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1099. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts being undertaken to streamline the vacant property refurbishment grant application process to ensure that decisions are returned in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42904/26]

1102. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will oblige AHB's to deliver more disability properties in conjunction with local authorities by giving them a target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42930/26]

1103. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commence without delay the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 relating to county development plan frameworks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42931/26]

1104. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the excavation and report submitted by a company (details supplied) to his Department, funded by the landowner of a property will finalise the financial obligation of the landowner for further investigative work on the remains off-site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42938/26]

1105. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered aligning the adaptation of the ten year county development plans in 2029 to ensure consistent and continuity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42947/26]

1106. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to publish the report from the local democracy task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42957/26]

1108. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of improvements made in the planning system since 2020; his plans for further improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42960/26]

1110. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the price threshold from €425.00 in Limerick for the first homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43003/26]

1111. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his future plans for the First Home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43008/26]

1112. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the proposed planning exemption for modular homes and ancillary accommodation units to come into effect; the steps remaining before the necessary regulations can be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43041/26]

1113. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the introduction of the proposed planning exemptions for modular homes; whether any statutory, environmental or legal processes remain outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43042/26]

1117. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the cost to date arising from Project Díon; the full set up cost of the system; and the annual cost of the hosting and operation of the system. [43099/26]

1123. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43440/26]

1124. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is scope in Budget 2027 to broaden the criteria of eligibility for the Vacant and Derelict Property Grant to restore farm outbuildings and make them available for residential use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43501/26]

1126. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding modelling or research into the projected increase in demand for rental accommodation directly related to the changes in accommodation supports being introduced for Ukrainian citizens from August this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43552/26]

1130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, in advance of the next National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems taking effect in 2027, their Department will require local authorities and the EPA to provide a consolidated national dataset on septic tank inspection failures, advisory notices, unresolved notices, enforcement a…

1131. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether their Department has assessed the public health and water-quality risk arising from the absence of a central national database identifying failed domestic wastewater treatment systems located near private drinking-water wells, groundwater sources, rivers or public water catchment areas; and if he will ma…

1132. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether their Department will review the adequacy of the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant Scheme, including the maximum grant of €12,000, eligibility criteria, drawdown barriers and whether the scheme reflects actual remediation costs faced by rural households; and if he will make a statement on the …

1133. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether their Department has received any reports, correspondence, briefings, notifications, risk assessments or other communications since 1 January 2024 concerning manganese exceedances in Cork City drinking water supplies; whether any concerns regarding recurring exceedances, treatment performance, public hea…

1134. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes approved, commenced and completed in County Kildare during 2025 and to date in 2026, by local authority area. [43747/26]

1135. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given to increasing funding available to local authorities for the remediation of long-term vacant and derelict properties in town and village centres. [43748/26]

1136. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he intends to take in response to the continued increase in homelessness figures nationally; the additional funding that will be made available to local authorities for tenant-in-situ acquisitions and homelessness prevention measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43824/…

1138. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department carried out any regulatory impact assessment of Regulation 2024/900 either before or after its adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43857/26]

1140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide on all actions and commitments relating to the NPWS set-down in the active Memorandum of Understanding between an organisation (details supplied) and NPWS, in tabular form. [43872/26]

1141. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on correspondence issued by an organisation (details supplied) to his Department on 30 April 2026 in relation to matters concerning engagement with his Department; when the organisation can expect a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43873/26]

The conversation on Irish unity is well under way, but there is no point saying this was not a disappointing week for those who have an interest in furthering that conversation and making sure the preparatory work is done. A considerable number of people in the North felt let down. We are talking about sensible preparations, a Green Paper and a citizens' assembly - a forum instructed by that Green…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the very important topic of dementia, an issue that touches so many people's lives, be it family, friends and neighbours. It reflects how we care for one another as a society, and how we support people to live with dignity, independence and security as they age. I look forward to a very engaging and constructive debate with Dáil colleagues. I know many are con…

I thank Deputy Carrigy for instigating this session this afternoon. I also welcome our visitors in the Gallery. The contribution of family carers, home support workers, volunteers, community cafés such as Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre, Yvonne here in the restaurant and Friday club, while not specifically an Alzheimer's service, does fantastic work along with Ratoath Community Centre and advocacy gr…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is a step in the right direction by improving access to contraception through pharmacies. I believe the proposed legislation will be another step forward for women's health, their control over their fertility and improving reproductive rights. It will add another building block to enhancing and developing a proper primary care system, which we are…

There is the glaring reality that we in these Houses and the Government have to be honest about - a law was passed in 2024 to regulate e-scooters. Some countries have no regulation of e-scooters but what has actually happened since we made e-scooters legal to purchase in Ireland is that more children have life-long head injuries and are showing up in Temple Street. That is the regulatory regime we…

My Topical Issue relates to the tenant in situ scheme and the resulting impact on homelessness in Dublin Fingal West. I submitted this Topical Issue because I gave a commitment to two families in my constituency that if the opportunity presented itself, I would advise somebody in the Government of it. As I said to them, I could not guarantee who it would be given the nature of Topical Issue debate…

I sometimes wonder if the Minister of State must be embarrassed reading such a script. He said that tenant in situ will never be the sole or even the primary option. I have outlined to him how it was not. When this family got their notice to quit, they sent out hundreds of emails. They replied to hundreds. They registered with estate agents. They tramped the roads. They did everything they possibl…

By far the hardest conversations I have with constituents are the ones struggling with disability services for their children. I knock on the door and it opens, sometimes with their dependent adult child with an intellectual disability by their side. You can see the difficulty etched into the faces of those who care so deeply for those vulnerable family relatives and their despair with the State t…

I thank Deputy Quaide and the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. I commend the Before We Die campaign, particularly Tony Murray, his wife Susan and their daughter, Aoife. Before We Die is aptly named. At the disability committee, many people have spoken about the fact that many parents feel frustrated and are incredibly worried about what will happen to their adult children with an intellec…

This issue is deeply close to me. For almost 20 years, I worked as a carer for older adults with disabilities. It was always so much more than just a job. In that role, I made life-long friendships with people I supported. To help them live their best life, independently and with dignity, meant so much to me. The harsh reality today is that the State is increasingly failing people with disabilitie…

Every parent worries about their children. That does not stop when they get to 18 years of age. I know many people have spoken about meeting the Before We Die campaigners and parents, and how inspiring they are. While I have great respect for the people I have met, I would not swap with them because they have come across to me as exhausted and depressed. When the Áras na Féile respite centre in no…

I strongly support this motion which seeks to provide clear, identified and funded pathways for people with intellectual disabilities to move from home to a suitable residential placement and which supports the campaign by Before We Die, a family-led advocacy group seeking urgent ring-fenced Government funding for residential care and housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. Their needs …

No parent should have to worry about what will happen to their child when they can no longer provide care for them, yet years of underfunding and a failure to plan has left our residential support system in crisis and families are left carrying the responsibility even as parents themselves age into their 70s, 80s and beyond. I was even told about a woman who is 102 years old in County Galway carin…

I thank Deputy Quaide and the Social Democrats for bringing forward this important motion. I also want to acknowledge the Before We Die campaign in my own constituency of Dublin Fingal West and the Remember Us group from Balbriggan, which continues to campaign with such determination. I have met families in my constituency and listened to their very personal stories and I thank them for sharing th…

I very much welcome this very important motion and thank Deputy Quaide and the Social Democrats for it. I start by paying tribute to the Before We Die campaign, particularly Tony and Susan Murray, Alan and Vera Hughes and the thousands of other parents across the country who have had to tell their stories, lay their lives bare and tell the story of their children in order to advocate for others. …

I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this very important motion, which Aontú will support. According to the Disability Federation of Ireland, there are between 5,000 and 6,000 households with a social housing need due to disability and a total of 10% of everyone on the waiting list are people with disabilities. I want to raise an important issue in my constituency. A senior citizen w…

I thank Deputy Quaide and his team for bringing this motion forward. Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities refers to the equal right of disabled persons to live independently in their communities - not miles away and not in another county - to choose their residence, to have access to personal assistants and community services and to use public faci…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Social Democrats as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair na Dála. I thank the Minister of State for coming out to my constituency and visiting some of the service users in the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA, and the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, and for the work she has done since in her role. I met many families living with constant uncertainty about what will happen to t…

I thank the Social Democrats for bringing forward this motion and allowing me the opportunity to speak in support of the Before We Die campaign. This is a group of people I have had the pleasure to get to know over the last number of months. They are a group of people asking one simple question, which is what happens to their sons or daughters when they are no longer there to care for them. It is …

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. In the first instance, each political party has its own rules in respect of a vote of conscience. In the Government parties' situation, it is in respect of human life issues. That is well known. Across the political system, parties vote in accordance with internal debates and under the Whip system. That is the position. Coursing is regulated significantly …

For the last few months, in this House and at the transport committee, I have been raising the need for increased regulation and enforcement in the area of e-scooters. I welcome the statement this week by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, that he will look at registration and insurance requirements. These are things that need to happen. We heard from the Road Safety Authority, RSA, in the Oire…

The House has been divided on the correct funding and revenue response to public service broadcasting more generally. Various Oireachtas committees in the last number of years have had different proposals. One was for an overall levy on all devices including tablets and so forth, which would create a resource to enable public service broadcasting. We then had the wider issues of accountability and…

The number of houses being built is increasing, and the numbers of social houses are at record high levels.

Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at an important moment, not just for Europe but for Ireland. Across Europe, people face increasing uncertainty. The war in Ukraine continues, the cost of living remains a daily struggle for many families, farmers face growing pressures and confidence in political institutions is being tested. It is at moments like this that leadership…

I will make a few concluding remarks to follow on from some of the points made by the Taoiseach in his opening iteration because in his 20 minutes he did not cover them all. In regard to the items discussed at the June European Council meeting, as we just finished off on the crucial issue of European defence, it was revisited at the meeting and leaders took stock of progress on the implementation…