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1749. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessment his Department has made of the impact of short term rentals on long term housing availability in County Mayo, including in coastal and high tourism areas. [25728/26]

1752. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he intends to issue specific guidance to local authorities on balancing tourism activity and housing supply in rural counties, including County Mayo, under the new short term letting regime. [25731/26]

1781. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider the implementation of allowing a wider range of lenders to be accepted when applying for affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26121/26]

1782. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider the implementation of legislation to limit the amount a developer can charge on similar size houses in the same development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26122/26]

1783. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider raising the maximum purchase prices applicable for affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26123/26]

1790. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any assessment has been carried out on the social housing stock to assess if it could accommodate solar PV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26201/26]

1797. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the thresholds for individuals to qualify for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26404/26]

1812. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by third parties (details supplied); the title and final cost of same; and whether the report is published and or laid in the Hous…

1813. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of all studies and reports commissioned by him in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, that were composed and delivered by his officials; the title and final cost of same, if applicable; to provide a breakdown of where costs were incurred; and whether the repor…

1816. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the names and organisations that have met with the Minister of State with responsibility for planning (details supplied) and his political advisors or Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage officials on the issue of domestic residential exempted development regulations in the past six months; and t…

1834. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the Social Housing Delivery Action Plan targets for each local authority for the period 2026–2030, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/26]

1836. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding made available in each year to each local authority for housing assistance for older persons. [27267/26]

2393. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will act to establish a Joint Task Force between the HSE and the Housing Department with fixed timelines for the delivery of specialised housing units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24069/26]

2437. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether a joint taskforce between the HSE and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be established, with statutory timelines, to coordinate the delivery of supported housing for adults with intellectual disabilities; and to provide details of its proposed structure and remit. [24611/26]

2452. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units currently available for adults with intellectual disabilities in County Mayo; to provide a breakdown of these units by service provider and type (group home, community house, or individual supported living arrangement); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24685/26]

2453. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported living housing units planned for adults with intellectual disabilities in County Mayo for each of the years 2026 to 2028; the specific projects in development, including those being advanced in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies and the HSE; the projected timelines for delivery; and if …

2501. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of households consisting of two elderly parents or one elderly parent providing care for their adult children with learning difficulties in an area (details supplied) and/or CHO5; the number of supported housing units in the area and/or CHO5; the number of supported housing units that are currently plan…

2772. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the number of supported housing units in CHO9; the number of planned housing units; if service providers in the area have submitted disability support management advisory team forms to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24140/26]

2878. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of residents displaced from Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit, following its temporary closure for fire safety works in late February 2025; the location to which each resident was transferred; and whether any resident was transferred outside Heather House as a consequence of the closure. [24696/26]

299. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of vacant homes and holiday homes in Kilkee and the wider west Clare area; the measures in place to bring such properties into long-term residential use; and whether targeted measures will be considered for high-tourism areas where housing supply for permanent residents is severely restricte…

301. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing assistance payment tenancies in County Clare that have ended due to landlords selling properties in the past 12 months; the number of such cases where a tenant-in-situ purchase was considered or completed by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23180/26]

304. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the means test for the housing adaptation grant, whether the means test applies to the legal owners or the residents in the case where parents reside in a family home but the ownership has been transferred to the children leaving the parents with a legal right to reside in the home for the remai…

309. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of SHIP construction single stage social housing applications that have been received to date; and the breakdown by local authority area, number schemes and number of units per scheme. [23316/26]

310. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposed changes to procurement SHIP, CALF and CAS turnkey approvals as part of the shift from forward purchasing to forward funding models for delivering social housing. [23317/26]

311. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes he is currently bringing forward or intends to bring forward arising from the approved housing body strategic review, in tabular form. [23318/26]

First of all, the short-term letting and tourism Bill will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register of all short-term lets in Ireland. That will be accompanied by a planning statement from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, governing that entire framework. That will broadly restrict the approval of new planning permissions for short-term l…

I have constantly raised the issue of side-by-side rebuilding under the defective concrete scheme through amendments, a motion in the House and parliamentary questions. This is happening in people's homes right now. For many families, side-by-side building is the only workable way to rebuild while staying within their communities in Donegal. The Government has indicated that it will be available i…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teach as an deis seo chun labhairt faoi Ár dTodhchaí Thuaithe and the consultation process that is coming to an end in relation to the development of Our Rural Future, the new national development policy. I will provide the House with an update on what we have delivered under the policy over the past five years but I also want to hear, as we finalise the consultation proce…

The consultation on the next phase of Our Rural Future is welcome but the real test is whether this becomes another high-level document full of warm aspiration or actually improves quality of life, economic development, town and village regeneration, inclusivity and protection of our natural and built heritage in rural communities. Rural Ireland needs services, infrastructure, housing, transport a…

People across the city who are looking to buy a home are despairing. The prices of houses and rents are way beyond what they can afford. They are looking to the Government for hope to be able to buy a home. We have reached the point where no ordinary people can afford to buy a home in our capital city. It costs €500,000 for the average home in the city. That is ten times the average salary. In the…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Education (Medical Emergencies in Schools) Bill 2026 be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow for consideration of all relevant matters at an inter-departmental level and the development of comprehensive proposals, noting that it may be necessary to co…

I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising this matter. I am grateful to have the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, beside my for some local knowledge on some of these issues. I was in Clonburris not that long ago. I will get to some of the infrastructural challenges but I must say, being honest, that I was pleased to see the number and quality of homes being built and the partnership model that seems to…

Every day, housing is the biggest issue in my office. Today, I want to talk to the Taoiseach about social housing income limits. It was in January 2023 that the then Minister for housing announced new limits for social housing. In my own area of Kildare, the limit went up by €5,000. That was the first time in ten years. It was also mentioned then that there was ongoing work to look at income limit…

I will make a couple of broad remarks that I think have been emphasised by the fact that at this Stage, the last Stage in the Oireachtas, the Minister has to bring forward further, albeit technical, changes to this legislation. The Minister's entire approach to this legislation has verged on the reckless. It is absolutely reckless in terms of his refusal to allow proper scrutiny of a piece of legi…

I want to thank the three Deputies for their contributions, which I listened to very carefully. At the outset, I wish to say that the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I realise this is extremely challenging and complicated legislation before the Houses. Nothing we can do can remove the complicated nature of the legislation. It just is the case that with the international protection system, th…

The situation with regard to infrastructure around the country is poor, to say the least. In rural areas and the north west it is extremely poor. I will mention a few of the issues. The south Leitrim water scheme, which provides water for more than two thirds of the population of County Leitrim, is currently operating at more than 100% capacity. It is meant to operate at 80% capacity so there is l…

I might lean into that, to start in a moment of harmony. I genuinely join all Members in this House and people right across the country in supporting the Irish national soccer team tonight as they take on Czechia. At a time of real challenge in our country and our world, of turmoil and uncertainty, the Irish team have really lifted our spirits. There is a real sense of belief, from the youngest to…

It is very welcome to hear this update. If I interpret correctly what the Minister of State said, we are moving from a buy and renew scheme to a renew and purchase or renew and sale scheme. It is slightly turning it on its head. That is not a bad thing, but the critical point is the amount of money that will be allocated for these projects. We know that 40,000 units of Dublin housing stock was bu…

I thank Deputy Cooney for representing the people of his constituency in Clare who have been affected by this issue. I appreciate the issue of defective concrete blocks is particularly emotive for households and sympathise with all who are caught up in this distressing situation. The establishment of the appeals board was an important step in offering those affected by decisions made by the Housi…

I thank the Minister of State. I agree that we must respect the independent appeals board but it is important that people get the information, at least get updated information about what is happening in the appeals board. I am aware of householders who have been waiting almost 12 months and have heard nothing whatsoever. Their appeals went in. They were notified they were received but did not get …

I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 25 March 2026, by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act (as amended by section 52 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (No. 39 of 2023)): SCHEDULE 2 RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX (2) IT is hereby declared that it is e…

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am rather disappointed that the senior Minister did not stay in the room for the rest of the debate but left early. I am also disappointed that we had no speakers from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael in the House. One would think that children's safety would be the most important thing on the mind of any elected representative. I thank colleagues from Sinn F…

International Women's Day is an important day in the calendar year. It gives us the opportunity to celebrate the strength, courage and resilience of women - women who have shaped our communities, our families and who continue to stand up for what is right in a very unjust world. However, we must remember that International Women's Day is not only about looking back. It is about recognising the st…

I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to my plans to address the month on month rise in homelessness. Addressing homelessness is a priority for my office, the Department and this Government. Our new housing plan is an integrated housing and homeless plan based on two key pillars: activating the supply of 300,000 more homes; and supporting people to have a home of their own. Increased su…

I thank the Deputy for the question. Currently, local authorities charge rent under the Housing Act 1966 and this is known as the differential rents system. It is a critical piece of the State's welfare apparatus that subsidises housing costs and supports households who cannot meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generall…

Affordability very much is at the heart of the Government's housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030. The Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable supports. The plan reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to ta…

Many thousands of housing estates in this country are unfinished. They have not been handed over to local authorities. Many local authorities state they cannot take them in charge because they do not have moneys available to them. I stood yesterday with Councillor Ger Curley in housing estates in Cobh. The infrastructure needs to be fixed. Lighting needs to be put in place. We are waiting for engi…

I thank Deputy Ellis for tabling this Topical Issue matter. The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based on household income levels, with those on lower incomes paying lower rents and those on higher incomes paying higher rents. This system is known as the differential rents system. It is a critical piece of the State's we…

The Government talks an awful lot about how the Opposition does not bring forward solutions. We are sick and tired of bringing forward solutions. The Minister of State spoke about working together. We want to work together. We want to end long-term homelessness and get children out of emergency accommodation and into a safe, sustainable home with a roof over their head somewhere they can build a l…

Ireland’s economic migration policy is designed to address verified and persistent skills shortages across the economy. The system is vacancy-led and managed through the critical skills occupations list and the ineligible occupations list, which the Department reviews on a regular basis. A new review of the occupation lists is under way. This began with an open public consultation, which closed on…