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1020. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent to date by his Department to facilitate Ireland’s participation in the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes, by expenditure type, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18807/26]

1021. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the persons attending the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes on behalf of the Irish Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18808/26]

1022. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide documentation, presentations and promotional material produced by the Irish government and/or his Department for the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18809/26]

1023. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the organisers of the Irish stand at the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes; his Department’s involvement in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18810/26]

1024. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the apartment and duplex defects remediation scheme will be in place and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18811/26]

1025. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to track and count the number of build to rent units which are being built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18821/26]

1026. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether all works must be completed for the payment of a Croí Cónaithe grant, even if the full grant amount has been spent; and the criteria for the payment of the grant. [18875/26]

1027. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total anticipated costs associated with his foreign travel for St Patrick's Day; the delegation size; and if a breakdown can be provided on these costs including on accommodation and flights. [18895/26]

1028. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he will take to address the unaffordability and the viability gap of cost rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19020/26]

1029. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider increasing RAS contribution limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19021/26]

1030. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the legislation to underpin the apartment defect remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19027/26]

1031. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1242 of 8 September 2026, the position regarding the contents of the formal response that issued to the local authority; the contents of their response; the funds, by heading, that have been drawn down to date in respect of the project; and if he has received a final and …

1032. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Clara fire station, County Offaly will be included in the new priority fire service infrastructural projects 2026-2030, given the inadequacy of the existing very old building which is not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/26]

1033. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a pathfinder project under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19070/26]

1034. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can outline the scope of the pathfinder project under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19071/26]

1035. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a timeline for the completion of the pathfinder project under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19072/26]

1036. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the pathfinder project (details supplied) has a confirmed budget, the way this was ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19073/26]

1037. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any pathfinder projects planned under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19074/26]

1038. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the full rollout of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19075/26]

1039. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way remediation works are classified and deemed to be included in the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19076/26]

1040. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an estimate as to the total cost of completing the full interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19077/26]

1041. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the fire safety standards that apply to electronic access control or key card door systems in multi-unit residential developments to ensure that residents can exit safely during a power outage or other emergency; whether such systems are required under building regulations or fire safety guidance to automatic…

1044. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme; the specific alternative mechanism put in place at the time of the restriction to prevent tenants at risk from entering homelessness; the date this mechanism become operational; and if he will m…

1045. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme, the number of households that would previously have qualified under the tenant-in-situ scheme that have since presented to homeless services following the restriction of the scheme; and if he wi…

1046. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the ongoing homelessness crisis and the Government's decision to restrict the tenant-in-situ scheme, the evidence-based assessment, risk analysis or modelling carried out by the Department prior to the decision to restrict the scheme, particularly in relation to projected increases in homelessn…

There is a salient ruling of the House. I ask Deputies on both sides to respect it. There will be no mention of the Presidential election. We have agreed under salient rulings that the President's office is above debate. That includes nominees or mentioning the election. Both sides of the House, please respect the salient ruling. I call the Taoiseach.

Areas with population growth and housing demand must be prioritised under the new national development plan and budget 2026. Dundalk and Blackrock are ready to grow but are being held back by the outdated wastewater infrastructure. Uisce Éireann has plans to expand the Dundalk treatment plant and transfer load from Blackrock. The groundwork has been done and what is missing is delivery. Every dela…

Given that billions of euro have been passed through this House in terms of supplementary Estimates and the budget, why are the most marginalised and in need in our society still experiencing difficulties with housing adaptation grants, which have been almost stopped in places like Kilkenny? Will the Taoiseach ensure there will be an ongoing fund to take them to the end of the year and thereafter …

There is a substantial increase in the budget for 2026 in respect of housing adaptation grants. I do not have the specifics in respect of Kilkenny, but I will ask the Minister for housing to examine that matter and, if there is a halt, see if he can get that moving again, particularly for those who need adaptations to their homes for clear reasons in order that there would be an acceleration. I wi…

Back in January, I made a decision as an Independent TD to engage constructively in the formation of a new Government. My focus was simple. I wished to ensure the ambitions we have for Ireland could be realised in a practical, balanced and fair way. Throughout that process, I found the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, to be honest and open, willing to share ideas and genuinely committed to reaching consens…

I rise today to make three quick points in the short time I have available. First, it is the Government's commitment and determination to make progress in spinal services for children. The focus of our current and previous Ministers for Health has been on delivering considerable resources and addressing structural impediments to the delivery of improved spinal services. I want to say to Stephen an…

I also join in the condolences offered to Harvey's family. I speak today conscious that much more needs to be done to improve our spinal services for children. The parents of children waiting for spinal surgery have real and genuine concerns and the Government must address those concerns. All parents want the best for their children and every opportunity for their future and rightly so. As one of…

I welcome the opportunity this evening to speak on the tillage sector. I thank all the tillage farmers in County Laois who voted for me in the general election. The tillage sector is a vital and strategic part of Irish agriculture, the rural economy and our environmental ambitions. It is a cornerstone of our agrifood system. Across Ireland, 344,000 ha are devoted to tillage, supporting around 7,0…

The Government has responded to the Housing Commission. It has been asserted in public discourse that the Government ignored the Housing Commission in respect of the rental market.

----- both on the social housing level, affordable housing and generally across the situation and we will continue to do that.

I have listened carefuly to the Taoiseach's answer and every time I raise housing or the appalling and shocking figure of 5,000 children in homelessness with him, he engages in what I may describe as classic deflection tactics. Previously when I raised the failure to sustain the tenant in situ scheme, a scheme we welcomed, the Taoiseach blamed local authorities. Now he is blaming judicial reviews.…

It is the State is investing across abroad sweep of housing policies. What has to happen is that the State funding has to be balanced by private sector finance. I know the Deputy hates that. The Deputy has an instinctive ideological opposition to that, which I disagree with. Until we get a significant financial investment from the private sector in housing, we are not going to get to 50,000.

We want to build infrastructure, water and grid, which are central to housing. That is what enables us to build more houses.

We are seeing an expanding war in Europe now and Russia’s campaign of aggression against Ukraine but also others. We are seeing horrific things. Up to an estimated 20,000 children have now been abducted from Ukraine and taken into Russian territory. We also know about the hybrid and cyber attacks from Russia on member states of the European Union and, indeed, other European countries. We have seen…

I thank all the Deputies who have raised a variety of questions. Deputy Malcolm Byrne raised an important issue in terms of Russia's aggression against Europe. I attended an event in the United Nations, chaired by Prime Minister Carney and President Zelensky and their respective spouses, in respect of the 20,000 abducted children. Ireland will continue to provide support. I would like to be in a p…

We all know - at least those of us on this side of the House - that there is a substantial additional cost to disability. There is a mountain of evidence, report after report, setting it out in black and white. The cost lands on the shoulders of individuals and families across the State. The question we in Sinn Féin and those on this side of the House are asking is why the Government is refusing t…

I acknowledge Sinn Féin for bringing forward the motion. Without question we will support it wholeheartedly. A cost-of-disability payment is long overdue. It is fair, it is practical and it recognises what the State has known for years, which is that living with a disability in Ireland carries a very real financial cost. Its omission from last year's budget was profoundly disappointing. The Govern…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am taking it on behalf of the Department of housing and the Minister, Deputy James Browne. On 10 June 2025, the Government approved policy measures, including modifications to rent controls, to come into effect on 1 March 2026, as the Deputy has outlined. The purpose is to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and, at the…

The Minister may know that I introduced a Bill to the House in June, entitled the Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill. It was drafted by my office in response to discussions we held with a number of victims and survivors of sexual violence, who made it clear to me that having a provision to protect them after the release of the perpetrator of their attack would have a profound …

None of that is good enough. Every single week, we hear about another scandal in respect of an IPAS contract. Huge sums of money were paid to people with no track record and there is no explanation as to why this was the case. We do not get these revelations from the Minister of State’s Department, by the way; it is usually journalists who give us information that is in the public interest and tha…

No, but I will give the Deputy an overview of why that is the answer. I am fairly satisfied that Ireland has transposed the European Council framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia in a manner appropriate and tailored to the domestic system of law in Ireland. I assure Members of the House that Ireland's position has been communicated to the European C…

No, it would not. To be clear in case Deputy Newsome Drennan has not read her own party's alternative budget, Sinn Féin proposed this as well, so Sinn Féin is in favour of this and agrees with us on this one. The rate of 9% is supported by Sinn Féin as well, so I thank her for that support. Deputy Healy does not support it and that is his right. On balance, we think this is the right thing to do.…

I am very aware that through the sound economic foundation set by that Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, over the years, we now have the opportunity to deliver for communities throughout the country. Not only do we have the houses but we have the facilities. I want to point out that three towns of Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth, which we all know and many of us pass on the motorway, are …

A few weeks back, newspapers revealed that the Irish Prison Service paid almost €25,000 of taxpayers' money for a single podcast by The 2 Johnnies. There are also reports of other podcasters receiving payments of almost €100,000. At the same time, we see extraordinary capital spending on ten single modular homes at Shelton Abbey at a cost of €640,000 each. At Loughan House in Cavan, units housing …

I am always open to engaging on a cross-party basis on this. I was with the First Minister for Northern Ireland in Hillsborough last night with representatives from western Balkan countries. We had a conversation about our peace process and the learnings from it for other parts of the world. It was a brief opportunity to talk to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to legacy mat…