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185. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the mandatory retirement age currently applied to members of the retained fire service, including the requirement for personnel to retire before reaching sixty-two years of age. [17810/26]

186. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the medical fitness requirements for retained firefighters, including bi-annual medical examinations after forty years of age and annual medical examinations after fifty years of age; and to confirm that these requirements remain in place. [17814/26]

187. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with unions (details supplied) which are actively campaigning for reforms to the retirement age and conditions for retained firefighters; and outline any planned or ongoing consultations. [17817/26]

188. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time it takes to process first registrations in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17840/26]

189. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications made to Tailte Éireann for first registration in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17841/26]

190. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of property registrations processed by Tailte Éireann for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17842/26]

191. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the sponsor of Ireland’s participation in Marché International des Professionnels de l'Immobilier (MIPIM) Conference; the value of the sponsorship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17859/26]

242. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the measures the SEAI is taking to include works to old stone houses, many without foundations, under the warmer homes scheme given many are being refused any or most works due to structural issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16197/26]

324. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether legal advice has been received confirming that section 35A of the Road Traffic Act 1994, as amended, provides sufficient statutory authority to prohibit the use of scramblers in all public places including parks, greenways and housing estates; whether primary legislation was considered; and whether he will publish the statutory inter…

573. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the 20,000 population threshold area will be determined with regard to the new short-term letting regulations; if specific maps or guidelines will be published; whether a “grandfathering” clause will be included and what criteria will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16185/…

574. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the new short-term letting regulations, whether a requirement to obtain commercial planning permission for a property will mean it will become liable for commercial rates; if commercial planning is granted for a short-term let, will there be a clear and straightforward process to revert the proper…

575. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is considering increasing the threshold for the cost rental income assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16194/26]

578. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the HAP limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/26]

579. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on HAP and RAS tenancies in Dublin city in each year since 2011, in tabular form [16315/26]

580. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider expanding the “Fresh Start Principle” to include individuals who have experienced credit damage arising out of a separation or divorce but are now financially stable for the purpose of mortgage applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16330/26]

581. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to advise on a policy issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16331/26]

582. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the sectoral adaptation plan for Built Environment and Planning (2025-2030) has not yet been published; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16377/26]

583. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all designated conservation areas across the State, by location and the local authority under whose remit they fall. [16384/26]

587. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to introduce a scheme that would allow local authorities to facilitate the exchange of a privately owned larger dwelling for a smaller local authority property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16456/26]

589. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE qualified entomologists employed by his Department as of 24 February 2026, in tabular form. [16507/26]

590. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is considering a new phase of supports for existing cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme applicants, as per correspondence issued to said applicants; the stage this consideration is at; when applicants will be informed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16510/26]

591. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm if individuals may avail of Government schemes such as the help-to-buy scheme, and first home scheme when purchasing a modular home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16541/26]

592. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list all schemes, funding programmes, capital funds, grant streams or other expenditure headings administered by his Department in 2025 and 2026 which result in allocations, awards, or spending that can be identified with a specific geographical location including county, district, town, or project site, to g…

593. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the web link to his Department’s Q4 2025 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; the date on which this report was published; and if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [16572/26]

594. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm, in respect of his Department’s published quarterly reports of procurement-related payments or purchase orders over €20,000 (details supplied), where such reports are published in PDF format but originate from an Excel or similar spreadsheet file, that the underlying data was fully expanded and valida…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I understand where both Deputies are coming from. Having examined it, there are some challenges around shortening the period. I understand the Deputies' intention. However, when we look at the necessity for bigger projects to secure finance, deal with compliance and complete the development, the five-year period is a more balanced approach to this. The…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 11, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(e) The Minister may, by way of regulations, provide for third party observations for consideration by the planning authority to ensure compliance with the State’s obligations under the Aarhus Convention and the principles of good planning and development.”. I want to make a couple of general points on the pl…

That is precisely the problem. If this change to planning legislation had been included in the Planning and Development Act which we spent two years passing through the House, as a committee we could have asked, for example, planning law experts, professional planners and legal experts who specialise in Aarhus Convention compliance their views on this. One of the points I made on Second Stage was …

I move amendment No. 8: In page 12, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Construction within a specified timeframe 16. In line with a use it or lose it principle, development must begin construction within a specified timeframe after receiving planning permission. Penalties for non-compliance will include the withdrawal of permission for the development.” This relates to the propos…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 14, after line 18, to insert the following: “Report on planning permissions and residential units 18. Within three months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report detailing the number of planning permissions and residential units to which section 14 of this Act may apply and making recommendations on how to …

One in five families have cut back on or gone without heating in the past six months. Two in five are going without essential items, including food and medical appointments. Some 40% of parents are skipping meals so their children would have enough. According to today’s Barnardos report into the cost-of-living crisis, parents across the country are facing impossible decisions. This is starkly hig…

I want to mention Elm Park, given the fact that this is a time-sensitive issue. Houses in Elm Park in Buncrana face immediate danger as they have been built on a floodplain and are affected by defective concrete. The only safe option for these residents is relocation. The home of one family home is in such a bad structural state that the family sees no alternative but to move ahead with the defect…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle very much. I acknowledge the comments from the various Whips. We have a very busy schedule this week with several items of legislation to conclude. For example, just this afternoon, the Minister for housing will be in the House for three and a half hours for Second Stage of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Order of Business stands.

Before we move to Questions on Policy or Legislation, I welcome some very special visitors to the Gallery. They include members of the Irish Wheelchair Association, the Gold Star Disability initiative from Cashel and the Tipperary Volunteer Centre who are special guests in the Houses of the Oireachtas today. I wish to record our appreciation to the groups for their invaluable insights with regard …

I would like to be associated with the words of welcome. I assure the Taoiseach that I will be shouting for Cork and I always shout for Cork in this House. Yesterday's Courts Service reports reveal a 13.6% increase in new sexual offences cases, a figure that all of us in this House should be deeply concerned about. Ireland's population at approximately 5.4 million, almost a decade ahead of the ear…

I am just saying it. There are too many coming into the House asking for more and more. To be very frank about it, I have watched O'Devaney Gardens and Oscar Traynor Road over the years and it should not take a decade to get agreement on what we do to build houses on a massive site.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 27, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure last met on Monday, 28 April and is due to meet again on Thursday, 17 July. The committee oversees programme for Government commitments in relation to infrastructure delivery and its work reflects the importance this Government is placing on the issue. The delivery of growth enhancing infrastru…

I commend the establishment of the infrastructure committee. It is rightly targeting key areas of society: water infrastructure, energy infrastructure and housing. However, I ask that policy on social infrastructure be considered as part of this. I am referring to schools, Garda stations, crèches, playgrounds, etc. When we are considering the development of towns and villages and increases to the …

Legal and planning issues need to be addressed, without a doubt, but I agree with Deputy Kenny that the major issues, which we have all been dealing with when we talk to developers, builders, and local authorities, are infrastructure, bureaucracy, high costs and a difficulty drawing down finance for building. As regards this legislation, it is not the way to be doing business. As Deputy Kenny said…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes: — comments by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless T.D. on RTÉ where he indicated that in the absence of a cost of living package this year student fees will rise; and — the Minister's statement coupled with the refusal of Government to provide a cost-of-living package this year means student fees this c…

I commend the motion to the House. The Minister and the Government are all over the place when it comes to student fees. The Minister went on the national broadcaster and scared the bejeysus out of every student and parent across the State when he told them in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis that student fees were going to go up. It came like a bolt out of the blue for every parent listening…

I too welcome the students to the Dáil. I listened to the Minister's speech and, like students up and down the country, I am none the wiser. Students have been left under serious pressure over the course of the past few weeks and their college term has not even begun yet. They are meant to be enjoying their summer holidays and getting a summer job. While many students and their families are stress…

Students were protesting outside the gates earlier demanding answers. Their families are demanding answers. Students are young people trying to enjoy their summer holidays after finishing the leaving certificate and beginning college. Families across Ireland who are sending youngsters back to college and those who may be in their final year and looking to knuckle down to get their degree are deman…

I am happy to join with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, to speak to this from a housing perspective because, obviously, that is another cost that is incurred by students. I want to outline what we will do in that regard. I thank all contributors to this evening's debate. The Government is very much aware of the costs that students and families may encounter…

There is a twofold decision coming from the Minister's Department and the Department of housing that offers no support, no protection and no hope to these young people. It is shocking that the Minister has decided to charge students more money for their college education while they are already struggling through this continuous cost-of-living crisis. The Government has shown it is completely out o…

I studied accounting for my leaving cert and then studied mathematics as an undergraduate. Perhaps my focus on numbers has been unfortunate in recent days. Perhaps there is a bigger picture than the pure mathematical realities, something I am learning. Again I agree with the Deputy. The Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, and I recently launched a subset of the overall system but a really strong ex…

I understand the constraints the Minister is under when it comes to the budget, and he is not 100% aware of what will be in his Department. I go back to my other question. I was wondering if he would clarify his opinion. He will obviously be looking at students in this. The huge burden they have at the moment is accommodation, especially students who are coming to visit and to live in Dublin. The …

I have had the honour of going to Walter Scott House to meet Superintendent Gubbins, who heads up CAB. I am very impressed by the work it is doing. Although Walter Scott House is a fine new building, I am aware that the work of CAB is expanding and I am conscious that the expansion of its numbers will require further facilities. My Department has submitted a proposal as part of the review of the n…

I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House that the s…

I repeat that the Government strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of any animal. We carry out risk-based assessments. We also carry out investigations into any allegations of illegal or criminal behaviour and we prepare files for the Director of Public Prosecutions, as appropriate. That is a strong priority of my Department. We take that responsibility very seriously. I want to be very cl…