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204. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made on affordable housing in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48046/26]

308. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports in place or that can be put in place to facilitate those with a disability in elected office, either at Leinster House or in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48623/26]

327. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the review of the social housing income thresholds. [48551/26]

328. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the housing agency review of the HAP limits. [48552/26]

332. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that a number of homeowners whose applications were upgraded to full demolition and rebuild following successful defective concrete block scheme appeals have been advised by the Housing Agency that their grant amounts cannot be recalculated until I.S. 465 becomes legislation, despite other homeown…

335. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the defective concrete block scheme for social housing will commence. [48592/26]

199. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that the revision of I.S. 465 strengthens the position of homeowners whose applications were downgraded by the Housing Agency and who have consistently argued that such downgrade decisions were legally and scientifically flawed; and if he will confirm that all downgrade appeals will c…

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that the defective concrete blocks appeals boards will continue to hear and determine outstanding downgrade appeals without interruption or delay, given that all downgrade appeals determined to date have resulted in the Housing Agency's decisions being annulled; that those appeals wer…

54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered the role of housing insecurity on child welfare; the additional supports she is proposing to improve child welfare in precarious housing situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47497/26]

410. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of approved housing bodies operating in the State, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46825/26]

413. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review and increase the income thresholds for social housing to better reflect the current cost-of-living, to ensure the thresholds are future proofed; when the last such review took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46900/26]

416. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department’s plans to counter coastal erosion, dealing with the potential of coastal erosion on housing and infrastructure; and the contingency plans being put in place to relocate people from unsafe coastal areas in view of increasing climate change impacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

418. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to include the replacement of double glazed windows under the housing aid for older people's grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46966/26]

419. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a regulatory impact assessment was carried out on the Housing and Residential Tenancies Amendment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026; if so, to provide a copy of the assessment; and if not, the reason, such an assessment was not undertaken. [46972/26]

420. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to extend the cost rental scheme to County Mayo in view of the amount of persons that do not qualify for social housing but find themselves homeless and unable to afford market rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46982/26]

432. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide additional funding to the housing aid grants for local authorities who have now closed these grants, quoting lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47125/26]

447. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost to the Exchequer from the staffing of local authority housing departments in 2025; and the number of staff that funding covers. [47292/26]

448. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new long term social housing leases entered into by local authorities in 2025; and the total annual cost of these leases in a full year. [47293/26]

461. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the number of Housing Adaptation Grants annually approved but not drawn down by the application as they are unable to fund part or all of works needed up front; the assistance that is available to those in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47584/26]

463. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the number of Housing Aid for Older Persons Grants annually approved but not drawn down by the application as they are unable to fund part or all of works needed up front; the assistance that is available to those in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47586/26]

465. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for funding and delivery of the 82 Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund projects approved recently given that the total cost of the projects approved is €862 million while the allocation for HIIF under A.21 for 2026 is €205 million. [47636/26]

466. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options available when a person cannot afford the necessary GP fees to fulfil criteria for a form of housing assistance when the person does not qualify for a medical card or GP-visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47658/26]

468. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the upcoming National Planning Statement on short term lets will be published; if he intends to provide planning exemptions for historic properties that cannot contribute to long-term housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47774/26]

319. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on housing schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46417/26]

321. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to change the planning laws and guidelines to disallow permeability pedestrian pathways and cycle-lanes from new housing developments through older estates which were constructed in some cases over 30; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46447/26]

This time last year we were in the middle of the campaign to be elected to this House. The primary issue in Kildare was the lack of critical infrastructure, including social infrastructure, especially in the north of the county. During the housing crisis throughout the country, Kildare has taken a lot of the housing, particularly as a result of the pressures on Dublin. I welcome a lot of that hous…

By any objective yardstick, one would have to acknowledge that the last five years has seen extraordinary, exponential growth in the provision of social housing in this country compared with any decade going back to the seventies. A total of 50,684 social homes have been added to the social housing stock between July 2020 and quarter 2 of 2025, more than 13,700 homes were brought back into use und…

The rural housing crisis is the biggest single issue impacting rural communities and the long-term sustainability of rural Ireland. Previously, I asked the Minister about his engagement with the Minister for housing on this issue. To be fair, it was a number of months ago, and at that point the Minister had not been in the job all that long. Meetings had not taken place, although he indicated that…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — chartered engineers employed or contracted by the Housing Agency act as agents of the State, exercising statutory functions that determine the rights of homeowners, and that the Government remains legally and constitutionally accountable for their decisions, including unlawful downgrades from full to partial remediation; — appeals against such downgrade…

Cuirim fáilte roimh all the visitors in the Public Gallery and the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. The Taoiseach just said that housing is the single biggest issue facing us. We all agree on that but I do not know whether the Taoiseach agrees that the housing system is broken. It has been commodified and marketised. The private rental sector is filling the gaps left by lengthy social housing list…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025 (without debate; any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Second Stage) (to conclude within 3 hours 34 mins; any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wedn…

I welcome our counterparts from the Swedish parliamentary friendship group to the Public Gallery of the Chamber. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Lars Mejern Larsson and the other members of the group during my St. Patrick's Day visit to Denmark and Sweden earlier this year and it is fantastic to have them and the Swedish ambassador to Ireland in the Gallery for this important debate. I also welc…

I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to affordable homes in Dublin for 2025 and 2026. More than 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, including over 5,200 in Dublin. Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale in Dublin and the affordable housing delivery programme continues to be expanded and developed year on year, suppo…

There was a very clear commitment in the 2020 Fianna Fáil manifesto in relation to holding a referendum on housing. I cannot remember whether it was in Fine Gael’s manifesto as well, but I think there was a commitment around it in the 2020 programme for Government. There was also a Seanad motion passed calling for a referendum on the right to housing and a constitutional change that would insert a…

I am pleased to contribute to this debate in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for older people in the Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I have worked with colleagues to secure substantial funding increases that will assist in meeting the needs of older people in the areas of health and housing, along with the Government firmly suppor…

Another election promise broken. You have been involved in government for about 16 years and you have made a balls of it, I agree. Just like childcare, you have copied Sinn Féin's plan to abolish the means test for carers. Again, you are welcome to that policy, but let us get it implemented. What Government has done in this budget would mean it would take it more than a decade to abolish the means…

I particularly want to speak to resolution No. 4. However, I welcome No. 3 and the continuation of the 9% rate of VAT for electricity, which is very welcome. While in some people's view it does not do so entirely, it does in some way mitigate the removal of the measures to help people pay their bills. I agree with others that maybe it should have been continued for another year. I note the Fiscal …

I thank all Members across the House for agreeing to the change to the Dáil schedule and facilitating this debate on the concerning developments regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla. I know that everyone’s overriding concern is for the safety and welfare of our Irish citizens who are on a mission of solidarity with the people of Palestine. This House, the Oireachtas and our people across the countr…

I thank all Deputies for their very sincere and heartfelt contributions to what is, once again, an extremely difficult debate that has taken place against the backdrop of a genocide and a famine unfolding on our television screens or on our mobile phones in our pockets. Let me be clear from the outset: there is no room for ambiguity. The war in Gaza must end. There must be an immediate ceasefire. …

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the number of children in consistent poverty nearly doubled in 2024 to 8.5 per cent, rising by over 45,000 in one year to 104,780, up from 4.7 per cent in 2023; — the research by Economic and Social Research Institute shows one in five children, over 225,000, live in families below the poverty line when housing costs are accounted for; — the cost-of-li…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — reducing child poverty and ensuring every child has the best start in life are key priorities for this Government and will be a core focus of Budget 2026; — the Government has prioritised the reduction of child poverty through the establishment of the dedicated Child Poverty and Well-B…

I move the following Further Revised Estimate: Vote 24 - Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Third Further Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €2,724,546,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Prob…

-----and alleviate the issue in respect of housing. We have repeatedly stated that the most effective way of getting people off the homelessness and housing lists is to ensure a greater supply of housing in our society, and available housing. Although the Deputy can criticise the Government for the amount, we have stated that this is our commitment. When you look at the figures produced, you can …

We are not creating a free-for-all in terms of the rental market more generally. We are creating a national rent pressure zone, ultimately including the entire country. The bottom line is that we need more supply of houses. We need a significant and substantial increase in the supply of housing. That is the key. Without additional supply we will have a very challenging rental market. The Deputy in…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this afternoon to Dáil Éireann the Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025. This Bill is a significant and necessary step forward in our efforts to ensure that Ireland's framework for tackling organised crime is robust and effective. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Ardagh, will recall that 29 years ago last m…

I will start by paying tribute to a good friend of mine who passed away suddenly this month a year ago, after I was elected a councillor. There is a memorial service for him this weekend. He was a member of the Social Democrats and we served on the national executive of the party together. He was born in Britain of Nigerian and Ghanaian descent and he was deeply committed to making this island of …

I begin by thanking the Minister, Deputy Foley, for her leadership and stewardship of the Department. Her last remarks clarify her position in terms of her commitment to equality. I thank her for that. I also pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, who is in the House this afternoon, for his leadership and courage as a Minister, but also for going to Budapest Pride. He sent a …

I support the Bill and I will clearly and urgently make the case as to why this legislation is not only necessary but also overdue. We are in the middle of a housing crisis that affects every community in this country. It affects urban and rural, young and old, single people, families, renters and buyers alike. At the heart of this crisis is a basic mismatch. The demand for homes is outpacing our …

We have an amendment of a Bill to legislation that has not been enacted. Looking at it, at face value one has to welcome it. Regarding the retrospective suspension of planning permission duration during judicial review, insofar as there are delays caused by judicial reviews, I take this point. However, as others have said, judicial reviews are not the main issue, which I will go into in a minute. …

I absolutely reject what Deputy Bacik set out there concerning the Minister, Deputy Browne. If we look at the series of actions and reforms he has undertaken in recent weeks, I think a significant difference will be made in driving housing supply, private and public, in our economy. He has reformed and streamlined the approval process for new-build social housing projects this week, making a real …