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997. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will report on the progress of the housing investment and policy impact working group. [14449/26]

1088. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether there is an agreed and widely used system that acts as a unique identifier of each non-government organisation, charity or voluntary/community organisation or approved housing body to enable traceability of public funds; if not, if there are any plans underway to …

1089. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by third parties (details supplied); the title and final cost of same; and whether the repor…

1090. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by him in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by his officials; the title and final cost of same, if applicable; to provide a breakdown of where cost…

1190. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by third parties (details supplied); the title and final cost of same; and whether the report is published and or laid in the Houses o…

1191. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by him in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by his officials; the title and final cost of same, if applicable; to provide a breakdown of where costs were incurred; and whether the report is…

1401. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available to a mother who currently lives in Castleknock and is bidding on a house in Malahide (details supplied). [25369/26]

1511. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by her Department in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by third parties (details supplied); the title and final cost of same; and whether the report is published and or laid in the Houses of the Oireacht…

1512. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by her in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by her officials; the title and final cost of same, if applicable; to provide a breakdown of where costs were incurred; and whether the report is published and…

1607. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by third parties (details supplied); the title and final cost of same; and whether the report is published and or laid in the Houses of…

1608. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by him in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by his officials; the title and final cost of same, if applicable; to provide a breakdown of where costs were incurred; and whether the report is …

1615. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding implementing the regulation RENURE (REcovered Nitrogen from manURE) which the Commission formally adopted on 9 February 2026; when it will be transposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24969/26]

1616. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views that legislation is required to ensure that acoustic deterrent devices ('pingers') are not used on Irish coastal waters against a resident dolphin for the purposes of attempting to force the dolphin to abandon their habitat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25858/26]

1617. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has concerns about the use of an acoustic pinger in a small bay in County Clare where there is a resident dolphin which means significant harassment and disturbance of the dolphin (details supplied). [25880/26]

1620. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the current and projected funding arrangements for the establishment of the Building Standards Regulatory Authority; the reason for the absence of dedicated budget line items since 2024 to support its development and implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27128/26]

1622. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safeguards being put in place in the development of revised regulations governing cabins, modular units and similar accommodation in domestic gardens to ensure that such developments do not give rise to unintended negative impacts on adjoining or neighbouring properties, including issues relating to privacy…

1623. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount Cork City Council paid in 2025 following the boundary redraw; and how much they will pay in 2026. [23532/26]

1624. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the last time the Local Electoral Boundary Area Committee for Cork City Council and Cork County Council met. [23533/26]

1625. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of outstanding issues on the 2019 boundary redraw in Cork that remain. [23534/26]

1626. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether national planning guidelines specific to utility scale ground mounted solar photovoltaic developments have been, or are proposed to be, issued under the Planning and Development Act 2024; whether the absence of such dedicated guidelines means that planning authorities are currently determining ma…

1627. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the practical effect the EU (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025, which transposed Renewable Energy Directive III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) into Irish law, will have on the weight a planning authority is required to give to its own county development plan policies when determin…

1628. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the recent public consultation by his Department regarding proposed changes to planning laws and regulations regarding modular homes as exempted development in certain cases, when will these be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/26]

1629. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the national guidance or methodology planning authorities are required to apply when assessing the indirect visual and setting impacts of utility-scale renewable energy developments on monuments listed on the Record of Monuments and Places under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004; whether it is con…

1630. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration would be given to reviewing the eligibility areas of grant aid schemes administered by a local authority (details supplied) to upgrade, repair or replace domestic wastewater treatment system/septic tank systems, to ensure that those who are in most need of the grant and who would have difficulty …

1631. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to reviewing the eligibility areas of grant aid schemes administered by a local authority (details supplied) to upgrade, repair or replace domestic wastewater treatment system/septic tank systems, to ensure that those who are in most need of the grant and who would have difficulty i…

I welcome the Deputy's comments in relation to this proposal, which is being advanced by Government. I expect to have these domestic exemption regulations before the joint Oireachtas committee around Easter time and enacted and enforced thereafter. I have never once said that this is a solution to the housing crisis. This is about providing options for people where they feel it appropriate. There …

142. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the initiative to allow builders and private developers to construct wastewater treatment facilities for smaller housing developments; when the new regulations will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5315/26]

143. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be made available to local authorities in 2026 for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4932/26]

156. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Sligo County Council will receive its 2026 funding allocation to enable the reopening of the urgently needed housing adaptation grant scheme, which has been paused for several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4424/26]

I suppose I got some of the answers anyway. I recognise that. The situation facing the council housing adaptation grant schemes in Sligo and Leitrim is now critical. In 2025 the council budgeted €2.4 million to support older people and people with disabilities to remain safely in their homes yet the allocation fell far short of what was required. That forced the council to seek an emergency top-up…

The issue I have, which happens every year, is that there is an insufficient amount of money to cover the grants at this point of time. The fact that secondary and tertiary allocations have to be made shows this is a particular issue. That is only one of them; the other particular issue is that there has to be an allowance for those who need a greater level of works done such as where there are ch…

144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the lack of affordable housing in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/26]

With regard to affordable housing, while there is a need for more to be done, I welcome the fact that the Minister was in Gorey last Friday where a very successful affordable housing scheme of 20 homes was launched. The families were very satisfied. I was delighted that the Sinn Féin Deputy was present. Even though he opposed many of the Government's measures in this regard, he had no problem hopp…

Every scheme is always kept under review. We have multiple schemes now for helping people to be able to get their home and to make schemes affordable. We always keep schemes under review and where we think we can make them more effective, we always do so. It is important that these schemes exist, and that people are aware of them and use them. As Deputy Byrne mentioned, we have some very successf…

147. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has engaged in any consultation processes with approved housing bodies and local authorities in advance of legislation removing blanket pet bans. [4416/26]

I agree with the Minister's proposal to repeal the ban. That is only sensible and sane. This has caused unquantifiable distress to families who have been in touch with me. I will give one example of one family. They were on a social housing list and got approval. They were very excited, but only a couple of months earlier they had generously taken in their neighbour's dog when their neighbour had …

This was the Housing Agency that funded SpunOut, which choose the topics itself. SpunOut does a fantastic job. An official in the housing Department retweeted it. I am not going after that official. They were well intentioned and they thought they were doing the right thing. These things happen.

I commend the Minister and his junior Ministers on the tireless work they are doing on the housing crisis. Will the Minister provide funding to Kerry County Council to construct modular homes as part of the solution for social and affordable housing? Will the Minister allow Kerry County Council to grant planning permission to individuals and families who wish to construct a modular home? Will the …

We must give an opportunity to those on middle incomes. They are caught between social housing and being able to afford to build their own homes. I believe the modular home is a solution. Low-cost sites are an incentive there as well to help these people get on the property ladder. To achieve this, yet again, as I mentioned, we have over 40 unsewered villages in County Kerry and a number of others…

I agree with the Deputy. I am also grateful to him for raising the issue of Iran. It is not raised nearly often enough in this House. The brutal, disgusting repression we have seen of the brave Iranian protesters should be called out, as should the heroism of those protesters, who are standing up for their future and the aspiration they rightly have to live in a free, safe and democratic country a…

On this occasion, he read it verbatim. The reason he read it verbatim was he has to be very careful about what he is saying on a lot of these things. From a legislative point of view, it is very tricky. This is not good practice and I am surprised at the Minister for behaving in this way in this House. This is so diverse. It includes pepper spray, community service orders, counselling records on s…

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 Peter Roche - To discuss access the supports for persons with an end-of-life medical card. Deputy Jen Cummins - To discuss core funding for Ballyfermot youth service. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss allowing allow for modular ho…

I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I acknowledge the Bill brought forward by Deputy Nash. The principal purpose of the Bill, as outlined in the explanatory memorandum, is to establish a new body, within the current local and regional government framework with specific responsibilities for the River Boyne and its catchment a…

I am dealing with this on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I thank Deputy Nash for introducing this Labour Party Bill. I also thank him and Deputy O'Rourke for their contributions to the debate this evening. While the Minister welcomes the genuine intentions of the Bill in attempting to address issues in the Boyne catchment, this Government is alrea…

I thank my colleague, Deputy Wall, for bringing this motion forward. The right to request flexible work is not even a half measure. It merely formalised the ability of a worker to request flexible work. Workers were not prohibited from making this request prior to that. This once again puts the entirety of the power balance in favour of the employer. The employer has no responsibility to accommoda…

It is profoundly depressing and frankly outrageous to read the Government’s counter-motion this morning – a motion that cannot even bring itself to acknowledge the problems of congestion and chaos on our roads. It is a motion that does not even make a single reference to remote and flexible work. We have to ask how in touch the Government is when we see the dismissal of people’s very real needs an…

Okay. To summarise it briefly, it is a small amendment that simply adds a day-one entitlement to the request for remote working. This is based on the fact that I am currently working on legislation in this area which I will soon be bringing to the floor of the Dáil. I will come back to that at the end of my comments. I thank the Labour Party for bringing this important motion forward. Remote and …

The Minister will be aware that in 2017, I introduced legislation to provide for an exoneration for men who were convicted of engaging in consensual same-sex sexual activity prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993. As he will recall, the first part of that process was the historic State apology issued in both Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2018 for the way in which this State and…

I thank Deputy McGrath for his question. Like every other Deputy in the House, the one demand he wants to see met is to see more gardaí in his constituency. I know everyone in this House wants to see the same. That is a good reflection on An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will know that the number of gardaí in Cork city increased significantly after the most recent attestation in Templemore. I am plea…

Recently, Ireland was ranked the second most successful economy in the world for 2025 by The Economist. This did not warrant a mention in any of our media or here in this House. It shows the extraordinary progress we have made but we cannot take this huge success for granted. One of the main factors in future economic success is economic confidence. We must be careful not to rundown this country, …