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701. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of BER exempt domestic properties in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/26]

702. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are any mechanisms in place to prevent spurious or incorrect BER exemption claims on domestic properties; if there is any oversight or monitoring of domestic properties which claim BER exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34639/26]

703. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is currently reviewing the mandatory retirement age for members of the Fire Service; the stage that review is at; when he expects further information or recommendations to be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34701/26]

704. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is examining the introduction of an extension scheme for firefighters approaching the current retirement age, similar to the system available to members of An Garda Síochána, whereby personnel may apply to continue in service subject to efficiency, maintained fitness levels, and the successfu…

705. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any proposed changes to the retirement age for firefighters would require legislative or regulatory amendment; and if so, the expected timeframe for such changes to be drafted, approved and enacted, should this be proceeded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34703/26]

707. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the new National Planning Statement on Solar Energy; and to provide a timeline for its publication. [34750/26]

708. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is to be a review of local election boundaries in advance of local government elections in 2029; and a timeline for any such review. [34818/26]

709. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any update on the expected publication date of the Taskforce on Local Democracy report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34837/26]

710. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports, remedial measures or discretionary arrangements that are available to a person who purchased a vacant or derelict property but was not advised by the local authority or any relevant State body at the time of purchase of their potential eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant; whet…

715. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a review and redrawing of the local electoral areas for the State's local authorities is expected to take place; whether this will occur in advance of the 2029 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34929/26]

731. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to introduce regulations surrounding the transparency of money paid to property management companies by residents who feel as though their money is not be administered correctly. [35054/26]

732. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 28 April 2026, if his Department has assessed the cashflow impact on applicants arising from the requirement to complete all works and submit all receipts before any payment under the Croí Cónaithe grant is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35059/2…

733. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 28 April 2026, if his Department has examined the feasibility of allowing drawdown of Croí Cónaithe grant funding on the basis of a completion certificate issued by a qualified local engineer, with receipts retained for potential audit, as proposed by Mayo County Coun…

734. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 28 April 2026, if his Department has consulted local authorities regarding administrative or operational challenges associated with the current Croí Cónaithe grant payment process, including the requirement for applicants to submit all receipts prior to payment; and i…

735. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 28 April 2026, if he intends to review the design of the Croí Cónaithe grant process in light of motions passed by local authorities, including Mayo County Council, requesting that applicants be permitted to draw down funds on the basis of a completion certificate iss…

736. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when announcements will be made in relation to the Community Heritage Grant and the overall budget available for this scheme in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35072/26]

737. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the basis on which the current levy arising from public expenditure overruns is being calculated and applied to his Department’s Vote; whether any categories of expenditure, including pay, pensions or staffing-related costs, are exempt from the levy within his Department; and if he will provide a breakdown of th…

738. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will sign an activity requiring consent in respect of three bogs (details supplied) to allow families to cut turf providing them with fuel for the winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35138/26]

739. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how three bogs (details supplied) were designated special areas of conservation when the statutory instrument for each one was signed well after the required timeframe set out in Article 4, section (4) of the Habitats Directive, as ‘within 6 years of 1997’; how such statutory instruments can be valid; and if h…

740. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is planned to establish the proposed new Countryside Forum for Nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35147/26]

741. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the unilateral suspension of the Sustainable Hunting of Wild Bird Stakeholder Forum; if he will arrange for the reconvening of the forum and/or the appointment of a new chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35151/26]

742. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what stakeholder groups or organisations have not yet been contacted in relation to any review of their Memoranda of Understanding with his Department; the reason for any delay in commencing such engagement; the timeline for completion of the review process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [351…

743. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that he brought a memo to cabinet on 21 April 2026 on the retrospective funding of OMCs who have already funded the remediation of celtic tiger era building defects. [35187/26]

744. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify his recent statement that the Department plans to review all existing Memoranda of Understanding it holds with external organisations; whether it is applicable to every MoU agreed with his Department; whether he can confirm all stakeholders involved have been notified; the expected timeline for complet…

747. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of Memoranda of Understanding currently held between his Department and stakeholder groups or organisations; the criteria being used to assess existing agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35229/26]

I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening to take this question. I appreciate that. The Minister of State will not need me to tell him that the people of Kildare and the eastern region are sincerely sick and tired of waking up to dry taps. In Kildare, in particular, we have had such consistent outages over the past number of weeks and months in many different areas that frustration…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Rattoo Round Tower, national monument No. 55, is a national monument in the ownership of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and is maintained by the Office of Public Works. In recent years, as the Deputy outlined, an ongoing programme of repairs has been undertaken, which included the regrouting and repointing of stonework a…

Going back to the announcement in terms of the UK, I appreciate the point the Deputy raised on legislation. In that respect, we all accept that it takes some time to put legislation in place. In the interim, I particularly welcome, as I have referenced, the proactive step that has been taken in relation to guidelines. I am aware that operational guidance has issued to Department for Work and Pens…

Many organisations that deal with disability and vulnerable sectors of our society are voluntary organisations. That is in itself a problem, but I will set that aside and ask about proper funding for those organisations to be able to look after the most vulnerable in our society. The Before We Die campaign was in the Houses yesterday to highlight the lack of funding to deal with the need for prope…

To be honest, bandying around figures will mean very little to those who are concerned about their loved ones being let down. The Before We Die campaign's characterisation of the situation facing parents of children with intellectual disabilities was pretty grim. A lot of it revolved around the lack of planning and related funding for voluntary organisations. The description was fairly stark. They…

I respond by meeting them and listening to them. I have met with the Before We Die campaign twice now and the Minister, Deputy Foley, has too. The first time was at their request and I was absolutely happy to do that. The second time was at my request because I wanted to meet them, together with the HSE, to ensure that we had the right people around the table to be able to make progress. I would a…

I thank the Deputy very much for raising this important matter. I acknowledge that, as he rightly reminded the House, this is not the first time he has raised this issue here, and directly with the Minister for Health as well. There has been a welcome and renewed policy focus in this House and from the Government on the importance of HRT treatment and accessibility to the free HRT programme. I tha…

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this pertinent issue, which is one that resonates with many of us in the House in many regards. I am replying on behalf of the Minister. It is the policy of the Department of Education and Youth, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes, along with their peers, wit…

More pertinently and directly to the Deputy's point, on behalf of the Minister, we all know why the LDA was set up and the ambition it has. The Deputy is right that it is really ramping up. We can see that in sod turnings, on one hand, such as in Richmond Village, and in site clearings, such as at the former Central Mental Hospital, or Dundrum Central as we know it, but also, crucially, in people …

As I outlined earlier, there is absolutely no objection to Deputy Kenny's Bill, but the Government is asking for the timed amendment of 12 months to be agreed to allow for sufficient time to develop the legislative proposals in line with the principles of the Bill. I assure Deputy Ó Murchú, and all those who contributed in the House, that the Government will proceed with this Bill as quickly as i…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and the other Deputies. The Minister of State is here longer than me, but this is probably my first time to agree with everything that has been said in the Chamber, from both this side of the House and the other side of the House. A timed amendment is appropriate and necessary. I thank the Government for engaging me on this crucial legislation. The …

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are an existential threat to humanity; notes that the 22nd of April, is Earth Day, where people around the world are called to stand in defence of the only home we share; declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, becoming the second national parliament in the world to…

As the Minister of State knows, housing is the number one social crisis currently affecting the State and the cost-of-living crisis is the most immediate economic challenge. However, climate change represents an existential challenge, not just in this country but across the entire planet. We can see every single day the impacts in urban and rural Ireland as well as elsewhere in the world of the f…

I welcome and commend the fact that Ireland was one of the voices in recent days to put forward the suspension of the EU-Israel Association agreement. It is insane that that has not happened to date. Europe is operating with hypocrisy in sanctioning Russia but not Israel. I remind the House that the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement does not involve sanctions. Rather, it is the rev…

Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, tá an domhan athraithe go hiomlán, go háirithe anseo san Eoraip. Nuair a smaoiníonn muid faoi chúrsaí fuinnimh, is léir go bhfuil athraithe móra ann. Tá siad le feiceáil i gcomhthéacs na hIaráine agus an tionchar atá ag an gcoimhlint sin ar an Eoraip agus ar Éirinn. When we speak of international conflict, we have to recognise the impact it has from both a European and I…

I welcome this long overdue legislation to further regulate vapes and to finally regulate nicotine pouches. As has repeatedly been the case with these new nicotine pouches, regulation arrives too late. The use of vapes and nicotine pouches has surged with a new generation increasingly dependent on nicotine. The Minister of Health and her predecessors have not shown the level of urgency required w…

I am delighted to debate the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026. I firmly believe this legislation has the potential to have a transformative impact on our younger people, much like when An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, led the way in introducing the smoking ban in the early noughties. This is regarded to this day as one of the most significant and e…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: P…

We are discussing another Protocol 21 opt-in but this time it relates to the Council decision that would allow member states to resume the exchange of vehicle registration data with Britain for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences. It is important to note that the State already participates in automated searching and matching of vehicle registration data with EU member states unde…

When the Taoiseach comes in here week after week and gives this profoundly positive spin about housing, I have to wonder if he even feels convinced by his own words. We do not just have record rents and record house prices; we have record homelessness. We are talking about more than 17,000 homeless people, including more than 5,500 children, and the Taoiseach comes in here and gives this unbelieva…

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. At Cabinet today I understand the Government approved Robert Watt to head the special purpose vehicle, SPV, charged with addressing dereliction in Dublin city centre. His appointment comes a full 18 months after the report of the Dublin city task force was published but, helpfully, 24 hours before the writ is moved for the Dublin Central by-election. The task force r…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment and regulation of Life Annuity agreements for homeowners, to provide for consumer protections, and to provide for related matters. This Private Members' Bill comes from a very practical place. It comes from my work as a public representative and a solicitor dealing with people who are trying to nav…

I ask the Minister to update the House on his plans for a new savings and investment scheme for retail investors and if he could enlighten the House as to what he anticipates the estimated cost to the Exchequer in terms of tax forgone in the first five years of the scheme might be, and if there is, in fact, an assessment already done on that basis.

I am very much up to the idea. Generally, people come to this House and come up with ideas on how to spend money. It is refreshing to have people come into this House and come up with ideas on how to generate money. A tourism tax or levy at the very least merits consideration. I say "tax or levy" because they are obviously very different. A levy is something that may not necessarily involve my Dep…

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion forward. As I do not have much time, I will just touch on some of the requirements in this motion. It looks to me as if people with additional needs are always the people who are suffering in this country and fighting to get basic rights. Special needs assistants are being treated unfairly and families are paying the price. The current system is rigid, co…