A proposal to grant planning exemptions for modular homes of up to 45 square metres in back gardens will be brought to Cabinet today.
The memo from both Minister for Housing James Browne and Minister of State John Cummins stipulates that the homes must comply with building regulations and standards.
These changes have taken some time to get to Cabinet but the outline of this plan is now taking shape.
In order to put a modular home in your back garden, the homeowner must be living in the primary dwelling.
Separate entrances and a certain distance from the main residence will also be required, and the garden must be at least 25 square metres.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is set to expand the Rent a Room scheme to cover these modular units which means the owner can receive €14,000 in rent tax free annually.
Anyone charging above this will pay tax on the full amount.
Mr Browne is expected to amend legislation to allow these modular homes to be rented using what is called a licencing agreement.
Other planning exemptions which are likely to get the green light include extensions of up to 45 square metres and a self-contained unit can also be built on to the main home.
A new exemption will provide for cycle or bin storage at both the front and back of the property, with enough space to hold either four adult bicycles or three wheelie bins.
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton will seek Government approval for the appointment of four commissioners to the Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools.
The appointments will include a senior legal consultant and child safeguarding experts.
The move is seen as an important milestone in addressing the legacy of abuse in schools.
The Commission was established last year following a recommendation of the scoping Inquiry into abuse in schools run by religious orders.
The Commission is currently being established and is putting in place the necessary legal, technical and data protection measures.
A survivor-centred, trauma-informed approach will guide its work.
The minister believes it is essential that survivors can share their experiences safely.
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley is bringing a memo to cabinet to announce funding for more additional early learning and childcare places.
The purpose of the Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase Two is to provide grants for extensions to existing early learning and childcare services. The grants will be open to community and private providers who are signed up to core funding.
The scheme will run in tandem with the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme, for which €135 million is being made available over the next five years.
The Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment Darragh O'Brien will tell Government that applications for individual home energy upgrades are up 186% in the first three months of the year.
Some 73,000 upgrades are targeted this year including more than 7,000 window and door upgrades and over 1,730 attic insulations.
Since 2019, SEAI schemes have provided almost €1.77 billion in support to homeowners for almost 258,000 home energy improvements.
Minister for Higher Education James Lawless is bringing the National Tertiary Education Strategy to Cabinet.
It will provide a national framework to support more than 500,000 learners across 14 higher education institutions and 16 Education and Training Boards.
This strategy has been developed in response to the country's evolving national skills requirements.
