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1670. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend the Exempted Development Regulations; what will be included in these changes; when he expects that the changes will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24288/26]

1671. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the external validation group for the fire service; the current membership of the group; when the group was established; when each member was appointed to the group; the maximum duration of time allowed for members to sit; who is responsible for appointing members to the group; and if he wil…

1672. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of tenant-in-situ acquisitions funded by his Department in each of the years from 2018 to 2026 with a breakdown by local authority and the total for each local authority, in tabular form. [24333/26]

1673. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on issues raised in regard to short term lets (details supplied) a; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/26]

1674. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on issues raised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24382/26]

1675. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether section 28(a) of the Fire Services Act 1981, offers sufficient cover for homeowners in instances where it is deemed the fire brigade acted negligently in causing damage to property in the course of their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24400/26]

1676. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review of section 28(a) of the Fire Services Act 1981, that would create greater protection for people who have experienced damage to personal property due to the actions of the fire brigade in the course of carrying out their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2440…

1679. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery timeline for each phase for St. Kevin's Site in Shanakiel, Cork [24422/26]

1680. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the position of people residing in 'Niche Living' accommodation who are not called tenants (details supplied) but they are ineligible to apply for HAP or other rent supports; the rationale for this; if he will consider introducing an amendment so that renters of these properties who a…

1681. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any artificial intelligence tools or systems are currently being used within his Department or in agencies under its remit; the purposes for which these tools are being used; whether any departmental guidance or governance structures have been developed to support their responsible use; and if he wi…

1683. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of Government funding provided to environmental NGOs (details supplied) in each of the past ten years. [24508/26]

1684. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the value and duration of contracts and service provision arrangements his Department and all bodies under his aegis have or had with a company (details supplied) in the past ten years to date in 2026; if he will clarify whether his Department was the beneficiary of professional work or services from the comp…

1685. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase preventions and exits from emergency accommodation for families who have been evicted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24590/26]

1686. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the tools, schemes, programmes, and policies funded by his Department to support preventions and exits from emergency accommodation for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24591/26]

1687. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of the NGOs that have received Government funding from his Department in the past five years. [24634/26]

1688. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which his Department determines the market rent valuations used for cost rental designations. [24733/26]

1689. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which access to amenities provided as part of the scheme in cost rental schemes is ensured for tenants. [24734/26]

1690. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he oversees the comparator selection for determining cost rental rates. [24735/26]

1691. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of the number of staffing posts Kildare County Council will apply for between 2022 and Q4 2025: the number that were withdrawn; the number that were refused; if refused, the reason for refusal; if workforce planning was the reason, if he will provide details; and if he will make …

1692. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage that has been given by his Department to amending Building Regulations 2010 Part M to mandate a minimum percentage of wheelchair liveable dwellings. [24757/26]

1694. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of the €50 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) provided to Cork City Council in 2021 for the regeneration of Grand Parade which remains unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24773/26]

1695. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of the number of staffing posts Kildare County Council, Kerry County Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council applied for between 2022 and Q4 2025: the number that were withdrawn; the number that were refused; if refused, the reason for refusal; if workforce planni…

1698. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage while the Apartments and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024 awaits enactment, if OMCs are legally permitted to collect levies from owners for defect works that will qualify for 100% grant funding under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24846/26]

1699. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the enacted the Apartment and Duplex Remediation Bill 2024, the obligations the OMCs have to apply for grant funding before or instead of levying owners; and the statutory protections that will ensure owners are refunded where levies have already been collected for grant-eligible works; and if he…

1700. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the enactment of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Act 2025, and noting that part of the scheme has been administrated by Donegal County Council, when he expect the remainder of the amendments under the Bill to commence administration across all …

Molaim mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Mark Ward, as a chuid obair feachtasaíochta ar an gceist seo. Deputy Ward deserves huge credit for the work he has done not only in bringing forward this legislation but in setting out the issues around nitrous oxide for this House. We know it has legitimate uses in the medical and catering sectors but it is clear that its sale must be regulated in the interests…

I commend my colleague Teachta Ward, not only on the work he has done recently but over the past number of years. This is not work that has been done over the past two months. A lot of time and effort has been invested in it. We are all aware that nitrous oxide has become a scourge in all of our communities. Our young people are being put at serious risk by people who are making profit out of chil…

What the Deputy has seen from me so far is that once I become aware of the issue with the Art Council and the issues in the National Gallery, I dealt with them, and I did so fairly comprehensively. The report on the Arts Council was published today. It runs to 245 pages and contains well in excess of 190 recommendations. There are recommendations for all Departments, including my Department, State…

I thank the Deputy for raising this. The programme for Government commits to supporting local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help build liveable communities. While neither of my Department's sports capital funding programmes - the community sport facilities fund, CSFF, and the large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF - provide for the acquisition o…

Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue matter. I appreciate it is not his Department, but I hope he will bring this matter back to the Department of education and that the officials tuning in will be very aware of the concerns around Bunclody Community College. Bunclody Community College is a school with an enrolment of 310 students. This is an increase of…

As the Minister will know, and as a direct result of Government policy, the housing situation in this State is - what is the word we are using now? Is it "crisis"? "Emergency"? "Disaster"? Any of those would be used, but "expensive" and, in many instances, "unaffordable" are the words people will most use. My question relates to additional cost-of-living measures. Has the Minister given any consid…

That is why we have delivered. Deputy O'Reilly has raised child poverty in particular. I have mentioned and reiterate the record increases in the child support payment, which goes to those on the lowest incomes. There is €1.15 billion in new measures for 2026 in the Department. The child support payment, to reiterate, increased by €16 per week to €78 for children aged 12, which is a 26% increase i…

It is €52.2 million for rent supplement and €570 million for HAP. The issue of a review of the rent limits is a matter in which my colleague, the Minister for housing, is taking the lead. I understand the Minister has approved the commencement of a review of HAP rent limits. Officials from my Department will provide input to this review. Any changes to the rent supplement limits will then be align…

I thank the Minister for his reply. It is fair. There was no intention from anyone in any place to say that this was just overlooked. We in Independent Ireland will be tabling a couple of amendments when the legislation hits the floor. I am quite happy to meet with the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, about this and bring to him a small delegation who have a number of concerns about the fair dea…

Obviously, I am not the Minister for housing, but I will take this issue up with him. I would point out that the Government has been very proactive in protecting homeowners in Donegal. I acknowledge all those homeowners who have applied for the current scheme, which was enhanced, and the work done throughout our communities to ensure people and families are protected, because that is a primary con…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to entitle customers with certain medical conditions to make use of staff toilet facilities in retail establishments in certain circumstances, to provide for redress where the entitlement is not met, and to provide for connected matters. I am delighted to introduce the Equal Status (Access to Toilet Facilities) Bill 2026 to the Ho…

I acknowledge and very much welcome the Minister's comments on deregulation. The stories we have heard over the past few weeks in relation to the Grok feature on X have shocked many people here and across the world. The AI element within social media has been encouraged by tech tycoons such as Elon Musk, owner of X. The Grok website features a claim that, as part of X, Grok offers real-time search…

I am grateful to Deputy O'Reilly for raising this important issue. While I am taking it on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, it is one I have a personal interest in. We spent many a day on this topic in the previous Dáil. As the Deputy will know, the programme for government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework prioritising economic and employment growth,…

I welcome the Bill, have read through it on a number of occasions and thank those who brought the Bill together and assembled it. The Bill tells us quickly, however, and I am sure the Minister will admit it himself that the system is broken. Unfortunately, the Bill does not fix it. It is a good attempt but it needs a little bit of fine tuning. It creates more reporting without guaranteed actions. …

Dereliction makes our towns look worse, damages local pride, drives footfall away from businesses and sends the message that neglect is tolerated. At a time of such acute public infrastructure needs, this is simply unacceptable. This Bill does not create a new tax. It asks only that the existing law be taken seriously and enforced properly. In my constituency of Dublin-Fingal West they deserve be…

I acknowledge what the local teams are doing. They are doing brilliant work at Tara House, Arden House and lots of other places. I am glad to hear that the Minister of State accepts that there are no acute beds in County Wexford and that she will look at that this year. I am just reflecting what every politician in Wexford is saying and what the people coming to me are saying. They are saying that…

I see that the Minister for education is not here. I believe she has an engagement this morning. It is very rare for me to get the opportunity to raise a Topical Issue so it is very difficult to not have the Minister here. I am not questioning the Minister of State's ability to answer the question. I am sure he is very well prepared. However, it is very difficult when you go to the bother and do a…

I listened very carefully to the Minister's contribution, and I have to say it was somewhat disappointing. There is no doubt that many aspects of our drinking water and wastewater systems work, and work well. I want to put on record that there have been improvements in recent years in parts of the country in the operation of the utility. However, as the Minister has heard from the Deputies proposi…

I have two minutes, so I will make three quick points to the Minister but I want to make the general point that when we are talking about water, we should take stock of the picture internationally because there are so many examples of situations where privatisation has led to absolute chaos. We have seen this very clearly in relation to Thames Water. I know that privatisation is not on the agenda …

I thank Independent Ireland for bringing forward this motion. We have a large number of issues in Donegal with water. It is probably the biggest issue outside of defective concrete. Many areas lack waterworks and engineers. They face significant issues, such as pipe bursts and lack of proper infrastructure. We have issues and outages reported throughout Inishowen, west Donegal, Bundoran, Stranorla…

I welcome the opportunity to contribute this evening. I am going to concentrate on the Bill itself and its substance. It is by any measure a technical Bill - a little bit technical, perhaps unexciting, but very important because it deals with something incredibly important, that is, the safety of our citizens in their own homes. When gas safety regulations are not upheld, the consequences are seve…

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this Bill today. Let me state from the outset that safety must always come first. Every family, every worker and every pensioner has a right to know that the fuel heating their homes and cooking their dinners is safe, properly regulated and overseen by a system that is fit for purpose. Safety cannot, however, become a convenient excuse for forgetting …

I move amendment No. 3: In page 13, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: "(4) The Minister shall cause a copy of any order made under subsection (1) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and the order shall lapse 6 months after the date it is made unless earlier revoked or expressly continued by a resolution of both Houses.". Mar gheall …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na leasaithe. We had good discussion on these on Committee Stage. The proposals mirror each other regarding the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They both concern the laying of orders made by the Minister under both Houses, setting timelines of six months on such orders, as the Deputy outlined. Section 7 of …

I wish the Taoiseach a happy new year. On the 24th of this month we mark the one-year anniversary since Storm Éowyn, the strongest storm ever experienced here, hit Ireland. Over 800,000 homes were left without power and over 100,000 without water. This had an enormous impact on families, farms and businesses. Tens of thousands of homes waited over a week before basic services were restored to them…