• Increase of 20.4% compared to 2024. • Highest number of completions since 2011. Over 36,000 homes were delivered by the Government in 2025, an increase of 20.4% from 2024.   There were 36,284 new dwelling completions in 2025, the highest number of completions since 2011.   Minister for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD said: “This is great news and a further example that the Government’s plan to deliver housing   is working.   “This Government is investing unprec

The Emergency Response Payment will be available to those living in properties affected by Storm Chandra in Waterford, Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has confirmed.   The Emergency Response Payment provides financial support for people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are unable to meet emergency costs for essential needs, household items and structural repair.    Stage 1 of the scheme is available fro

• Over €4.2m payments made to Waterford homeowners under the scheme bringing 79 vacant properties back into use. • Strong pipeline across Waterford with over 220 grants approved to bring disused properties back to life.   Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has outlined that 79 vacant homes were brought back into use in Waterford during 2025.   The figures also reveal that there is a robust pipeline of projects set to transform vacant and dereli

- 5.1% net jobs growth for Enterprise Ireland supported companies in 2025 across Waterford Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed figures from Enterprise Ireland, which show Waterford had the third highest rate of net job growth in the countryin 2025, underlining the South East’s position as a key region for employment growth.   The figures show strong and broad-based regional job creation in 2025, with total employment across Enterpri

• €273,729 awarded to 31 projects to protect historic buildings in Waterford • Thatched projects receive further €41,060under Historic Thatched Buildings scheme Minister of State for Planning and Local Government at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins TD, has today (23 January 2026) announced over €270,000 in funding to Waterford projects under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2026. A further €41,060 under the Historic Thatched Bu

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed the announcement of a record allocation of €546,985 core funding to Waterford Sports Partnership.   Investment in Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) has increased by 5.9% compared to 2025, with a total investment of €12.66 million being allocated across the 29 LSPs nationwide. For Waterford Sports Partnership, investment has increased by 9.4%.   A record investment of €33.36 million in core funding

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has confirmed that provisions are being put in place for 24/7 cardiac care to be stood up at University Hospital Waterford by the end of June 2026.   An additional €611,000 was provided last year by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD for the recruitment of additional staff to commence the further expansion of cardiac services at UHW.   Minister Cummins has continued to engage with Minister Carro

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has today welcomed an announcement of €9.1m for Waterford – which will see the further development of walking and cycling projects that offer safe, sustainable and healthy transport options to communities throughout the county. Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer TD, along with his Government Department colleagues, has announced €360 million in Government funding for Activ

• New single approval process for all new build social housing projects up to €200m from January 2026 The Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins TD, today announced that from January 2026, all new proposals for newbuild 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. These reforms will cut delays, streamline delivery and

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has today confirmed an allocation of €2.7m worth of funding to Waterford City & County Council, that will lead to the construction of a brand-new state-of-the-art fire station for Kilmacthomas, County Waterford. The station will be constructed on a green field site accessed off the R677 Regional Road and Local Primary Road L3042 approximately 1 km from the existing Kilmacthomas Fire Station. The station design

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed today’s announcement that seven new special classes have been sanctioned for Waterford schools for the 2026/27 school year. Seven Waterford schools will have new special classrooms as part of the latest tranche of funding from the Department of Education which will see a further 168 classes sanctioned for the next academic year. Welcoming the announcement, Minister Cummins said: “Today the governm

Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD says the Government’s decision to vote against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is the correct decision for farmers in Waterford. The deal was approved by qualified majority this morning, Friday January 9 th - despite opposition from Ireland, France, Poland, Austria and Hungary – while Belgium abstained. Speaking on the deal, Minister Cummins said: “The decision to reject Mercosur reflects the importance of

Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed today’s announcement that over €1.2m worth of funding will be provided to six Waterford communities through the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.   Projects in An Rinn, Dunhill, Dunmore East, Portlaw, Lismore and Villierstown have been successfully awarded funding as part of €26 million for 116 projects in rural communities across the country.     The funding, which is provide

Minister Cummins has also extended regulations to extend the change of use from vacant commercial properties to residential properties for another 3 years Minister of State for Planning and Local Government John Cummins TD has today signed new Exempted Development regulations, which will allow farmers to increase slurry storage capacity and construct additional housing for cattle without the need to seek planning permission. The Waterford Ministerhas listened to the farming c

The establishment of a professor grade for Ireland’s five Technological Universities has been welcomed by Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD as fantastic news for Waterford.   The Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD has today introduced a new grade of Full Professor in Technological Universities, under the Technological University Act 2018.   50 Professor posts will be created across the

Farmers in Waterford will benefit from the continued availability of the nitrates derogation, Waterford Minister John Cummins has said.   Minister Cummins welcomed the announcement by his Fine Gael colleague Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon that Ireland has secured the continued availability of the nitrates derogation, which is great news for derogation farmers in Waterford.   On news of the announcement Minister Cummins said: “Securing continued av

Waterford Minister John Cummins has welcomed this morning’s announcement of over €2.2 Million for Waterford in balancing payments for the 2025 Eco-Scheme. The news was confirmed by his Fine Gael colleague Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD. The commencement of the Eco-Scheme balancing payments will bring the total paid under the 2025 Eco-Scheme since October to almost €288 million with 112,610 farmers now in receipt of an Eco-scheme payment. From

The new Infrastructure Action Plan will deliver more homes, better transport and critical infrastructure in Waterford, Fine Gael Minister John Cummins has said.   Minister Cummins said: “These reforms mark a turning point in cutting delays, streamlining planning approvals and ensuring that the infrastructure projects Waterford needs don’t stay on paper.   “This plan is critical for our growing economy, families in Waterford need better services, commuters need better transpor

Farmers in Waterford will begin receiving payments under the Beef Welfare Scheme over the coming days Fine GaelWaterford Minister John Cummins has said.   Across the country over €28.07 million will be issued to 24,214 participating farmers supporting 450,895 calves.   Minister John Cummins said the Beef Welfare Scheme 2025 aims to further increase the economic efficiency of and enhance animal health on suckler farms.   “I’m delighted to see funding of €391,636 for farmers in

Minister and Fine Gael TD John Cummins has welcomed this morning’s announcement that over €446,000 has been awarded for Waterford under 2025 CLÁR Programme – Measure 1.   CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd Riachtanais) or Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small-scale - infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. CLÁR is just one piece of the Department’s Rural Dev