Search the Dáil record

216. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the State currently receiving a pension for having worked as retained firefighters. [26565/26]

217. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the increasing number of people presenting to Kerry County Council as homeless following the introduction of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37566/26]

218. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, or ongoing cross Departmental works, his Department is engaged in to reduce second-home saturation, protect year-round local occupancy, and sustain Irish-language community viability without relying on in-home inspections in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37974/26]

220. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the planning policy statement for short term lets. [37510/26]

221. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to further extend the development levy waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37214/26]

222. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when a scheme will commence to relocate nine families, living in defective concrete block homes away from a location (details supplied); and when his Department officials will consult with the homeowners on the design of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

227. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of retained fire fighters employed in the State. [26564/26]

229. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated renewable energy planning guidelines will be published; the current status of their preparation and consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37541/26]

230. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional measures he will introduce to ensure that HAP recipients are not discriminated against by landlords who refuse to accept HAP tenancies, despite equality legislation prohibiting such practices. [37157/26]

232. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if as part of his plans for local government reform, he intends to increase the number of councillors and their powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37478/26]

238. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will broaden the eligibility areas for the Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (Septic Tank) Grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34603/26]

239. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Exchequer funding provided under the first home scheme in each year since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37341/26]

240. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable homes in the Poolbeg West SDZ. [37507/26]

242. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, including the Vacant Above The Shop Grant; whether micro enterprises, small companies, partnerships or other non-individual ownership structures are eligible to apply; and whether such eligibility was considered at design stage; and if he wi…

246. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 5 March 2026, to provide an update on the progression of national planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/26]

247. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to introduce statutory regulations for online property bidding platforms and estate agents to deal with potential overbidding and gazumping; his views on introducing mandatory transparency standards for active property biddings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37480/26]

248. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes by new builds and acquisitions delivered in Counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of local authority affordable homes, in each year 2020-2025 inclusive; and the estimated delivery for 2026, by county, in tabular form. [37532/26]

249. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Croí Cónaithe schemes in Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of properties have now benefitted from them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37213/26]

250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends placing a cap on redress for apartment and duplex construction defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37230/26]

335. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Defence if she is aware of the condition of a property a person (details supplied) is residing in; if she is aware of the person's desire to regularise the tenancy arrangements with her Department in order that repairs can be undertaken, including repair of the house and possible subsidence issues that can be resolved; and if she will make a statem…

410. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will stop insurance companies loading house insurance premiums for homes in areas which have never flooded and areas which are now protected by flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37777/26]

440. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to commitments contained within the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2024 of the Houses of the Oireachtas that a review of toilets to ensure sufficient provision of gender-neutral toilets would take place; to provide details of any costs incurred to date by …

456. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department will publish a single consolidated operational guide for survivors of residential institutional abuse setting out all health, education, advocacy, housing and funeral cost supports, including eligibility criteria, application pathways, responsible agencies, appeal mechanisms and expected processing times; and…

458. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether housing and funeral cost supports provided to survivors of residential institutional abuse are statutory entitlements or discretionary measures; whether binding written guidance has issued to local authorities and Community Welfare Officers [36524/26]

479. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications received to date for health supports, education supports, housing supports and funeral-related supports respectively under the five-pillar survivor package, in tabular form. [36714/26]

The one clear message the Government is sending out today to people with disabilities, because of the long-winded amendment the Minister is tabling, is that people with disabilities have to wait, wait and wait again. His message to them is that they should accept second best. It is the same for carers, the people who look after them. However, it is particularly the case for people with disabilitie…

There is a significant cost to having a disability. We all know that. We do not need any more reports, consultations or reviews. This is very clear. The cost involved is in the region of an additional €1,500 per year. The Indecon report of 2021 clearly outlined the cost of disability. That report was commissioned by the Government. In light of inflation, we know that the cost has risen significant…

I would be interested to one day tease through the Deputy's view on the investment accounts. I hope that is something he might consider supporting. As the Deputy is aware, ISIF is composed of the discretionary portfolio and the directed portfolio. ISIF holds the directed portfolio under direction from the Minister for Finance, comprising receipts of bank share sales. The National Treasury Managem…

The Comptroller and Auditor General is welcome to look at anything he wishes to look at. Indeed, it was the Comptroller and Auditor General who put that figure on the record of the Committee of Public Accounts on 14 May and it was a figure for the end of 2024. It was a moment in time and the Government has thankfully been in a position to make a number of decisions about what to do with that resou…

The Tánaiste expresses the views of the House to the NTMA on a frequent basis. That is welcome but, at the same time, he is equivocating a bit. He is asking how much they profit, how much they are involved and saying that is not clear, so he is kind of sending a signal, that perhaps, as the person responsible - the Minister for Finance, the shareholder - for funds, the Government is against it, bu…

I did not realise the Deputy met members of Longford Women's Link today. They are amazing. I visited them in the not-too-distant past and am grateful for the work they do and the opportunities and accessibility they provide to people in a range of areas. I met them in the context of higher education. The commitment in the programme for Government is clear. We want to get childcare to €200 per chi…

I thank the Deputy. I listened carefully to the points he raised. I am aware that this is an area of concern for many people. Indeed, James Sexton, whom we mentioned earlier, has led a well-documented campaign, End Discrimination in Inheritance Tax. He will be presenting to our parliamentary party tomorrow evening on it, and he has been presenting in the audiovisual room at Leinster House as well.…

I welcome the co-operation between ourselves and our European partners but the Minister of State will be aware that during the Danish Presidency in the second half of last year, we saw a number of efforts by drones to interfere in and disrupt an EU Council meeting. I have no doubt we will see that again by malign actors during our Presidency. I would also ask - I am really serious about this - ab…

The town centre first policy, for which I and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage hold joint responsibility, is the major cross-government policy. It aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It does so by setting out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of our towns and villages to ensure they are vibrant, viable,…

I thank Deputy Doherty. If I can, I will take the opportunity to inform the House exactly what the current situation is with the 14 Irish citizens who have been detained. The Government has been very clear in condemning the actions of the Israeli Government and the illegal detention and detainment of our citizens and many others in international waters. The behaviour this week by an Israeli Minist…

I thank the Deputy. I fully agree with him and everybody in this House, in that I am equally appalled by the actions of the Israeli Government in the detention of our citizens and many others in international waters but in particular the footage we saw yesterday that clearly shows that people were not treated with basic human dignity or respect. As I said to the Deputy's colleague earlier, if this…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. In the past week or two, we have seen the Go Purple Day but, more broadly, we should be talking all the time about how the number of women in particular coming forward who are victims of domestic and sexual violence is increasing year on year. In one way, I see it as a good thing because women are coming forward but the figures we are seeing are complete…

We have to acknowledge when legislation is necessary and we all agree that this legislation is necessary, and the Minister has brought it forward. We will tease it out. In the main, I support it. I will obviously be supporting it, but we will tease out a few things. The Minister and his Department are to be commended on bringing it forward in a pretty quick manner. I hope we will bring it through …

I thank colleagues who have spoken and contributed to the debate. It is notable that everyone who spoke and every political party represented in this House - indeed, every Independent TD - is supportive of this legislation. That is unusual. The reason there is such support for it is significantly because of the memory of Valerie French. The campaigning of David French and his sisters is something …

I would like to highlight the vital role family resource centres play in communities across the country, particularly at a time when more and more families are struggling and looking for support close to home. Family resource centres are often the first place people turn to when they are facing difficulties. They provide practical help, emotional support, family services, youth programmes, counsel…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding the basis for the assessment of rateable property for commercial rates purposes and the role of Tailte Éireann in that regard. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. Tailte Éireann is an independent Government…

I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport entitled "Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 17th September, 2025. I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss in the Dáil the report on pre-legi…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss funding for family resource centre buildings. Deputies Sorca Clarke, Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Máire Devine - To discuss the proposal to close a ten-bed child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, …

At the outset, I want to join many colleagues in acknowledging the exceptional service of the men and women of the Defence Forces currently deployed overseas. As we know, their work in peacekeeping missions often takes place in challenging and dangerous environments, as demonstrated most particularly in south Lebanon, and continues to reflect our enduring commitment to international peace and secu…

Again, recommendations for reform came from the Housing Commission, the ESRI, and the Housing Agency.

There is no doubt that, with the change, there was going to be an impact on the market. There was no question about that. It was actually said at the time by various agencies. The bottom line is that there had to be certainty given to the landscape because we are spending about €9 billion of State money. The direct State intervention in the housing market is around €9 billion. The Central Bank say…

How long has the Government been standing over housing policy? It will be a decade of the housing needs review.

We have resourced An Coimisiún Pleanála quite substantially and the feedback now is that far more timely decisions are being taken by An Coimisiún Pleanála in respect of planning permissions. There is a much more positive feel about the changes we brought about some years ago to An Coimisiún Pleanála. The Planning and Development Act is having an impact. Reform to judicial review will also have an…

There is another aspect to this debate that is completely missing from the Chamber and that is the issue of demand. Leaving certificate economics will tell us demand is also a large aspect of this crisis. The population of the country has increased by 382,000 in the past five years. This is the same as the population of Galway, Mayo and Leitrim. These counties have seven hospitals, three universit…

Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur maidir leis na deontais tithíochta athchóirithe. The housing adaptation grants are a game-changer for many people who are older or who have a disability and need to get alterations done to their houses. However, many constituents have raised with me the delays they have in accessing the public occupational therapy lists to get the sort of reports and certifications for …