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387. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if vape and smoke retail outlets are classified under any distinct planning-use category for the purposes of planning and development legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40878/26]

388. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review has been undertaken regarding the visual impact of vape and smoke retail signage, illuminated advertising or outlet clustering on historic streetscapes and town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40879/26]

390. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the importance of ensuring that all public places are accessible; if he will ensure that planning permission and building control sign off by local authorities is contingent on compliance with part M accessibility in practice in particular step-free access and at least one unisex accessible toilet…

391. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will support introducing a requirement that all new public facing premises and any premises undergoing refurbishment provide as a minimum a step-free access and at least one accessible unisex toilet; if he will review premises where refurbishment has been done in the past five years for compliance with a…

393. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1694 of 14 April 2026, to clarify if the Southern bridge mentioned is being built on private land; to detail the cost to date of this bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40949/26]

394. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will release the details of providing a plebiscite for the change of place names under the Local Government Acts 1946 and 1955; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40989/26]

400. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether data is collected regarding the number of persons presenting as homeless or seeking emergency accommodation due to domestic abuse, broken down by local authority area and year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41157/26]

402. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that planning permission restrictions are eased to the extent to allow for an increased number of homes to be built for young families (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41318/26]

403. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an urgent update following the National Monuments Service meeting of 10 February 2026 with the archaeological licence holder in relation to a site (details supplied); whether any decisions or directions have issued since; if not, the reason for the ongoing delay; when a determination will issue to the ap…

407. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a report on the progress made implementing the Programme for Government commitments within his remit and on the achievements since the formation of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41389/26]

423. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any interdepartmental working group currently exists examining housing insecurity, financial exclusion or homelessness risks among victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41153/26]

452. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any national forecasting model exists regarding future refuge accommodation demand arising from housing pressures, homelessness risk and population growth. [41168/26]

490. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla maintains any national data regarding homelessness, emergency accommodation use, or housing instability among care leavers following the cessation of aftercare supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41012/26]

491. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of care leavers known to Tusla who entered emergency accommodation, homeless services or supported housing settings within two years of leaving care in each year since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41013/26]

492. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether Tusla maintains any longitudinal outcome tracking regarding care-experienced young adults following discharge from foster care, residential care or special care settings, including outcomes relating to housing, education, employment, mental health or addiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

738. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in emergency medicine, emergency medicine registrars and senior house officers in emergency medicine that were on duty each night between 8 May and17 May 2026 inclusive, between the hours of 8pm and 8am at Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41339/26]

121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will confirm if any proposals around three-yearly reports and funding recommendations produced by Coimisiún na Meán will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40561/26]

128. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to allow micro-companies to apply for the vacant above-the-shop grant scheme; the timeline for the potential inclusion of micro-companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40362/26]

129. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a schedule of contracts will be provided that his Department and bodies under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects ove…

131. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand emergency accommodation in Kildare given persistent shortages in beds in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40478/26]

132. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop social and affordable homes in Kildare county over the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/26]

134. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on a software system (details supplied) for management of CAS, CALF and so on; the total cost of same; and whether it is now fully operational. [40496/26]

135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a comprehensive list of all upcoming cost rental and affordable purchase homes in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40503/26]

136. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent confirmation that homes in Dublin Fingal are now to be included in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme (details supplied); whether Fingal County Council have been instructed on the implementation on the scheme by his Department; when precisely applications can be made from residents …

137. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department requested any formal review from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding repeated manganese exceedances in Cork city drinking water supplies since 2024. [40599/26]

I thank the proposers of the motion. I am delighted to get the chance to talk about the cost of living. The increased cost of living is in everyone's mouth, and everyone is saying that their wages are being eroded by the cost of living. I believe the main driver is the cost of fuel and energy. For every litre that is purchased, more than half of the cost, approximately 95 cent, is going to the Sta…

I mo cháil mar Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála, is geal liom go bhfuil deis agam inniu aitheasc a thabhairt os comhair na Dála, ar an gcéad lá d’ochtú hUachtaránacht na hÉireann ar Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I welcome the opportunity to address the Dáil today, the first day of Ireland’s eighth Presidency of the Council of the EU. I thank colleag…

Mar a dúirt an tAire, Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a defining moment for Ireland and Europe. Communities across the Continent are facing soaring living costs, deepening inequality, housing crises, climate change and growing international instability. The Presidency presents Ireland with an opportunity not just to just chair meetings or hold photo opportunitie…

On a 13th century site in Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, stands one of the last remaining textile mills, run by a family since 1778, the Cushendale Woollen Mills. It was successful in the procurement process to provide a corporate gift of a scarf for those who will participate in the EU Presidency. I mention this because it is of significance to how a family-owned Irish company can benefit from…

Competitiveness, security and values are the key themes of Ireland’s Presidency. Each of these themes should be intertwined with our goals for a decarbonised, energy abundant, peaceful EU and peaceful world but, as we have seen from some Government pronouncements, these values are open to interpretation. I think we should be competing to have the most energy-efficient buildings, to have the fastes…

I might start by recognising a very strong European who was a former Member of this House and who passed away on Monday. David Andrews was a TD for Dún Laoghaire and was somebody who showed on a number of occasions as Minister for Foreign Affairs his commitment to the European project and his commitment to the ideals of Europe. He is a great loss. I wanted to pay tribute to him. I have not had an …

I will return to the issue of a bilateral returns policy with Britain. The Minister and other Ministers have put on the record of the House on numerous occasions their belief that between 80% and 90% of international protection applicants are travelling here via the common travel area. It would be useful if the House could get a report on any progress that has been made on securing a bilateral arr…

David Maxwell as well. The issue is that there were no plans for Cavan and Monaghan. As Deputy Carthy now knows, the Cavan-Monaghan region is listed as a priority area for refuge development under zero tolerance. The capital assistance scheme, CAS, stage 1 application for a refuge site in Monaghan was approved by the Department of housing last October. Work is ongoing towards submitting a stage 2 …

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the progress that has been made. I want to ensure that we speed up the process. It is important that we have a good geographic spread of refuges and safe homes throughout the country. It probably will be the case that every county will have one but I am cautious about trying to adopt it as though it is just a county thing. It needs to be spread out in areas whe…

I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this issue. It is fair to say that he has been a persistent advocate and strong voice for rural Ireland in respect of this issue, particularly advocating for young couples and young people generally to be in a position to build houses in their localities, very often on their land. This will be of significance in helping to sustain rural communities across the west…

I did not use that phrase so let us be clear about that. I do not want Irish football to be the victim. There are issues with FIFA, as we know. It would not cost FIFA a thought the Irish football team were to be relegated or whatever, and if there were consequences for seedings and if Irish football was set back by potentially a decade. That is an issue. On the visit, the relationship with Irelan…

I wish to speak in favour of Deputy Ahern’s amendment. It is important that we focus on the issue of the use of LNG through this facility and, as such, into Ireland’s energy network. Liquefied natural gas is about two thirds more carbon-emitting than traditional natural gas. We are introducing it into our system now, as a number of speakers have already pointed out, in a context where liquefied na…

-----and now we are looking to do the same thing by bypassing local authorities and An Coimisiún Pleanála, which are the bodies responsible for making very important planning decisions. They will never be perfect and neither will this House. However, their being bypassed is a matter of concern that I want to emphasise on the record of the House. We are speaking about this in a context where the W…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 8, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(4) The Minister shall, not later than 12 months following commencement, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report reviewing daa’s compliance with the directions of the Minister.”. This amendment seeks that the Minister should within 12 months following commencement, lay before both Houses of the Oirea…

How could the Minister not accept such an amendment? It is as plain as anything that there should be some obligation on the DAA to review how it works. We only have a minute or so left. I have two very quick things. One concerns a resident who sent this communication last week. I was making the point about the DAA and insulation. This person said that as they typed the message in their back garden…

Gabhaim buíochas as an deis labhairt ar an mBille seo inniú. As Chair of the AI committee, I think there is some frustration around it. It is mostly procedural. In fairness, the enterprise committee is the statutory committee and it is for that reason that the scheme of the Bill went there for pre-legislative scrutiny. If there was a way that any future Bills or primary legislation would come to t…

I support the motion and commend an Teachta Kerrane for bringing forward all the solutions, which I hope the Minister takes on board. I want to get to a point where we have the €200 per month childcare promised not just by a lot of parties before the last election but also by Government representatives. That simply has not been delivered. Even if we get to that point though it is not going to be o…

Tá cúram leanaí ró-chostasach agus níl dóthain áiteanna ann. For far too many families childcare is no longer just a challenge but a barrier to having children, returning to work or simply making ends meet. I am aware of couples who have delayed starting a family because of the pressures bought about by the combined costs of childcare and housing. That is not their failure but a failure of Governm…

One of the best ways we can address the cost-of-living crisis for families with young children is to bring down the cost of childcare and make it more accessible. In my own constituency of Dublin Bay North, we have a lot of new housing estates with young families and the waiting list for childcare places is simply huge. The fact is it is stopping many people from returning to work. The cost for th…

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion to the floor. It is one of the more important motions we have spoken on. It is 36 minutes past midnight in the House. That is a great testament to everybody who has stayed here to contribute to the debate and be part of the debate. Childcare is one of the biggest issues that hits us at the doorsteps, certainly at the last general election. As my colleague…

Throughout this debate, not one person has argued that we do not need high-quality, accessible and affordable childcare. Everyone, including the Minister of State, agrees that we need it and need it now. The question is not one of need; the question is whether it is possible to deliver nationwide, high-quality, affordable childcare for every family overnight. If we are all honest here, the answer …

77. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out his response to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s report on homelessness published on 18 June 2026. [48577/26]

Last Thursday, the Oireachtas housing committee published an important report on homelessness. At the centre of that report is the call for the introduction of an emergency package of measures to prevent families and single people from becoming homeless, but also to get people out of emergency accommodation more quickly. Now that the Minister has had at least a week to consider the report, will he…

79. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his review of the income eligibility thresholds for social housing support. [48578/26]

As the Minister knows, a growing number of working people, as a result of very modest increases in their wages, are being removed from local authority social housing waiting lists when their means assessment comes under review. I know the Minister is looking at this matter and his party colleagues and backbenchers from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are raising it with him regularly. Will he give us an…