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144. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration has been given to the genuine affordability of homes being delivered under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund, particularly in rural areas such as County Galway; the measures being taken to ensure these homes match local income brackets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is proposed to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48299/26]

149. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when additional funding for housing adaptation grants in County Louth, applications to which have been closed since May 2026 will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48225/26]

150. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail his plans to implement the recommendations of the report by the Oireachtas Committee Housing, Local Government and Heritage on homelessness; to outline specifically which recommendations he intends to implement; the timeframe for such implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48049…

151. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which his Department is ensuring that rural planning policy supports sustainable communities while also enabling appropriate housing development in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47609/26]

154. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is considering any proposals to increase the current social housing income eligibility limits; the timeline envisaged for such threshold adjustments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48269/26]

155. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's plan to address the housing needs of people with an intellectual disability who are cared for at home by aging parents and family as highlighted by a campaign (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48055/26]

158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reform rural housing planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46792/26]

159. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on vacant and derelict housing in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48288/26]

163. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitments on rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48272/26]

164. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider reviewing the income thresholds for social housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48114/26]

167. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an assessment has been undertaken by his Department of infrastructural deficits, including wastewater, transport, and electricity capacity, which are constraining housing delivery in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48262/26]

168. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a campaign (details supplied); his plans to facilitate the housing needs of their members and more broadly people with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47943/26]

169. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of housing commencements in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48187/26]

170. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has assessed infrastructure constraints, such as water and wastewater capacity, which may be limiting housing development in Mayo; if so, the measures his Department is taking to address these constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38773/26]

172. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use in County Galway; whether additional supports are being considered to assist local authorities and homeowners in returning these properties to the housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48305/26]

174. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the annual housing targets which were given to local authorities in summer 2025; the way this is being monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48303/26]

178. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to upscale and measure the number of cost rental housing in Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48276/26]

183. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage following on from the first phase of announcements under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund, when the next phase of funding will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48235/26]

184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to making the advertised sale price of houses, the actual maximum price as in France, rather than in most parts of Dublin the sale price being 15-20% above the advertised price of second-hand homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47279/26]

189. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the design and build approach is accelerating social housing delivery, cutting costs and expanding capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48064/26]

197. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to increase the number of affordable homes to purchase; the measures being taken to address the cohort of people whose incomes are too high to qualify for social housing, but too low to qualify for affordable purchase schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4805…

198. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the supply of affordable housing to County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47987/26]

201. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the operation of local authority affordable housing purchase schemes, specifically the use of lottery-based allocation systems, in view of the fact that these systems are excluding applicants who have been on waiting lists for extended periods; if he plans to issue revised national guidelines to ensur…

202. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 has never been commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48198/26]

This legislation seeks to rewrite the rental rules for the seventh time in a decade. In his speech, the Minister spoke about moderating price growth. Bar the tacit acknowledgement in his speech that rents are too high, there is nothing in the Bill that will bring rents down. I looked on daft.ie recently and I found that within a kilometre of Leinster House, it is €695 a week for a studio apartment…

Students living in the private residential sector have the same rules as anyone else living in that sector. This is something I have looked at and discussed with the Minister, Deputy Browne. I have a limited remit because the Minister for housing and the Department of housing have full control over the rental rules and landlord and tenant legislation. I make submissions and I have engagement with …

She cannot have it each and every way. We will now have national rent control over the entire country and the Deputy calls that deregulation. We will strengthen the protection for renters through the introduction of tenancies of minimum duration, which is an effective end to no-fault eviction. We are establishing a rent price register. In fairness, the Deputy acknowledged that but at the same tim…

I thank Members of the House for the opportunity to provide an update on the Government’s work to accelerate infrastructure delivery, and to discuss my Department’s role in the management and delivery of capital projects and programmes. In particular, I will outline some of the recent and ongoing developments in my Department, as we implement the actions contained in the accelerating infrastructur…

The new buzzword of this Government is "infrastructure". It blames local authorities, Uisce Éireann, the NTA and An Coimisiún Pleanála for things. The Government blames everyone. I do not know if the Minister of State gets it. Does he think we are all fools over here? We are not fools; we know what is happening. Those opposite are in government. Fine Gael has been in office 15 years and Fianna Fái…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important question and can often have a profound effect on families, namely, the blanket ban that is often imposed on having pets. It was an important policy to get into our housing plan. For many people, especially those who live on their own but for all families, pets provide comfort and connection and can be an enormous source of emotional support and c…

I was focusing first on the issue of counselling notes. I again acknowledge the distress that the disclosure of such personal and sensitive information can cause. As Deputies will be aware, section 19A of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992, which was amended in 2017, was drafted with the intention of ensuring an appropriate balance between an accused’s right to a fair trial and a complainant’s right t…

Continuing to grow investment in water service infrastructure is absolutely essential to keep up with and adapt to change and to ensure Ireland meets its economic, social and environmental obligations. I am passionate about rural Ireland. I come from a small place called Skeoughvosteen in the parish of Graiguenamanagh on the Kilkenny-Carlow border. In particular, I want to welcome the new initiati…

The Minister mentioned the rate of inflation and did not mention the rate of housing inflation, the cost of housing. That was specifically mentioned in the question. The cost of housing in this State is rising and has risen every single year, whether people are renting or are struggling to buy. After housing costs, 40% of renters live on an income below the poverty line. That is 43% for local aut…

Go raibh míle maith agat. We have tens of thousands of vacant and derelict homes up and down the country. It is one of the biggest scandals and failures of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments. Government after Government has failed to tackle this issue. Buildings up and down the country are rotting, falling apart, dangerous and left vacant while we have thousands of children and families in home…

As it is my first time speaking after the Christmas break, I wish all Deputies a happy new year and a productive year. I thank everyone who has contributed today to what is a very important debate on water services. Our water infrastructure is part of our shared fabric as a society and it is rightly the subject of extensive democratic scrutiny both from the Oireachtas and our regulatory bodies. S…

I begin by welcoming the British ambassador, H.E. Ms Kara Owens, to Leinster House. I wish her and all at the British embassy a very happy Christmas. I look forward to working with them, as our nearest and closest neighbours, in the time ahead. I join with my colleague, Deputy Timmins, in welcoming the sixth year history class students from Blessington Community College, County Wicklow, who are in…

My apologies. Many groupings are represented, and I am sure the voices of the Deputies opposite will be heard. That is the forum at which this needs to be resolved. The Government may have corresponded previously on this with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. We should engage on this and we are happy to do so. I thank the Deputy for putting a human face on the issue of homelessness. He was…

I will give a flavour of the facts on the ground. On option 1, Donegal County Council states - I just got this in - that 121 houses have been built since the scheme came in. In total, 229, 92 combinations and eight option twos. When you outlook option 1, that is 121. Anything else is a remediation option that will be coming back to visit at expense to the Exchequer. That is failure. For us to ser…

Semi-detached homes are most commonly built sharing the same chimney breast. Unfortunately, I have had to go in with a teleporter to a house that was demolished, seal up the house and basically brick up the house where there was no chimney any more because it had to be taken down. We also had to put in a flue liner for a family friend all before 3 p.m. when the kids got home. The night before, the…

I thank Deputy Fleming for raising the issue of Erkina House. We have been here before. The Deputy has been a long-time advocate for and supporter of Erkina House. It is a key priority for me and for the Government that people experiencing mental health difficulties receive the appropriate level of care they require in the most suitable location in the community which best meets their needs. Achi…

I, too, like the previous speaker, have been a public representative for some time. I have been a public representative for the last 11 years and I have to say, I have never seen the housing crisis as bad as I am seeing it now. To be honest, at this point, I nearly think it is with intent. I am dealing with people, and we know the homeless figures are increasing every month, but I also see the imp…

I welcome the plan. The housing crisis is a societal blight. Owning a home is part of the social contract in Ireland, yet for many young people, that remains a dream. Housing supply and affordability are international problems, such as in the UK, Australia, Canada and in the European Union. The first ever housing Commissioner has been appointed because of these issues. One in 10 people in the Eur…

I am deeply concerned by certain proposals in the national housing plan. Although it has been described by the Government as unprecedented in terms of investment, it comes at a time when homeless figures have hit a record high of 16,350 people. Within that number is a total of 5,145 children who are estimated to be living in emergency accommodation. The fact is we have been here before on a number…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus an Roinn as ucht an Bhille seo a fhoilsiú. I welcome the publication of the Bill. I agree with everyone else. Deputy Conway-Walsh and I have worked with families on this issue. It has caused huge distress, and that does not only apply in the past tense because it is still causing massive distress. This process is being accentuated. I want to make a number of sug…

I welcome any additions to the scheme but the scheme is not right. The scheme we are talking about includes counties Limerick, Clare, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo and other areas. The latest data shows that 3,022 homeowners are at various stages of the scheme. Of those, 326 applicants have completed remediation works with a further 1,057 applicants having notified their relevant local authority. I welc…

They are promises that Deputy Aird is going to keep and he will work with the Deputy constructively in relation to that as well because we have a lot of work we need to do to deliver for the people of Laois and the midlands. The Deputy makes constructive and fair points. We obviously have to put the infrastructure in place to enable the housing capacity to be delivered. That is a statement of fact…

The two previous speakers have summed up how we are giving massive tax breaks to developers. Hundreds of millions of euro in tax breaks are being given for apartments that are nearly built or are under construction. The Minister is an intelligent man. Why would the Government give someone a tax break when that property is already viable to be sold? Developers and builders do not construct apartmen…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am proud to introduce this Bill on behalf of People Before Profit. The purpose of the Bill is to make it mandatory for private rented accommodation to achieve a minimum B2 building energy rating, BER, standard by the end of 2030. A phase-in period is allowed in the legislation in order landlords can incrementally upgrade their properties if the…

I look to address some of the comments made. In relation to the housing plan, there is a commitment within the housing plan in terms of energy efficiency. The Opposition can paint it up and describe it whichever way it wants in terms of it being watered down, but it is there. It is an absolute goal of ours because we agree that people should not be living in cold damp conditions, in private or in…