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666. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider directing the CRU to introduce statutory maximum timeframes, such as six weeks to issue a connection offer and six weeks to complete works, along with automatic compensation for breaches, in order to address chronic delays in water and wastewater connections; and if he will make a statemen…

667. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of confirmed Asian Hornet nests identified in Ireland in 2025 and to date in 2026; the counties affected; and the actions taken to eradicate them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35323/26]

668. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is grant aid available for septic tanks in close proximity to char habitats, given that char fish are a protected species (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35342/26]

669. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has examined the feasibility of increasing the retirement age for firefighters to 65 years (details supplied), including any engagement with representative bodies and local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35392/26]

671. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost and the implications that would arise from extending the voluntary extension of the retirement age to 65 for retained firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33994/26]

672. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the establishment and meeting frequency of the five working groups (details supplied) committed to in the October 2024 Ministerial Action Plan on planning resources; if he will list the specific recommendations these groups have made to date regarding immediate staff shortages in local a…

673. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the commitment to 'significant resources in the 2024 Action Plan, to provide a breakdown of the way in which the funding secured in Budget 2025 has been allocated specifically to frontline planning posts in local authorities versus administrative or department-level oversight; and if he will make a s…

674. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the latest workforce data for the local government planning sector, specifically identifying the percentage of current senior and executive planners eligible for retirement within the next five years; the way in which the 2024 Action Plan specifically addresses this imminent loss of institutional kno…

675. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planners who have been reassigned or recruited to ACP from local authorities since January 2024; the measures in place to backfill these critical vacancies at the local level, regarding the transition of An Bord Pleanála to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP); and if he will make a statement on the matter…

678. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the research that was carried out by his Department prior to the recent changes to planning regulations for modular homes, specifically in relation to the potential for a loss of privacy for neighbouring homes and residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34111/26]

679. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the research that was carried out by his Department prior to the recent changes to planning regulations for modular homes, specifically in relation to the potential impact on the work of local authorities and their county development plans. [34112/26]

680. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that was had with architects and town planners prior to the recent changes to planning regulations for modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34113/26]

681. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that was had with senior management within local authorities prior to the recent changes to planning regulations for modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34114/26]

682. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms that are in place for local authorities to raise concerns related to recent changes to planning regulations for modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34115/26]

684. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 27 November 2025, for an update on the number of affordable homes being provided in the Wexford part of the Wicklow-Wexford constituency; and to specifically outline the new affordable homes under construction or that have been provided in the constituency which comp…

685. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protection a small landlord has when a difficult situation arises (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34217/26]

686. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide further information on the shared accommodation scheme pilot for young people in Cork City referenced in Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 and in the National Youth Homelessness Strategy 2023-2025, including information on the number of young people supported by the scheme since…

687. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policy framework governing the granting, revocation and review of outdoor seating or street furniture licences by local authorities, including those relating to licensed premises; whether his Department has issued any guidance to local authorities in this regard; and whether he has received any representat…

688. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant or derelict hotel and guesthouse properties in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34354/26]

691. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current average processing times for Section 49 cases within Tailte Éireann; the number of such cases currently on hand categorised by length of time awaiting assessment such as zero to six months, six to12 months, 12 to 18 months, 18 plus months; the reason a case (details supplied) lodged on 24 July 2025…

692. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that there can be a significant gap between grants awarded by the local authority and the actual cost of adaptation; if he can outline the supports that are in place for persons who cannot make up the shortfall specifically in the case where an occupational therapist has recommended significant…

693. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any mechanism in place within his Department that allows for civil servants to transfer on secondment to an equivalent role within the European Union, without negatively impacting their pension and other employment rights; his views on the merits of such a scheme; and if he will make a state…

694. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when will there be a decision made on the protected disclosure that was submitted by a person (details supplied). [34498/26]

695. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service have given consideration to acquiring the 1,500-acre land parcel for sale in Aghavannagh, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34565/26]

696. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on measures taken by his Department to improve water quality in Ireland, specifically, actions relating to Lady's Lake in Wexford, the Blackwater River and Lough Carra; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34569/26]

We have increased the fuel allowance. We have substantial provision for pensioners in our social protection frameworks. We allocated an additional €2 billion. There is a sense in the House that we can literally allocate billions more to everybody. We do need some conversation around targeting. I think targeting is important for pensioners as well, which we have done and which we will do more of. I…

I thank Deputies for the debate today on this landmark legislation to update and modernise our mental health laws. The enactment of this Bill has been a long-standing priority for me and for the Government, and I am very proud to see it being passed here today. The Bill will now go to Uachtarán na hÉireann for her consideration. This is once-in-a-generation legislation. The previous Mental Health …

I welcome the inclusion of County Wexford in the scheme for homes affected by defective blocks, which are unmortgageable, uninsurable and unsellable. I was on Wexford County Council in 2022 when a motion was passed in light of concerns raised by people in the areas of Bunclody and Ferns. Sean and Rachel Murphy first noticed small cracks in their brand-new homes near Ferns six months after they mov…

I have contributed to many of these debates because, like many others, I appreciate the hardship that people are going through and because Fingal is situated in my constituency. On the one hand, I welcome that there is a scheme proposed for Fingal, Wexford and other counties in terms of remediation for defective concrete blocks. Piecemeal as it is, as many others have said, I will not be opposing …

I thank all Members for their valuable contributions. I welcome the support for the designation of parts of Fingal and County Wexford. I will work with all sides of the House to ensure this decision is now acted on promptly, if supported. I commend the motion to the House and look forward to further engagement on this issue.

This time last year, households were already labouring under the pressure of grocery price inflation, the housing crisis and Trump's threatened tariffs. Since the outset of Trump's illegal war on Iran and in the Middle East, and with no end in sight to Russia's bombardment of Ukraine, things have got worse. The Taoiseach has rightly just described the situation we are in as a massive global energy…

At the outset, I want to acknowledge the passing of Councillor Joe Carroll on Friday. He was exceptionally helpful and supportive towards me when I first entered into politics. That is the kind of person he was, and the kind of person who will be missed, in Skibbereen and beyond. My thoughts are with Sheila, and Linda and Kieran, and Anna. Eight years ago, Ireland voted to repeal the eighth amend…

First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is committed to ensuring that there is safe and equitable access to termination of pregnancy services. Significant steps have been taken in this regard, including the expansion of hospital services, the introduction of safe access zones and the continuation of the revised model of care for termination in early pregnancy. These…

I appreciate the Taoiseach's engagement on the issue and that of the Minister for Health and that he has spoken to her about this. It sounds like the Government is willing to constructively engage and that is important, given the trauma that many people are still going through. I appeal to people on all sides of the House to allow the legislation to reach Second Stage, to allow it to at least be …

On this side of the House, as the Deputy will be aware, it is a vote of conscience on matters of this nature. Life or death matters are votes of conscience. We will examine the legislation. There will be debate around the area of fatal foetal abnormality. There was significant debate around it on Committee Stage in advance of the referendum and during the referendum campaign. There is a desire in …

I want to raise the issue of GP shortages in County Laois. The population of Laois has risen sharply over the past decade but primary care services have not kept pace. I acknowledge the tremendous work of local GPs. They are the backbone of community healthcare. However, the reality is the HSE can assign a GP to a medical card and GP visit card holder, but there are no GPs in the Portlaoise area w…

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue and I had a meeting with vets over the past period of time with a view to progressing the Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill, which was actually brought in by former Fianna Fáil Deputy, Jackie Cahill, and my former constituency colleague. We will have a crisis in veterinary services across Ireland if we do not do something because veterinary practices are being bought up…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to enact recommendations of the Marie O’Shea report into the operation of legislation on the termination of pregnancy, providing clarity on terminations for medical reasons, removal of the 3 day waiting period, and ending the criminalisation of doctors. Next month marks eight years since we voted overwhelmingly to repeal the eight…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that the municipal district area that includes the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda Urban shall be known in the Irish language as Ceantar Bardasach Chathair Dhroichead Átha and in the English language as the Municipal District of Drogheda City, and for that purpose to amend the Local Government Act 2001; to provide that …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 28, inclusive, together. For compelling reasons relating to energy security, energy costs and climate change, the Government is committed to quickly reducing Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels. We are taking the necessary steps now to ensure Ireland's long-term energy security and unlocking opportunities for further economic growth. The development of a vibr…

I welcome the establishment of the offshore wind energy clearing house. This shows how important the Government thinks energy security is and how important it is that we achieve it. As we all know, Ireland is dangerously exposed when it comes to energy. We are still far too reliant on imported fossil fuels, leaving our citizens and the economy at the mercy of global volatility. We have seen the co…

-----they indicated that there were difficulties of a technical nature which could delay the project somewhat. There was not a single planning objection to the interconnector because of the work that Eirgrid did in terms of meeting with communities and so forth. We will get an update in respect of the matter in order that we are all fully and properly informed in relation to it. I take the Deputy'…

That was the question that was tabled. On the onshore guidelines, I think the indication was that they would be produced in the autumn of next year. The Minister has done a number of planning statements on a number of issues to do with housing, which took priority, not least the planning exemptions. He is now looking at rural planning guidelines for housing also. Deputy Ó Murchú raised Cork port.…

I welcome this discussion on the future of rural policy and on Our Rural Future. I welcome the opening and consideration of the consultation for same. It is so important people right across this country, whether they are in an urban or rural area, contribute to what they believe the future of rural Ireland should look like and that we reflect on the first phase of this plan in terms of what went r…

Like colleagues, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the consultation process relating to Our Rural Future. While this policy is often spoken about in the context of counties far from Dublin, the truth is that many of the challenges it seeks to address are felt just as strongly in parts of my constituency. Two fifths of Dublin South-West is rural. The constituency stretches o…

I have just left the audiovisual room were the Irish-US driver licence campaign gave a presentation. That campaign is led by Mr. Ciarán Staunton and Ms Karen McHugh. They presented a report by Mr. Damian Green and Mr. Laurence Donnelly. There was much conversation in relation to the lack of public transport in an awful lot of rural Ireland and the necessity of the car. They spoke about the huge is…

Meath is a rural county under very strong urban influence to that end and juggling those parameters, I commend the great work of the LEO, Meath Partnership, the council and the community and voluntary groups. We are very grateful for RSS, LEADER and RRDF funding to date and would welcome much more in future, if possible. At this important time of Our Rural Future II policy formation, I note the re…

Like many others, I resent the comments by the former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, more or less saying that rural Ireland is a burden to the State. That was dreadful. Each and every one of us needs to demonstrate to the people of rural Ireland that we appreciate them here in Dáil Éireann. In Kerry we have a unique situation whereby there are 575 roads on the waiting list for the local improvement sche…

I wish everybody in this House a happy May Day this Friday. I particularly extend that to the staff in Leinster House who work so hard to allow us as representatives to do our jobs and work so hard. Of course, many of the staff here are union members. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion, which succinctly captures the four key issues we need to address and strengthen workers' rights…

I thank the Deputy for the question. It is very important that we all acknowledge the importance of having vibrant towns and villages and that local shops and the retail sector are an important part of achieving that aim. The retail sector provides highly important employment, with over 220,000 people directly employed in retail, contributing to the economy of every city, town and village in Irela…