Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he is taking to support improved water supplies in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48976/23]
View answerThe Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to private domestic water services in rural areas where there are no public (Uisce Éireann) water services. It provides operational and management subsidies for the group water sector and also provides capital investment in the wider rural water sector.
The Multi-annual Rural Water Programme provides capital funding aimed at improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of rural water services infrastructure. It continues to build on the success and achievements of previous programmes. The bulk of the funding is aimed at improving the water quality in group water schemes. I can confirm that I plan to publish the framework for the new Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 in the coming weeks.
My Department also provides a grant which assists households with the costs incurred in providing a supply of water for domestic purposes or rectifying serious deficiencies with an existing supply. A review of this grant is currently underway and I expect to receive recommendations for my consideration and approval by the end of 2023.
I have also recently announced improvements to the Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Grants, which will encourage more householders to avail of the grant and consequently help reduce the environmental risk from defective systems. These changes will come into effect from 1 January 2024.
142. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the new National Coastal Change Management Strategy. [49077/23]
View answerIn response to the developing risks associated with climate change - including changing weather patterns and an estimated sea level rise of up to one metre by the year 2100 - the Government established the Inter Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change Strategy chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works. The purpose of the Group was to scope out an approach for the development of an integrated whole of Government strategy for managing coastal change.
The report of the Inter Departmental Group, which was recently approved by Government and published by me in conjunction with my colleague Minister O'Donovan, can be found online: gov.ie - Coastal Change Management Strategy Report (www.gov.ie).
The Report sets out the Group’s initial findings and recommendations to enable the State to assess risks and develop appropriate responses, and it addresses:-
• Approaches to coastal change management in EU and other jurisdictions;
• Baseline and other data capture and research requirements to inform the development, implementation and monitoring of a national coastal management strategy, to include potential damages assessment;
• Outline of the economic, environmental, cultural and social policy issues arising with approaches to coastal change management;
• The development of criteria that can help inform planning and investment decisions on future use of all coastal areas, including any guidance requirements;
• Recommendations on future structures and roles of Government Departments to deal with coastal change and to deliver a national coastal change policy, including adaptation strategies, resource implications, legislative and regulatory change requirements and a communications strategy to underpin it.
Tackling coastal change management in response to climate change will be complex, multi-faceted and dynamic, demanding a range of research, policy and consequential management responses. Through the 15 recommendations set out in the report, an evidence-based coastal change management strategy facilitating key decisions to be taken to address and manage the impacts of coastal change over the short, medium and longer term will be put in place.
I intend to progress this work through the establishment of an interdepartmental steering group, to be led by my Department. My Department will act as the policy lead, in particular co-ordinating the work across Government with respect to responding in a co-ordinated way to the challenge of coastal change. The Office of Public Works will act as the national lead coordinating body for the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and the assessment of technical options and constraints.
144. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the social and cost-rental tenant-in-situ schemes, including the number of purchases to date. [49050/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023 and these allocations are being kept under review.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 2 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
The Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model.
The current household net income limit for scheme eligibility is €66,000 for Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere. This is in line with the revised income limits for Cost Rental which came into effect from 1 August 2023.
Local Authority Housing Officers have responsibility for assessing the risk of homelessness to tenants who have received a valid notification of termination due to an intended sale of a property, and so it is the local authority that tenants should first approach.
The scheme is administered by the Housing Agency and, as of the end of Q2 2023, 68 cases had been referred to the Housing Agency by 21 local authorities. It is intended that data in relation to the Scheme will be published on a quarterly basis.
145. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the policy with respect to the establishment of housing developments with self-contained apartments for older people, similar to a development (details supplied); the supports put in place by his department to encourage such developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49074/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, there is a policy objective to increase and improve housing options for older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence. Housing for All builds on and takes forward the ongoing actions in "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population" policy statement from 2019, published jointly by my Department and the Department of Health, which provides policy options in support of a range of housing and accommodation alternatives for older people. The actions include the development of a catalogue of housing options that provide a range of choices that meet the diverse need of an ageing population, spanning owner occupier, private rental and social housing, whilst providing accessible care and the associated support needs. My Department, together with the local authorities and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), is successfully guiding and delivering age-friendly housing within this framework.
In the case of specific types of developments, the initiation, design, planning, development and management of housing projects is a matter for local authorities in exercise of their statutory functions. As such, it is a matter for the local authorities to decide on the number and type of dwellings it will provide for any specific group within their overall planning for housing delivery. Social housing is delivered across a range of funding programmes in my Department and housing for older people is provided within these schemes.
146. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the pilot scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of vacant farmhouses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/23]
View answerThe Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses is primarily a built heritage scheme, intended to support the conservation of an important and historically neglected part of our traditional building stock. I am pleased to note that it may also make a contribution to our broader efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
Owners of traditional farmhouses often undertake renovation works without professional advice, and may carry out unnecessary demolition or use materials that damage the historic fabric of the building. In general this results in a loss of historic character and, in some cases, further expenditure for the owner. It is hoped that these outcomes can be avoided through the timely provision of expert advice.
As is noted, this is a pilot scheme which intends to trial the provision of conservation grants for vacant historic buildings. My Department is examining options for extending the scheme beyond vernacular farmhouses, to cover a wider range of historic buildings in both urban and rural areas, subject to appropriate sanction and to the estimates process.
In the meantime, I would call attention to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund, grant programmes offered by my Department which fund conservation works in a wide range of historic buildings. €9m is being allocated to these schemes for 2024. The application window for both these schemes is currently open, and all applications should be made to the relevant local authority.
147. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will change the rules governing the spreading of slurry to allow farmers to spread slurry after 30 September each year, by getting a permit from his Department to allow them spread slurry in dry weather (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47190/23]
View answerThe Good Agricultural Practice – GAP- Regulations allow for an extension of the slurry spreading season up until the 15th October provided there are suitable ground and growth conditions and a favourable weather forecast to ensure that the slurry spreading will not impact water quality. This year I approved the maximum extension allowing farmers more time to empty their tanks before the start of the slurry spreading closed period.
Spreading of slurry in unfavourable ground and weather conditions results in run-off to nearby streams, rivers and lakes impacting water quality. We continue to see unsatisfactory trends in our water quality as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. We need to do all we can to prevent further impact by ensuring that slurry is spread when and where it is most needed by crops, and as early in the season as is practicable.
Therefore, going forward, farmers should prioritise emptying their slurry storage facilities as early in the growing season as possible. This has agronomic benefits for the farmer and protects water quality. The requirement to spread slurry after 30 September is avoidable with efficient management. Farmers following best practice should have empty slurry tanks by 30 September. In the future, this will avoid slurry storage capacity issues.
I have recently raised the matter of slurry storage and management with Minister McConalogue asking him and his officials in DAFM to continue to promote the early application of slurry to avoid slurry storage capacity issues at the start of the closed period for slurry spreading and to encourage farmers to put adequate slurry storage in place.
148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied), which found that only 27 properties were available within standard/discretionary HAP limits nationwide, the lowest number recorded across the 31 such reports carried out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48429/23]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2023, over 112,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were over 58,200 households actively in receipt of HAP support. At end Q2 2023, nearly 4,200 new HAP tenancies had been created this year, which is an average of 161 new HAP tenancies per week.
Since 11 July 2022 each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
From available data, at the end of Q2 2023, 63.9% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility, at an average rate of discretion of 26.5% above the relevant limit.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
150. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what funding is being provided for the first-home scheme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48952/23]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, which launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie. The overall funding for the First Home Scheme is €400 million. It is anticipated that these funds will facilitate the delivery of 8,000 affordable interventions in the period up to 2026. This committed funding comprises €200 million from my Department, and €200 million collectively from the participating mortgage lenders, i.e. a 50:50 division of funding. Building on the State funding already provided to the First Home Scheme, a further €50m has been announced to support the Scheme in 2024.
The Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV) is published in mid-December every year. This provides final detail on the allocations by subhead for the following year and takes into account both the Programme level allocations announced at Budget and any additional allocations, for example just transition, carbon fund, etc.
151. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned at the impact of pollution from agriculture on algal blooms in Blessington Lakes; the measures he will take to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47008/23]
View answerBlessington Reservoir, also known as Pollaphuca Reservoir, is monitored by the EPA to assess its ecological health for the Water Framework Directive. The most recent full assessment, using data from 2016 to 2021, classified the lake as being in satisfactory ecological condition (Good Ecological Status).
Algal blooms (phytoplankton over-growth) in lakes are a natural phenomenon that can be exacerbated by excess nutrients and warm settled weather. Algal blooms are not specifically monitored for in the national water-monitoring programme, as, by their nature, they can be relatively short-lived events.
Algael blooms need nutrients to grow. Blooms are exacerbated at this time of year if we get warm weather. While Pollaphuca does not appear to have an excessive nutrient issue at the scale of the whole lake nutrients may be accumulating in some smaller bays.
The local catchment area around the Blessington lake has been identified on the EPA Catchment.ie website as a catchment area where agriculture is not identified as a significant pressure.
I am not therefore concerned that any new initiative is required in this case.
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which extra methods and means can be employed to provide extra housing in sufficient volume to meet requirements to address homelessness, child homelessness and family homelessness; if he continues to identify extra measures likely to positively impact in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48150/23]
View answerThe increase in homelessness is a serious concern for Government and is being actively addressed. There is no shortage of will or determination to deal with the issue of homelessness. It remains a top priority for our Government.
Resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. Reflecting the importance placed on Housing for All, a record €5.1bn capital investment in housing was announced in Budget 2024. This will be made up of €2.6bn exchequer funding, €978m Land Development Agency (LDA) and €1.5bn Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding.
The capital funding being provided for housing in 2024, coupled with LDA and HFA investment is the highest ever in the history of the State. This funding will ensure we can continue to deliver new social and affordable homes for purchase and rent at pace. Budget 2024 also provides funding of over €242m, an increase of 12.5% on last year, for the delivery of homeless services.
Key to addressing homelessness, child homelessness and family homelessness is increasing supply to give people a safe and secure home. Housing for All will see the supply of housing increase to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes and 54,000 affordable homes by 2030.
Supply is increasing. In 2022, almost 30,000 homes were delivered. This number exceeds the Housing for All target by over 5,000 homes and is the highest number of home completions in a decade. Some 31,500 homes were completed in the rolling 12-month period to the end of September 2023. Nearly 24,000 homes commenced construction in the first three quarters of 2023, up 14% on the same period last year.
2022 saw the highest annual output of social homes in decades and the highest level of new-build social homes in half a century. 10,263 social homes were delivered through local authority and Approved Housing Bodies through build, acquisitions or leasing. 7,433 of these were new-builds.
A number of new measures have been introduced recently to expedite supply, including the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR) scheme, the temporary waiving of development levies, and the expansion of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Alongside these, other reforms and activation measures designed to increase supply such as the Croí Cónaithe Cities scheme and Project Tosaigh have also been introduced under Housing for All.
Government and I are fully committed to the successful implementation of Housing for All, which contains the comprehensive suite of timed actions that are required to ensure that sustainable housing supply is delivered whilst also continuing to deliver on the fundamental reforms set out in the Plan. We continue to keep measures in the Housing for All Plan under review to ensure we are agile and responsive in addressing the challenges in housing. An updated Action Plan for Housing for All is due to be published shortly.
155. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what funding is being provided for cost rental in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48979/23]
View answerI refer to the composite reply given to Questions Nos. 319, 325, 327, 329, 330 and 331 (PQ Ref: 44967/23) on 17 October 2023 which sets out the position in relation to the matter raised. This remains the up-to-date position.
156. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the latest information on the purchases of homes by first-time buyers and the supply of affordable homes for purchase by such buyers. [48356/23]
View answerAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.
In relation to affordable housing, under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home scheme, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is available up to Quarter 2 2023 and is published available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery
In relation to the level of home purchases by first-time-buyers, my Department is not responsible for the collection of such data, however the CSO reports that, based on stamp duty executions, there have been 18,063 first time buyer transactions in the 12 months up to the end of August 2023, including 5,232 transactions for new build homes. More information on the latest first time buyer statistics can be found on the website: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/prices/residentialpropertypriceindex/
157. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the development of the national river catchment model to assist with flood prediction alerts and the delivery of additional weather radars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49038/23]
View answerMet Éireann’s Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) has successfully developed national-scale river forecasting model for the state, with the capacity to model and monitor flood risk across 36 river catchments. This research and development work to select, trial, and test these models is based on established international practices and standards for national and catchment-scale flood forecasting.
Following a successful trial period of the river catchment models, the FFC is expected to transition into a pre-operational phase in the coming months, subject to final approval by the National Flood Forecasting Warning Service Steering Committee.
At present, the FFC maintains and operates the river modelling systems, with the information derived from these systems serving as the basis for the guidance, advice and services related to river flooding provided by the FFC. These products and associated guidance and advice are intended to provide key stakeholders with information about potential river flood risks over the upcoming days.
Met Éireann has a strategic development plan to upgrade and expand the national weather radar network over the next ten years. During this period, the number of radars will triple, from two to six, covering key areas across the country to ensure optimal weather radar coverage and provide more accurate rainfall information to the Irish public and Met Éireann’s forecasters. The first step in this plan was the upgrade of the weather radar at Shannon, which became operational on 13 October 2023. Further information available on the press release at:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b7650-met-eireann-launches-new-advanced-weather-radar-system-at-shannon-airport/
158. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether there is a need for an increase in the number of changing places and toilets for people with severe disabilities; if his Department has considered the establishment of a fund to enable these facilities to be installed in public and private buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47471/23]
View answerThe Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will greatly improve community participation and social inclusion for people with complex care needs.
The key objectives of the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 are to increase the provision of changing places toilets in certain new buildings, and to improve the accessibility and usability of existing building stock by making provision for a changing places toilet, where there is a significant extension or material change of use.
The types of buildings to which the regulations apply are listed in Table 1 of Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use 2022 (TGD M) and include locations such as shopping centres, museums, galleries, cinemas, hotels, roadside service stations and heritage sites.
The number of new Changing Places Toilets provided in any county will be determined by construction activity commenced in that county and the number of buildings or works that meet the use and size criteria listed in Table 1 of TGD M.
The operative date of the Regulations was 1 January, 2023, however, it should be noted that subject to the transitional periods cited in the Regulation, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2022 will apply to buildings or works commenced after the 1st of January 2024.
PART 3 of the Disability Act, 2005, places an obligation on public bodies to make their buildings and services accessible. Section 25 of the Act states that where Part M is amended, public buildings shall be brought into compliance with any amendments not later than ten years after the commencement of that amendment.
For the purposes of giving guidance to public bodies on the matter, the National Disability Authority is developing of a Code of Practice for Accessible Public Buildings under Section 25 of the Disability Act. The National Disability Authority is under the remit of The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who have overall responsibility for policy relating to disabilities.
160. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta an gcuirfidh sé scéim tithíochta shainiúil don Ghaeltacht ar bun, anuas ar (nó lasmuigh de) Croí Cónaithe, scéim amhail is atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Fáis, 2024-2029, cáipéis a bhfuil tacaíocht tugtha ag 138 ngrúpa Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta di, lena n-áirítear Conradh na Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48386/23]
View answerTá polasaí maidir le forbairt scéimeanna tithíochta leagtha amach i dTithíocht do Chách.
Tá roinnt beart tugtha isteach ag an Rialtas chun tacú le teaghlaigh agus le daoine aonair ar mian leo teach a cheannach, chomh maith le méadú a dhéanamh ar an soláthar iomlán tithe nua, agus tacaíonn Ciste Baile an Chroí Chónaithe, a seoladh i mí Iúil 2022, le foirgnimh agus láithreáin atá folamh agus tréigthe i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus ar fud na tíre a úsáid.
Príomhthionscnamh ab ea tabhairt isteach an Deontais Athchóirithe Réadmhaoine Folamh faoi Chiste na mBailte Croí Cónaithe. Tacaíonn an Deontas le réadmhaoine folmha agus tréigthe a thabhairt ar ais in úsáid mar thithe, agus ag an am céanna beatha nua a thabhairt isteach inár mbailte agus sráidbhailte, ag tacú lena n-athghiniúint.
Ó mhí na Bealtaine 2023, tá deontas suas le €50,000 ar fáil chun athfheistiú a dhéanamh ar réadmhaoin fholmha lena n-áitiú mar phríomháit chónaithe phríobháideach nó curtha ar fáil ar cíos. Sa chás go bhfuil réadmhaoin tréigthe, tá breisiú suas le €20,000 ar fáil, rud a thugann a deontas iomlán atá ar fáil do mhaoin thréigthe go huasmhéid de €70,000.
Tá an-tóir ar an scéim ó seoladh í. Go dtí deireadh R3 2023, bhí 4,640 iarratas faighte ag údaráis áitiúla ar fud na tíre agus ceadaíodh 1,975 iarratas agus íocadh 21 deontas amach.
Ón 1 Iúil 2023, tá tacaíocht bhreise ar fáil faoin Deontas Athchóirithe Réadmhaoine Folamh chun tacú le hathchóiriú a dhéanamh ar réadmhaoin fholmha agus thréigthe atá lonnaithe ar na hoileáin chun cuidiú leo iad a chur in úsáid arís. Tá uasráta an Deontais Athchóirithe Maoine Folamh atá iníoctha suas le 20% níos airde do mhaoine fholmha agus thréigthe incháilithe ar oileáin cháilitheacha. Fágann sé seo na huasrátaí deontais d’athfheistiú réadmhaoine ar oileáin suas le €60,000 chun foirgnimh fholmha a athchóiriú agus suas le €84,000 sa chás go ndeimhnítear go bhfuil an mhaoin tréigthe agus go n-aithníonn sé na costais bhreise a bhaineann le foirgnimh fholmha agus thréigthe a athchóiriú ar na hoileáin.
Is í an dara scéim atá á seachadadh faoi Chiste na mBailte Croí Cónaithe ná an scéim Réidh le Tógáil. Seoladh é an 21 Meán Fómhair 2022, agus cuireann údaráis áitiúla suíomhanna seirbhísithe ar fáil i mbailte agus sráidbhailte ar rátaí lascainithe do dhaoine aonair ar mian leo a dteach féin a thógáil. Tá an Roinn i dteagmháil le húdaráis áitiúla faoi láthair chun láithreáin a aithint le díol faoin scéim.
Níl aon phleananna faoi láthair scéim tithíochta a bhunú go sonrach don Ghaeltacht. Tá mo Roinnse páirteach, áfach, i nGrúpa Idir-Rannach (ar a bhfuil oifigigh ón Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta; ón Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán; agus Údarás na Gaeltachta) atá ag obair chun treoir shonrach pleanála a fhorbairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta. Tá mo Roinn sásta fós dul i dteagmháil leis an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir le haon bhearta a bhaineann le forbairt tithíochta agus Gaeltachta.
