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210. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish a planning statement setting out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37218/26]

211. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the provision of affordable housing schemes in East County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36515/26]

213. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes developed, including by approved housing bodies, specifically for disabled people, and separately, people with an intellectual disability, by local authority, in the last five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36513/26]

214. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will visit locations (details supplied) to view conditions in these social housing complexes which are the subjects of severely delayed regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37485/26]

219. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on proposed new rural housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37514/26]

223. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority run rightsizing schemes that are in place for owner-occupiers nationally to support the housing needs of older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37526/26]

224. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the infrastructural upgrades deemed necessary to support planned housing delivery in Kildare North; the basis on which these projects have been prioritised relative to other areas; the extent to which current departmental assessments align with local authority development plans; and if he will make…

225. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he supports closer alignment with market rent for households with higher income levels who are living in local authority housing; if he has considered the impact this would have on poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37233/26]

226. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will mandate local authorities to include targets for housing for disabled people, including intellectual disability, in their five-year plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36512/26]

231. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that applications for housing adaptation grants have been paused since 1 May 2026, and have not indicated when they will be open again; whether additional funding will be provided this year for these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37524/26]

233. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a comparison between the number of residential units acquired by institutional investment funds and large-scale landlords and the number of homes directly built or purchased by the State in each of the past five years; and whether he accepts that current policy is enabling investor-led acquisition to…

234. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures he will take to address the growing unaffordability of cost rental rents and unviability of cost rental developments; if his Department will outline the systemic impact of recent construction inflation on cost-covering rent calculations; the measures being introduced to support approved ho…

235. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when clarity and formal guidance will be provided to local authorities regarding the planning and regulatory treatment of modular and rapid-build housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37155/26]

236. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends introducing a universal rent scheme for social housing; if the aim of such a scheme will be to increase rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37231/26]

237. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the use of the design and build contract model for new social housing, particularly in DCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37555/26]

241. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the number of applicants affected by defective concrete blocks who have been deemed ineligible for social housing supports or HAP due to existing income thresholds or home ownership criteria; if he will outline any proposals under consideration to addre…

243. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures in place for local authorities to bring vacant housing stock back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37543/26]

244. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the proposals and associated targets to deliver age-friendly housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [37537/26]

592. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the grant system for the repair and conservation of thatched buildings was last reviewed or updated; whether the scheme applies solely to domestic dwellings or if commercial heritage buildings such as hotels, pubs, guest houses or tourism-related properties are eligible for support; if he will consider expa…

599. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the summary of social housing needs assessments for 2025 will be published. [37103/26]

604. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his progress toward delivering affordable housing in Dublin West; the measures currently being advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37242/26]

607. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide additional funding to Louth County Council for the three housing adaption grant schemes which have closed for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37365/26]

611. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all social housing estate regeneration projects currently being funded by his Department; when each project commenced; whether the scheme is a demolish and new build, a deep retrofit or a mixture of both; the number of new/retrofitted homes that have been provided to date in each scheme; and…

613. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made by the housing activation office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37463/26]

618. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what the indicative results on the ICT system show from stock maintenance surveys to date, given that his Department indicated at the Oireachtas housing committee recently that it had some oversight of cumulative results. [37490/26]

I said to the Minister earlier that I would pray if somebody would start to listen and I am going to give him a small bit of prayers. This is from the point of view of the part in the Bill that brings in developer-led infrastructure. Why am I so glad that is going to be introduced and that Government is looking at and encouraging this? I will tell you why. When you bring a business model into a de…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to outline the provisions of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill 2025. I have met many people the defective concrete blocks issue affects, particularly in the north-western region. I am here today because I have listened to their concerns and to the issues raised …

I thank the Minister for outlining the amendments. I also thank him for his commitment to this issue. He met those impacted at a very early stage, listened to their concerns, understood the need for flexibility in the legislation and very quickly sought to bring forward this amendment. We are not there yet - there are several Stages to go through - but clearly he has outlined the urgency of this l…

Last June, I said something that many people across this country already knew. Whistleblowers in Ireland are not protected. In fact, they are destroyed. The Tánaiste stood up in this very House and told it our laws are among the best in Europe. He said the Government values these people. Since then I have sat with countless whistleblowers, well over 50 of them, from every corner of the public serv…

I remember the financial crisis and the destruction that came. People lost businesses and homes. Some lost everything. There were marriage breakups. In some tragic cases, people died by suicide as a result of the financial crash. Fast forward to 2025 and the banks are making vast profits. Where is the fairness? Where is the justice? The people at the heart of the financial crash who were bailed ou…

I move: (1) THAT the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010 (No. 31 of 2010), be amended— (a) in section 46(1) – (i) in paragraph (a), by the insertion of "(cac)," after "(cab),", (ii) in paragraph (c), by the insertion of ", (cac)" after"(cab)", (iii) in paragraph (cab), by the substitution of "25 November 2025" for "31 December 2030", and (iv) by the insertion of the following paragraph af…

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk on health insurance and few other things because we have a lot of issues. Everyone who can possibly afford it should have health insurance. I welcome any moves by the Department of Health and the Government to put money into private health insurance to help bring down the premiums or the policies, if that is what will follow. I worry whether the insurance c…

I particularly welcome the overall target in the housing plan of 12,000 social units per annum, building on the progress made on the Housing for All plan, which, it must be acknowledged, made significant progress in the area of social housing. There are new initiatives in this plan to help deliver social housing such as the performance fund for local authorities, which is critical. Many local auth…

The management and maintenance of local authority social homes, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementing a planned maintenance programme and carrying out responsive repairs are matters for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities are also statutorily required to ensure all their tenanted homes comply with the Housing (Stand…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on road haulage costs and how the Government is supporting this critical sector. I will share my time with the Ministers of State, Deputies Christopher O'Sullivan and Jerry Buttimer. Geopolitical events over the past number of years and the storm damage to Holyhead at the end of last year have highlighted the importance of the road haulage sector and…

I thank Deputies Murphy and Coppinger for introducing the Bill and allowing us the opportunity to discuss this very important matter. Sinn Féin is always happy to support any Bill the intention of which is to strengthen the rights and improve the living conditions of people in the private rental sector. While no Bill, especially no Opposition Bill, is perfect or going to solve the problem by itsel…

I return to the saga of Dundrum House Hotel in Tipperary. On Monday, the High Court delivered a judgment that quashed the section 5 planning exemption granted for Dundrum House Hotel. The ruling confirmed what local communities have been saying for over a year, that there is no legal or planning basis for an IPAS centre at this site. The certificate underpinning this arrangement should never have …

I rise today to pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, on the occasion of his departure from Cabinet. It is an important moment for this House and the country because it marks the close of a remarkable chapter in public service, one defined by stability, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the Irish people. Paschal Donohoe has given incredible service to this State since he fir…

Today is a significant day in terms of housing policy in Ireland. It comes after a number of decisions the Government has already taken. This plan today needs to be seen in the context of the national development plan published this summer, where we significantly increased the level of investment directly in house building. After listening to people across the country, local authorities and people…

We have a Bill that would bring that to an end. There is a massive issue with serviced land and serviced zoned land that has been ignored over the past while. The Government talks about an audit of that land. Is it not startling that the Government does not know how much zoned land there is in the country or how much serviced zoned land there is? The Tánaiste is saying that there is not enough, y…

I am delighted to be here to open this debate to mark Science Week 2025. As Minister for science - in fact, I have a long title and science is a key part of it - it is so important we mark this event and occasion. The Irish physicist John Tyndall once observed, “Knowledge once gained casts a light beyond its own immediate boundaries.” Ireland’s future lies in its people. Through supporting our inn…

Tairgim: “Go léifear an Bille don Dara hUair anois.” I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” I thank my friends in the Social Democrats for the opportunity to bring what I believe to be potentially momentous legislation to Second Stage this evening. Before I continue, I am thrilled to welcome so many young people and youth workers to the Gallery, representing organisations like the Na…

Both I and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, very much welcome the opportunity to discuss in Dáil Éireann the processing and enforcement of international protection. It is important to emphasise what, in fact, is meant by "international protection". It is sometimes confused with other areas of immigration. "International protection" is the term that we use to describe those people who come to …

I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(2) To insert new subsections after subsection (4): “(4A) The Board shall borrow to invest in projects on the basis of a prioritisation framework which encompasses— (a) congestion softeners in areas of high congestion, (b) security encompassing hospitals, Garda stations, water safety and wastewater treatment…

Once again, we are asked to hand the Government and the ESB a blank cheque of €5 billion in borrowing authority and €1.5 billion more in taxpayer capital, with no plan, no accountability and no guarantees of benefit to the Irish people. Let us be honest in this House: the Government record on energy policy is a record of failure. Ireland now has the second highest household energy prices in the en…

I am very pleased that the House agreed to take these statements at this very appropriate time, namely prior to the run-in to the December Council and the negotiations that will take place, particularly in respect of coastal states, over the coming weeks. I have been in this House since 1981, with the exception of a few short periods, and I believe this is the worst fishing crisis that will have b…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." We are here today to begin our consideration of the Finance Bill 2025, which will give the necessary legal basis to the decisions announced in the budget and make a number of other necessary changes to tax legislation. In budget 2026, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and I announced a budgetary package of €9.4 billion, as set out in the summer econ…

There is a social crisis, an eviction epidemic, in Dublin 15, up the road from the Minister. The Minister knows it well. It relates to the decisions taken in the budget to give huge VAT cuts to developers rather than finance local authorities to build. There is a document from Fingal County Council about section 28 guidelines and housing growth requirements in Fingal County Council. It mentions a …

It is my opinion, but it is shared by a lot of people out there, that budget 2026 failed to deliver any real hope or pathway for the families and individuals left behind by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments. Every week, new families or individuals who are homeless or facing homelessness turns up at my constituency office. That is fact. There is nothing in the budget that will bring …

Ní aontaím leis an Teachta in aon chor. Rinne an Rialtas an-chuid i mbuiséad na seachtaine seo caite, go háirithe chun cabhair agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do dhaoine a bhfuil ag fulaingt faoi láthair. Admhaím go bhfuil costais mhaireachtála, go háirithe ó thaobh cúrsaí bia de, ag dul in airde. Thug an méid a rinneamar cabhair agus tacaíocht do na daoine is boichte agus na daoine atá ar na hioncaim …