I thank Deputy Ellis for tabling this Topical Issue matter. The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents and those on higher incomes paying higher rents. This system is known as the differential rents system. It is a critical piece of the State's welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who cannot meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. The making or amending of such rent schemes is a matter for local authorities within broad principles that are set out by my Department. As part of its devolved function in administering rent schemes, my Department understands that Dublin City Council has recently undertaken a major review of its differential rent scheme with the intention of making it fairer and progressive whereby those who earn more can pay more while still protecting those on lowest incomes. Recent analysis by Dublin City Council found more than one fifth of council households have an after-tax income of greater than €1,000 per week. I understand that households in receipt of social housing in the Dublin City Council area pay heavily subsidised rents, with the average charge across the scheme at €83 per week. This average rent is reported to rise to €108 under the changes. The Dublin City Council scheme raises the proportion of income reckonable for rent calculation from 15% to 18% and also takes into consideration the incomes of all subsidiary earners in the household, including adult children who are working. Dublin City Council's new rent scheme is, therefore, progressive in that those households who collectively earn more pay a higher proportion of their income in rent, similar to the PAYE system. The new housing plan entitled Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 commits to reviewing the rents paid by social housing tenants with a view to introducing an equitable system of rents that is fair, progressive, sustainable and that protects the most vulnerable. This builds on the work and analysis my Department has been undertaking, which identified that the current differential system varies significantly across the 31 local authorities. While rents are based on household income, the amounts charged and the approaches taken in calculating those rents differ considerably. Proposals will be submitted to the Minister, Deputy Browne, for his consideration in the second half of this year, and any decision to implement a standardised national rents framework will be considered thereafter.
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I do not agree with the Deputy's hypothesis. He knows well that under residential tenancy legislation, any existing tenant is unaffected by the changes that were passed by this Oireachtas-----
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Sorry, but I did not interrupt the Deputy.
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If the Deputy will allow me to respond, he gave an example of a tenant with two or three years of a contract. That does not exist. Part 4 tenancies are created after six months, and tenants have protections under the residential tenancies legislation. The new legislation that was passed applies to new tenancies created after 1 March. On the Deputy’s broader point in respect of the rent scheme, which I commented on in my initial contribution, it is a matter for each of our 31 local authorities to set their differential rent schemes. Many people in the Dáil look for devolved functions and more powers for local councils. The Deputy sat on a council. I remember meeting him at various engagements. As Minister of State with responsibility for local government, I am looking forward to receiving the recommendations of the local authority task force, which has the aim of trying to give more powers to local government. This is one of them. This is a reserve function. It is an executive decision to bring forward measures to ensure that stock can be maintained. They have set it at 18% as opposed to 15%, but it is also grounded on the fact that those on the lowest incomes pay the least amount in rent and those on the highest incomes will pay the highest amount. That is a fair and equitable system. It is the system of differential rents that we have in place to support the most vulnerable in this country.
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The Deputy has a job to do to represent his constituents when he comes in this Chamber. No one will ever challenge him on that, least of all me. The response I have here paints a somewhat different picture from that painted by the Deputy. It is important that I reflect it on the record of the House, but I am happy to engage further in my follow-up reply. The works in the Clontarf area commenced on 16 February and relate to a new €25 million strategic water pipeline that will significantly improve resilience, connectivity and long-term water security across north Dublin city area. The north city arterial main will also provide the additional network capacity required to enable the delivery of 12,000 new homes, supporting future growth across the entire region. It is a critical piece of infrastructure for cross-city water transfers between key storage facilities at Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip and part of a wider programme of work to enhance water resilience across the greater Dublin area. It is my understanding that Uisce Éireann has undertaken extensive communication and community engagement before and during these works. In 2025, the Uisce Éireann project team attended meetings of the Clontarf flood alleviation scheme joint working group to provide updates on the project to Dublin City Council, elected representatives, local businesses and resident representatives. Uisce Éireann also recently hosted two elected representative briefings in advance of commencement of works on the project with Dublin city councillors on Thursday 22 January and Fingal county councillors on Friday, 23 January. Uisce Éireann has also committed to providing elected representatives with updates every two weeks. To date, updates have been issued on 17 February and 20 February. Uisce Éireann also hosted a community information evening on Thursday 29 January in Kilbarrack. Residents and businesses along the route from Causeway Road to Bayside Boulevard, including Greendale Road and Thornville Road, were invited. Information on traffic management measures that will be in place in order to complete the works safely was shared at this event. Access for residents, businesses, property owners and emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout. It is expected that this phase of works will be completed by the first quarter of 2027. Uisce Éireann has also been engaging with Dublin City Council's active travel section to co-ordinate projects within the Kilbarrack area, and Fingal County Council roads division regarding co-ordination with forthcoming resurfacing works along the R105 Dublin Road. Before the works began, Uisce Éireann's contractor issued letters to homes and businesses in the area with details of the traffic arrangements. Variable message signage will also be displayed at the junction of Greendale Road and Dublin Road and at the Causeway Road junction. This signage may move throughout the duration of the works as necessary. Uisce Éireann's contractor has been engaging with local stakeholders, including Dublin City Council, emergency services, public transport providers such as Dublin Bus, refuse collection companies and schools, to help ensure that the project runs as smoothly as possible. Emergency services, refuse collection companies and public transport operators have been provided with a detailed traffic management plan so that they can make necessary arrangements. Since the works have commenced, Uisce Éireann has been closely monitoring traffic conditions and will continue to review traffic management plans, incorporating feedback from elected representatives and local residents, as the Deputy is doing here this evening on behalf of his constituents. I am informed that a dedicated community liaison officer for the project is in place.
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I will take his request back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, and I am sure Deputy Heneghan will speak to him in the context of the Deputy's request. As the Deputy will appreciate, any works of this nature are very significant and will be disruptive. Obviously, only management and mitigation measures can be put in place. That will change depending on the circumstances that exist at any given time, given the nature of works at any given time. The communications, as outlined in my initial response, are there in terms of the meetings and the continued engagement that Uisce Éireann has committed to, including the designated liaison officer, for whom contact details are on the website, and the continued engagement with the emergency services, Dublin City Council and the public transport providers to ensure that as much of that communication is maintained insofar as is possible while works are being undertaken. I hear what the Deputy is saying in terms of the engagement. I think there is a broader point that has been made by Deputies. It has been raised by the Minister and me with Uisce Éireann in terms of communications. The Deputy will have seen some feedback that was provided to all Oireachtas Members recently by Uisce Éireann in terms of public representative engagements. I accept the points the Deputy has raised and I will take them back to the Minister, Deputy James Browne.
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