Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the engagement his Department has had with officials in Údarás na Gaeltachta, Waterford City and County Council, and Rannóg Gaeltachta of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media regarding the development of affordable housing in Gaeltacht na nDéise, given the pressing need for tailored housing solutions in Gaeltacht communities. [3641/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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An Interdepartmental Group (comprising the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the Department of Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of both Departments and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas. Interdepartmental Group and Working Group meetings took place in 2023 and bilateral Departmental engagement continued into 2024 and is ongoing.

Any finalised draft guidelines will be subject to mandatory screening under EU law for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). It is intended that, in consultation with DRCDG, subject to the outcome of the screening exercises, the draft guidelines will then be published for public consultation.

In relation to affordable housing, all local authorities have developed and published their Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out their plans to deliver social and affordable housing during the period from 2022-2026. This follows a comprehensive Housing Needs and Demand Assessment. Each local authority's Action Plan is available on their official website.

Affordable homes will be allocated according to the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and the Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 21/2023). Each Local Authority is required to prepare a Scheme of Priority (SoP), determining the order of priority to be accorded to eligible applicants.

The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to assist towards the cost of developing affordable housing at locations where significant affordability needs have been identified.

My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist local authorities and other agencies in relation to ongoing development of their affordable housing delivery programmes.