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Over €2.1 billion of last year's funding went to the provision of social housing

Govt transferred €6bn to local authorities in 2020

Over €6 billion in funding was transferred from central Government departments to local authorities last year, an increase of 46% on the €4.17 billion in 2019.

Business • 30 Sep 21

The turnkey homes were purchased for social tenants

Councils spent over €125m buying new homes last year

Some of the country's largest local authorities spent more than €125 million last year buying new homes from private developers, at a cost significantly greater than building social homes directly, according to new figures released to RTÉ News.

News • 25 Apr 19

The report calls for services such as waste collection to be returned to councils

Push for councils to retake control of services

Public service unions have launched a campaign to boost the powers of local government and to bring privatised services back under the control of local authorities.

Ireland • 27 Mar 19

People will be allowed to use waste collection services, bring their waste to centres or share bins, but they must have proof

Inspections to monitor waste disposal being introduced

New inspection measures to clamp down on illegal dumping and irresponsible disposal of household waste are being introduced by local authorities.

Ireland • 04 Feb 19

Travellers - Lives On The Fringes

In a six-month investigation, RTÉ Investigates reveals the reality of life behind the crisis in Traveller accommodation in Ireland today.

investigations unit • 26 Sep 19

Local authorities employees do not want to lose their public service status by being transferred to Irish Water

Staff difficulties for local authorities water services

Local authorities are having difficulties recruiting and retaining staff in their water services division because of fears that employees will be transferred to the Irish Water semi-state, and will lose their public service status.

Ireland • 20 Sep 18

20% more people were homeless at the end of 2017 than there had been at the start of the year

Record 14,500 homeless helped by Focus Ireland in 2017

A new report by Focus Ireland shows the homeless charity supported a record 14,500 people last year.

Ireland • 12 Jul 18

Concerns over delays in acquiring social housing units

An additional 750 empty properties are being offered to the State for purchase as social houses by banks and private equity funds.

Housing • 16 Feb 18

Figures show that since start of 2016, local authorities have built just 430 properties

Local authorities using 'fraction' of land for building

New analysis shows local authorities are using just a fraction of the land they own to build social housing.

Ireland • 21 Nov 17

Barry Cowen has accused the Government of not having a plan to deal with the housing issue

Figures show 2,600 empty local authority houses

New figures obtained by Fianna Fáil show there are 2,600 vacant local authority units across the country despite the growing housing crisis.

News • 29 Sep 15

Councils have been warned that the viability of new housing construction in Dublin is fragile

Councils warned over unreasonable standards

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has written to the chief executives of the four Dublin local authorities warning them not to introduce any new housing standards which would adversely affect the viability of commercial developments.

News • 16 Jun 15

The commissioner wants a provision to ensure State employees working in Gaeltacht areas are fluent in Irish

Local authorities criticised over Irish services

Most local authorities are failing to comply with legislation to safeguard the rights of Irish language speakers.

News • 14 May 15

Irish Water had originally hoped to end its Service Level Agreements with councils by 2017

Councils delayed providing data to Irish Water

Local authorities only handed over key financial data to Irish Water after a deal was reached that guaranteed a longer role for councils than originally planned.

News • 01 Feb 15

Irish Water has signed contracts or service level agreements with all 34 local authorities

Local authorities concerned over water resources

Several local authorities have warned Irish Water that it may not be paying them enough to maintain existing services, such as producing drinking water and fixing leaks.

News • 14 May 14

The positions are complementary to existing local authority staff and roles have been agreed with trade unions

800 jobseekers to work in Dublin's councils

Eight hundred long-term unemployed are to start work in Dublin's local authorities by the end of the year.

News • 21 Feb 14

Household Charge link to local cuts disputed

Independent TD Thomas Pringle has claimed the Government is using non-payment of the Household Charge to justify local authority cuts that were already planned or had already been applied.

News • 17 Aug 12

Minister says inquiry into planning not downgraded

The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, has told the Dáil that the Government had not downgraded an independent inquiry over planning irregularities.

News • 13 Jun 12

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