Homeless Accommodation
6. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding he has provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24777/25]
I ask the Minister to outline the level of funding he has provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025. I understand that it may not be possible to present all of the data here in tabular form but I would appreciate it if I could get that information.
I thank Deputy Connolly for raising the important issue of the funding provided to housing authorities for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2024 and 2025. Supporting individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness is a priority for Government and me. Critical to this is increasing the supply of housing. The Government is committed to increasing supply with a record level of €6.8 billion in capital funding being made available for the delivery of housing in 2025. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. This will allow us to build on the more than 10,500 new social homes which were delivered in 2024, through build, acquisition and leasing, including 7,871 new-build homes. Including HAP and RAS, 20,292 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2024.
The programme for Government commits to providing emergency accommodation to everyone who needs it. An allocation of €303 million has been made under budget 2025 to provide homelessness prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness. This funding will also support the provision of supports that households require to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy, including tenancy sustainment services and housing first. In addition, capital funding of €25 million will support the delivery of high quality transitional and emergency accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The total funding provided by my Department to each of the homeless regions in 2024 was €384,999,954, and to date in 2025 €81,523,279 in funding has been provided. As requested, my Department will make this data available to the Deputy in tabular form.
I thank the Minister for the response. I also thank him for noting that we need to develop solutions to make sure that we can reduce this bill as we go forward. It is a very necessary but, unfortunately, very high bill. The figure of €385 million is quite startling but it is very necessary. Of all the problems we have in housing, and many of them have been discussed this morning, the one that causes me most concern is the level of homelessness, particularly the number of homeless children in our society. Outside of Dublin, the west region has the highest number of homeless children. In the west region there are 28 families that have been in emergency accommodation for two years. There is no other region outside of Dublin that is comparable. The figures in every other region are in single digits but there are 28 families in the west region. That is very concerning. It is not simply the lack of shelter but the long-term impact for those children of homelessness. We are well used to hearing the well-worn phrase that it takes a village to rear a child but these children are not part of a community. They are in emergency accommodation which is short term and it may not be somewhere that they will be for a long time. It is crucial that we challenge this.
I have another query about the organisation of homeless services.
I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this very important issue. He has raised this matter with me on numerous occasions and he campaigned on it. The issue of child homelessness in particular is very dear to the Deputy's heart and it is also extremely important to me that we address this issue. The prevention of people going into homelessness is absolutely critical and that is what we are working on. Obviously, there is the broader issue of increasing supply. That is the ultimate solution but in the meantime, until we get supply up to where we need it, we will continue to work to help prevent people from going into homelessness in the first place. We are working on the development of the national homeless prevention framework this year to ensure all possible measures are being taken across Government to prevent homelessness. A key prevention measure over the last few years has been the provision of funding to support local authorities to purchase more than 3,000 properties from landlords to convert to long-term social housing under the acquisition scheme. The tenant in situ acquisition scheme has been an important measure and significant funding has been provided this year for second hand acquisitions, with €325 million already made available. My Department continues to engage with local authorities on the operational details for second hand acquisitions.
I thank the Minister. It is important to note that emergency accommodation and homelessness services are organised on a regional basis. In the west region there are four local authorities, namely Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council and Roscommon County Council involved but Galway City Council is the lead authority. I am concerned that additional resources, both human and financial, have not been provided to Galway City Council to carry out that role. I am aware that staff within the housing section of the council feel that they require additional staff in the areas of emergency accommodation and homeless services, as well as an increase in sustainable tenancy officers. I ask the Minister to examine that. Given that Galway City Council is the regional lead in the west region for homelessness and emergency accommodation provision, the Minister might consider providing additional staff to cover that area.
I again thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of homelessness and especially child homelessness. I will continue to engage with him. I will meet the two Galway local authorities in the coming weeks. I will head to Galway to meet both the city and county councils. Homelessness is a national issue but it has regional variations in terms of both causation and how we address the particular issues. I am aware of the Deputy's data that shows that area is having particular challenges outside the Dublin region, so I want to engage with the local authorities. The staffing will remain under review, but we want to ensure the supports are being put in place to ensure we can prevent people going into homelessness in the first place and that where it happens people are transitioned back out of homelessness as quickly as possible.
Vacant Properties
7. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce a new voids programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24659/25]
Deputy McGrath is substituting for Deputy Devlin.
I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for facilitating my taking of this question. I would appreciate it if the Minister would outline his plans to introduce a new voids programme.
I thank the Deputy. The programme for Government commits to the introduction of a new voids programme and work is under way in my Department to develop and roll out that programme. As Minister, my focus is on building on the strong progress made over recent years in tackling local authority vacancy levels, which was supported and enabled by significant Exchequer funding for my Department over the past ten years and in particular since 2020. In total, more than €360 million has been recouped to local authorities since 2014 under the voids programme, which has supported the refurbishment and re-letting of 25,672 dwellings.
Given the very positive impact of that investment it is expected local authorities should have dealt with legacy vacancy issues by now. They should therefore be in a strong position with respect to long-term vacancy and be able to further the transition to a strategic and planned approach to stock management and maintenance, with the ongoing support of my Department. With this in mind, it is my intention the new voids programme will have a renewed focus on prompt turnaround and re-letting of vacant units by focusing only on those works necessary to ensure compliance with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Non-essential works should be carried out under the local authority’s planned maintenance programme informed by stock condition surveys, whereby all housing components are on an inspection, repair and replacement cycle.
While the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is legally a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the approach being developed is necessary to ensure a strategic approach to the management and maintenance of the housing stock informed by stock condition surveys is in place and that vacancies are turned around quickly.
I thank the Minister and welcome his commitment to vacant housing and the voids. The figure of more than €300 million since 2014 is very significant. I very much welcome the Minister's statements on a commitment to a prompt turnaround of properties, ensuring only essential work is carried out so those houses can be re-let quickly and that any other work that is non-essential can be done through a planned maintenance programme. That is critically important. The Minister knows full well nothing frustrates people more than seeing vacant housing in local authority areas. We need to continue to work hard to ensure it does not happen. It was debated in the Dáil earlier this week and the Taoiseach addressed the issue also. It really is inexcusable in a housing crisis that there are properties lying vacant for up to 12 months and in some cases beyond that. I welcome the Minister's commitment and hope we can make progress in the near future.
I thank the Deputy again for raising the question. I assure him the Government commitment is there to ensure we have a planned maintenance programme for our local authority stock. The largest-ever voids programme was funded by the previous Government in 2020 and the Department provided uncapped funding for those dwellings vacant for more than 12 months in 2020. Subsequently it was acknowledged that legacy vacancy should have been dealt with and a more streamlined programme has been implemented to support the works necessary to meet rental standards. We want to encourage local authorities to have a consistent basis of turning these voids around as quickly as possible. Some local authorities are very effective and some not so much. Legacy vacancies should have been resolved. There is little or no reason for these voids not to be turned around as quickly as possible when they are vacated. Works carried out should be what is necessary to turn those voids around, whereas the challenge is some local authorities are taking significant time to address them by carrying out substantial works that quite frankly are not necessary to re-let a property.
As the Minister said, there is a significant difference between some of the local authorities. He referred to counties Laois and Kerry, for example, between which there is a significant disparity. That is something we certainly have to delve into because how some local authorities can do it much faster than others needs to be examined to see how best practice can be applied across the local authority sector. The longer a house is vacant, the more disrepair it falls into and the more problematic it becomes. It is unsightly in an area and can result in antisocial behaviour. For a multitude of reasons we need to turn these properties around quickly, not least because we have a large number of people waiting for properties and allocations. It really is critically important. Non-essential work can wait, essential work needs to be done and we need to get the houses reoccupied. I appreciate many local authorities take the opportunity to do deep retrofits and so on, including energy retrofits, but these can be done at another time. We need to get the houses reoccupied. That has to be our highest priority.
Deputy Ó Broin has a supplementary question.
I thought the Taoiseach's comments on this issue on Tuesday were deeply disappointing. Talking about a "dependency culture" and local authorities asking for "handouts" misunderstands the problem. There are three issues I urge the Minister to take into account when looking at the delays in casual re-lets. The first is the amount of funding per unit is not sufficient in many cases, especially when the stock has been lived in for a lengthy period. The second is the time it is taking local authorities to receive approval from the Department is too long. I talk to local authority officials and it can be six months before they get approval. The third issue is procurement rules are too rigid. Anything that will speed this process up we will support but the Minister cannot blame the local authorities as there is a lot that is directly related to the him, his funding allocations and his departmental rules and that needs to change as well.
Again, getting these voids back into play as quickly as possible is essential. Record funding is provided for the local authorities. There is inconsistency across them; there is no question about that. Some local authorities take the view of ongoing maintenance that when the property is vacated it is got back into a state where it can be re-let as quickly as possible. Other local authorities seem to take a considerable time assessing those properties and some carry out a very large amount of refurbishment work that quite frankly is not necessary. The property just needs to be brought back to a condition where it can be re-let. It should be in that condition anyway when it is being vacated, unless the previous tenants have done something untoward, which is very rare. In my experience, social housing tenants are excellent tenants. We are going to get under the hood in the local authorities where these delays are happening and ensure these voids are being brought back and that the best practice the best local authorities are carrying out becomes standard right across the country.
Housing Provision
8. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his expectations for the delivery of affordable housing in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24661/25]
One of the lead indicators of a country's future likely success is how many young people choose to stay. What are the Minister's expectations for affordable housing delivery in 2025, given it will be one of the key tools to ensure our young educated workforce can stay here?
I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of expectations for the delivery of affordable housing in 2025. I also thank him for his ongoing engagement on this issue, which is one he campaigned very strongly on. The Government is fully committed to delivering affordable housing at scale and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures.
In 2024, more than 7,000 affordable housing options were delivered nationwide by a range of delivery partners, exceeding the target of 6,400 for the year. Overall nearly 13,000 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, which is huge progress from a standing start in 2021. Under Housing for All, the affordable housing delivery target for 2025 is 6,400 and a very strong pipeline is in place across our delivery partners, including local authorities, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and the first home scheme.
Galway City Council has funding approval in place for three schemes to deliver 124 affordable purchase homes. Galway County Council has funding approval to support delivery of 61 homes in Claregalway. Both local authorities have further proposals in development. In addition, approval is in place for the delivery of the first cost-rental homes by an approved housing body in Galway city this year, with further cost-rental homes to be delivered in 2026 and 2027. Building on this progress, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline for 2025 and beyond and to ensure the affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at a local level.
Under the programme for Government, the Government committed to introduce a new starter home programme across the public, private and AHB sector that promotes home ownership and secures long-term rental tenures for young people and fresh start applicants. My Department is currently progressing that commitment and it will form part of the next housing plan.
The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins has visited the homes that have been delivered in Claregalway. It is a fantastic initiative and a fantastic price for people to be able to purchase a home. The problem is that in Galway East, we have not seen a single affordable home delivered yet. I know the Minister is aware of this. We need to see affordable homes delivered in towns such as Tuam, Athenry and Loughrea where young people who are commuting into Galway city but want to live closer to home have the option to purchase a home in those areas. The funding approvals for Galway city and Claregalway are welcome. The price is good and the numbers still stack up in County Galway. What I really need to see is a push. When we were campaigning in the general election, so many parent whose children are in Australia would tell me to make sure we get affordable housing right in this Government.
I thank the Deputy again for raising this question. It is a matter he has worked very hard on and has campaigned on to ensure we can have those affordable homes, which are an essential part of our housing delivery and to ensure we have private homes people can afford to buy, affordable homes people can access, and social homes across the spectrum so everybody has access to a home they can afford. I hear the Deputy on Galway East. I will be visiting both local authorities in the coming weeks and engaging with them to see what more we can do to support them in delivering affordable homes.
In supporting the development of Galway city and county's affordable housing programme, the Department is funding dedicated affordable housing administrative and technical staffing posts, with seven in Galway city and six in Galway county. There are 14 cost-rental homes to be provided in Barna in early 2026, which should be part of a cost-rental equity loan scheme as well. We want to see more affordable homes and will continue to work with the local authorities and local Deputies.
Galway County Council is not short of ambition when it comes to affordable housing. Our chief executive set out an ambitious plan last year. At the time, I was a councillor. We approved loans for affordable housing across our local authority and sought departmental approval for them. We do not lack the ambition. We have the ambition to deliver the homes. In the town of Athenry, the county council is now going for Part 8 planning in the coming months on two separate sites there. There is the ambition. Affordable housing is starting to come to fruition but we need to ramp it up massively. We need to see an accelerated delivery and we need to see affordability continue throughout that system, right across east Galway. One of the leading indicators for a country's likely future success is how many young people choose to stay.
The Deputy is rightly passionate about keeping our young people in this country and providing affordable homes as a key solution to keeping young people here. That is what we want to deliver, and we want to accelerate the number of affordable homes that are being delivered. It is certainly something I regard as extremely important. I am working with each local authority to ensure that those affordable homes are available where they are needed in each and every county. I will continue to work with the Deputy and look forward to engaging directly with both local authorities in Galway in the coming weeks when I visit Galway to see how we can ensure those affordable homes are being delivered.
Planning Issues
9. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how quickly the new housing national planning framework targets will be given to the county councils so that they can amend their county development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24826/25]
How quickly will the new national planning framework, NPF, housing targets be given to the county councils so they can amend their county development plans? Currently many planning permissions are being refused because the development plan's core strategy has population targets too low. Given this delay, I have seen a planning application for 335 houses in Blessington, County Wicklow, supported by the council and all elected members refused by An Bord Pleanála because the local area plan was not up to date with the new housing targets.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We have spoken several times about this. He is passionate and anxious to see what has been agreed under the NPF translated into the local development plans, as am I and as is the Minister.
The final revised NPF was approved by Government in April and passed by the Oireachtas last week. This concluded the revision process and allows the revised NPF to take effect in the planning system. The revised NPF provides the basis for the review and updating of regional spatial and economic strategies and local authority development plans to reflect matters such as updated housing figures, projected jobs growth and renewable energy capacity allocations, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes. The revised NPF facilitates planning for the delivery of in excess of 50,000 additional housing units per annum nationally, every year to 2040.
Given the urgent need to ensure that the updated housing requirements can be 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 line with a clear policy direction, which I intend to issue in the coming weeks. The provision of updated planned housing requirements on a local authority by local authority basis will also ensure that sufficient headroom is given to ensure competition and choice is available to those who wish to bring forward proposed housing developments. This is a key priority for us in government. We want to see what has been agreed under the NPF translated to a local basis as urgently as possible. I will inform local authorities of that in the coming weeks.
I want to raise two other related matters. The Minister of State has referred to one of them, which is headroom. The time taken for these amendments to the county development plan is too long as it can take up to nine months. Can we look to expedite this timeframe? To discuss in more detail the issue of headroom, from my experience of development plans, the previous direction from the Office of the Planning Regulator was 0% headroom, which is very misguided. It is imperative that there be a considerable percentage headroom because in practice many sites will not be developed for various reasons. All landowners are not ready to go to developers. In the real world, site development often has many obstacles, including cost, that may lead to planning refusals. I suggest headroom in the order of 70%.
I thank the Deputy. I hear the point he is raising. There is a statutory process in terms of varying county development plans. It is a reserved function of members. We will be issuing clear direction on a local authority-by-local authority basis in terms of the expectations and quantum of zoned land that will be required. There will be headroom. We are working on finalising the methodology around that at present within the Department. It is imperative that we have sufficient quantum of zoned land within our areas to be able to bring forward housing development. The reason we are taking the approach we are taking is that we cannot afford to wait. There will be that direction. The actual varying of the development plan, as the Deputy knows, having been a councillor for a considerable period like myself, is a reserved function of members.
I often see a gap between the way the councils operate and what happens here in Leinster House. The councils need to be closely involved in the delivery of housing. Delivery must be micromanaged. These targets must be drilled down further, with monthly figures produced by all local authorities of actuals versus targets, and explanations given. This is the only way to deliver a large number of houses. The Minister must then meet the CEOs of the councils and the head of planning on, say, a quarterly basis. This method is exactly the way a business would aim to achieve its targets.
I will just mention tiered zoning. In many current plans it is tiered, even when both have access to services. There should be no tiered zoning in these cases because if tier one is not developed, it often precludes tier 2 from being developed, which is wrong.
This has to be a priority for everyone. It is not just for us in here but for every local authority member and executive. We will be very clear in that.
The Minister, Deputy Browne, and I are visiting local authorities. This is a top priority for us and we will ensure what has been agreed by those in this Chamber and in the Seanad is translated as quickly as possible into development plans so that proposals can be brought forward for housing purposes. We will continue to engage with local authorities on a consistent basis in relation to this. They know the expectation is that there will be a varying of development plans. As I said in my initial response, we are working on finalising what that will mean on a local authority-by-local authority basis to bring forward that land for development purposes. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter again.
Housing Schemes
10. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to Roscommon County Council for the tenant in situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24656/25]
I thank Deputy Daly for raising this important question in relation to Roscommon County Council and the funding allocated for the tenant in situ scheme for 2025. I thank the Deputy for his ongoing engagement in relation to this important issue.
The Government is providing continuing and substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of social housing need, including tenants in situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP and RAS and who had received a notice of termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow persons or families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom properties to deliver on housing first targets; and specific housing required for people with a disability or other particular priority needs, including older people.
In total, €325 million has been provided for all 31 local authorities for this purpose in 2025, of which Roscommon County Council has been allocated funding of €2 million. To date, Roscommon County Council has only drawn down 29%, or €585,547, of its €2m allocation for acquisitions. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised.
Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. The 2025 arrangements ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme. My Department continues to engage with local authorities on any challenges which emerge in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue in 2025 where no other solutions exist for affected households.
I thank the Minister for that answer. I understand that the tenant in situ scheme was a temporary scheme. It was a safety net for people who were given a notification of termination of their tenancy to avoid homelessness. It is important to address the anxiety of people right around the country - not just in Roscommon or in Ballinasloe, which is also part of my constituency - about the possibility of people becoming homeless because of the anxiety around the tenant in situ scheme. As we know, we do not want the tenant in situ scheme to abrogate the responsibilities of the local authorities to build social housing. It is not a permanent solution and I understand that clearly but we are trying to deal with this in the interregnum before we deliver adequate social housing for people as a permanent solution.
I thank Deputy Daly again for raising this very important question. In relation to Roscommon County Council's acquisitions from 2020-2024, the annual acquisitions funding provided for Roscommon for that period was €1.8 million, with €2 million funding provided for them in 2025. During the period of 2020-2024, my Department provided €8.9 million to Roscommon County Council for the delivery of 57 acquisitions. Funding of circa €590,000 provided to Roscommon to date in 2025 relates to two acquisitions and agreed refurbishment works in acquisitions delivered prior to 2025. I assure the Deputy we will continue to keep tenants in situ and, indeed, all second-hand acquisitions under the programme under review.
Of course, the solution to all of this is to drive the provision of housing right through the different sectors - social, affordable and private. I welcome the new planning framework which will hopefully drive and allow local authorities to redraw their county development plans and deliver that housing.
I visited two modular factories during the week. One was in Lidan in Roscommon that produces schools for the Department of education. It will also be able to produce housing. I also visited GreenFrame, a steel-framed modular housing factory between Ballinasloe and Ballyforan which is in south Roscommon and is in a rural area. These people have assured me they can scale up and produce as many houses as we need but we have to address the whole planning issue and the provision of serviced lands. If the Minister is in Galway, I invite him to visit both of those factories with me. I think he will be highly impressed.
I call Deputy Gould. Do not make a speech; just ask a question.
The Minister outlined the amount of money given to the tenant in situ scheme. Two weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, the 33 families in Cork whose houses were sale agreed. Cork City Council was going to buy the houses but on 4 April it informed Cork City Council councillors that there was no money left to go ahead. I was told the Government was going to consider it and talk to people about it. Yesterday, I spoke to a lady, Amy, who was meant to be out of her house in February. It was supposed to be purchased in April. She got an email two weeks ago telling her and the landlord it was not going ahead and that she had to be out of the house at the end of May.
There are 44 adults and 26 children who will be homeless in the next couple of weeks if that money is not given. I am pleading with the Minister to allocate that extra funding, not only to Cork City Council but to Dublin, Limerick and Kildare. I have been contacted by local authorities right across the State. They need that money.
I thank Deputy Daly and, indeed, I am always happy to go to Roscommon. I have asked our local authorities to use the full range of options for tenants in situ who have received a notice of termination. Acquiring the landlord's property is one option but it is not the sole option. In some cases, local authorities might use the thousands of new social allocations that they make each year to provide a new tenancy for families they are supporting. These and casual vacancies are a valuable option given the record numbers of social homes delivered over recent years. Local authorities might also use their tenancy sustainment officers to work with tenants and landlords on options that are available.
In relation to Deputy Gould and Cork city, €20 million has been provided for Cork city this year. That money has not been drawn down and only a proportion of it has. I have visited and met with the Cork city executive in Cork city and will continue to work with them.
Housing Policy
11. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the provision of modular housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24654/25]
I thank Deputy O'Meara for raising the important question around the expansion of the provision of modular housing. I thank the Deputy for his ongoing work and engagement in this important area of housing delivery. My Department, working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other relevant stakeholders, is progressing work to increase delivery capacity in the residential construction sector through promoting the adoption of modern methods of construction, MMC. MMC is a collective term which describes innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, which includes modular housing.
In 2023, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in collaboration with my Department, published the roadmap for the increased adoption of MMC in public housing delivery which was a priority deliverable under Housing for All. The roadmap set out a series of initiatives and policy interventions needed to advance the use of compliant MMC in public housing delivery and remove barriers to adoption. The publication of the modern methods of construction roadmap set in train a live agenda for modern methods of construction development in Ireland.
Under Housing for All, a range of initiatives have already been put in place to support modern methods of construction. These include the accelerated delivery programme to deliver over 1,500 modern methods of construction dwellings through local authorities, led by my Department. In addition and building on this experience, Wexford County Council is currently tendering a 3D pilot project of 22 social housing units utilising off-site three dimensional construction methods which are essentially what are referred to as modular units.
The recent programme for Government contains a further range of initiatives to support MMC, including modular housing. These initiatives include a modern methods of construction innovation fund to directly fund new and existing factories; targets for modern methods of construction use in at least 25% of all State-backed housing; resourcing the National Standards Authority of Ireland to ensure regulatory certificates are issued in a timely manner; and increasing training programmes in modern methods of construction.
I have said before that housing is the number one issue affecting my generation. Whether we call them modular units, modular methods of construction or log cabins, we know what we are talking about. I am aware of many in rural Ireland up laneways or in yards, and planning permission is a major issue. We need to address that. In a rural area, if it is in keeping with the environment, which so many of these houses are, if the owner is from the area and has a housing need, which all of them have, planning permission should be able to be obtained once the house meets the requirement regarding wastewater and water connections, utilities and so on. We have to be able to provide these people with homes. Younger people in particular are have contacted me. They would love to be able to build in rural areas, but the price of doing so is just too high. I see the homes to which I refer as a solution for them; possibly not forever, but in the context of getting a roof over their heads and some independence. We really need to look at that.
I thank the Deputy for his passion and determination regarding the provision of housing solutions in his county and across the country. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, has been working hard and has come up with significant proposals on log cabins. There will be a consultation next week, led by the Minister of State, about that matter, particularly as it is being worked on. We will continue to work across the Department to find the necessary solutions which are required in order that people can have the homes they need where they need them.
I acknowledge the work done by the Minister of State on that matter to date, particularly regarding backyard dwellings or the equivalent of the 40 sq. m extension planning exemption. We need to go beyond that and allow a wider scale. I am not saying it is the entire solution; it is part of the solution. There is a real place for these dwellings at the moment. I will highlight the example of a site in Nenagh, my home town. It is a serviced site owned by the county council. For many years, the council has failed to get someone in to develop the site. It is ready to go and be built on. Companies around the country produce these modular units. I see the site in question as being ideal for these type of dwellings, particularly for single-storey, one- or two-bedroom units. If we think about older people or those with disabilities who have been on housing waiting lists for years, this is a solution for them. It is a safe, comfortable and warm home to call their own. We need to be ambitious, display a sense of urgency and see to it that serious movement happens quickly.
We have all seen modern methods of construction, such as, for example, 3D concrete printing in Muirhevnamore, in operation. Whether we are talking about modular 3D printing or timber-frame housing, we need to see a plan for a significant ramp-up, while accepting that all of these solutions represent only a percentage of housing supply. Could we get some sort of detail on this matter? I agree with the previous speaker that we need to see real movement as fast as possible on the possible option of modular units in back gardens for the small number of people involved. We need to see the detail, and whatever we are going to do needs to happen as soon as possible because people are probably looking for more than what is already in the public domain. When will we see the guidelines on one-off housing and the report that was supposedly with the Attorney General last summer? We know there is a significant issue with people who cannot get planning permission in the place that they live, particularly in rural Ireland. This is a significant issue. We need both a solution to it and a real debate on it.
I thank Deputy O'Meara for raising this important issue. I am legally precluded from commenting on any particular planning cases. As already stated, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, is leading the public consultation. That consultation will commence next month as opposed to than next week. The Minister of State has already completed the interdepartmental consultation process, so his work on this matter is advancing quite rapidly. We are looking at all options as to what we can do to deliver. Modern methods of construction are crucial to ramping up the speed of delivery of homes, be they modular or of any other type. The programme for Government is clear in its significant commitment to the use of modern methods of construction. We are working with the Department of enterprise to ensure that the relevant requirements are in place and that this happens as quickly as possible.
What about he guidelines for the one-off housing?
That is a different-----
That was not part of the question that was asked.
Derelict Sites
12. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the derelict sites levy collection in 2024. [24896/25]
Will the Minister of State provide an update on the amount collected by means of the derelict sites levy in 2024? We know that the derelict sites register and the derelict sites levy together constitute one of the only ways to get at landlords who are hoarding properties and letting them fall into rack and ruin.
I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important issue. I know he is passionate about it, as am I. We sat on the joint committee together previously.
This is an issue that the Deputy raises consistently. Both the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I are committed to ensuring that it is addressed. We are reviewing the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act through engagement with local authorities. As the Deputy knows, the Act 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 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 derelict.
Each local authority maintains a derelict sites register under section 8 of the Act for sites which they consider to be derelict. 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. This is an increase from the previous 3%, as the Deputy knows. Local authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department, providing information on the operation of the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional area. The derelict sites returns are collated in quarter 2 of the following year. A total of 1,913 sites were listed on local authority registers as of 31 December 2023. In conjunction with local authorities, my Department is engaged in the process of collating the 2024 figures. We have written to all local authorities, reminding them of their obligation to submit their year-end data for 2024. As yet, we do not have all that data collated.
As the Minister of State said, the latest figures he has are for 2023. The new figures will arrive e shortly. As the Minister of State outlined, there are 1,913 derelict sites on the register. What is shocking is that only one in three have been levied. Thirteen local authorities applied no levy. Seventeen did not collect even one cent. In 2023, local authorities that applied the levies sought €5.6 million in payment of those levies. How much was collected? A total of €600,000. A total of €20.5 million is currently owed for the derelict sites levy. I talk to local authorities. Some do not want to engage with the system. The Minister of State was on the housing committee with me. I asked him what he was going to do. Here we are, years later, and land hoarders are laughing at us and at the people in the communities where they are these sites are lying idle.
As the Deputy knows, enforcement of the levy is a matter for local authorities. I see the carrot-and-stick approach having worked to pretty good effect in some local authorities. What I am talking about is the carrot of the likes of the repair and lease scheme, which has worked exceptionally well in my county of Waterford. About 50% of the national total of repair lease units have been delivered in Waterford, with one- and two-bed units in city centre and town centre areas not being used for social housing purposes. Of course, there is the stick of the derelict sites levy and, where required, compulsory purchase orders, CPOs. The collection of the levy is a byproduct, obviously, but I am sure what we both want is for those properties and lands to be brought back into productive use. They are a charge on that land or property, so there may be a time lag in collection. Where something is sold, it is a liability on that land and is collected by local authorities. We want to see collection happening but we also want to see these lands and properties activated.
Local authorities have a legal obligation to enforce the Derelict Sites Act. They are not doing it. Deputies Browne and Cummins are the Ministers responsible.
It is as simple as that. This is a legal obligation which local authorities have and which is not being enforced. Local authorities also tell me that they do not have the staff or resources to do this work.
In reply to a question I put to him, the previous Minister informed me that he had initiated a CPO activation programme but that no data was collected to see how successful it had been. In the context of derelict sites, in recent days the roof of a cottage in Ranelagh in Dublin collapsed. A total of €140,000 in levies is owed on that site alone. Why was that money not collected and why was there no enforcement? In Cork, Good Shepherd Convent burnt down a few weeks ago. That was the fourth major fire there. There have been a dozen or so other fires at the site. Someone could have been killed. The derelict sites levy is not being enforced. There are two buildings on Narrow West Street in Drogheda that are crumbling and that people are afraid to walk past. The levy is not being enforced.
Thank you, Deputy. Deputy Burke has a supplementary question.
One of the problems with derelict sites relates to title difficulties. Local authorities have a power to resolve this by using CPOs to assist developers. We do not seem to have been successful in getting local authorities to engage with people. If they did engage, I am of the view that many of the issues that obtain could be resolved.
The other issue that needs to be resolved in the constituency and Deputy Gould and I represent relates to Blackpool. Development cannot take place because the flood relief programme for which we identified a need 12 years ago is still sitting on someone's desk. The people who want to develop cannot get insurance for flood relief and have difficulty in borrowing money for their projects as a result.
These are two issues that the Department should be dealing with in conjunction with local authorities, namely assisting people to resolve title difficulties by using the CPO powers and going back to the developer to resolve the title issues and implementing the flood relief programme for Blackpool that was drawn up 12 years ago and that is still sitting on someone's desk, with nothing done about it.
I thank Deputies Gould and Burke. I was going to reference the CPO piece in my response. CPOs are a useful tool to be able to claim title, as Deputy Burke rightly pointed out. We have given significant resources to local authorities under call 3 of the URDF, specifically for a CPO programme. In the context of the local authorities I have visited so far, I have asked why they are not using the CPO process to the extent it should be used. Neither the Deputies nor I want to see properties lying vacant and idle. We want them brought back into productive use. The carrot-and-stick approach has worked for certain local authorities. Some authorities have been better than others in utilising the CPO process. It is important to say, however, that there is a charge and liability where a levy is applied. This is collected by local authorities. We want levies to be collected as early as possible. If a property is sold subsequently, the levy is a liability on it and will be collected at that point.
Housing Provision
13. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence; if he will provide an update on the development of a policy on rightsizing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/25]
Will the Minister outline his plans for increasing number of housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence? Will he also provide an update on the development of a policy on rightsizing?
I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important matter. The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland’s Future includes several commitments to deliver practical housing for positive ageing. These commitments build upon the policy objectives in Housing for All that commit to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence.
The commitments in the programme for Government include: mandating local authorities to find suitable sites for housing specifically designed for older adults, ensuring accessible options within local communities; making it easier to convert houses into separate living spaces to allow older adults to continue living in familiar surroundings while adapting to changing needs; supporting AHBs in developing and managing senior housing with on-site support services, thereby fostering safe and supportive communities; and reviewing and standardising the older persons housing financial contribution scheme. Work on these commitments by a policy group I recently established to explore proposals on how best to progress these commitments is ongoing. Crucially, consideration of these proposals will feed into the development of the new housing plan that is currently being progressed in my Department. Advancement of a broader policy approach on rightsizing - as committed to in Housing for All - is also being considered as part of this process to deliver on the commitments made in the programme for Government.
We are looking at aspects like bridging finance, but, ultimately, it is all about choice for older people. That is the fundamental basis of my policy around providing options for older people.
I thank the Minister of State for that. Rightsizing generally means moving home in later life into housing that is more suitable. It is more usually known as downsizing. It can also mean adapting your home to make it more age appropriate or considering other housing options. The Housing for All plan sets out that the current and projected need for housing among our older people should be made through clear, target-driven local authority delivery action plans and housing strategies. Can the Minister of State indicate what engagement he has had with local authorities in this regard and whether he is satisfied that they are taking it seriously? Are there any good examples that could be used on a nationwide basis?
Housing for All also pledged additional actions, including guiding and informing enhanced design and construction of age-friendly, universally designed homes and reviewing existing grant programmes to assist older people to live independently. Will the Minister of State provide an update on that? How are local authorities ensuring that the voice of the older person is at the centre of any decision to rightsize and that their choice on where and who they wish to live with must take precedence?
I thank Deputy Cahill. He has covered many of the matters I wish to cover in the context of housing choice for older persons.
On inclusion, we have older persons councils - through Age-Friendly Ireland - which very much engage with the local authorities. I am involving all older person representative organisations in the work I am doing in the context of the policy group on stakeholder engagement. We held a stakeholders engagement last week that was very productive.
Regarding policy initiatives, we revised the housing adaptation plans. More recently, these have been expanded. There are areas we still need to look at, however. We have increased the level of the grants and the thresholds relating to people's income.
The Deputy referred to examples. There are many examples. Through the local authority delivery action plans, I want there to be more of a focus on the delivery of housing for older people and on the choices available to individual local authorities.
I have come across senior citizens from Glencairn, Callanafersy, Keel and Castlemaine who wish to move to Killorglin town. They wish to be near the local shop, the post office, the church and the doctor. I have cases where senior citizens in Rathmore and Barraduff wish to move to Killarney town for the very same reasons. I have come across cases of senior citizens from Lispole, Anascaul and Ballyferriter who wish to move to Dingle town. I have also come across cases of individuals in Templenoe and Sneem who wish to move to Kenmare town. This is hugely important. There will be a big take-up if a scheme is made available. I have come across many cases and have made Kerry County Council aware of them. Will consideration be given to doing away with the means testing of older people's grants, disabled persons grants and mobility aids grants?
Taking the last point first, we have increased the grant amounts and income exemptions considerably. For instance, if someone has an income of below €40,000, they get 100% of the grant, the disabled persons grant and the housing adaptation grant, which was previously 95%. Furthermore, we have increased the level of the grants. We are always seeking to ensure that what is on offer meets the needs of people.
The Deputy referred to Kerry. What is happening there can be replicated anywhere else in the country in terms of the desire that exists. It is about choice.
What we want to do under the programme for Government is to mandate local authorities to find suitable sites in areas - towns and villages - to give that choice in terms of public housing to allow people who wish to right-size to do so. I am taking a holistic approach. Local authorities are involved through the CCMA with me and the Department officials in terms of working with the policy group. Ultimately, the key focus is to get a more focused policy around housing choices for older people into a new housing plan in all of its elements.
Housing Schemes
14. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently review the cut in funding for the social housing acquisition programmes, given its negative impact on key homeless schemes like tenant in situ and housing first. [24433/25]
Much of the discussion around social housing acquisitions has been on the tenant in situ scheme but there is also a very real concern the housing first programme will be affected. The programme for Government commits to increasing the targets for housing first. Will the Minister tell us what those targets are? Does he have any concern the restrictions on funding for acquisitions will make it difficult to meet those targets?
I thank the Deputy. His question relates to the urgent review of the cut in funding for the social housing acquisition programmes, given its negative impact on key homelessness schemes such as the tenant in situ and housing first.
Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. The Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions in 2025 and has increased the funding available for second-hand social housing acquisitions from the €60 million allocated under Housing for All to €325 million through the allocation of an additional €265 million this year. To date, local authorities have only drawn down 20%, or €64.13 million, of the €325 million which has been allocated for acquisitions in 2025.
My Department engaged with local authorities on the operational details for the second-hand acquisitions programme and a circular setting out the arrangements was issued to them on the 31 March 2025, with individual allocations for the local authorities being notified to them on 1 April 2025.
Under revised arrangements for second hand acquisitions in 2025, local authorities have received a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the priority categories of: tenant in situ properties that allow persons or families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom properties to deliver on housing first targets; specific housing required for people with a disability or the elderly; and vacant properties under the buy and renew scheme. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to the needs and priorities locally within the categories of needs of people who need those supports.
Tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.
My Department continues to engage with local authorities on any challenges which emerge in order to ensure that tenant in situ acquisitions can continue in 2025 where no other solutions exist for the affected households.
The housing first programme is vital in getting single people, in particular, who are long-term homeless out of emergency accommodation. It has worked best in previous years when it was a mix of new build and acquisitions led by approved housing bodies using the capital advance leasing facility, CALF, and capital assistance scheme, CAS, funding mechanisms. There is real concern among local authorities, particularly in Dublin and Cork, that the changes the Minister made will make it difficult to reach the targets for this year, particularly if they have increased. I know the Minister will not answer the question and will probably just read out the script for the third time, but can he at least talk to the officials in his Department, who head up the homeless services, and to the local authorities to ensure that whatever target he sets for housing first this year is met through a mixture of new builds and acquisitions?
Will there be supplementary questions?
There will be no supplementary questions. I want to try to get Deputy Healy in. He has been here since 8.50 a.m.
With respect, I just have one question. It relates to Cork.
No, I am sorry Deputy.
Okay.
I take the housing first programme very seriously. I engage with my officials daily in relation to homelessness, in particular, which is an absolute priority for me, both preventing people going into homelessness and people exiting homelessness. The housing first programme for people who have particular difficulties is something I am very aware of and have dealt with both as a TD and now as Minister for housing. It will continue to be an absolute priority for me.
Local Government Reform
15. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will immediately establish the local democracy task force promised in the programme for Government 2025 with a view to the early re-establishment of borough and town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24258/25]
111. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has costed the re-establishment of borough councils; if he will lead a reform programme to ensure the return of town and borough councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15142/25]
Local government is the beating heart of democracy. It was abolished in 2014 by the Fine Gael and Labour Government. When will the Minister establish the local democracy task force promised in the programme for Government 2025 to re-establish local government?
I propose to take Question Nos. 15 and 111 together.
I thank the Deputy for his interest in this matter. Having served in local government for 11 years, I value the role of our councillors and of local democracy. This specific commitment is contained in the programme for Government. I have worked extensively on this since taking up this role a number of weeks ago. Both the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I have engaged with the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and the Local Authorities Members Association, LAMA, the representative bodies for local councillors, in this regard.
As the Deputy rightly pointed out, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 dissolved 80 town councils, which represented just 14% of the population. The previous town council system also led to a duplication of administrative and electoral terms. Instead, the Act saw the introduction of 95 municipal districts, representing 100% of the population, in 25 of the 31 local authority areas at sub-county level, while area committees operate in Cork, Dublin and Galway, and in metropolitan areas within the Limerick and Waterford areas.
We have not costed the re-establishment of town councils. We are finalising the terms of reference for the task force at present and hope to be able to bring them to Government shortly.
I thank the Minister. The town and borough councils were abolished in 2014. They were replaced by committees with no powers, functions or funding. This abolition of town and borough councils has seriously damaged towns throughout the country, including in Clonmel where we had a form of local government going back to the 1400s. This is a very serious issue. I had hoped the Minister of State could give a timeline for the establishment of the local democracy task force, initially, and for the completion of that work and re-establishment of the councils.
We are over time.
Briefly, I am working to finalise the terms of reference of the local democracy task force to bring them to Government as quickly as possible. I want to see this task force established as quickly as possible. We are working on the terms of reference and I hope to see that body of work as soon as possible to be able to present options to Government for consideration.
Legislative Measures
122. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice when he expects the heads to be prepared for the criminal justice (disregard of certain convictions related to consensual sexual activity) Bill to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24879/25]
This question relates to the promise of a disregard of historical sexual offences that was promised by the previous Government. It is on foot of recommendations from the working group that looked at legislation to address the historical sexual offence of homosexuality, which was outlawed up to 33 years ago. What progress is happening at this stage?
I thank the Deputy for his question. I am very aware of his long-standing interest and commitment in respect of this issue. I regret that there is a series of legislative priorities within my Department's remit at present. Departmental staff are working on 31 Bills. Officials in the Department, along with their counterparts in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, continue to work on this Bill, and all the other legislation, as promptly as possible. It may not be satisfactory from the Deputy's point of view that I cannot give him a definitive timeline for when the heads of Bill will be published, but it is still very much a clear commitment of this Government, as referenced in the programme for Government, to address the historical wrongs that were done to people who were criminalised under these laws.
I am committed to publishing the relevant heads of Bill in due course. As the Deputy will know, these Victorian-era laws criminalised consensual sexual activity between men until those laws were repealed in 1993. He mentioned that in 2021, a working group was formed to examine the disregard of such convictions. The group met 11 times during its tenure. In late 2022, the Department held a public consultation on key issues related to the development of a scheme to disregard relevant convictions. That consultation process received nearly 150 submissions from wide groups of societal interests throughout the country. Their deliberations were invaluable and helped shape the final recommendations from the group. A summary report of this extensive consultation has since been published.
Then Minister, Deputy McEntee, published the group’s final report in 2023. It contains 95 recommendations. I am committed to translating these recommendations into heads of Bill. I will do so as promptly as I can, but I have to be frank with the Deputy in saying there are so many different competing interests that I would have to take people off another Bill to expedite this Bill in order to get it done as promptly as possible.
I am disappointed with the answer. I understand there are delays and competing interests in the Department of Justice in particular, given the wait. However, the urgency of this is similar to other issues, such as thalidomide, when we are dealing with people who are affected by wrongdoing by the State. The longer it is delayed, the less effect it will have in the end because there will be fewer people who have suffered an injustice and, in this case, a heinous violation of their human rights for many decades. The effect will be gone. It was great that decriminalisation came about in 1993 because of the actions of those within the community, including former Senator, David Norris. We need to remember the work he carried out, and that of many others, to get people to understand the wrongs the State was involved in. I urge prioritisation of this legislation, given that people are getting older.
What I will do, although I have not discussed this with the Department, is give consideration to some short mechanism to put some provision in a miscellaneous provisions Bill that would deal with disregarding convictions that were imposed in these types of cases. In respect of the post office scandal in the UK, general legislation was introduced very promptly within a statutory scheme, which stated that for anyone convicted of these offences, those convictions would be disregarded. I will give some consideration as to whether that is possible. However, the Deputy will be aware that this is a complex issue. If we go back and start appraising and assessing many of the convictions from the fifties and sixties individually - to be frank, I am not aware of the number of convictions but for the type of convictions I am aware of - that would probably be problematic. I will see if there is any general statutory provision that could be introduced in a miscellaneous provisions Bill stating that for anyone convicted of an offence, that offence would be disregarded. However, that could be complicated.
I understand. The campaigning groups, some of which the Minister has probably met over the years, also understand the difficulty with a case-by-case review. The generalised approach is one where a certificate of disregard could be issued. The conviction would not be fully expunged because that has to be done case by case. The general disregard approach was what most people expected and thought that recommendation would be given.
The Minister said he was not aware of the number of cases. I am not either but, for instance, in the town of Tullow alone, there were eight cases from 1969 to 1970. Research has been done on that which is online. Kieran Rose has sent me a copy, which I can forward. That is just one example. Some of those affected were teenagers who may still be alive. They might have been affected, as were their families and everybody around them. It still has an effect today. That is why there is an urgency.
I commend Kieran Rose on the excellent work he has done in this area. He has been in contact with me frequently as well. I would appreciate getting a copy of that research.
We are trying to revisit an injustice that was done to people in a different era. It is commendable that there is agreement in the House that this should be done. What we are discussing is the most appropriate statutory mechanism to do that. The more complex we make it, the more lengthy it will be. I will look to see if any straightforward, simple legislative solution could be introduced. It may require people to apply. Alternatively, we could just apply it across the board, even posthumously to persons convicted of such offences. I will discuss it in the Department. Again, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue.
International Protection
123. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice for the up to date position on the roll-out nationally of distinct family law courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24868/25]
What action is the Department taking to reduce the application and appeals timeframe for international protection? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter, particularly in view of the fact that there has been a substantial increase in the number of applications in 2024, when there were 18,651 in total? What action is the Department taking to expedite the appeals process and to deal with applications overall?
I thank the Deputy for his question. He specifically focused on the appeals tribunal but it is important to consider the position at first instance because that will really be the driver of the work for the appeals tribunal.
The process of hearing and determining appeals at first instance has speeded up very significantly, even in the past year. In 2024, the IPO delivered more than 14,000 decisions at first instance by comparison with 8,500 in 2023. Already in 2025, or in the first third of the year, the office has delivered nearly 7,000 decisions. If it keeps going at that rate, we should get to between 20,000 and 21,000 decisions at first instance this year.
Many of these decisions, although not all, are appealed to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, IPAT. Let me give the up-to-date position. As of 2 May of this year, the appeals tribunal had 12,613 appeals on hand. When we consider the number of appeals it has completed to date in 2025, we see it has completed only 1,583. The Deputy will see we are getting on top of the number of decisions on applications at first instance, but regrettably that is not happening at the appeal stage of the process. However, we are resourcing the system much more and trying to get more tribunal members in to determine the appeals. It is recognised that we are going to be able to improve and increase the tribunal’s decision-making capacity.
We believe IPAT’s decision-making capacity will increase further this year, with a target of concluding more than 5,500 appeals by the year’s end, assuming the anticipated new members can be got on board quickly and trained and become effective.
As the Minister outlined, there are 12,600 appeals on hand, but there was a substantial increase in the number of applicants in 2023, when the figure was 13,277. In 2024, the figure was 18,651. In the first three months of this year, there were 3,021. This means an average of 1,000 per month, which is 12,000 per year.
We must consider how we can expedite the whole appeals process, deal with it more efficiently and get decisions made. This obviously means numbers because the sum of the applications for both 2023 and 2024 is 30,000 in real terms. This has to be dealt with really quickly because if the appeals are not dealt with in a timely manner, we will have further difficulties with accommodation and the deportation of those who are not here legally. I ask that every effort be made to improve the appeals process, appoint the additional staff to deal with the appeals and have timely delivery of decisions.
The Deputy is correct that in trying to get a handle on, and gain control of, the appeals process, we also need to try to reduce the number of people coming to Ireland seeking asylum. We need to recognise that of the cases processed this year at first instance, more than 80% have been rejected. Regrettably, too many people are coming to Ireland claiming asylum who are not entitled to it.
I accept what the Deputy said about the appeals process: it needs to be expedited. We can expedite it through the recruitment of more tribunal members, and that is something we are doing. We are also going to change the process by which an oral hearing can be available in an appeal. At present, one is entitled to an oral hearing having already had an oral hearing at first instance. There is an oral hearing at first instance and there is an oral appeal. The general scheme of the international protection Bill, which I published earlier this month, will provide that only in exceptional circumstances would one be entitled to an oral hearing in the appeals process. That will expedite the process.
I accept what the Minister is saying. Both of us, coming from a legal background, will know we also have to be careful not only about the issue of constitutional rights but also about the fear regarding judicial review. Once an applicant enters a judicial review process, we have a difficulty. It is extremely important that we get the appeals process correct but it is also important that we have an efficient and effective appeals process that operates in a timely manner. I am really concerned about the numbers from 2023 and 2024. What numbers of appeals are pending since 2021, 2022 and 2023? Is there a breakdown of the figures for appeals still in the processing stage? That there are still appeals at stage means there are people here for more than four years who may not be legally entitled to be here.
As I indicated previously, the number of appeals on hand for the appeals tribunal is in the region of 12,000. I cannot give a breakdown of the years from which they originate.
With regard to judicial review, there is a trend whereby people get a decision in the first instance and then appeal, and when they are rejected on appeal, they proceed to a judicial review. We also need to examine the judicial review system. A judicial review should not act as a stay upon an order that has been made by the appeals tribunal. We seem to just accept it as standard procedure that if a judicial review is initiated, the effect of the decision of the appeals tribunal is suspended. It should not be. I am going to examine this in the context of introducing legislation to deal with civil legal reform in the area of judicial reviews.
With regard to the oral hearings, there is no absolute right to an oral hearing at appeal stage. People have an oral hearing at first instance, and that is absolutely entrenched; however, just because someone has an oral hearing at first instance does not mean he or she is entitled to go through a full re-hearing at the appeal stage. We will, however, ensure that the appeals tribunal will in all instances have a record of what is said at oral hearings in the first instance.
Could I get a breakdown of the timeframe regarding the 12,600?
I call Deputy Moynihan.
Courts Service
124. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice for the up-to-date position on the roll-out nationally of distinct family law courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24875/25]
Ar an gcéad dul síos, déanaim comhbhrón le muintir an Gharda Kevin Flatley, a maraíodh go tubaisteach fad is a bhí sé ag freastal ar a phobail.
The need for more suitable family courts has been well recognised. The Family Courts Act 2024 was a significant milestone in bringing about a much more appropriate system. Can the Minister outline the planned roll-out and implementation of the new family courts?
I, too, express my sincere sympathies and condolences to the family of Garda Kevin Flatley on the truly horrific circumstances of his passing. I attended Henry Street Garda station in Limerick earlier on this week to sign the book of condolences and spoke to the Garda chief subsequently to convey our feelings and thoughts to his colleague and the Garda community up and down the country.
I thank the Deputy for his question. The Department is leading an ambitious programme of reform outlined in the first family justice strategy, which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights of children, who are central to many family justice matters. The implementation of more than 50 actions across nine goals contained in the strategy will lay the foundation for this reformed system. One will assist families to resolve their family justice issues in as straightforward a manner as possible.
The Family Courts Act 2024, which was passed in both Houses of the Oireachtas last November, is a key component of the strategy. The legislation provides for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures: a family high court, a family circuit court, and a family district court. Judges who have specialist training or experience in dealing with family law matters will be assigned to the family courts divisions on a full-time basis.
Importantly, the Act contains a set of guiding principles for the family court system, making the best interests of the child a primary consideration in the conduct of all family law proceedings, operating in an efficient and user-friendly manner and encouraging active case management by the courts.
As committed to in the programme for Government, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, intends to publish an implementation plan for a new family court system by the end of January 2026. He has established an implementation team within the Department which is currently concluding a period of initial stakeholder engagement. This has included an interactive workshop at the recent Family Justice Development Forum, which provided an opportunity to gain further insight into the perspectives of a broad range of family justice stakeholders on the development of an implementation plan.
Alongside this work, preparations are in train for the construction of a purpose-built family law court complex on Hammond Lane, in Dublin.
The Family Courts Act 2024 represents a radical change or overhaul of the system, possibly the biggest in over a century. I understand it will not be an instant, overnight change being implemented, but it would be a reasonable expectation that there would be a planned roll-out and a pathway to do this. I heard the Minister of State say that the Minister plans to publish on that by next January. Have the necessary commencement orders been made at this point? Also, as regards the people who will operate these new courts, will training be provided for courts staff and judges, and would the Minister of State see them as being dedicated to the family law service or shared back and forth with the existing system?
As regards judicial resourcing, the Judicial Planning Working Group was established in 2021 in line with the previous programme for Government and submitted its report in February 2023. This led to the appointment of 24 additional judges in 2023 and Government approval for the appointment of an additional 20 judges in October 2024. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, intends to request the Judicial Appointments Commission to initiate the selection processes for these judges later this year. Taken together, these two sets of appointments represent an increase of approximately 25% in the number of judges in Ireland.
As regards the specialisation, which the Deputy queried, the Family Courts Act provides for the new positions of principal judges of the family high court, the family circuit court and the family district court to be created as specific assignments. The principal judge of each of the family court divisions will manage the business of each of those divisions.
Clearly, it will take time to get all that up and running. In the meantime, there will be people still looking to use the current family law courts system. Is it planned to make improvements to the existing system while the new courts are being established? Also, have the necessary commencement orders for the new Act been made?
I will revert to the Deputy on the commencements.
Our intention is to ensure that the new family law courts are sufficiently funded. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is very conscious of the need to resource the new family law courts system and we are committed to ensuring that it is properly funded to deliver meaningful reform. In budget 2025, the Department of Justice allocated an additional €11 million to the Courts Service, €3 million of which is earmarked for the children's court advocate project, which will support children in their journeys through private family law proceedings and provide information ensuring that their voice is heard.
I wish to ask a supplementary question to Deputy Moynihan's question. It is in respect of an issue that has arisen for many domestic violence survivors who are having difficulty in accessing civil legal aid, those who perhaps want to take out a barring order against an abuser. They have a civil legal aid certificate but are not able to secure representation because, quite frankly, solicitors will not work under the terms that are in place. People who work in this area tell me there is a particular problem, an anomaly, whereby somebody who is in that position has to go to three separate solicitors and get refusals before they can go back to the Legal Aid Board. Anecdotally at least, people simply give up and go back to the situation they were in. Does the Minister plan to revise or review the fees that are in place, perhaps creating an additional payment for additional court appearances? Quite simply, the issue needs to be addressed.
The Deputy is right about the issue he has raised. It is something I and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and indeed the Department, are aware of. It is my understanding that a submission is being made to the Department on that and it will be given due consideration. We do recognise it absolutely as a serious issue.
Family Reunification
125. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the review taking place of family reunification policy, and whether this review will examine the difference in treatment between migrant workers who hold a critical skills permit and those who hold a general skills permit; when this review will be complete; if legislative change will be brought forward on foot of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24873/25]
Today is International Day of Families. On this day last year, migrant workers - women and men contributing to our economy and our society - protested outside the Minister's Department. They did so because, under the current law, certain categories of migrant workers require both a 12-month wait and an onerous income threshold in order for their family members to come join them here in Ireland. Will this unfair and short-sighted policy change?
I thank the Deputy for the question. As he is aware, the Department's policy document for non-EEA family reunification was last amended in 2016. It is under review. The policy document sets out the conditions for a family member to be reunited. In general terms, a sponsor must demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member. The review is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification. Officials from my Department have consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders on this.
I fully understand that some people moving to Ireland to live and work would wish to have their family join them. I acknowledge that there are different criteria between the employment permit types. The issues to be examined as part of family reunification are complex. I understand that some may find the difference in criteria between the employment permit types difficult to understand, but I assure the Deputy that the primary focus is to ensure that a sponsor is in a secure position and able to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for family members before approving applications for family members to join them here.
This review has been going on for a very long time, and people need clarity and need to see a sensible evolution of the Department's policy. We should remind ourselves that these are hard-working people caring for our elderly and sick, driving our buses and building our homes. At the end of a hard day, they cannot come home to their husband or wife or kids in the same way the Minister of State and I can. For years their lives end up being on hold. As well as being unfair, I would argue that this policy is short-sighted. If we allowed rapid family reunification for workers, we would be more likely to gain additional workers in some of these critical areas, we would give them the best chance of living independently with two incomes and we would not be imposing that painful, unending divide between family.
Will the Minister of State give us an indication as to when he believes this review will be published, and will it contain recommendations for change?
The review is ongoing. Without prejudging anything, I believe it will conclude soon. I am anxious, like the Deputy, to be able to come forward with that information from the review. I take on board the points he has made, but it is important to emphasise again the central point that, in terms of successful family reunification and a range of complex issues involved in it, there must be a provision for people to be able to support family members who are joining them here.
I am glad the Minister of State is indicating the review will come soon.
As regards the ability to support a family, we are talking about people in full-time, stable employment at a salary level that is set by the State.
This population already contributes significantly - millions of euro - to the Exchequer every year in tax. There is clear evidence of their ability to support themselves. That will be enhanced if a second family member arrives and the law has been changed to put them in a position where they can take up work and continue to better support their family. The current system treats critical skills permit holders such as engineers and software developers better than general skills employment permit holders such as people working in care homes and nursing homes, chefs and drivers. I do not see any difference in the value they provide to our economy. I do not see why we should continue to treat them in a different way.
It is important to acknowledge the incredible contribution of so many migrant workers in our country in many of the jobs on which we rely in health service areas, a wide range of public services and in the private sector. People come here, work and make an incredible contribution, which we acknowledge. However, we also acknowledge, without prejudging the outcome of the review, the importance of making sure we have a sustainable system for family reunification. Part of that sustainable system is the importance of someone joining them being supported and having criteria and standards in place. The review will published and I hope I can come back to the Deputy with additional information.
An Garda Síochána
126. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of new class intakes that will enter Templemore this year; the expected overall number of students to enter Templemore in 2025; and the number of recruits in 2023 and 2024. [24765/25]
I thank Deputy McGrath for this important question. I commend him on asking it because in order to achieve what we want to in the criminal justice system, we need an appropriate number of members of An Garda Síochána in the force. The Deputy asked a question about Templemore, which I will answer presently. He has also consistently and effectively campaigned to get more gardaí on the street in Cork city and county. I thank him for organising a recent trip to Togher Garda station, which was very instructive and useful to me as Minister for Justice.
On getting more gardaí on the street, we need to ensure we get more of them into Templemore. After I was appointed, a recruitment competition started for An Garda Síochána. It was the fourth such competition in recent years. I was pleased with the outcome, which resulted in expressions of interest from 6,700 individuals. I have also received assurances from the Garda Commissioner that a further competition will be held later this year to maintain the strong pipeline of recruits An Garda Síochána is currently managing. It is important that we capture the 6,700 who expressed interest previously and those who express interest again subsequently this year and get them through the process quickly. Part of how we are seeking to achieve that is speeding up the vetting and interview processes. We are trying to get more gardaí recruited as quickly as possible. I was also very pleased that in March this year, more than 200 trainees started in Templemore. That was the first time more than 200 started since before Covid-19. It is a good indicator. Three more groups will enter this year in June, August, and November. Work is ongoing by An Garda Síochána and publicjobs.ie in progressing offers to candidates for the June intake. Also in March was the first attestation where approximately 150 gardaí were attested. I appreciate we need more attested and on the streets.
I appreciate the Minister's commitment to this issue. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious target in relation to the recruitment of gardaí. I know the Minister is committed to increasing the visibility of gardaí on our streets. One can see in Dublin that there has been an improvement in that respect but we need to see it across the country. The Minister visited Cork recently, which I welcomed. He took on board what he was told in Cork regarding the number of gardaí. It is important that we get a fair share of the allocation of gardaí when there are new graduates from Templemore. Unfortunately, only last weekend, there was a serious incident in Cork city where a woman was violently assaulted in broad daylight in the city centre. That highlights the need for strong visibility of gardaí on the streets. I ask the Minister to ensure he keeps as much pressure on as possible to get a high number of gardaí into Templemore so we can get them out on our streets.
It is commendable that every Deputy in this House wants to see more gardaí in their constituency. I agree that there has been a noticeable increase in the visibility of gardaí in Dublin city in recent months. It has been commented upon. It has had a positive impact because individuals feel a greater sense of security and safety when they see members of An Garda Síochána in the vicinity. I am committed to ensuring increased visibility not just in Dublin but also in other cities and towns. I am aware of the issue in Cork. We need more gardaí on the streets in Cork. I assure the Deputy I will seek to achieve that. When it comes to determining where gardaí go after they have been attested in Templemore, it is an operational decision by the Commissioner. It would be inappropriate for me to start directing him as to where they go. Commissioners live in the real world. They know what the Irish public wants as expressed through their representatives. It is clear from the Deputy that he wants to see more gardaí on the streets in Cork.
It is to be welcomed that there were more than 6,000 expressions of interest in joining An Garda Síochána, as are the moves by the Minister to speed up the recruitment process in the interview process and so on. It needs to be curtailed as much as possible to fast-track the delivery of extra gardaí on our streets. I also welcome that three more classes will enter Templemore this year. A lot of good work is being done. It is important that visibility on the streets is increased and that we fulfil our commitment in the programme for Government to recruit additional gardaí. It is what the public and businesses in city and urban areas want. I thank the Minister for his work. I urge him to ensure this proceeds as quickly as possible.
Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley as we deal with issues in relation to the number of gardaí. It is clear that despite the high-profile recruitment process, there has been no significant increase in the number of gardaí who will be trained. The current Garda Commissioner dismissed the claim by the Government that 1,000 would be trained this year, pointing out that the maximum that could be trained is 800. The Minister vocally endorsed the recruitment campaign earlier this year. Is it fair to say it is not down to a lack of applications - 6,700 or so - but a lack of capacity to train more gardaí? What are the Government's plans to ensure more than 800 gardaí can be trained a year? We are all aware of the retention issue. Has there been an analysis or any moves to ensure as many gardaí as possible are maintained?
On the lack of capacity, each year, there can be four or five intakes into Templemore. It can take more than 200, probably up to 225 or so per intake. If there are five intakes a year, we will hit 1,000 a year if we get the stream of individuals coming through. The Deputy is right that capacity is tight. At present, the problem is not capacity in Templemore. The number coming through can be accommodated and we need to increase it. If Templemore is not able to accommodate the number coming through, my Department is looking at other training locations. Templemore will always be the primary training location for An Garda Síochána. In the short term, it will probably be the only one but if extra capacity is required elsewhere, the Department and I are open to considering it.
127. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the number of gardaí who have resigned from the force in each of the past three years, broken down by rank; if his Department has conducted any analysis into the reasons behind the increase in resignations; if it is intended to introduce specific retention initiatives, to stem attrition and retain experienced members of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24596/25]
On 26 February 2024, the Minister wrote about the potential for 6,400 gardaí to leave the force over the next three years. What are the plans to address the retention of gardaí? What is the number of gardaí leaving the force? What will the Minister to do address that?
I had a look at the statistics on the number of gardaí leaving the force. This year and last year, we are talking about between 1% and 2% leaving. Based on the calculations we have seen to the end of March, we are probably looking at somewhere in the region of 140 gardaí resigning from the force this year and with around 14,000 on the force. That is around 1%, which is extremely low. If one looks at the corresponding figures in the UK, we see that approximately 10% resign from the police force there.
I do not want to lose any gardaí, especially when, as is currently the case, numbers are tight. We want to get numbers up to 15,000, so we cannot be in a position where gardaí are resigning. We need to ensure that we try to retain as many of them as possible. Unfortunately, and this is a compliment to An Garda Síochána, gardaí are highly employable individuals. People want to hire members of An Garda Síochána because they come with great discipline and training and are very employable in the private sector. That is why it is very important that I try to ensure the terms and conditions of offer within the public sector are as good and as attractive as possible.
Resignations are not as big an issue as I thought previously, but it is something that we need to keep a close eye on. The United States, New Zealand and Canada have all reported an increase in resignations from their police forces that are in excess of the rates that have been seen in An Garda Síochána. We need to get the recruitment numbers up because we are always going to have people who decide they want to try a different career. At present, I am trying encourage people to leave other careers and join An Garda Síochána, so we must recognise that it may work the other way as well.
I appreciate that 1% or 2% does not seem particularly high, but Garda numbers are particularly low. The Commissioner has talked about getting the numbers up to 18,000, but the 1% or 2% leaving is not being matched by people coming in. There is also the potential for 6,400 gardaí to retire in the next three years, which is incredible. Gardaí are leaving the force for a multitude of reasons but we only have anecdotal evidence of that. We have senior gardaí going into the Civil Service and rank-and-file gardaí going into the Prison Service, but we do not know why they are leaving. If we could capture that evidence, it would be very helpful.
That is a valid point. There was some feedback from departure interviews as to why gardaí were leaving. My recollection is that 47% or 48% just got a better offer in the private sector. Regarding the Commissioner's figure of 18,000, we need to take into account that there are many civilians working within An Garda Síochána. They are not gardaí but they do work that was done by members of the force previously. We have approximately 3,500 civilians within the force at present and approximately 14,200 gardaí. Collectively, along with reserves numbering around 300, we will get up to 18,000. It is a demanding challenge to get more people to join. All I can do, and all Members can do, is try to encourage people to join. It is a very fulfilling and exiting job. It is different to most jobs that people get to do. We live in a society where many jobs are very sedentary in nature. Being a garda is an exciting, active job. I encourage people to consider it.
It is an exciting job but the demands are incredible and the pay, in many instances, does not provide the capacity to afford to live in the cities that gardaí are asked to police. People are leaving. While the figure in this regard is only 1% or 2%, the force is still understaffed. An intensive campaign to recruit gardaí needs to do more than tell people it is an exciting job when they are dreading the bills coming in every week. I know the Minister recognises that.
We need more of a plan. We had a recruitment process and many people expressed an interest and filled out applications but that does not seem to have translated into gardaí coming out at the end. I encourage the Minister to try to understand better why people are leaving the force. There is space for more retention officers on the force in order that when people are considering leaving, they can outline their concerns, whether emotional or financial, to a particular individual. We need to be innovative in terms of how we seek to keep gardaí on the force.
We can talk about statistics, but the reality is that there have been 55 retirements and 31 resignations from An Garda Síochána in the past two months alone. We know that 1,640 gardaí will be eligible to retire over the next five years. The Minister spoke about some more recent work, but we know that prior to the commencement of exit interviews within An Garda Síochána, the GRA carried out its own research in 2023 with existing members. It found that members felt burnt out and stressed, were weighed down by administration, lacked the resources to be effective and were critical of the standard of training they received throughout their time in An Garda Síochána. The Minister has alluded to what some of the more recent research has found. Does he agree that the Dáil needs to be furnished with that research? We all need to have a handle on why some members of An Garda Síochána have left or feel they have no choice but to leave.
Will the Minister review the system whereby his Department refuses parliamentary questions relating to the work of An Garda Síochána and cites the Act that was passed just last year for doing so? This House needs to hold the Minister and his agencies to account. We cannot do that if the Department is refusing to engage. I ask the Minister to revise the current position.
I am obviously very accountable to the House, as I should be. Any information that my Department can provide will be provided. I will look into the issue the Deputy raises about getting further information from An Garda Síochána. Sometimes that just takes a bit of time but I have no difficulty with being accountable in this House for what gardaí do.
There is nothing we can do about retirements although we did manage to change the age from 60 to 62. Sometimes I grant extensions to 63 or 64. In fact, invariably if I am asked, I will extend a garda's term of service because we want to keep people in the force. I have the say that the explanations that are provided indicate to me that we should be keeping people within the force because of the expertise they have.
Resignations are a different matter. We are always going to have resignations. In terms of the reasons for resignations, I will go back and have a look at some of the post-resignation or departure interviews but most of them, from my recollection, were standard reasons. As I said to Deputy Gannon, many of them were because gardaí got different offers in the private sector. Obviously, terms and conditions are important. What I cannot do, however, because I would be thrown out of Government if I did, is start agreeing separate terms with An Garda Síochána outside of the public service pay agreements that apply.
Question No. 128 taken with Written Answers.
Crime Prevention
129. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice his plans to increase funding for and expand youth diversion programmes in County Meath and more generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/25]
On behalf of my colleague Deputy Darren O'Rourke, I wish to ask about youth diversion programmes which offer huge benefits. They are aimed at preventing young people from becoming involved in the criminal justice system and at promoting positive development. These programmes can lead to reduced recidivism and can help young people to make a positive contribution to society. What plans does the Minister have to increase funding and expand youth diversion programmes in County Meath?
I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services. Our commitment is clearly outlined by our youth justice strategy. A top priority of the strategy is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by youth diversion projects. These projects are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have become involved in crime or antisocial behaviour and to support wider preventative work within the community and with families at risk. They are funded by our Department under the youth justice strategy and run by community-based organisations. On average, the projects engage with about 4,000 young people across the State in any one year.
Funding for youth diversion projects and other youth justice measures has increased substantially in recent years, doubling from €18 million in 2020 to a total allocation of just over €36 million in budget 2025.
This is supporting an increase in the availability of youth diversion project services in the evenings and at the weekends when many young people need these services. It will facilitate an increase in supports for families, interventions for disadvantaged young people and early interventions for eight- to 11-year-olds who may be at increased risk of becoming engaged in criminal activity.
There are 93 YDPs available throughout the State and a further two have been established and are due to be up and running in north Tipperary and east Clare later this year.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. The question related to Meath, so I wanted to focus on youth diversion in the Ashbourne area. The area has seen a significant increase in population and I welcome the recent funds that were allocated from the community safety fund for Ashbourne. This is money that was seized by CAB and put back into communities to help them build resilience to crime. This is something my party campaigned for for a long time. The service in Ashbourne is helping approximately 30 young people and is in the process of moving into a new building that will then run a full youth service in Ashbourne. From speaking to my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, I know this is something that is very positive and welcomed by the community. Has the Minister got an update on the programme in Ashbourne? Does he know when the new youth facility will open? Will the Government look at a multi-annual funding model for these programmes so that they can strategically plan for the future?
I mentioned there were two new projects being stood up in east Clare and north Tipperary. That confirms we have full national coverage for youth diversion projects. Of the 93 projects, three operate in County Meath. Of the three Meath programmes, the ones in Navan and Duleek in south-east Meath are operated by Foróige and the SMART Project in Trim is operated by the Crann Support Group. In total, these projects will benefit from funding of approximately €1.4 million in 2025. This represents an increase of over €800,000 from the year 2022.
I have a table here where the Garda has outlined to us the number of annual referrals made to its youth diversion programme in the Meath-Westmeath Garda division for the past five years. I will furnish the Deputy with those in due course.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I want to touch on the community safety fund again. This is money from organised crime that was seized by CAB and is meant to be invested in the communities most impacted by crime. These communities are in need of resources to strengthen their resilience against criminal activity. It is no coincidence that the majority of money seized by CAB originates in areas of high disadvantage. It is crucial that these areas get the support they need.
I have met several front-line services in my role as party spokesperson on youth justice and community safety and they have concerns about the criteria. Yesterday, for example, Deputy Carthy and I met the Inner City Organisations Network, ICON. It received community safety funding to conduct research into how organised criminals were trafficking young people into criminality. It applied for the second part of this funding to expand the research but was denied. Will there be a review into the community safety fund to ensure it is fit for purpose and agile enough to meet the challenges of emerging trends in the youth just area?
The community safety fund is currently open for applications and is funded by the proceeds of crime seized by CAB. As the Deputy correctly said, the idea is to make available those proceeds to communities that have been impacted by crime.
I will revert to the Deputy on his specific query, as I am not in a position to give him an answer about it now.
Question No. 130 taken with Written Answers.
Local Community Safety Partnerships
131. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline any engagement there has been between his Department and any other agency on the preparation of the establishment of the community safety partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23475/25]
I ask the Minister about the establishment of the community safety partnerships. There is much in this we welcome, including the involvement of the Garda, the local authorities, the HSE and other stakeholders. However, there are questions about the membership, especially about which elected representatives will be on it and how they will operate. Local authorities have issues with who can be the chairs. The biggest issue is the timeline. If the Minister has any proposal to make changes, what are they and how does he propose they will happen? Could we not even have the possibility of the JPC operating in the interim?
I thank the Deputy. If he will permit me, I will return briefly to something Deputies Carthy and Gannon raised. They talked about exit interviews from An Garda Síochána. What I should have mentioned in my answer was that exit interviews were done in 2024 and the main reason gardaí left was referred to as "family circumstances", namely, gardaí found it difficult to maintain their careers as Garda members while also managing family life.
I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for his question about community safety partnerships. As a former member of a local authority, he will know JPCs were an invaluable way for elected representatives to get information from An Garda Síochána. The purpose of the new scheme of community safety partnerships is to ensure that continues, but that it is broadened with the presence of other statutory agencies. I hope to sign regulations providing for the rules and mechanisms for these community safety partnerships in the very near future. I do not want to give the Deputy a specific date. I am hoping to do it very soon, but it will be done in the very near future. I have also signed into law the order required for the purpose of establishing the steering group that will be necessary to evaluate these new community partnerships. They will be an invaluable addition. They will enable individuals who are local representatives of the community to talk to gardaí and agencies like the HSE, Tusla and Cuan in order to ensure there is a proper discussion of the important information that needs to be communicated in respect of a local community.
As for the chair, the role is pivotal to the partnerships achieving their full potential. In advance of the commencement of the Act and in order to be well prepared, my Department has invited local authorities to select suitable chairs through an expression of interest process. I am committed to ensuring the local community safety partnerships are effective and robust from the outset. Over the course of preparing the necessary regulations to establish the partnerships, it became clear they would have to elect a chair from within their membership. I will set out more detail about that in due course, but it is an important part of the accountability of local government.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The main thing is that "very soon" needs to be very soon. We need to see these up and running and I will put the question back in the short term because of the anomaly that JPCs, which did great work, are not in existence now. Would it be possible to have them in the short term?
Is the Minister proposing any changes to community safety partnerships? There are certain things we would all like to see in terms of ensuring there are sufficient elected representatives and others on the partnerships. I also accept we need to have something that is fit for purpose from an operational point of view.
We all spoke about the loss of Garda Kevin Flatley. We had a garda in Dundalk on routine patrol who was injured in the last while and we know of the huge issues there are with crime. Great strides have been made with organised crime recently in my constituency but we need to do a lot more. It is necessary we have a fit-for-purpose means of engagement with the other statutory agencies along with the Garda, because sometimes the Garda ends up carrying the can for the HSE and others.
The Deputy makes a very valid point. The whole logic behind establishing the LCSPs was to ensure we broadened it out so that it was not just a member of An Garda Síochána who was having to answer questions related to the HSE or other statutory agencies. As any member of a local authority will know, when it comes to responding to issues that arise in our community, it is very seldom the case there is just one statutory entity of which we can say it has responsibility and it will deal with it. In the area of criminal justice, we know from the many examples we have all received that it can be the Garda in the first instance, but there may also be an issue in respect of housing, the HSE or Tusla. The whole purpose behind the new statutory scheme for local community safety partnerships is so it is broadened out to include them.
I recognise the importance of elected representatives and we must ensure they remain central to the new partnerships. However, there is broader and different experience that will be included.
When the regulations are signed by me, which will be done very shortly, I think the Deputy will be pleased with them. If he is not, I have no doubt I will hear from him.
132. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the roll-out of local community safety partnerships in Dublin West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24783/25]
I too am raising the local community safety partnerships. I believe they have the potential to truly impact community safety if they are implemented in a way that brings the right and relevant local stakeholders around the table and supports specific strategies for specific areas. Too big, and we will not address local problems; too small and it becomes hard to manage. When will see the local community safety partnerships up and running in Dublin West?
As the Minister said, the community safety partnerships were to be restructured to replace the JPCs. They were much promised by the Minister's predecessor, Deputy McEntee, and much lauded. It is very worrying to hear the Minister still has not signed off on these community safety partnerships. There is a vacuum. The JPC is vital in holding the Garda to account. Can the Minister enact this legislation? At the moment there are different approaches in different local authorities. Dublin City Council is continuing with the JPC structures but south Dublin has not had any JPC meeting since last May. I call on the Minister to act with urgency and sign off this legislation as soon as possible.
We need this legislation signed off as early as possible. There are questions about the membership, including membership of TDs and other stakeholders. We need to ensure we have something that is fit for purpose. I request that what Deputy Ward said be followed through on. There must be some consistency. In Louth, it has been a considerable period since we have had joint policing committee meetings. When the Minister has his work done, we need to see that. It needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
I thank the Deputies. In fairness, the 2024 Act was just commenced last month. Under section 114 of that Act, there is an obligation on me to make regulations in respect of the establishment of local community safety partnerships. I assure Deputies that officials in my Department are finalising those regulations. I will use a term I used previously; I believe I will be able to sign them very shortly. I certainly believe they will be signed and in place before we next have questions to the Minister for Justice. I also think they will be very effective in seeking to achieve what is set out in the legislation, namely to have a broader representation within the partnerships so the issues affecting local communities, not just in respect of policing but also in community safety, can be dealt with in one forum within the local authority. I will ask Deputies to consider to the regulations when they see them in the near future. I am sure we will have an opportunity to discuss them again.
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