Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1979

What is this act about?

This law amends and expands previous Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, primarily by increasing the maximum amounts for various housing grants and loans in Gaeltacht areas. It updates the financial limits for building, improving, and extending dwelling-houses, as well as for holiday chalets and hostels.

Who it applies to: Applicants seeking grants for building or improving dwelling-houses in Gaeltacht areas; Individuals or entities building holiday chalets or hostels in Gaeltacht areas.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Other legislation
Articles: 10
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The maximum amounts for grants related to building and improving dwelling-houses.
Grants for the construction of holiday chalets and hostels.
Loans for holiday chalets.
Increased grant amounts for work carried out on offshore islands in Gaeltacht areas.

Who does this act apply to?

Applicants seeking grants for building or improving dwelling-houses in Gaeltacht areas.
Individuals or entities building holiday chalets or hostels in Gaeltacht areas.

What are the key points?

Building grants for dwelling-houses vary based on the floor area and the inclusion of sewerage, piped water, and a fitted bathroom with hot water supply, with different limits depending on when construction commenced (e.g., £600-£800 for houses commenced between January 1, 1973, and May 26, 1977, with full amenities).
Grants for certain house improvements increased, for example, from £90 to £360 for some works commenced on or after November 1, 1977.
Grants for extensions to dwelling-houses are limited by cost, floor area (£22.50 per square metre), and number of rooms (e.g., up to £810 for a three-room extension commenced on or after November 1, 1977), with no grant for rooms less than eight square metres.
Grants for holiday chalets increased to £600 for work commenced on or after November 1, 1977.
Grants for work on offshore islands are increased by fifty per cent.
The Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may vary grant amounts through regulations.

Other legislation

Appropriation Act 2014

Oireachtas (Miscellaneous Provisions) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 1996

British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999

Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1993

Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act 2018

Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act, 1925

Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961

Performers' Protection Act, 1968

Other legislation

Legal text

Contents (10)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10

Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1979 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1979 Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1979 Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1979 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 29 of 1979 HOUSING (GAELTACHT) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1979 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Interpretation.

Section 2

Increase of limits on certain grants.

Section 3

Grants in relation to houses.

Section 4

Holiday chalet building grants.

Section 5

Hostel building grants.

Section 6

Amendment of section 7 (1A) of Act of 1929.

Section 7

Loans for holiday chalets.

Section 8

Increased grants in respect of work on offshore islands.

Section 9

Regulations varying amounts of grants.

Section 10

Short title and collective citation.

SCHEDULE

PART I

BUILDING GRANTS IN RESPECT OF DWELLING-HOUSES, THE ERECTION OF WHICH COMMENCED ON OR AFTER 1st JANUARY, 1973, AND BEFORE 27th MAY, 1977.

PART II

BUILDING GRANTS IN RESPECT OF DWELLING-HOUSES, THE ERECTION OF WHICH COMMENCED ON OR AFTER 27th MAY, 1977.

Number 29 of 1979 HOUSING (GAELTACHT) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1979 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE HOUSING (GAELTACHT) ACTS, 1929 TO 1967. [14th November, 1979] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Interpretation.

1.—(1) In this Act— “the Acts” means the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1929 to 1979; “the Act of 1929” means the Housing (Gaeltacht) Act, 1929 ; “the Act of 1953” means the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1953 ; “the Act of 1959” means the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1959 ; “the Act of 1964” means the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1964 ; “the Act of 1967” means the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1967 .

(2)The Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1929 to 1967, and this Act shall be construed as one.

Increase of limits on certain grants.

2.—(1) The amount of a grant under section 3 (1) of the Act of 1929 shall— (a) where the erection of the dwelling-house commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1973, and before the 27th day of May, 1977, not exceed the appropriate sum specified in

Part 1

of the Schedule to this Act, and (b) where the erection of the dwelling-house commenced on or after the 27th day of May, 1977, and before the passing of this Act or commences after such passing, not exceed the, appropriate sum specified in

Part II

of the Schedule to this Act.

(2)The amount of a grant under section 3 (2) of the Act of 1929 shall— (a) where the work towards which the grant is made commenced on or after the 1st day of June, 1972, and before the 1st day of November, 1977, not exceed £250, and (b) where the work towards which the grant is made commenced on or after the 1st day of November, 1977, and before the passing of this Act or commences after such passing, not exceed £750.

(3)The amount of a grant under section 3 (7) (inserted by the Act of 1959) of the Act of 1929, as amended by the Act of 1967, shall— (a) where the erection of the dwelling-house commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1973, and before the 27th day of May, 1977, not exceed the appropriate sum specified in

Part I

Part II

of the Schedule to this Act.

(4)Where the Minister is satisfied that an applicant who is eligible to receive a building grant under section 3 (1) or 3 (7) (inserted by the Act of 1959) of the Act of 1929 is unable to erect a dwelling-house— (a) with a floor area of at least 40 square metres, or (b) with sewerage and piped water supply and a fitted bathroom with hot water supply, the Minister may, at his discretion, make to such applicant a grant under whichever of those provisions is relevant reduced by such amount as he may consider appropriate.

(5)(a) The limitation imposed by section 2 (1) of the Act of 1964 shall not apply in any case to which subsection (1) of this section applies. (b) The limitation imposed by section 2 (2) of the Act of 1964 shall not apply in any case to which subsection (2) of this section applies. (c) The limitation imposed by section 2 (3) of the Act of 1964 shall not apply in any case to which subsection (3) of this section applies.

Grants in relation to houses.

3.—(1) In paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of section 3 (5) (inserted by the Act of 1959) of the Act of 1929, as amended by section 3 (1) of the Act of 1964,— (a) where the work towards which the grant is made commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1973, and before the 1st day of November, 1977, references to £90, £60, £200 and £55 shall be substituted for the references to £60, £35, £150 and £40, respectively, and (b) where the work towards which the grant is made commenced on or after the 1st day of November, 1977, and before the passing of this Act or commences after such passing, references to £360, £300, £600 and £170, respectively, shall be substituted for the references to £90, £60, £200 and £55 (inserted by this section).

(2)Section 3 (6) (inserted by the Act of 1959) of the Act of 1929, as amended by section 3 (2) of the Act of 1964, is hereby amended by— (a) the insertion in subparagraph (a) after “the grant” of “, where the provision of the extension commenced before the 1st day of January, 1973,”; and (b) the addition thereto of the following subparagraphs: “(c) A grant under this subsection towards the provision of an extension which commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1973, and before the 1st day of November, 1977, shall not exceed— (i) three-quarters of the approved cost, (ii) £15 per square metre of floor area, (iii) £180 for an extension consisting of one room to a dwelling-house, (iv) £360 for an extension consisting of two rooms to a dwelling-house, (v) £540 for an extension consisting of three rooms to a dwelling-house, whichever is the least: provided that no grant shall be made in respect of a room the floor area of which is less than eight square metres. (d) A grant under this subsection towards the provision of an extension which commenced on or after the 1st day of November, 1977, and before the passing of this Act or which commences after such passing, shall not exceed— (i) three-quarters of the approved cost, (ii) £22.50 per square metre of floor area, (iii) £270 for an extension consisting of one room to a dwelling-house, (iv) £540 for an extension consisting of two rooms to a dwelling-house, (v) £810 for an extension consisting of three rooms to a dwelling-house, whichever is the least: provided that no grant shall be made in respect of a room the floor area of which is less than eight square metres. (e) Grants under this subsection shall not be made for an extension or extensions consisting of more than three rooms to a dwelling-house.”.

Holiday chalet building grants.

4.—In section 3A (1) (inserted by the Act of 1959) of the Act of 1929, as amended by section 4 of the Act 1964— (a) a reference to £450 shall be substituted for the reference to £300 where the work commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1973, and before the 1st day of November, 1977, and (b) a reference to £600 shall be substituted for the reference to £450 (inserted by this section) where the work commenced on or after the 1st day of November, 1977, and before the passing of this Act or commences after such passing.

Hostel building grants.

5.—Section 3A (2) (inserted by the Act of 1959) of the Act of 1929 is hereby amended by— (a) the insertion after “erect” of “, or to adapt existing premises to make them suitable for use as”, and (b) the insertion after “erection” of “or adaptation of existing premises, as the case may be,”.

Amendment of section 7 (1A) of Act of 1929.

6.—Section 7 (1A) (inserted by the Act of 1953) of the Act of 1929 is hereby amended by the insertion after “the same dwelling-house” of “provided that this subsection shall not apply to an improving grant made for the purpose of installing a back-boiler or other solid fuel burning appliance, which will provide a hot water supply, where neither is already installed”.

Loans for holiday chalets.

7.—In relation to a holiday chalet the building of which commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1973, section 5 (3) of the Act of 1959 is hereby amended by the substitution of “the amount of the grant” for “£200”.

Increased grants in respect of work on offshore islands.

8.—(1) The amount of a grant payable under any other provision of the Acts shall be increased by fifty per cent. where the work towards which the grant is made commenced on or after the 1st day of January, 1977, on an offshore island which is located in an area for the time being determined to be a Gaeltacht area by order under section 2 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1956 .

(2)In this section “island” means an island which is not accessible by road from the mainland.

Regulations varying amounts of grants.

9.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of the Acts, the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may, from time to time, by regulations, vary the amount of any grant payable under the Acts.

(2)Regulations under subsection (1) of this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after they are made and if either House, within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulations are laid before it, passes a resolution annulling the regulations, the regulations shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under the regulations.

Short title and collective citation.

10.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1979.

(2)The Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1929 to 1967, and this Act may be cited together as the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1929 to 1979.

SCHEDULE

Section 2 PART I

BUILDING GRANTS IN RESPECT OF DWELLING-HOUSES, THE ERECTION OF WHICH COMMENCED ON OR AFTER 1st JANUARY, 1973, AND BEFORE 27th MAY, 1977.

PART II

BUILDING GRANTS IN RESPECT OF DWELLING-HOUSES, THE ERECTION OF WHICH COMMENCED ON OR AFTER 27th MAY, 1977.

Floor area of dwelling-house in square metres 40 or more but less than 55 55 or more but less than 70 70 or more £ £ £ Where sewerage and piped water supply are installed and a fitted bathroom with hot water supply is provided 1,500 1,750 2,000 Acts Referred to Housing (Gaeltacht) Act, 1929 1929, No., 41 Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1953 1953, No. 6 Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1959 1959, No. 16 Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1964 1964, No. 34 Housing (Gaeltacht) (Amendment) Act, 1967 1967, No. 16 Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1956 1956, No. 21 Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.