Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening. I want to discuss the individual county council building targets from 2025 to 2030 and the actuals from 2020 to 2024. The national planning framework needs to be finalised. I have been raising this since I came here and, prior to that, in my time as a county councillor. Coincidentally, a first revision was published today. I hope it can be put through the Houses of the Oireachtas quickly.

The delay so far is preventing much-needed house building because the current plan is based on outdated population figures and is preventing planning permission approvals. Recently, in Blessington, County Wicklow, planning for 335 houses, supported by Wicklow County Council, was refused by An Bord Pleanála because the town plan had not been updated. This update was not possible because the national planning framework had not been updated. Red tape stopped 335 houses in west Wicklow. This existing framework is based on the 2016 census, which is way out of date.

In the County Wicklow development plan of 2022, on which I made 48 submissions, we had the bizarre situation where many towns had their residential zonings dezoned at a time when we all knew there was a housing shortage. Additionally, the new framework needs to allow headroom, which was used previously in zoning guidelines to take account of the fact that many zoned lands are unlikely to be developed for a variety of reasons. It is really important that we have significant headroom in the new plan. Browsing through it today, there was no mention of headroom. I presume that percentage will follow, and I hope it will be a significant figure. The limiting of zoned land to exact population targets means that, in practice, there is not enough zoned land, thus preventing planning grants for much-needed housing. This restrictive and inflexible policy has led to much dezoning in a time of housing shortage.

The current targets for Wicklow are clearly way too low. For this year, they are 1,411 houses, dropping to 969 in 2028 and to 528 in 2029 and 2030. Clearly, that is not fit for purpose. From a national perspective, councils must 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 large numbers of houses. The Minister must then meet the CEOs of the councils and the heads of planning quarterly. This method is exactly how a business would aim to achieve its target.

Furthermore, I wish to make a suggestion on expired local area plans. Currently, if someone appeals planning permission that has been granted, An Bord Pleanála will refuse on the grounds that the local area plans are out of date. Will the Minister of State consider giving expired local area plans legal status or extending their lifetime to avoid such refusals until such time as they are updated? Because the challenge is the forward planning units in the county councils, the county councils will have to choose between updating local area plans or updating the county development plans. My suggestion could avoid that resource issue. In any case, the forward planning units need guidelines from the Minister. In Wicklow, some local area plans have expired and I am aware of the same issue in other counties including Kildare and Wexford. How long will this review of the local area plans in the county development plans take? Normally, this process takes nine months. Is there any way we can expedite this? The targets for each town should not be a cap as it currently operates.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Timmins for raising this in his role as TD for Wicklow. Under Housing for All, the Government has committed to delivering 47,600 new-build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022 to 2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new-build projects delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHBs. The number of new-build social homes in the pipeline continues to remain strong year on year, with new construction projects getting under way regularly. The strongest national delivery of social housing since 1975 was recorded in 2023, when 11,939 new social homes were delivered by local authorities and AHBs, including 8,110 new-build homes, 1,829 acquisitions and 1,999 homes through leasing programmes. Altogether, between 2020 and 2023, some 39,185 social homes were delivered across build, acquisition and lease. The figures for 2024 are being finalised.

On a quarterly basis, the Department publishes the social housing construction status report, which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for quarter 3 of 2024, while that for quarter 4 will be published shortly.

Recent years have witnessed significant demographic changes. The Government has acknowledged these evolving circumstances and is actively revising targets to reflect updated census information, market analysis and economic forecasting, to which the Deputy referred, in the context of the national planning framework.

Under Housing for All, last year, the Government approved new national housing targets up to the year 2030. The aim is to deliver 303,000 homes in the period 2025 to 2030, equating to an annual average of 50,500 homes and building to 60,000 in 2030. The revised targets were informed by research and modelling by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, on population projections and long-run housing demand. The revised national housing targets will inform the revision to existing social and affordable housing targets at a local authority level.

Following the publication of the revised national planning framework, which was brought to Cabinet this morning and approved by the Government, work will be undertaken to translate these revised national targets into specific local authority housing requirements for planning purposes and social and affordable targets will also be progressed at this stage. Once finalised, local authorities will integrate these revised targets into their respective housing strategies and development plans, ensuring they accurately reflect local needs and facilitate adequate land zoning and infrastructure planning. This process will be supported by explicit policy guidance and methodology provided by the Department to ensure consistency, transparency and effective implementation across all local authorities. The Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, want this done as speedily as possible. Directions will be issued to local authorities in this regard.

Revised national level targets and local authority tenure-specific targets will be agreed in the context of the new national housing plan later in the year. It is essential that local authorities' targets align with their needs and ensure balanced regional development. The housing need and demand assessment, HNDA, and the summary of social housing assessment, SSHA, are the key tools in determining these targets. The HNDA provides evidence-based insights into housing needs across all tenures, analysing demographic trends, affordability data and housing stock pressures. This framework allows local authorities to make informed decisions about future housing requirements. Details of local authority and AHB delivery are set out in the housing delivery action plans prepared by each local authority. These plans have been published on each local authority's website.

The specific point the Deputy was making was in the context of the national planning framework and how that can filter down and be effective on the ground.

The Deputy raised a specific point about local development plans and local area plans. I will let him come back in and then I will respond.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That answer is high level. What I am getting at here is that more micromanaging is required. In particular, each county has a target but I would suggest this should be monitored on a monthly basis, with an explanation sought if it is not reached. This should be done cumulatively as well. It should even go so far as having quarterly meetings with CEOs and the heads of planning and the Minister and Minister of State with responsibility for housing. It needs to be done at that level, otherwise it will not happen.

On a separate aspect of housing delivery, what is the motivation for councils to deliver more housing? I suggested a monitoring procedure as one way. Another way is to incentivise councils, as happens in England. Councils that reach delivery targets could be rewarded with extra funding for infrastructure. This could include parks, sports facilities and other community benefits. This infrastructure should be the norm, of course, but we need to see a clear correlation between housing delivery and infrastructure delivery. I would also like to see a detailed target for affordable housing. This area of housing has been neglected and needs specific focus. The monthly delivery figures should show affordable, private, social and cost rental.

I have other suggestions. Can restrictions be lifted on tiered zoned land? Tier 1 land must be developed before tier 2 land is allowed to be developed, but that needs to be loosened up. Can planning permissions that are due to expire in the next two years be extended? We are in a challenging situation and we must remove all roadblocks to house building. The Office of the Planning Regulator must refrain from introducing tiered zoning. It must look at the bigger picture and support house building rather than having an overly strict interpretation of policy. Can deadlines be put on An Bord Pleanála for decisions? County councils adhere to a strict deadline for planning decisions but the board does not. I know of a planning decision that was due last July and the applicant is still waiting on the board.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy made practical points and suggestions. I suggest that he follow up on his detailed proposals directly with the Minister, Deputy James Browne, and Minister of State, Deputy Cummins. In my own role in the Department, I am over housing for the elderly in the context of local authorities.

I will respond to the Deputy's point about An Bord Pleanála. Under the new Planning and Development Act, An Bord Pleanála will have to meet statutory deadlines for the first time ever. That was not the case up to now, the Deputy is correct. It will make an enormous difference.

The Deputy raised other points. The Department will be monitoring. The Deputy is calling for additional points on top of that, for example, a correlation between infrastructure and housing. The Deputy has other moves he would like to see in terms of planning permissions. In the context of the Planning and Development Act, there are changes in terms of applying for extension of planning permissions. That will be facilitated. The Deputy made specific points.

I thank Deputy Timmins for raising these important matters. We are fully committed to delivering social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale. This is being done at a record level, which is being provided with every house in 2025. The overall capital funding now available is almost €6.8 billion, with a further €1.6 billion in current funding to address need. The revised targets and annual profile aligned with the draft revision of the national planning framework applies to approximately 50,000 homes per annum. The target will take account of new homes and pent-up demand.

Now that the revision of the national planning framework has been agreed and published, and noting that it will require approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, work will commence in terms of working with local authorities and revising their plans in line with the new national planning framework.

It is important to mention that the programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver an average of 12,000 new social homes per year for the lifetime of the Government. We will also engage with local authorities on the individual targets as the work I have outlined today progresses.