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595. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any assessment in relation to purchasing the lands included within the SAAO at St. Edmundsbury/Woodville and elsewhere along the Liffey Valley as part of plans to expand the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s land ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/26]

596. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the legislative or Departmental guidelines regarding the restructuring of legacy shared ownership loans into annuity loans; if he is aware of cases where local authorities have failed to process restructuring applications for several years, leading to the 'expiry' of the loan through no fau…

597. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering an update or review of the septic tank grant, given the amount of ground water in the State over the past number of months and the very negative effect that this may have on old tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16660/26]

599. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up to date position on an infrastructural project in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16664/26]

600. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Government the total number of properties acquired by local authorities under the local authority tenant-in-situ scheme, broken down by county, for 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16668/26]

601. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 766 of 17 February 2026, his views on whether public sector job applicants that are coming from the private sector are disadvantaged in terms of requiring new hires to start of the bottom of the pay scale; his views on whether this acts as a barrier to unfair competition compa…

602. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will overhaul the built heritage investment scheme run by his Department, in view of the fact that this year, very few vernacular buildings received grant funding, so that vernacular buildings would have their own particular grant scheme, similar to years up to and including 2025 (details supplied); and if…

603. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any supports available to homeowners who have become disabled after purchasing their home and are struggling with mortgage payments as a result of a change in income; if not, if he is considering enacting supports of this nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16683/26]

604. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the present guidance for gardeners on hedge management; whether small-scale hedge trimming is prohibited between the 1 March and 31 August under section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, or whether this activity falls under the exceptions for agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16684/26]

605. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of active HAP tenancies with a breakdown by local authority area and an average HP payment per month in each local authority area, in tabular form. [16685/26]

607. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual spend by his Department on the tenant-in-situ scheme for each year from 2020 to 2025; and the number of units purchased under this scheme in each year, in tabular form. [16693/26]

608. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the defective concrete blocks grant scheme complies with the State’s current building regulations and the EU’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in that the defective concrete blocks grant scheme only adheres to the 2007 Building Regulations for the purposes of eligible …

613. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations in the context of the Nitrates Action Programme to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17099/26]

614. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the income limit for the cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme to assist tenants who are just over the current limit and ensure that they can be prevented from homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17101/26]

616. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he can assist older people who are eligible for the defective concrete block grant scheme but who are unable to uproot at this advanced stage of their lives; if he will consider allowing them to transfer their eligibility on to a beneficiary in their will, or to a purchaser who has paid…

796. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant neurosurgeons, neurosurgeon registrars and senior house officers in neurosurgery that were on call between the hours of 8pm-8am at Beaumont Hospital for each night of the week commencing 16 February 2026, in tabular form. [16343/26]

964. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health when the temporary respite house at Fenagh, County Leitrim will be fully prepared and available for occupancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17171/26]

159. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is planning to ensure that the Luas Green Line and other public transport providers will have the necessary capacity to service new housing developments in Sandyford, Dundrum and the surrounding areas. [14879/26]

209. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill ; and when it is expected that the Bill will come before the Houses for First Stage [15680/26]

367. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review SI 374/2024 given concerns that have been raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/26]

368. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, prior to the commencement of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme on 1 December 2023, his Department prepared any policy modelling, capacity assessment or impact analysis of potential participation levels among local authority tenants; whether such analysis informed Cabinet approval;…

369. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on Ireland's engagement with the Year of the Normans; and the activities planned. [16084/26]

370. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Raheen group water scheme in County Clare requires planning permission to replace certain piping in their system before it can be taken in charge by Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15660/26]

371. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the membership of the steering committee that takes charge of the DPI infrastructure between his Department and Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15662/26]

372. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify eligibility criteria for a Local Authority home loan; if a person who is the primary earner and applicant must be in the same role for a period of two years or if continuous employment can mean that the person remained employed but changed jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

I assure him of that. As we deal with this important matter that is at the heart of how we conduct politics in our society and the liberal democracy we are all proud of, which we know we can never take for granted and have to protect and renew by act, deed and word, it is important to remember what has already happened and what the legal framework for all of this is. As the House will be aware, th…

Imagine you have a 12-year-old child and found out that child was watching or was exposed to pornography on a sitting room television while visiting a friend's house. The child would likely be permanently banned from visiting that friend's house and it is likely you would report the parent to Tusla. Yet, we are giving our children smartphones with open access to the Internet where they regularly e…

Less than a year ago the Government made a U-turn on hate speech. The Tánaiste, Deputy Harris, overruled the former Minister for justice and made a pragmatic decision. Unlike this House, the majority of Irish people oppose any censorship laws. There was some sniggering in the Chamber a little while ago when a speaker suggested that hate speech could be turned against political parties in this Hous…

I speak to the Minister today not just as leader of Independent Ireland or on behalf of my constituents, but on behalf of the tens of thousands of people across this country who feel ultimately betrayed by a Government that has wilfully ceded Irish sovereignty, ignored countless opinion polls and placed the interest of Brussels and bureaucracy above the basic needs of its own citizens. The Governm…

I am delighted to see Deputy Paul Murphy and welcome him back from his recent trip to Egypt. I was surprised when I heard Deputy Murphy saying how disappointed he was with Egypt and its Government because he was a number one supporter of the Arab Spring in 2011. I am surprised and shocked to hear that he does not support that regime now, a regime that he took to the streets and vehemently supporte…

I strongly oppose the first and third motions but I think I can support the second motion. With regard to the first motion, I cannot support any proposal that forces Ireland to accept an EU-wide list of so-called safe countries. This is yet another example of Brussels removing our ability to make independent decisions as to who comes into our country. It is a one-size-fits-all policy that undermin…

I will begin by reiterating that it is a central priority of the Government that our immigration laws are robust and that they are enforced. Ireland is committed to the continued advancement of the common European asylum system to ensure a consistent, fair and sustainable asylum procedure at all times, not just at times of migratory pressure. Such a system demands a sharing of responsibility throu…

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, for being here. It is much appreciated. I thank him and his Department for their engagement. I am speaking today on behalf of the residents of Castlemartyr, Mogeely, Midleton, Whitegate, Killeagh and Rathcormac to urgently implore the Government and Minister of State to initiate tranche 2 of the flood relief programme for these communities. These towns…

I thank the Deputy for expressing condolences in the House. I suppose when he submitted this Topical Issue, he did not think we would be thinking of tragedies on our roads and indeed more high-profile ones. It is a timely reminder. The Ceann Comhairle has such a strong track record on road safety, it is appropriate we take a moment before discussing this specific issue. As the Deputy is aware, th…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cheann Comhairle agus leis an Aire Stáit. This is my third week in a row speaking on a Private Members' Bill from the Opposition which, on a Thursday afternoon, is being pushed back or declined by Government. This feeds in to a narrative and the opinion that this is a slow-moving do-nothing Government. First of all, I commend Deputy Bacik and the Labour Party on bringing…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises that: — a national policy on adult safeguarding will be introduced for the health and social care sector, as set out in the Programme for Government, and this policy will commit to the development of adult safeguarding legislation for the sector, including nursing homes, and will build on …

In recent years, I have had the privilege to work with Pat Coyle and the Care Champions, a group that came into existence because of what happened to their loved ones during the Covid pandemic and how badly they were treated. Their stories are heartbreaking. I have witnessed the guilt and the hurt they feel because of the way their loved ones were treated. They feel their loved ones were abandoned…

It is hard to believe we are back here again. It is 20 years since the Leas Cross case, which led to a commission of investigation and the establishment of HIQA. Like many of my colleagues, I believe HIQA needs to be given some of the powers it has requested. As Deputy O'Reilly said, we need some facility for unannounced visits of a particular type. We cannot be utterly reliant on "Prime Time" to …

-----there is still a particular issue with the capital assistance scheme. I spoke to the Minister for housing about it. It needs to be delivered. It is creating an issue because those who should be getting disability housing in St. John of God services and other services cannot get it because the councils are not able to deliver and the funding is put in with the tenant in situ scheme and the res…

I thank the Labour Party for putting forward this very important motion on nursing homes. I support it and its calls to prioritise equality and safety in the care of older people. Overhauling nursing homes is what we need to look at. As someone who has worked on the ground and worked for the company involved in the documentary, I am not surprised. To say that 80% of nursing homes are now in privat…

-----and the sites with full planning permission are given priority so we can get shovels into the ground and these homes can be built. They are the way forward for how we provide housing. That is what Housing for All is all about. We have hit a speed bump. We cannot pay any figure that is presented to us but we also have to act with urgency to find an alternative.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Deputies. I welcome the opportunity to address the House this afternoon to update Members on the all-island strategic rail review. Rail represents a particularly enduring form of infrastructure. Rail lines built in the 1800s are still carrying passengers today. The decisions and investments we make for rail in this decade will similarly benefit the Irish peopl…

The all-island strategic rail review sets out a vision for the development of Ireland's rail system to 2050. It was jointly commissioned by the Department of Transport and the Department for Infrastructure in the North. The review aptly demonstrates the advantage of taking an all-island view, which the Minister of State hinted at. Appropriately enough, it has 32 recommendations. These aim to enhan…

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I will address the all-Ireland strategic rail review from the perspective of its profound significance to County Mayo. I am lucky to have a door-to-door service from Westport to Dublin, but if I want to go to Galway, which is the nearest city, I would have to go to Athlone and then back to Galway and if I want to go to Sligo, I have to drive or take th…

I am very pleased to contribute to these important statements on the all-island rail review recommendations. This is a chance to make a generational change, transform people's lives, connect people and communities across the island, strengthen our economy and, importantly, reduce our carbon emissions. Fianna Fáil welcomes this work, which was undertaken by the Department of Transport and the Depa…

I thank the Deputy and very much welcome this debate. As my colleague, Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, has set out, a major plan, the Cork metropolitan area plan, has been set out and was published on 18 June. Public consultation is currently taking place and it is important that people engage. We are not just planning for the next five or ten years but for the next 50 or 60 years. One of the things th…

To echo what all the speakers have stated today, the ongoing genocide in the Middle East is abhorrent. Innocent civilians are being starved to death. Parents have no baby formula for their infants. This is happening in our world today. While I acknowledge the Government's work so far, we need to keep the pressure on. I hear from concerned people every day across counties Carlow and Kilkenny who ar…

As so many speakers have said, the war and the scenes taking place out there are horrific. Nothing hits an Irish person more than to see millions of young people, or any person, facing starvation. It could not hit a deeper note in the mind of any Irish person because we have had this in our own history. It is something that will never be forgotten in the history of this country and what is happeni…

I welcome the O'Regan family from Dublin via Cork and thank them all for coming to the Gallery. It is good to see them. We are speaking about the Middle East which is obviously a complex issue, as outlined by Deputy McGrath. The Government has done a huge amount of work internationally, from a diplomatic perspective, and has put a huge effort into discussing and raising the issue in a way that ha…

I thank the Minister for his remarks. Most people will welcome the clarification that these amendments bring. However, we need to be very clear as a House in terms of setting out precisely the need for this, if you want simplification of the defence of public interest. My position on this matter is fairly straightforward: media organisations or anybody who is publishing information pertaining to i…