Search the Dáil record

649. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has obtained legal advice to support the position that complaints concerning the administration, delay, procedures, resourcing or transparency of the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel fall outside the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman by virtue of the panel being described as independent; if …

650. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether it is the position of his Department that homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks have no external or independent complaints or oversight mechanism available to them in respect of delay, maladministration or procedural unfairness in the appeals process; if so, the way in which this position is c…

651. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role of his Department in determining or influencing the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel, including its terms of reference, appointment process, funding, staffing levels, procedures and timelines; whether, in view of this role, he accepts that the administration and operation of the …

653. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has issued policy guidance or circulars to local authorities regarding the governance and leasing of publicly owned sports facilities to third parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14332/26]

654. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has any role in approving, reviewing or providing guidance on governance structures for sports facilities owned by local authorities and leased to external bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14333/26]

655. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on community consultation processes in respect of publicly owned sports and recreational facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14339/26]

656. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the exemption for protected structures is listed as a potential exception in urban areas of high population under the short-term letting regulations and does not apply to rural areas where many historic structures are not suitable for long-term lets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14…

657. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all State agencies within his Department that allocate programme and project funding to section 39, section 56 and section 10 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14394/26]

658. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State agencies within his Department that have made provision for the pension auto enrolment payment as part of their allocation to funded organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14412/26]

665. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the STAR allocations to each organisation that has been awarded equity payments under this scheme, with a breakdown by scheme and amount of STAR awarded, in tabular form; and the number of applications from private investors and, separately, the LDA, that have not progressed or have been refused to da…

668. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on second hand acquisitions by each local authority, the number of properties acquired, by local authority, in each of the years 2023 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14666/26]

669. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a formal decision was taken at Department level to cease centralised data collection and monitoring of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme after December 2024; the date on which that decision was made; whether the decision was recorded in writing; and the governance basis upon which …

670. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any written impact assessment, performance review, or evaluation report was prepared prior to the cessation of central monitoring of the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme; and, if so, whether he will publish or provide the title and date of any such document. [14682/26]

671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department holds any current aggregate national participation figure for the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme for the period after December 2024; and, if not, the mechanism by which he satisfies himself that the scheme remains operational and effective across all local authority a…

672. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken any behavioural or financial analysis of the impact of treating income earned under the Room for a Student – Local Authority Tenancies Scheme as reckonable for differential rent purposes; and whether any policy review of that provision is currently under consideration [14684/…

674. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocation for the tenant in situ scheme for 2026, including the amounts allocated to each local authority; and the measures in place to ensure that tenants at risk of homelessness, particularly in Dublin Fingal, are protected given the sharp drop in funding and the lack of an alternative scheme…

675. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason funding for the tenant in situ scheme is being cut, particularly in Dublin Fingal where allocations have fallen sharply from 131 homes in 2024 to just 36 in 2025; the measures being taken to ensure that tenants at risk of homelessness are not left without support; and if he will make a statement …

676. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Government has any plans to introduce a replacement scheme or alternative supports for tenants who would have been eligible under the tenant in situ programme, in order to prevent families from entering homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14778/26]

679. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria which will be used to determine which councils receive support under the tenant in situ scheme; whether Dublin Fingal will receive sufficient funding to continue protecting tenants at risk of losing their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14781/26]

680. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the recommendations set out in a report (details supplied); the proposed review of noise regulation; the development of best practice guidance for local authorities managing night time venues in mixed use urban areas; the steps, if any, his Department has taken to advance these measures; …

681. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider implementing a localised weather warning system, given the recent severe weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14816/26]

682. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated renewable energy planning guidelines will be published; the current status of their preparation and consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13280/26]

683. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the fire safety remediation scheme will be put on a statutory footing; when residents who are living in a location (details supplied) can expect to ultimately get refunds for their contributions to ensuring works go ahead in advance of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14836/26]

684. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet with the Lough Neagh stake-holders group to discuss the current ecological crisis impacting the lake, and by extension to the sections of the wider river basin management area that fall within the counties under his jurisdiction. [14875/26]

685. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department's discussions with the Northern Executive Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir on collaboration between both administrations on water quality issues in Lough Neagh and surrounding environment; the actions that have been agreed; and if there is …

I rith an toghcháin, agus mé ag caint le daoine ag na doirse, bhí go leor daoine ag cuir ceist orm faoi seo. An cheist a bhí acu ná, “cá bhfuil an t-airgead ag dul?”. Caithfimid bheith níos soiléire faoi na háiteanna ina bhfuil an t-airgead don LPT ag dul. Is rud é sin gur gá dúinn díriú isteach air. For most households, the message is pretty straightforward. Property values have gone up. In Dubl…

I welcome this debate and many of the provisions of this Bill. I am aware that my local authority, Offaly County Council, generated approximately €4.9 million in local property tax revenues in 2024, but also that our baseline was €11.2 million. This means we received about €6.2 million in that 2025 distribution of equalisation funding. While that is welcome within the confines of the local propert…

I heard the Taoiseach's remarks yesterday at the national economic dialogue, and I have to say never in my life have I heard such reality-defying words. He told us that fundamental reform was being delivered that was creating a sustainable housing system into the future. We have a Raise the Roof rally outside the Dáil today. If we did a survey of all the people there, and of all the people who wer…

I will read out two examples of emails that come into my constituency office: It is with a heavy heart I am asking you to find yourself another house to rent. Unfortunately, you cannot wait any longer as this application has been going on since last autumn with a tenant in situ and the eviction notice on the property was up in April and the house prices are increasing every day. We are going to h…

Tá áthas orm an deis a fháil inniu chun labhairt ar an mBille seo. Baineann an Bille seo leis an éigeandáil tithíochta atá ar siúl faoi láthair. I welcome this Bill. In particular, I welcome the call to fully restore and increase funding for vital homeless prevention schemes, especially the tenant in situ scheme and housing first. This issue has arisen at my constituency clinics. People are coming…

Obviously it is a core objective of the Government that we would maximise the number of providers in place. To do this we are lending support to private providers through schemes such as building blocks. We have also said we will step in where there is an absence of providers in an area. We are doing work on how this public model would look and what it would look like. Issues have been raised abou…

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 Louis O'Hara - To discuss the ongoing closure of Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara, County Galway. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the planned extension of Coláiste Bhríde secondary school, Carnew, County Wicklow. Deputy Jen Cummins - To…

The residents of Saggart, Citywest, Rathcoole and adjacent areas today got a huge slap in the face. In very arrogant, dismissive behaviour by the Government, it issued a press statement and then the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy went out onto the plinth and said the State was purchasing the Citywest Hotel. This came with no notice to any of the local el…

I propose to take Questions No. 2 and 4 together. I thank Deputy Gibney for the question. As she is aware and has alluded to, I brought forward the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025, which amends the legislation underpinning overseas deployments of the Defence Forces. This was agreed by Cabinet on 4 March. The Bill will, among other things, provide for the modification of the ex…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 36 and 39 together. I thank Deputy Smith for raising this question. Our peacekeepers in Lebanon are part of an international UN-mandated force under the command of UNIFIL. They are part of Ireland's long and proud history of peacekeeping, and I know from my recent visit to our troops in UNIFIL that they are making a really important contribution in a very chal…

Does the Tánaiste really believe that guff and spin? We have had 14 years of Fine Gael in government and rents have never been higher. The Government is absolutely crucifying renters, and what it has done in its plan, when we cut through all of the spin, is that for every single new tenancy, and whether it is in Ardara or Drumcondra makes no difference, after 1 March the landlords will be able to…

Eoin Ó Broin said he and Deputy Doherty meet them regularly. Sinn Féin is all over the place on housing. Its policy did not work so it does not have a housing policy now. All it has is noise and street activism. We will be taking specific measures to support students; do not worry we will, because we have their backs.

I agree with Deputy Sherlock's earlier point that there are many good nursing homes in this country. There are many good public nursing homes and many good private nursing homes, big and small, throughout the country. I do not have an ideological view in that regard. I just want older people to have a choice in their care, I want their families to be supported in making those decisions and I want …

How important does the Tánaiste think the issue of gender-based violence is? The United Nations and the WHO say it is the greatest threat to the health of women and girls in the world. There has been a record number of calls to Women's Aid and a rise in calls to gardaí regarding gender-based violence. I am struggling to find one measure the Government has introduced in its six months. Today, howe…

This is a very sensitive issue. I am just making the point that every time Deputy Coppinger stands up it does not have to be a case of the Government being a terrible bunch of people and that she is great. Sometimes, perhaps there are just some issues that are so important that we should actually work together to try to make progress on them. The reason we are delaying the Deputy's Bill, to use h…

I appreciate why the Deputy raises this issue but there are two things I will not do. First, I will not interfere in any sort of judicial process around the status or examinership of a company. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle surely would not allow me to do so under the rules of the House anyway. Second, I will not interfere in the awarding of State contracts. We know where that has got the body politic…

Yesterday there were protests outside the gates of Leinster House to raise awareness about Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Thankfully, the Minister of Health is here today. To be fair to the new Minister, since she assumed her role she has been very supportive in the area of rare diseases and I thank her for that. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a very degenerative disease that affects boys predominan…

I thank the Deputy for his ongoing engagement on this issue more broadly. He is right that the drug has been approved by the EMA. The next stage is that the drug company must make an application to the HSE. I checked this morning to see if that had happened. It has not happened yet. Perhaps it has happened in the period I have been in the House, but it had not happened when I checked. I will be wa…

Like many in the House, my heart was breaking when I watched the programme last Monday. The Beneavin nursing home is literally five minutes from where I live. There are neighbours and friends who have relatives in Beneavin nursing home. However difficult it was for any of us to watch the programme, I cannot imagine how difficult it was for them. I know many people could not bring themselves to wat…

This is not a Topical Issue that I wanted to bring to the Dáil but it relates is an ongoing situation over a number of months. I am disappointed it had to get to this point. It is very clear that six months after Storm Bert and Storm Darragh, and five months after Storm Éowyn, there is no plan from the Government on how to deal with the infrastructural deficit that has had a huge impact across Con…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. I commend Deputy Coppinger on again highlighting this issue by bringing it here to the floor of the Dáil and, more importantly, by bringing forward this legislation because legislative change is required in this area. I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, has recognised this to the point that he has said he plans to deal with this is…

I welcome our guests in the Gallery. I know that some of them have spoken out publicly about this. Sometimes, that is not very easy to do. I welcome the fact that they are here. Hopefully, with their support and that of others we can get legislation in place. I hope it is this Bill. I hope we do not have to wait for 12 months or two years or any longer, because this is overdue. I thank Deputy Copp…

I thank Deputy Coppinger once again for raising this important issue and all Members of the House who contributed to the discussion. I assure Deputies that I have listened very carefully to their contributions and will convey their views to the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. Violence against women is an epidemic in our society. We are all aware of the chilling statistics. One in every two women ha…

I want to outline how the communications on burst water mains happens in Kildare. I will pick Maynooth as an example. I was a councillor there for close to 11 years before being elected to this House. I could get a call at 2 o'clock in the morning from a resident in a housing estate or from the local fire service telling me there is a burst water main. I then had to get on to Irish Water and the c…

I did not have time to read the Minister of State's substantial prepared answer but the Department of Transport has known about this because residents have been in contact. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, is also based in the area and replied to residents last August. I warn people in Dublin city that this is what they are in for. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, it seems, will let these companies unleas…