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452. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will consider the inclusion of skilled trades occupations on the critical skills occupations list, including but not limited to plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and bricklayers, given the well-documented shortages in these professions and their importance in supporting housing delivery and infrastructure d…

526. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she will approve and release funding for a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); and the steps her Department is taking to address the substandard temporary accommodation currently housing the school. [14499/26]

626. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a person (details supplied) will have funds repaid to him for works carried out to his apartment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15041/26]

627. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of buildings leased by his Department, or bodies or agencies under its aegis, during 2025; the total cumulative sum paid under these leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14023/26]

628. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the consultation for Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí; when the outcomes will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/26]

629. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the consultation for ‘Your Parks, Your Say’; when the outcomes will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14047/26]

630. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline which national parks have current management plans in place; the timelines for when all national parks will have their own management plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14048/26]

631. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the report by the Marine Institute regarding the impact of tangle nets on endangered marine species; if he has been in contact with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding the same; if he will support a ban on tangle nets in our inshore; and if he will make a statement …

632. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the SACs designated for grey seal on the coast of Ireland; the measures currently in place to protect seals; and to specify the conservation objectives of these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14050/26]

633. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14076/26]

634. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an exhaustive list of flood related compensation, paid from his Department's vote allocations over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14104/26]

635. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any planning regulation that stipulates that a medical service provider, such as a pharmacy or GP surgery, must have car parking access or set down within a reasonable distance from the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14165/26]

636. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Monuments Service will provide a wheelchair accessible entrance at a cemetery (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14197/26]

637. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a private home purchaser can combine the first home scheme with the croí cónaithe cities scheme. [14199/26]

638. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of ECCE-only childcare services that are considered exempt and not exempt from paying commercial rates in 2025 and 2026, as per paragraph 10, schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001. [14240/26]

639. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of ECCE-only childcare services that have received commercial rates bills in 2025 and 2026. [14241/26]

640. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sessional childcare services that are considered exempt and not exempt from paying commercial rates, as per paragraph 10, schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001. [14242/26]

641. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sessional childcare services that have received commercial rates bills in 2025 and 2026. [14243/26]

642. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his definition of ECCE, sessional and part-time childcare services; and how commercial rates are applied to each of them. [14244/26]

643. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of part-time childcare services that are considered exempt and not exempt from paying commercial rates, as per paragraph 10, schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001. [14245/26]

644. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of part-time childcare services that have received commercial rates bills in 2025 and 2026. [14246/26]

645. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of childminders that have had their homes assessed for commercial rates in 2024, 2025 and 2026. [14249/26]

646. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of childminders that have received bills for commercial rates in 2024, 2025 and 2026. [14250/26]

647. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of ECCE childcare services that have had their premises assessed for commercial rates in 2024, 2025 and 2026. [14251/26]

648. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the significant increase in population, he will increase the number of city and county councillors nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/26]

I am delighted to speak on this issue and thank Sinn Féin for tabling the motion. As we know, most parties in this House and in this country say they are in favour of a united Ireland. They say they are in favour of many things. It is nice to say. I want to put it on the record that I am fully in favour of a united Ireland. I come from a republican family. My late dad was in the War of Independenc…

I thank all Members in the House for what was a really interesting discussion on this really important issue. Like my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, I am pleased the Government has not opposed this motion. The Dáil’s engagement on diaspora matters is always welcome and it was really positive to have such good engagement today. Every day, we see the value of the sustained investm…

Just give David his chance this week Matt. You might get a go next week. In the Sinn Féin housing plan the party is in favour of reference rents, which the ESRI said would be unworkable and complex and the Housing Agency said would be unworkable, complex and lead to more disputes. Sinn Féin knows what a reference rent would have meant.

I give that commitment. We will come back in three weeks with a definitive plan on that. While I am on my feet, I suggest, as this relatively new Dáil commences, that every Member of this House would publicly commit to supporting the vaccination programme. There is no room for pseudoscience or wannabe doctors who are not doctors. I want to know if every single elected representative in every singl…

I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising this issue again. I acknowledge he has raised it frequently. I would make the point that when we have worked together, across parties in this House, on issues relating to Waterford and the rest of the south east, including the university in recent years, we have managed to make progress together. This is a similar issue. Genuinely across the House, there is sup…

I move: "That the Bill now be read a Second Time" I am delighted to bring the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 before the House. It is vital that we have an effective legal framework in place to support copyright and intellectual property. It is a necessity for the economic health of the creative sector, which is a significant employer in the State. This short Bill introduces a…

I had to check my phone because in the Deputy's new guise as Oireachtas AI committee chairperson, I had to see if he had been reading my phone for the correspondence I have just had with the principal of a local national school in my area on more or less this exact point. This is an issue that regularly comes up for every Member of this House and I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to…

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The question concerns budgetary issues facing SOLAS and the ETBs and the detrimental impact this may have on the delivery of apprenticeships. We all know the importance of apprenticeships. I submitted this on the basis that myself, Deputy Cullinane and a number of our colleagues heard word on the grapevine about individual ETBs saying their fi…

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 Catherine Ardagh - To discuss the need for all special schools to accept children at different levels on the autism spectrum. Deputy Duncan Smith - To discuss a lack of primary school places in Portmarnock. Deputy Paul Murphy - To …

That is why when I engage with the Commissioner, I probe him. The Deputy has brought things to my attention, which I welcome. When he does that, I say I will raise them with the Commissioner and I do. The same will apply to other Members of this House. I have huge respect for this House. If a Member raises an issue of concern with me relating to the Garda, I will bring it to the attention of the C…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. As members may be aware, Shannon Airport Group informed the Department in summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment of its structure to secure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business and employees. Several challenge…

There are many things I could speak about under this Private Members' business but I will stick to trains. Public transport will play a major role in the development of our regions. People must be able to work, live and commute from all over the country and that is why Sinn Féin is determined to deliver major rail projects that have stalled, fallen by the wayside, been left in a Minister's desk dr…

An issue that is particularly important for my constituency of Dublin North West but affects the entire city is the MetroLink. Ireland is one of the richest countries in the EU, but Dublin is the only large western capital city that does not have a metro. The metro was first promised in 2005, some 20 years ago. It was ditched in 2010 by Fine Gael, so we are still waiting for the metro. The expecte…

The Deputy can send that note to the Minister for housing and copy it to me, and I will talk to the Minister for housing in respect of it. The Deputy should try to take it up directly with him. I will alert him to the fact the Deputy has raised it.

The way this entire issue has been approached by the Government has been nothing short of shambolic. A series of measures were leaked to the media and subsequently announced. A press conference was going on while we were in the Dáil on Tuesday of last week. What the Minister said at that press conference was different from what was in his press release, which was different again from what the Taoi…

This Government is protecting renters. Not only are we protecting renters, we are moving as quickly as possible on this. In line with last week's Government approval for the urgent drafting of legislation to extend and expand the operation of the RPZs, I welcome the publication of the necessary legislation, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill, for urgent enactment today. The reality is that…

The policy the Government is now pursuing when it comes to rent is a cynical attempt to drive rents even higher for tens of thousands of people already struggling to keep a roof over their heads. There is no denying that the Minister has chosen to side with corporate landlords, institutional investors and developers and to throw renters under the bus. I want to see RPZs - those modest protections …

I will speak to amendments Nos. 1 and 2, which appear to have the aim of introducing a ban on rent increases. The Government's view is that the imposition of a ban on rent increases is highly likely to be subject to a legal challenge and would almost certainly deter continued investment in the rented accommodation market and cause a greater recourse to the State for social housing supports. The c…

We have had more than a decade of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael presiding over a housing emergency and now the Government proposes to force ripped-off renters to carry the can for its failures. The Government's plan for the private rental sector is really Fianna Fáil's rent hike Bill. It can spoof all it wants; the only certainty from this move is rent will increase for every renter. It is only a ques…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be:- - Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Revised and Second Further Revised Estimates [Votes 11 to 19, 23, 24, 26 to 30, 32 to 34, 39, 42 and 43] (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025 - Financial Resolution (without debate) - Motion re Third Report of the Standing Commit…

I support Deputy Mac Lochlainn's request. There is also an issue of workers' rights within our very House in terms of the broadcast unit workers who are being paid well below the average pay for skilled work in that industry and who, in the summer recess and at Christmas, do not get paid and have to sign on or get alternative employment. This is something a majority of the Members in the House su…

Tairgim: Go gceadófar go dtabharfar isteach Bille dá ngairtear Acht chun an Bunreacht a leasú. I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Constitution. I am delighted to introduce this Bill. The purpose of this Aontú Bill is to ensure that all adult citizens living in Ireland, North and South, will be entitled to vote in presidential elections. This is a rea…

First of all, I thank the Deputies for raising those issues. Deputy Bacik raised the question of how we square the circle as regards data centres and AI. There needs to be a balanced debate in this House on this question because digitalisation and the green economy are both pathways we have to pursue. There is no question about that. I would take issue with Deputy Coppinger’s statement that we hav…

I have two questions about the task force. We see a huge number of issues in Dublin that need to be addressed urgently. There is a deteriorating public realm, vast numbers of vacant sites and derelict buildings, mouldy and damp social housing, including issues with social housing complexes in my constituency, and a lack of joined-up thinking about keeping spaces safe. Given the need for funding t…

I thank the Minister for bringing forward this legislation. The bigger debate we need to have is precisely that around the funding of local authorities. It is interesting that our debate is focusing on the question of the local property tax. The Minister will be aware that the overall budget for local authorities in the country is in the order of €6.7 billion annually. We are here debating the 6.…