Towards the end of the evidence, the child expressed her desire to see her friend and her cat again
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14 Jan 2026
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14 Jan 2026
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New reforms in housing are set to cut delays and speed up the construction of new social homes in Laois.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, has announced that from this January all new proposals for new‑build social housing projects up to €200 million will move to a single approval process.
The new system will also introduce standardised design and specifications across all projects. The changes are hoped to cut delays, streamline delivery and accelerate the construction of social homes in the county and elsewhere in the country.
This new single approval process has replaced the current four stage and single stage approval processes.
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The introduction of standardised design and specifications aim to drive greater efficiency, consistency and value for money.
762 new-build social homes have been delivered in Laois between 2022 and September 2025. These reforms are hoped to increase this output further.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Browne said: "I am determined to use every opportunity available to accelerate the delivery of social homes. That means reducing bureaucracy, cutting red tape and putting in place systems that allow new social homes to be delivered faster and more efficiently.
"These reforms will streamline approvals, embed standardisation and support greater use of modern construction methods, all with the single aim of getting high‑quality homes built sooner for those who need them."
The Minister continued: "Since 2022 up to Q3 ‘25, we have added over 750 new‑build social homes to the housing stock in Laois, the highest level in a generation, but more needs to be done. With these reforms, I expect to see a marked increase in own‑build social housing delivery from local authorities in particular.
"This is a matter of urgent importance, and we must keep driving momentum to ensure families and individuals in Laois get the homes they need."
The Government's Housing Action Plan intends for local authorities to increase their social housing delivery to an average of 12,000 per year.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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