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797. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to initiate a series of local authority boundary reviews, 11 years after the last set of reviews; if he plans to review the boundary in operation between Louth and Meath, covering the environs of south Drogheda in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12046/26]

798. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to weaken the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive in Ireland considering his published comments in the aftermath of the recent catastrophic flooding in Enniscorthy, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12083/26]

799. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity on when the technical review of the defective concrete block scheme, operated by his Department, will conclude and lead to changes being made to the current iteration of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12151/26]

800. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his Department's remote working policy; the number of days staff are permitted to work remotely per week; if any system exists for logging days worked remotely; and if he will provide a schedule of officials by grade that work two and three days per week from their home location. [12158/26]

801. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated by the Traveller accommodation unit to each local authority for acquisitions specifically for the Traveller community between 2019 and 2025. [12251/26]

802. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria to get approval for funding for Traveller-specific acquisitions from the Traveller accommodation unit; and to outline any changes to these criteria since 2019. [12252/26]

803. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for Traveller-specific acquisitions that have been refused by his Department. [12253/26]

804. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Traveller liaison officer roles his Department has funded since 2019; and the number of requests for funding for these roles his Department has denied. [12254/26]

807. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount allocated to each local authority for tenant-in-situ in 2024 and 2025; the total amount spent by each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12325/26]

808. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a pre-school (details supplied) operating under the ECCE scheme has received a commercial rates bill; whether this is now the standard for all ECCE pre-schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12349/26]

809. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are any proposals, or funding available through his Department or Uisce Éireann to support community-led integrated constructed wetlands for village wastewater treatment; whether pilot projects of this nature are being considered, operating independently of Uisce Éireann capital funding, but in line wit…

810. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all organisations and projects that received matched and-or partner funding from his Department in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of funding allocated to each organisation or project; what was achieved and the stated outcomes from the funding provided in each case; the plans his Departmen…

811. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the maximum equity a person can hold in their home to still qualify for the mortgage to rent scheme. [12430/26]

812. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of successful applications up to and including January 31, 2026 for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, by county; and the number of unsuccessful applicants and the amount in funds released to date under the scheme, in tabular form. [12499/26]

814. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has issued any direction to local authorities regarding the installation of permeable surfaces such as permeable grass, grid tiles to manage rainwater and reduce flooding. [12550/26]

815. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the National Monuments Service has not carried out an official inspection following notification in August 2025 of the possible discovery of a rare Souterrain in Courtown Woods, north County Wexford; when such an inspection will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12…

816. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the interim measures that are in place to protect the site of the possible rare Souterrain in Courtown Woods, north County Wexford, pending an official inspection by the National Monuments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12598/26]

817. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the National Monuments Service has engaged with the local heritage group in Courtown Woods, north County Wexford, following notification in August 2025 of the possible discovery of a rare Souterrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12599/26]

818. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether staffing or resource constraints within the National Monuments Service contributed to the delay in carrying out an inspection of the possible rare Souterrain reported in August 2025 in Courtown Woods, north County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12600/26]

819. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new homes built between the start of 2021 and to date in 2026 that have heat pumps installed in them; to provide a breakdown of the number of new homes built each year with heat pumps installed between the start of 2021 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on t…

820. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the exempted development guidelines for residential development will be brought into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12666/26]

821. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed planning exemptions for modular units will be introduced; and if he will allow flexibility for side placement and generous square footage in constrained sites. [12788/26]

824. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a fire station (details supplied) 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. [12833/26]

825. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of builders who have signed up to the statutory register under the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022, broken down by year since 2014, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12872/26]

826. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the number of homeowners nationally who remediated defective concrete block damage at their own expense prior to the introduction of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, in circumstances where no State support was available; and if so, to provide details of that assessment; and if…

Since this tragedy began 20 months ago, we have heard some of the most passionate and sincere contributions in this House from people whose concern is palpable about what we see transpiring before our eyes. Our inboxes over recent days have been inundated by correspondence from members of the Irish public right across the country who are concerned, troubled and heartbroken by what they see happeni…

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O’Sullivan, sa phost nua. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil a lán suime aige sa ról. I know this because I was on the climate committee with him for a couple of years in the previous term. Anyone who heard his speech will know it as well. This week we mark National Biodiversity Week with events happening up and down the country, including my own County…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the issue of biodiversity and to mark biodiversity week. We have an awful lot to do in this area. The Minister of State will know that better than anyone else. He has a reputation for passion in this area. I look forward to working with him as best we can over this term. In Ireland, we very often trade on the incredible beauty and richness of our landscapes. …

I join my colleague in formally congratulating the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, on his new portfolio. Deputy Crowe failed to mention the waterways to which the Minister of State takes in his spare time. Biodiversity Week gives us a moment to reflect not only on the wonder of Ireland's natural heritage but also on the scale of the challenge we face in restoring and protecting it. I acknow…

The Labour Party will not be supporting the Government motion to cut the accommodation recognition payment from €800 to €600, nor will we be supporting the Sinn Féin amendment, which I call on its members to withdraw. Sinn Féin should support the parties of the left in opposing the motion and the €200 cut to the payment. Since the outbreak of the Russian war of conquest against Ukraine, we have b…

Fine Gael's manifesto for the previous general election stated it would "Stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes." It would, it said, "unequivocally support Ukraine". That promise, like all the other promises of this Government, lasted approximately 100 days. It was not worth the paper it was written on. One of the first things the Government is doing is slashing supports to Ukrainian people wh…

I thank the Minister for the opportunity to speak and to echo the comments made so far by my colleagues Deputies Kerrane and Wall on the eve of our first committee meeting that will take place tomorrow. The brief the Minister has before her is one that is ripe with optimism about impact and outcomes for children, young people and those affected by issues of equality in our society. I wish the Min…

The average rent is now more than €2,000 a month. Rents are rising faster than ever. It is a nightmare for renters and it is getting worse. The Minister for housing is speaking to the media, saying there has to be a change in the rent pressure zones. Extra fear is being felt by these renters that a landlords' government will allow landlords to hike their rents even faster. It is happening in the m…

The cost of accommodating asylum seekers has ballooned in recent years. It is now ten times the figure in 2019. It cost the State €1.2 billion this year. This is an extortionate cost to the taxpayer. Essentially, the State is paying hotel or accommodation owners a hotel occupancy rate. It has cost the State €4 billion since 2019. The average cost of renting a three-bedroom house is €20,000, yet th…

After that, I should commend the Louth ladies and the under-20s, who are through to the all-Ireland final. It was unfortunate that our minors could not do it in a really great game against Offaly. Rural housing is a major issue. Last summer, we were told that the draft guidelines on one-off rural housing were with the Attorney General for legal review. Given that we will be considering reviews of…

There is a chronic shortage of public health nurses in Tallaght and across the South Dublin County Council area. Babies are going without routine developmental checks, which are vital to spotting issues early and referral to appropriate services. Home-based catheterisation is another essential service that has been removed, forcing very ill patients to travel to clinics to access it. The HSE has s…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle as ucht an t-am agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. Cara Darmody, a 14-year-old child, will be outside Leinster House for 50 hours starting today, highlighting the deficiencies in the assessment of need system and the impact it has on families. I have met and engaged with Cara and her father Mark on three occasions, including last week. I have been impressed…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister. When I worked for 19 years with the neurodiverse community, I was often the first point of contact after a parent acknowledged a concern for their child, or was potentially nudged by a relative, a childminder or a preschool teacher to talk to their GP or public health nurse. It takes real courage for a parent to do this when they notice that mile…

Today, the combined Opposition will put a motion forward in solidarity with Cara Darmody. Today, the Government does not cherish the children of our nation. It is in breach of the law because it has denied children their rights. This Government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the so-called Independents has denied children their rights. This has a real impact on the lives of parents and children. As…

Like others, I acknowledge an incredibly brave and courageous young person at the gates of Leinster House when it is lashing rain - Cara Darmody. She is protesting outside not for herself but for her brothers and thousands of children throughout the country who are being denied timely assessments of supports. Cara's strength is extraordinary. Her message is one that we in this House must listen to…

Any parent will say that if they discover or suspect their child has developmental difficulties, the first thing they will want to do is find out what the problem is. Second, they will want fix it. Here again, we have another crisis, which is on a long list of crises under the current Government. As Members will have heard earlier, the number of children languishing on a waiting list is now more …

I thank Cara Darmody for forcing this issue onto the Dáil agenda. Her bravery in protesting outside the Dáil for 50 hours has forced the Government to sit up and pay attention. However, I want to make a very obvious point: that it is a disgrace that Cara and other disability campaigners, including the parents of children with additional needs, are having to resort to sleep-outs outside the Dáil to…

Before the Minister leaves, I want to say to her that the fact she delivered a copy-and-paste speech is an insult to the 15,000 children who she is failing legally in their entitlement. She read out nearly word for word the speech that was delivered earlier. At least she should have had the decency to put it into her own words and pay a bit more respect to this debate tonight. The Taoiseach told u…

I commend Cara Darmody and her father, Mark. I was delighted to meet them this morning with my party leader, Deputy Ivana Bacik, at the gates of Leinster House. I commend Cara on the wonderful work she is doing. I want to read an email I received from a parent: I am just touching base to see if anything can be done to try and progress an Autism Assessment. I have 3 year old twins who both need A…

I compliment the remarkable courage of Cara Darmody, a 14-year-old disability rights campaigner from my constituency. I welcome her and her dad here this evening. Cara started her campaign in support of her two brothers, who have autism diagnoses, but now she is supporting and campaigning on behalf of all children in the State with disabilities. She has been very successful to date. She extracted …

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 Claire Kerrane - To discuss reform of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme. Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss the lack of a pension scheme and unequal terms and conditions under which school secretaries work. Deputy Mi…

The development levy waiver was a powerful initiative introduced by the Government to bolster housing supply and ensure a pipeline of housing delivery. We saw some of our largest commencement numbers ever last year, with more than 60,000 homes commenced, 9% of which were first-time, one-off homes. I come from and represent a rural constituency. I have a major concern with regard to couples or ind…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue, albeit to be taken after midnight. There is a concerning issue affecting the lives and health of many vulnerable people across County Tipperary, namely, the unacceptable and short-sighted cuts to hospital patient transport services. For many in rural areas of Tipperary, especially the elderly, the si…

1. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delayed Department approvals for social and affordable housing. [24903/25]

I will let Thomas catch his breath. He has run across the city, fair play to him. I am surprised the Corkman did not get lost. In light of the very real concern among local authorities and councillors, TDs and Senators, from both Government and Opposition benches, about the impact of the Government's cuts to social housing acquisition funding, including tenant in situ and housing first, will the …