Authority, Commissioner of Valuation, the Boundary Surveyor and Ordnance Survey Ireland. The new agency will be the primary national source of property information and geospatial data and will be a leader in the development and delivery of land information services.
Welcoming the Bill’s passage through the Oireachtas, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said:
“Tailte Éireann will provide streamlined access to the delivery of enhanced land and geospatial services to the government as well as other stakeholders and citizens. This will result in more co-ordinated strategic and business planning, evidence-based decision-making, and innovative service delivery in line with government policy.
"Streamlining services into one entity headed by a single chief executive and Board will allow Tailte Éireann to take advantage of the national geospatial data hub and enable it to efficiently combine and integrate the wealth of authoritative land information held by the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland, to provide citizens, businesses, and policymakers with new land information products and services.
"I would like to thank my officials for their commitment to this Bill and to specifically acknowledge the hard work of the project board and working groups involved in preparing for the establishment of Tailte Éireann.”
Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke, said:
“Tailte Éireann will provide a comprehensive and secure property title registration system, an independent rateable valuation system, and authoritative national mapping and surveying infrastructure. These are central to the effective management of several sectors of the State's economy, including property, planning, agriculture, local government, environmental, and construction.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, commented:
“As one organisation, Tailte Éireann will facilitate better integration of data both internally and externally in partnership with other State organisations. This will enable Tailte Éireann to be more capable of contributing to and influencing policy formulation that supports social and economic development. The provision of high-quality, reliable, trusted, and maintained geospatial information is essential for a wide range of critical State functions from environmental planning and management, to the effective administration of property and land use."

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has received Cabinet approval for the nomination of ordinary members of the Electoral Commission, which will be entitled An Coimisiún Toghcháin. These nominations will now be sent forward as motions to both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The four ordinary members whose nomination has been approved by Cabinet are John Curran, Maura Quinn, Alex Attwood and Caroline Fennell. If agreed by both Houses of the Oireachtas the President will then designate the individuals as ordinary members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin.
If approved the four ordinary members will form part of An Coimisiún’s seven-person membership upon its establishment, which will take place in early 2023. The ordinary members will sit alongside two ex officio members – the Clerk of the Dáil and the Ombudsman – and the Chairperson, who will be a serving or retired judge of the Superior Courts.
The four nominees were selected through an independent selection process which was conducted by the Public Appointments Service.

• Mr. Curran has served as a Minister of State, a TD, and as a local authority member. He will bring this political and administrative experience to An Coimisiún. He also brings expertise in political campaigning
• Ms. Quinn will provide An Coimisiún with the benefit of her expertise in corporate governance, regulatory affairs and financial matters. She has over 25 years’ experience as a chief executive across a range of sectors
• Mr. Attwood is a former MLA for West Belfast, and has experience as an agent, campaign manager, fundraiser and party chairperson in Northern Ireland. As a member of the UK Electoral Commission, he brings international experience of the administration and regulation of electoral systems
• Prof. Fennell has worked at a senior level in academia and is a Professor Emerita of Law in University College Cork. She also has a significant background in human rights issues, governance and accountability, including as a current member of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

Welcoming government support of the nominations, Minister O’Brien said:
“I am glad to have received government approval to put these nominations to both Houses of the Oireachtas as this represents an important step towards An Coimisiún’s establishment. An Coimisiún will have responsibility for a wide range of electoral functions and will be at the heart of our democratic processes. It will be independent of Government, reporting directly to the Oireachtas. It will take on several existing statutory electoral functions from the outset, including responsibility for the registration of political parties, the work currently carried out by Referendum Commissions, Constituency Commissions and Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees. In addition, it will have responsibility for the regulation of online political advertising during electoral periods, oversight of the Electoral Register, and a new public information, research and advisory role in relation to electoral matters. These functions will give the Commission a central role in our electoral system from the outset, bringing together a broad range of responsibilities. I am confident that the ordinary members who are being recommended for appointment bring together a broad range of skills, expertise and perspectives which will bring about a strong electoral commission.”
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