Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to discuss with the committee the Estimate for 2024 in the areas of local government, planning, Traveller accommodation and support, and housing for people with a disability and older people.

Supporting vulnerable households with their housing needs continues to be of paramount importance. I am particularly pleased, therefore, that more than €271 million in dedicated funding is being provided in 2024 to meet the needs of older people, disabled people and the Traveller community. Some €100 million in Exchequer funding is being provided for both private housing adaptation grants and adaptation grants for local authority-owned social homes. The Exchequer funding will be supplemented by local authorities' contributions and will deliver up to 15,000 grants for older and disabled people in 2024. More broadly, housing for older people and disabled people is also funded from the main social housing investment programme and from the capital assistance scheme, CAS, where €140 million is being allocated in 2024. A further €28 million in dedicated funding is being provided in 2024 to support the Traveller community.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the first local government elections in the country. It is perhaps fitting, therefore, that we have just been through our own local elections, but also that the first ever mayor with executive functions was directly elected by the people of Limerick City and County Council last week, marking one of the most significant reforms of local government in the State. The new Mayor, John Moran, who will shortly take up office, will be directly accountable to the people and will be a champion for Limerick locally, nationally and internationally, and have direct access to national government. This is a particularly exciting time for local government in Ireland. I look forward to following the progress of this historic office.

The Local Government Fund’s primary purpose is to channel local property tax, LPT, to local authorities following collection by the Revenue Commissioners, as well as supporting certain local authority initiatives. Apart from the LPT moneys being collected by Revenue, the Government is making a significant contribution of an additional €466 million from the fund to support local authorities in 2024. A large portion of this contribution, €332 million, will be towards assisting local authorities with the cumulative effect on pay costs arising from national pay agreements. The remainder of the 2024 Exchequer contribution to the fund will be used to supplement LPT yield in the 21 local authorities that require equalisation, that is, in those authorities where LPT yield falls below the baseline. Following a review of LPT baselines last year, baselines will increase by €75 million in 2024, with a minimum increase of at least €1.5 million for each authority. This increase should go some way towards easing pressures on the sector.

I am also pleased to inform the committee that a new local government code of governance was agreed and finalised earlier this year with the sector. The new code reflects the nature and governance arrangements of local government in Ireland, while building on the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Roll-out of the code will begin during 2024 with full implementation, following a transitional phase, from the 2025 financial year.

There is significant activity and funding in respect of planning, including €136 million for the urban regeneration and development fund in 2024 and more than €39 million funding for the operational budgets of An Bord Pleanála and the Office of the Planning Regulator. I am very pleased to say that the Planning and Development Bill 2023 passed in Dáil Éireann last night. This significant and important work is the culmination of rigorous legal review by the Office of the Attorney General and engagement across a wide range of Departments, supplemented by the experience and input of more than 30 key organisations across the Irish planning sector, both public and private. The key aim of the Bill is to put plan-making at the centre of the planning system. This will be brought about by bringing increased clarity to the legislation and improving the functioning of the planning system for both practitioners and the general public while protecting public participation, which is a hallmark of the current planning system.

I thank the Chair and members for their time. I will hand over to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who will speak about the important work being funded in the areas of heritage, electoral reform, and water and the marine environment.