The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has today published a progress update on the planning measures he introduced two years ago to increase home ownership and restrict the practice of the bulk purchasing of homes. 
The update shows that 31,000 homes received planning permission with conditions restricting the bulk buying or multiple sales to a single purchaser in the two-year period between May 2021 and May 2023, with the number of homes recorded in May 2023 effectively doubling from the 15,883 units recorded in May 2022.
The Ministerial Planning Guidelines are part of a series of government measures designed to prohibit the bulk buying of houses and duplexes in order to increase housing stock for home ownership. 
Other measures include a 10% stamp duty levy on the cumulative purchase of 10 or more residential houses in a 12 month period.
Commenting on the data, the Minister O’Brien, said:
“The government is committed to supporting homeownership and to supporting first-time buyers. This data demonstrates that we have made the right interventions while continuing to point investment to where it is needed. 
“As well as restricting bulk buying, we are also boosting supply through our plan, Housing for All, with recent data for new home commencements and completions at record levels. The dream of owning a home is becoming a reality for more and more people and we intend to keep this momentum going as we meet – and exceed – our annual targets.”
The breakdown of the 31,000 restrictions includes cases where An Bord Pleanála applied the planning condition prohibiting multiple sales (12,893 house and duplex units across all planning permissions) and where Local Authorities permitted schemes to proceed with a condition attached to prohibit multiple sales (18,111 residential units).
ENDS
Notes
By way of background, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has today, 04 July 2023, issued a progress update on planning measures brought in 2 years ago to increase home ownership and restrict the practice of bulk purchasing by institutional investors.
In May 2021, Ministerial Guidelines for Planning Authorities “Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing” were issued to planning authorities, in order to prevent multiple housing and duplex units being sold to a single buyer. Apartments were not included in this measure as the focus was on protecting traditional family homes while continuing investment where it is needed i.e. apartment developments which have viability constraints. The Guidelines included requirements that a condition be inserted in applicable new planning permissions, to the effect that all houses would have to be made available for sale and for occupation by separate, individual households.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD, has announced funding approval to proceed with the construction of a significant social and affordable housing development at Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock, Dublin – incorporating 853 new high quality homes, cultural and retail facilities, public open spaces and a crèche.
 
The project will now proceed immediately to the construction stage. 
 
The scheme is comprised of Social Housing Homes (40%), Cost Rental Homes (40%) and Affordable Purchase Homes (20%) and results from a collaboration between Dublin City Council, Clúid Housing and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The project will be realised through a phased construction programme on the Dublin City Council site by the procured developer, Glenveagh. 
 
Commenting on this significant milestone, Minister O’Brien said: 
 
“With total exchequer funding of in excess of €104 million, this project really underscores this government’s commitment to Housing for All. Approval to proceed to construction marks a significant milestone towards the delivery of large-scale affordable housing in our capital city.
 
“Oscar Traynor Road is a key strategic site. The large number of mixed tenure homes to be delivered here will make a real difference. We are now in a position that we have a number of such sites, Shanganagh Castle and O’Devaney Gardens for example, and as a Government, we need to and we want to deliver more developments like these, right across the country." 
 
The construction programme will deliver the Social, Cost Rental and Affordable Purchase homes in phases over four years.  In addition to much needed housing, the scheme will also contribute to creating a vibrant community with amenity spaces, parks and public realm to complement the residential area. 
 

Grants of up to €7,500 available for expert conservation advice
The Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage is introducing a new pilot scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant farmhouses in private ownership who are availing of and/or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses will provide grants of up to €7,500 (ex VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise visit a property, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner.
This expert advice will include a report which outlines the condition of a building and suggests conservation repairs and improvements which would improve the building and enhance its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

What Kind of Buildings Qualify?
Traditional (also known as ‘vernacular’) farmhouses are a key part of our rural landscape and shared heritage. Sometimes described as ‘cottages’, these buildings generally comprise old houses constructed using traditional techniques and locally available materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle, and timber. Later on, corrugated iron, despite its imported, industrial origin, was also used.
The new scheme will provide access to expert assistance for vernacular farmhouse owners considering availing of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which provides funding under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund for the refurbishment of vacant and derelict homes in both rural and urban areas or properties that have previously not been in residential use.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides a grant of up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property. It can be used in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants to help improve the energy efficiency of a home provided works are eligible.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD:
“The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has proved very popular with more than 1,500 applications received. We have recently announced an expanded grant for off shore islands and I am delighted to launch this new pilot which further emphasises our desire to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Traditional farmhouse buildings present unique challenges when it comes to refurbishment and this new pilot scheme will help remove some of these obstacles by allowing owners to obtain the expert advice needed to restore these structures and bring them back into use. These traditional farmhouse buildings have the potential to become homes and this scheme can help make that happen.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD:
“I welcome the launch of this new pilot scheme, not only because it will provide an additional source of support to help bring more vacant properties back into use, but because it will do so in a way that respects our national heritage by allowing owners to get the expert advice needed to breathe new life into these traditional buildings which form such a distinctive part of our rural landscape.”
Those interested in availing of the scheme can apply through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website:
Pilot Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Housing has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places this summer.
As they appeal to the public to exercise renewed care and responsibility when outdoors the National Parks and Wildlife Service has increased ground crews on fire patrol and has ramped up aerial monitoring with helicopters and drones.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien advised:
“If you notice a fire, please call the emergency services on 112 immediately. NPWS teams are upping their patrols to identify potential fire incidents and act quickly should one break out. However as we know, prevention is better than cure, and we’re asking all members of the public to avoid lighting fires in open areas.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan commented further:
“Our National Parks and Nature Reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks are all places where we enjoy spending time in nature, but they are also home to our precious wildlife and their vulnerable young. This is a really important time of year for wildlife, especially vulnerable ground-nesting birds and mammals who are now rearing their young. We all want to get out and enjoy the good weather but let’s do it responsibly - without putting nature at risk.”
The Director General of the NPWS, Niall O Donnchú, has also asked for everybody’s cooperation to protect nature and said:
“While NPWS has increased ground crews and monitoring from the air this week, we still need to enlist your help to protect nature at this high risk time. We ask that members of the public not light fires or barbecues in any National Parks or Nature Reserves, or indeed in nature generally. We are also asking that the public be vigilant and report any fire activity without delay.”

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The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has signed the Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2023. 
The regulations provide for the waiving of the street furniture licence fee for tables and chairs outside a hotel, restaurant, public house or other establishment where food is sold for consumption on the premises. 
Commenting Minister O’Brien said: “Despite our oftentimes changeable weather we expect to see people enjoying meals outside restaurants and cafés again this summer. 
“This measure supports the hospitality and restaurant sector by reducing the fee of €125 per table to €0 per table. Similar to previous years there will also be no fee for awnings, canopies and heaters used in conjunction with the tables and chairs.
“The continued waiving of this fee this year will again save businesses hundreds of euro this year,” he concluded.