Statement of Strategy 2026-2028

This ambitious new Statement of Strategy reflects the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s dedication to delivering on commitments made in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future.

This department focuses its mission across its seven strategic goals, setting out its objectives for the next three years, in the areas of housing, water, planning, local government services, Met Éireann, the protection of biodiversity and of our built and natural heritage.

The department’s mission is to support sustainable development and vibrant communities through strategic planning, the sustainable and efficient delivery of well-planned homes, the sustainable management of our water resources, the nurturing of Ireland’s heritage, and effective local government.

Our values are based on the values and standards set out in the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, the Code of Ethics, the Dignity at Work Policy and the Civil Service Renewal Plan. They represent the way we work together and are the drivers for everything that we do in the department in delivering for the public:

In pursuing our mission and goals, we will contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the current National Implementation Plan for Sustainable Development Goals 2022-2024, and subsequent plans, alongside our partners in central and local government.

To provide a framework that ensures a sustainable housing system in Ireland with a supply of good quality housing to match the needs of all our people

OUTCOMES

• A strong pipeline of zoned and serviced land is available
• Conditions are in place to attract required investment is residential construction sector
• Accelerated Housing Supply
• Affordable Home Ownership and Cost Rental Accommodation Supported
• Prevention of Homelessness
• Reduced Vacancy and Dereliction
• Policy and Legal Framework in Place to Support a Sustainable Private Rental Sector
• Buildings Standards Regulatory Authority Established

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal A

To provide a framework for the sustainable management of water resources from source to sea and for the provision of effective and efficient water services

OUTCOMES

• Availability of water services infrastructure to support increased targets for new housing delivery
• Water Sector Reform Delivering Social, Economic,and Environmental Sustainability
• Water Resources Managed in Compliance with EU Legislation
• A National Planning Statement on Waste Water Infrastructure to Support Housing Delivery
• Group Water Schemes delivered via the Design, Build and Operate Model
• ҅Uisce Éireann’s Water Services Strategic Plan and Strategic Funding Plan in support of National Development Plan Objectives adequately funded

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal B

Recognising the large numbers of public bodies that local authorities now provide services on behalf of, work with and through policy and programme leaders across national and local government to enable independent, democratic, responsive, innovative and effective local government.

Ensure effective electoral management and high quality fire services and emergency management.

OUTCOMES

• A Reformed and Strengthened Local Government
• An Effective and Efficient Electoral Processes
• A High Quality Fire Service and Emergency Management
• Effective Oversight of the Department’s State Bodies
• Greater Diversity Participation in Local Govvernment Elections

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal C

To ensure that planning and building in our regions and communities contributes to the delivery of sustainable and balanced development

OUTCOMES

• Sustainable and Balanced Planning and Building Delivered in Compliance with EU Directives and Supported by the National Planning Framework
• Rejuvenation of Towns and Cities
• Ministerial Action Plan on Planning Resources Delivered, Building Capacity and Resilience in the Planning System
• Evidence Based Policy Making Supported by Accessible, Agile and Up to Date Data
• Planning Guidance Issued to Facilitate the Development of Renewable Energy

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal D

In the context of climate change and the impact of weather on Ireland, serve the whole of society through the production and communication of world-class reliable weather, flooding, and climate information to protect life and property, promote wider societal and economic well-being, and to further enhance Met Éireann’s role as the authoritative voice on meteorology and climatology in Ireland

OUTCOMES

• Delivery of high quality, reliable, multi hazard, impact-based weather forecasting services
• Modernised Weather Radar Network
• National Flood Forecasting and Warnings Service
• Supported Through the Delivery of High Quality Flood Forecasts
• Climate Policy and Decision Making Supported Through the Provision of Expert Information and Focused Research
• Weather, Hydrological, and Climate Data Made Available as Open Data

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal E

To conserve, protect, manage and present our built, natural and archaeological heritage, and our biodiversity, for its intrinsic value and cultural identity, including to the environment as well as a support to local communities, regional economic development and sustainable employment

OUTCOMES

• Heightened Awareness of the Inherent Value of Ireland’s Natural, Cultural and Built Heritage
• Improvement of Conservation Status of Habitats and Species in the Irish Natura 2000 Network
• Biodiverse Ecosystems Protected or Restored, Providing Resilience to Climate Change and Extreme Climate Events
• UNESCO World Heritage Initiatives Progressed
• National Monuments Protected, Conserved, and Managed thorough Collaboration with the Office of Public Works, Local Authorities, Fáilte Ireland, Community Groups and Private Owners

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal F

To provide a framework that assists the department, local authorities and agencies to enhance digital services and accelerate, alongside our partners, the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the use of data and digital technologies

OUTCOMES

• Digital Service Delivery Designed Around Customer Needs and Aligned with the Connecting Government 2030 Strategy
• A Roadmap for the Development of an Integrated National Social Housing Digital platform Shared Across Local Authorities
• A Roadmap for the Development of an Integrated National Planning Application solution Shared Across Local Authorities
• A Modern Data Collection Process
• Increased Availability of Heritage Data

Key Objectives and Actions for Goal G

The department will, through the implementation of a range of initiatives, support its people to deliver these strategic goals. The department will continue to focus on adapting and improving its structures and processes so that its organisational structure, culture, governance, processes and technology, together with a learning culture, support the delivery of the strategy.

The department will continue to provide robust financial and budgetary services and to enhance and promote good corporate governance, with a dedicated Internal Audit Unit to provide scrutiny across the department. Compliance with legislation will continue in areas such as health and safety, accessibility, data protection, information access regimes, official languages, and human rights and equality obligations. The department will enhance the central role of knowledge management by implementing a Knowledge Management strategy and supporting initiatives. Working with the Office of Public Works, we will continue to ensure that the department’s facilities are fit for purpose and provide a safe working environment.

Work will commence in 2025 on the department’s new People Strategy, to succeed and build upon the prior strategy, WELL. The overall goals of this strategy will align with the objectives of Better Public Services, the government’s Transformation Strategy, 2023-2030, with specific emphasis on the Workforce and Organisation of the Future pillar.

The department is committed to transparency and public engagement. Supported by its Communications Unit, it will seek to ensure that the public are fully aware of the services, grants, and supports available to them, and it will provide information and assistance to the public and media on request and in a timely manner.

Through ongoing collaboration with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the department will continue to invest in its ICT resources to enable efficient and effective processes to be developed and implemented throughout the period of this Statement of Strategy. The department embraces a culture of innovation, working towards Digital Transformation 2030 across the department. The department is committed to the preparation of the Digital Strategy 2030 and to the development and implementation of the second sprint of its data strategy with a focus on data governance and data literacy.

We will collaborate with other departments and agencies to advance our strategic objectives. As an accountable department for PEACEPLUS we will seek to further develop our relationship with colleagues in Northern Ireland, through shared knowledge and cooperation that is of benefit to communities on both sides of the border.

Project Díon

A new technological solution is being developed for the management and reporting of housing programmes operated by the department. Once implemented, the new Díon system should enhance, improve and standardise processes, modernise and maximise the benefits of available technologies, improve data management and reporting and ensure better information flows between the department, local authorities and other key stakeholders involved in housing delivery including real-time data access.

Oireachtas Engagement

The department regularly engages with Oireachtas Committees, Cabinet Committees, interdepartmental groups and other state bodies in order to improve service delivery to the public. This engagement will continue and improvements will be made to processes throughout the term of this Statement of Strategy.

Climate change is one of the most profound challenges we face globally. Tackling this challenge requires substantial reductions in carbon emissions across all sectors of the economy, and initiatives to protect and promote biodiversity and cultural heritage, and improve water quality and water security. Ireland is committed to becoming one of the leaders in responding to climate disruption.

The all of government Climate Action Plan identifies the nature and scale of the challenge facing Ireland and charts a course towards ambitious targets for sectors including the Built Environment, the Circular Economy, Heritage, Transport, Agriculture, Land Use, Land Use Change, Forestry and the Marine Environment. Delivering this integrated set of actions and policies requires a high level of collaboration across government to achieve 51% reduction in Ireland’s overall Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from 2021 to 2030 as set out in the Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future. These legally binding objectives are set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.

The department has a key role in supporting the creation of the regulatory framework and support for Climate Action. We have already completed a number of actions including the introduction of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) performance standards for new dwellings, developing the process for identifying, describing and designating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the publication of the National Implementation Strategy for nature-based solutions and the department funds an ongoing programme of Social Housing Retrofit.

At area level planning the department provides guidance for compact urban development facilitating public transport, district heating and higher housing densities through the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF). The first revision to the NPF was approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas in April 2025. Regional Assemblies will now, within six months of said approval, commence the preparation of their Regional Economic Spatial Strategies. At a national level the department is enabling the provision of offshore and onshore renewable energy, while the National Policy on Architecture promotes quality in the built environment for increased environmental, economic and social sustainability and resilience.

Climate change is exacerbating both water scarcity and water-related hazards (such as floods and droughts), as rising temperatures disrupt precipitation patterns and the entire water cycle. However, water can fight climate change. Sustainable water management is central to building the resilience of societies and ecosystems and to reducing carbon emissions. The department has a central role in ensuring sustainable water management and Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 sets out how we will protect, improve and sustainably manage our water environment to 2027, in implementation of the EU Water FrameworkDirective (WFD) and UN Strategic Development Goal (SDG) 6 Clean Water and Sanitation.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is the European Union’s main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the European Union. A recast EPBD was adopted by the European Parliament and Council and came into force in May 2024. The new measures aim to increase the rate of renovation, particularly for the worst-performing buildings. It will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy poverty. The department will lead the transposition of the directive, coordinating its transposition across government departments and holds responsibility for the implementation of some key provisions including the requirement for new buildings to be zero-emission buildings (ZEB) after certain dates. Ireland is well positioned to implement the Directive requirements for new buildings as a result of existing Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) requirements already in place. Fossil fuel has been effectively phased out of new dwellings as the main source of heating fuel. The department, led by the Heritage Division, will continue to support the appropriate energy upgrading of traditional buildings to avoid maladaptation, including through the SEAI pilot grant scheme, based on the department’s guidance published under Climate Action Plan 2023.

Ireland published its first statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF) in 2018. The NAF aims to create a unified approach to adapt to climate change. Under the second statutory NAF published in June 2024, three of the Sectoral Adaptation Plans (SAPs) are the responsibility of this department, with work on these underway. The three plans are; the Built and Archaeological Heritage Adaptation Plan, the Water Quality and Water Services Infrastructure Adaptation Plan and the Biodiversity Adaptation Plan.

The department recognises the leadership role that local authorities play in implementing mitigation and adaptation measures at a local and regional level and will continue to support local authorities in this important role in co-operation with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Climate Action Regional Offices.

We will continue to conserve and protect nature in line with national and EU legislative requirements and will seek to mitigate to the greatest extent possible the impact of any proceedings against Ireland regarding the implementation of nature legislation.

We will continue to build the resilience of our built and archaeological heritage assets through enhanced climate risk assessment, targeted grant assistance, promotion of research, and engagement with communities. This includes heritage sites in the Minister’s ownership or guardianship, in local authority ownership or guardianship and in private ownership. The department will work with other sectors, local authorities and international partners to implement climate action for heritage where co-benefits are identified.

Nature conservation serves as both a buffer and a remedy in the effort to mitigate against climate change. Protecting and restoring ecosystems – such as forest, wetlands, grasslands etc., - enhances their ability to absorb and restore carbon, acting as natural carbon sinks.

Addressing climate breakdown and biodiversity loss are priorities for the department and underpin key policy areas across the department including:

• Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework
• Planning legislation and guidelines
• Built Environment
• Social Housing Retrofit
• Local Government
• Water Services and Water Quality management
• Heritage
• Nature Protection and Restoration (wildlife legislation and guidelines, enforcement, regulation, engagement and awareness raising)
• ҅National Biodiversity Action Plan

The department will deliver key legislative and implementation measures to tackle climate change under the Programme for Government, the Climate Action Plan, and EU Directives.

Under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 the department is required to set out in its Statement of Strategy an assessment of the human rights and equality issues it believes to be relevant to its functions and purpose, and the actions it is taking or proposes to take to address those issues.

In 2024, the department published an Assessment and Action Plan for 2024-2026, a whole of organisation approach to equality and human rights in actions for the department as an employer, service provider and policy maker. The Action Plan will be integrated into, and aligned with, the department’s strategic cycle. Progress will be reported in the Department’s Annual Reports.

Following further public consultation and in conjunction with the Plan, the primary actions identified to address equality and human rights needs across the organisation are outlined in the following table.

• APPENDIX 1 - Statement of Strategy - Structure of the Department
• APPENDIX 2 - Statement of Strategy - Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future
• APPENDIX 3 - Statement of Strategy - Agencies and Bodies under the Aegis of the Department