Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

103. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is aware of the urgency in allocating funding to the Gaeltacht through Scéim na mBóithre Áise; when funding will be made available; the amount of funding that will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55941/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The current Programme for Government includes a commitment to the re-establishment of Scéim na mBóithre Áise. Discussion is underway in my Department to decide the best approach to implementing this commitment going forward.

In the meantime, funding is available under the Department's Local Improvement Scheme to assist local authorities with improvement work on non-public roads and roads which are not normally publicly maintained. In addition, I announced in August that further funding of €5.8m was being provided under this scheme to counties with Gaeltacht areas for upgrade works on country roads and lanes.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

104. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific measures in Budget 2026 will support the building of houses in Gaeltacht areas; when he will publish the Guidelines for Gaeltacht Housing; and if he will consider establishing a dedicated Housing Unit in Údarás na Gaeltachta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55560/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that the specific Budget 2026 measures aimed at supporting the provision of housing across the state, including the provision of housing in Gaeltacht areas comes under the remit of The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

It should be noted, however, that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has done considerable work in conjunction with my Department to develop Gaeltacht Planning Guidelines. It is understood that this work is now being accelerated and that the guidelines will be published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the coming months.

I would add that it is local authorities who can implement planning and development policies that will best respond to the issue of housing provision in Gaeltacht areas. At a meeting earlier this year with local authority managers, I recommended that relevant local authorities integrate the specific needs of the Gaeltacht into County Development Plans, and consult with Údarás na Gaeltachta on this matter to ensure that any housing policy to be implemented is appropriate to address housing provision in the Gaeltacht.

Údarás na Gaeltachta will, accordingly, have a secondary role in the provision of housing in the Gaeltacht, as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Local Authorities have primary responsibility in this regard. Accordingly, the matter of establishing a dedicated housing unit within the organisation does not arise.

The Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill, 2024 passed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann before the summer recess. The main purpose of this Bill is to reintroduce elections to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. However, in order to support the provision of housing in Gaeltacht areas, the Bill contains a provision to allow an tÚdarás dispose of lands held by the organisation to either an approved housing body or a housing authority for the purpose of providing housing in the Gaeltacht.

It is my understanding that Údarás na Gaeltachta has identified sites that may be suitable for housing development within Gaeltacht areas. The sites in question are located close to other housing developments or community services. Údarás na Gaeltachta has indicated that it now intends to engage with key stakeholders regarding the development of these sites, as well as working with relevant partners to address various challenges regarding the general provision and availability of housing in Gaeltacht areas.

In addition, I understand that an tÚdarás has made housing capital grants available to community development organisations in the Gaeltacht who receive an annual administration grant from the organisation. A 10% capital grant is available up to a maximum of €300,000 for community development organisations, enabling them to develop small, language-based housing projects. I also understand that an tÚdarás has recently appointed consultants to progress the organisation's strategy on the matter of housing in Gaeltacht areas.