Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the substantial investment projects planned for north Dublin to improve the range of services and amenities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35014/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan.

To date, there have been three rounds ('calls') of funding provided under the URDF, with approximately €1.9 billion allocated so far. URDF supported projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.

While Calls 1 and 2 were for specific regeneration projects, the latest round of funding (Call 3) is to address long term vacancy and dereliction, while supporting the key objectives of Housing for All and Town Centre First.

The relevant sponsoring agency is responsible for the composition of any applications for funding and decides, in the first instance, on which suitable projects it wishes to have considered for URDF funding. In the case of the Investment to which you refer, the relevant sponsoring agencies in the North Dublin Region would be Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council.

Further details of the URDF Call 1 and Call 2 programme of projects for Dublin City Council’s North side projects are shown in Table A below.

Further details of the URDF Call 1 and Call 2 programme of projects for Fingal County Council’s projects are shown in Table B below.

Table A – Dublin City Council – URDF Calls 1 and 2 Approved Projects

In line with the agreed Programme for Government, it is my intention to establish a new Towns and Cities Infrastructure Investment Fund to replace the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). With this new fund the aim is to continue and expand URDF-type investment in projects. This will allow for investment in infrastructure, the acquisition of land, assembly of sites and the de-risking of sites in existing towns and cities to maximise their potential growth.

The detailed arrangements for the implementation of these funding streams will be clarified further following completion of the National Development Plan Review, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, and which will enable the level of additional capital funding for infrastructure investment to be determined. It is planned that the Review will be completed in line with the summer 2025 timeline set out in the Programme for Government.

My Department will continue to work closely with Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in respect of project development under future rounds of funding.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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259. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding any research into explicitly including the sale of nicotine inhaling products into the planning permission process for local authorities, thus allowing local councils to evaluate the public health impacts of such sales on their communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35021/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Planning Framework recognises the strong link between our health and environment and includes a National Policy Objective to support the objectives of public health policy, including Healthy Ireland and the National Physical Activity Plan, through integrating such policies, where appropriate and at the applicable scale, with planning policy.

The zoning of land for particular purposes, including retail development, is an exercise undertaken by planning authorities as part of their overall statutory plan function generally as part of a development plan under sections 9 to 13 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), but can at present also be carried out as part of a local area plan (LAP) process. The making of a development plan or an LAP is a reserved function of the elected members of each authority.

In preparing their statutory plans, including in relation to the zoning of land for particular purposes, the elected members are required to consider and be consistent with, as appropriate, the National Planning Framework, Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and relevant Ministerial planning guidelines.

With regard to the specific matter of the sale of nicotine inhaling products and consideration within the process of granting planning permission, under the provisions of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended) the definition of a shop includes a structure used for the retail sale of goods. The Regulations do not specify what types of goods may or may not be sold within a shop.

The evaluation of, or any research into, any public health impact of any particular products and the development of related guidance, would, in the first instance be a matter for the Department of Health under the auspices of policy initiatives such as Tobacco Free Ireland.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby school teachers are forced to give up jobs due to being unable to afford accommodation in Dublin; if he has considered supporting the provision of dedicated housing for teachers and other frontline workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35023/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, contains a suite of actions that have, and continue to, increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes.

My Department is currently exploring options for the setting aside of certain Cost Rental units for key local workers as set out in the new Programme for Government. This includes considering opportunities to build on the legislative changes brought in last year.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 included new provisions relating to the Cost Rental sector which are likely to improve access for certain cohorts, including those local key workers. The changes will allow cost rental providers to prioritise such homes for those with a link to an area through previous residence, place of employment, or children’s education. It will also make it easier for friends and work colleagues to come together to access Cost Rental by sharing the rent . This will support people to live and work in their local area.

My Department is developing the required legal and policy framework, including regulations, to provide for the implementation of these changes to Cost Rental.