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221. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the rest of the Planning and Development Act 2024 will be fully implemented. [44662/26]

223. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of children currently living in emergency accommodation and family hub accommodation, respectively, in each local authority area; the average length of time children have spent in such accommodation during the past three years; the measures being taken to reduce the time families spend with children…

224. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the voted expenditure allocation for each of the four croí cónaithe city calls; if his Department intends to fund a fifth call; if so, when; and the amount, in tabular form. [44714/26]

225. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a detailed update on the cost rental equity loan pipeline; if he will provide information on the funding approvals to date; and the number of schemes and units each scheme is expected to deliver in 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030, by local authority area and AHB approved for each scheme. [44715/26]

226. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the publication of the Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44716/26]

229. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of all inputs that his Department made prior to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/900; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44741/26]

230. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for the refusal of a Historic Structures Fund 2026 application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44742/26]

232. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any cases whereby HAP payments were reinstated or reimbursed to landlords during the Covid-19 moratorium period, where the HAP payments had earlier been suspended due to a tenant not paying their contribution to the local authority, but the landlord was prevented through temporary Covid-19 Go…

234. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to extending the pyrite remediation scheme to recognise estates with known pyrite issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44869/26]

131. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of domestic wastewater treatment systems that have failed inspection in each of the past three years; the counties most affected; and the supports available to homeowners to undertake remedial works. [44226/26]

132. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes currently vacant for longer than six months, by local authority area; the reasons for such vacancies; and the measures being taken to return these properties to use as quickly as possible. [44218/26]

134. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict property grants approved, refused and paid out in each county since the introduction of the scheme; the total funding drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44347/26]

135. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost to date of the DION IT system, including all design, development, consultancy, implementation and ongoing support costs, broken down by year since inception, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44409/26]

136. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initial projected cost at the time of approval of the DION IT system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44410/26]

137. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the original business case and timeline for delivery of the DION system; the number of years the system has been in development; the key milestones set at inception; the extent to which those milestones have been met or delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44411/26]

138. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and nature of technical or operational issues identified with the DION system since its introduction; the dates on which such issues arose; the current status of each issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44412/26]

139. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of external consultants engaged in the development, troubleshooting and ongoing operation of the DION system; the total cost of such consultancy; the specific roles performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44413/26]

140. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time for approvals under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF prior to the introduction of DION, compared with current processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44414/26]

141. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF currently awaiting approval; the average and longest waiting times for such approvals, the number of cases outstanding for more than twelve weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44415/26]

142. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 19 February 2026, the measures his Department is considering to succeed the cessation of turf cutting compensation schemes as the payment period concludes for many applicants; if a replacement support is being considered; if so, the details of any such support or supp…

143. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give an update on the work his Department is undertaking to address the scourge of vacant properties (details supplied); if demands will be put on property owners to use it or lose it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44506/26]

144. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether delays in approvals under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF have been attributed in whole or in part to the operation and/or full implementation of the DION system; if so, whether his Department is taking specific steps to remedy such delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44529/26]

145. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approval letters issued under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF in each of the past three years; the average time from application to approval in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44530/26]

146. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for full rollout of the DION system; the date from which all CALF applications will be required to be processed exclusively through DION; whether contingency arrangements exist in the event of continued system issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44531/26]

178. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment that has been conducted regarding the cumulative impact of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on housing demand, accommodation requirements and public services in Ireland versus pre-existing law; if the Government has published any projections regarding the likely financial cost of implementin…

I have only a few minutes to speak on what is a huge issue. I will start by mentioning the public health nurses in my own area and this is an issue right across the country. There is only one such nurse in the Drimnagh area and last year that person was transferred to the nearby area so there was no service. One might ask why this is an issue in this debate. Many young parents start to panic when …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Comhghairdeas leat as do phost nua, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I want to reiterate what has been said in the Chamber. Many people, especially young people, are waiting ridiculously long periods of time to access a driver test. In Galway, for example, the waiting list is over 3,000. That is 3,000 people who are waiting to get a driver test so that they…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas leis na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta as ucht an rún seo a ardú ar maidin. Tabharfaimid tacaíocht don rún agus táimid in éadan leasú an Rialtais. I can just add to what Deputy Ó Broin has said and Deputy Hearne about the failure of the senior Minister to come to the House. It now seems he is hiding and that he is scared to actually talk about housing. It is ridicu…

Half a million young people are living with their parents, including two thirds of under-35s. The Government has said today that people can go from the back bedroom to the back garden or alternatively to Boston, Berlin or wherever. Young people in my constituency told me when we were out canvassing that we would not see anyone over 23 in the area and that young Blanchardstown is in Australia. I wi…

People who are profiting from the housing crisis are coming in to answer about it. It is unbelievable. Not everyone had a chance to buy a gaff when they were 20, like the Minister of State. He said he was not a person of privilege, but he is. I want to go back to the Government itself. It wants to pivot to the private sector. IRES REIT profits have increased 3% since the statement by the Taoiseach…

I am delighted by the news today that the Government is planning to exempt cabin-style units at the back of family homes. This is a wonderful idea. My brother, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and I have been looking for this for many years never more so than now. It is a great idea and I thank the Government. This is a real attempt at housing people that can happen very quickly. In tandem with that, ma…

Before we commence business, I want to mention briefly an issue that arose last week out of exchanges between the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Opposition in order to avoid any further disorder today. I preface my remarks by saying my overriding consideration in dealing with this is to maintain the efficient running of the House. We need to get on with the business of administering the affairs o…

We have been asking every week since the publication of the 250-page Housing Commission report - commissioned by the Government - for a debate on that report and the Government has run away from it every single week for nine months, and again this week. Can we finally have the debate the Taoiseach says he wants on the Housing Commission report that the Government published? Of course, we know he d…

I genuinely wish the Minister of State well on her reappointment. We all need her to succeed in her role. To many of us, the decline in the mental health of our young people in this country is one of the biggest health, social and economic challenges of our time. The research states that approximately 50% of us will experience mental health difficulties at a particular point in our lives, but for…

Members spent the majority of 2024 knocking on doors, canvassing throughout their constituencies, looking for support in the local and general elections. One of the main topics of conversation every single time I went canvassing - and I am sure it was the same for others - was inappropriate, poor and unsuitable housing. All parties put forward different proposals to solve the ever increasing, comp…

I am disappointed I see the Government benches are so empty today but equally those who waxed lyrical not so long ago in this House, who chastised the Government in their speeches, I see their benches are also empty for what is the biggest crisis facing this country. While I agree we need to fix the housing crisis, the plan put forward by the Labour Party - I thank my colleagues in the Labour Part…

I am not clear that there are billions of funds in Europe for housing. Any funds that are available, we would seek. However, housing competence within Europe has been at a low level. This is the first Commission with a housing Commissioner. As we have heard in various reports, the European Parliament is also now engaging for the first time.

The Taoiseach is the last man standing from the Fianna Fáil Governments that blew up the property bubble and then saw the whole thing come crashing down and ordinary people paid the price for a decade or so. It seems the Taoiseach is committed to going back to the future. He is resurrecting the same policies that caused the 2008 financial crash. At the weekend, it was tax breaks for developers, wh…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of this Bill is to give effect to the decision by the Government to increase the maximum number of Ministers of State from 20 to 23. As the House will be aware, the number has remained unchanged for the last 18 years, since 2007, when Minister of State numbers increased from 17 to 20. The Bill will also allow for the existing allowanc…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht cúpla bomaite dá chuid ama a thabhairt dom chun tacaíocht a thabhairt don reachtaíocht seo atá ag dul tríd na Dála anocht. I welcome the appointment of the additional Ministers of State and, in particular, the appointment of a Minister of State who will have responsibility for fisheries and the marine. This will be the first time since 2011 that we will have s…

She wanted to set up a State construction company, which would take years. It would take years. Let me be clear: our central objective, in any review of housing policy, will be to increase supply and to unlock and address all of the levers of supply which are open to Government to ensure we can drive affordability for young people and to address the severe housing shortage that is there. We will …

I am sure I will probably echo some of the sentiments expressed by Deputy Lahart. At the end of his contribution, he referred to something with which I will start, namely that the programme for Government is laudable and I commend it. However, it is based on the premise that we continue as a prosperous country and continue to collect taxes, primarily from foreign multinationals. For example, out o…

Over the past three weeks, we have witnessed the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn, how the Government failed to build up resilience in advance and then how it failed to mount an effective response in the aftermath. As our climate worsens, so too will these storms and extreme weather events. I am sure everyone will agree that business as usual will not cut it. However, this programme for Governmen…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Is mór an onóir dom labhairt anseo inniu mar Theachta Dála do Dáilcheantar Lú. Is é seo mo chéad chaint sa Teach seo agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le mo theaghlach, le mo chairde, le mo lucht tacaíochta agus leis na baill d’Fhianna Fáil i gContae Lú a d’oibrigh chomh dian ar mo shon. Táim fíorbhuíoch díobh as a n-iarrachtaí. It is a huge honour…

I was not sure and would not like to have gone over time. In fairness, there is no shortage of issues that could be brought up regarding the programme for Government. We all know about the issues the Government spoke about and the abject failure to deliver 40,000 houses and the many promises that have been made. Unfortunately, we are dealing with those families and the people who cannot afford ren…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. It is nearly three weeks since this bomb hit the west, the midlands and the north west. It is good to see people coming back but, my God, three weeks is a long time. Eamon Ryan's dream of air-to-water heat pumps turned into a nightmare for most people. They were perished in their houses. Thank God a lot of people had a chimney. We should go back a…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. I thank the Deputy. I wish him well in his new role and look forward to working with him and other members of the Opposition constructively at an important time in the world for Ireland's position on a range of foreign affairs matters. I am conscious we are meeting against a backdrop of great fragility when it comes to the ceasefire, and I know …

I intend to note at each Oral Questions session from now on the disproportionate, unbalanced and unfair priority which some parties in the House have to hold the Government to account, given the allocated amounts of time. I hope the Government and the Opposition will follow through on their words to allocate more time to people representing one of the largest groups in the House, namely, backbench…

This is my first opportunity to address the House since my appointment to this very important brief. It is an honour to hold it and I look forward to working on the sector with the Deputies opposite and all Deputies of the House. I acknowledge that Deputy Boyd Barrett has an interest in the area of higher education, innovation and research, the pursuit of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. We…

I dtosach, is mian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a thug cabhair do na pobail timpeall na tíre. In that context, I acknowledge and thank everybody associated with the emergency services, including the ESB, the telecoms operators and all the volunteers who helped during what was a totally unprecedented event. With regard to communications, the estimated effect of the storm on the natio…