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712. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the unit rates used in the defective concrete blocks scheme are aligned with 2007 Building Regulations or another baseline; the reason current building regulations standards are not applied in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30311/26]

713. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are plans to align the defective concrete blocks scheme with current energy efficiency standards in future revisions; and if discussions have taken place with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30316/26]

714. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that the defective concrete blocks grant scheme applies unit rates aligned to 2007 Building Regulations, and further given that certain elements of construction such as double glazing to 2007 specifications are no longer commercially available, whether the use of currently available alternatives such as tr…

715. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review correspondence (details supplied). [30319/26]

716. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider proposing the extension of the mandatory retirement age for firefighters from 62 years-of-age to the State pension age of 66, in view of the enactment of the Employment (Restriction on Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Act 2025, which recognises that employees should not be requir…

717. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the Croí Cónaithe grant process so that applicants may draw down funds on the basis of a completion certificate issued by a qualified local engineer, rather than being required to submit all receipts prior to payment, noting that applicants will still be required to retain all receipts for poten…

718. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30481/26]

719. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to provide for adult changing facilities in every Irish town with a population greater than 5,000. [30489/26]

720. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the derelict sites levy data will be published for 2025. [30537/26]

721. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount waived in the derelict sites levies in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [30538/26]

722. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has held any meetings with the Minister for Finance on the new derelict sites tax; and the number of these meetings. [30539/26]

723. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the Southwest Regional Homeless Forum met in 2025 and to date in 2026; the dates of these meetings; and the number of attendees. [30540/26]

724. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the full voids return allocation was drawn down in 2025; the date the full allocation was drawn down; and the number of homes that remained vacant at 31 December 2025. [30541/26]

725. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes that have had stock audits completed; whether he has seen preliminary results of these stock audits; and whether he intends to fund legacy issues identified in these audits. [30542/26]

727. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is the current policy of his private office/Department to formally invite or notify all local Oireachtas members of constituency events at which Ministers are in attendance in the course of performing their ministerial duties and functions; if he will provide the Department's current policy or protocol on this…

728. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all events across every constituency attended by the Minister in the course of his ministerial duties since 1 January 2026, where formal invitations/notifications to attend were not issued by his office to all local Oireachtas members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30619/26]

729. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the complete staffing WTE compliment for Tailte Éireann, by grade; if his attention has been drawn to a human resourcing issue at the body; the steps he will take with Tailte Éireann to clear backlogs in processing files. [30647/26]

730. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the definition of “betterment” under the defective concrete blocks scheme; whether upgrades such as triple glazing and heat pumps are formally excluded from grant eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30665/26]

731. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of his Department building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30700/26]

732. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30718/26]

733. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/26]

734. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30755/26]

735. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30777/26]

736. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total allocation of funding to each State agency under his Department’s remit, broken down by the allocation to each agency, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30798/26]

737. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total spend on consultancy firms by each State agency under his Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each named consultancy firm, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30816/26]

The programme for Government reaffirms Ireland's commitment to and our ambitious target of 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030, to assist with meeting the goal of 80% electricity demand supplied through renewables. Solar energy is now a growing source of electricity, with about 2.4 GW of solar power capacity in our grid and another 1 GW on rooftops. Going back 12 years, it was onl…

I am here tonight to highlight an issue that is causing real pain, distress and uncertainty for families right across Cork city and county. I refer to the unacceptably long waiting times for patients seeking to be seen as outpatients by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, SIVUH, in Cork. The SIVUH plays a vital role in delivering specialist orthopa…

I really appreciate the sentiment the Minister of State has delivered before this House. There is an opportunity here for the Government to send a clear signal that for people who are working and contributing to our society and who want to accumulate a security buffer or a cushion, we will support them to do so, not just for their pension but for when other things arise in life as well. I believe …

The average starter age for somebody taking up an apprenticeship is 21 to 22 years. While many of those are living at home, many are not, and some want to get out of home. If the Minister of State wants to make it attractive, a first-year wage of €7.67 per hour or €11.50 per hour in the second year is not exactly an attractive option. If they are living out of home or if they have children, it is …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Táim fíorbhuíoch as an airgead sin. My predecessor Finian McGrath, a former Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, would also be very proud and I spoke to him again this morning. One of my staff in the Oireachtas has a disability. I have raised this issue in this House previously. We, as policymakers, should have people with disabilities as clo…

I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising this very serious issue. I fully accept that it is a huge concern for parents regarding what will happen to their son or daughter when they are no longer around. I was checking on my phone because my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins, is due to meet the campaign group Before We Die. My notes state she is due to meet them next Wednesday. It is…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the engagement he had with the childcare sector this week. This is certainly something we intend to examine as a Government. We all know in this House that there is huge demand for childcare places. We need to support our childminders and help them to remain viable and in the sector, not making life harder for them. I am aware that there are legal …

I extend my solidarity to the people in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown who have been impacted by Storm Chandra and to everyone across the country who has been impacted by Strom Chandra and other recent weather events. Locally we saw incredible footage of damaged areas like Nutgrove Avenue and Enniskerry Road. I acknowledge the incredible work of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, not only …

I am sharing time with my colleague, Deputy O'Connell, on the important issue of flooding. I represent the constituency of Cork East and have the honour and privilege to do so in Dáil Éireann. It is well known that Storm Babet in October 2023 did unmerciful damage to a huge number of homes and businesses across the constituency. Over 800 homes and premises were badly damaged. Many people's homes w…

As the Minister of State has been hearing, the rainfall we have had in recent weeks - it was raining when I was coming in here today, so we may not be past it yet - has caused considerable damage to homes and businesses, including in my constituency of Dublin Rathdown. This intense rain flooded areas including Clonskeagh, Nutgrove, Benildus Avenue, Aiken Village in Stepaside and Cookstown Lane in …

I have been listening to the debate in the Chamber and upstairs for the past 90 minutes or so and can see that a lot of people are speaking from their own personal experience. I live near the River Glashaboy, in Glanmire, and living in the Cork city area with the River Lee, it is inevitable that our day-to-day lives are affected and shaped by the water around us. I have had to go into people's hou…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic for debate and the Minister of State for being here. There should be no need to bring this issue, which is the annual crisis of school place shortages in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, before this House. I thank the parents who contacted me and my colleague Councillor Fionnan Blake. I also thank Councillor Blake for his hard work on this issue. The…

A considerable number of Members are here to deal with issues that relate specifically to education. As Deputy O'Rourke said, unfortunately we keep having to bring up these issues about finding appropriate places for children, be that in mainstream or in special classes and schools. We really need to not be trying to deal with issues like this on the floor of the Dáil but sometimes we have no choi…

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 Colm Burke - To discuss the recruitment of paediatric dermatology consultants to the south-west region. Deputy Catherine Ardagh - To discuss funding support for the Ballyfermot Youth Service. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss t…

I acknowledge the presence of my colleague, an Teachta Robert O'Donoghue. Along with our constituency colleague, Deputy Boland, we have been working with a number of groups in our area to try to secure long-term housing solutions for persons with disabilities. This morning, I want to focus specifically on one service. It is an organisation known as Remember Us. I will not try to tell the Minister …

Today in Nenagh, I had the privilege of announcing 307 new homes being built, on top of over 300 announced previously by Whitebox and Quantum homes. A total of more than 600 houses will be built. Why is that so important? Nenagh is effectively in the centre of the country and is one of the best towns in Ireland. Many of the people who are going into these homes are local people or people who desir…

I thank the Labour Party for bringing this Bill to the House this morning. I listened to the Minister of State's speech. He and the Government really need to wake up to the fact that remote working can benefit not only workers and their families, but local businesses and communities as well. The Minister of State knows that coming from a county like Mayo. He also knows that if people with disabili…

There needs to be a massive change in the approach to remote work in legislation to formalise it as a legitimate labour entitlement and a right and to ensure that remote working is harnessed to support people and communities. Ireland needs a national target for remote work. We need to facilitate and support companies to support workers to ensure that the right and access to remote employment is a…

Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine a bhí ag caint faoin mBille seo. Nuair a bhí mé sa Chathaoir, bhí mé ag éisteacht le gach duine. Bhí go leor daoine ag caint faoin trácht agus rudaí atá sa saol faoi láthair, go háirithe i mBaile Átha Cliath thuaidh. Bím i gcónaí ag caint le daoine. I commend Deputy Lawlor on the work he has put into this Bill. It is good to know he is not just a good opera singer; h…

In many of these countries, these issues are dealt with through sectoral agreements and bargaining, which are, unfortunately, so absent in this country. The Minister goes on to say that over 8,000 people have taken part in the Government consultation. Does he think that this unprecedented response is a clap on the back for the Government policy? I assure him that this response, given the thousands…

We have a long track ahead of us. I want to put on the record that this is not how we should be dealing with this legislation. The Minister has described it as the most substantial piece of immigration legislation this House has dealt with in many years. The truth is that it is being rushed. It is being rushed not because it is emergency legislation. If it is an emergency, it is no more an emergen…

Listening to the debate, there seems to be one rule for the Government and another rule for the Opposition, with the Minister pushing his own legislation and not giving the Opposition the chance to undertake the proper scrutiny it needs to. I will give an example of why I am saying this, and the Minister will know where I am coming from. Last month, the Government delayed legislation I had before …

No, I know. I am surprised it is not because there are other proposals for definitions. The Minister would have read the pre-legislative scrutiny report by the committee and throughout that process, it was repeatedly flagged that the term "legal counselling" appears several times in the legislation but there is insufficient definition. Many of those who gave expert testimony to the committee raise…

The Minister has indicated that he is going to bring forward a definition of "legal counselling", but I have to say I have no sense from what he has said of what that definition will mean. He mentioned amendment No. 8 and the language in the directive. If it was as simple as taking the definition in its entirety, I presume it would be in place by now. To be clear, the amendment before us, amendmen…

I move amendment No. 8: In page 23, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "(2) A reference in this Act to a ‘measure of last resort’ means, in relation to an adult or a child, a measure that is taken only after all non-custodial alternatives to detention have been duly considered, in accordance with Recital 33 and Article 10(2) of the Reception Conditions Directive.". This amendment…