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1081. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason correspondence issued by the Housing Agency to homeowners under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, following completion of an assessment under I.S. 465:2018, asks homeowners to indicate whether they wish to avail of a technical review or allow the Remediation Option Grant approval to issue t…

1082. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Housing Agency uses a standard template for correspondence under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, specifically the wording asking homeowners to ‘please reply… with your instructions of how you wish to proceed’ after a technical assessment; if a template exists, to provide a copy; if not, the b…

1093. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of, and average cost per unit, of new build social housing delivered in 2025 by SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Local Authority Part V and AHB Part V and PPP, in tabular form. [19889/26]

1094. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the way in which savings or deposits should be treated in an application for social housing given the application form does not seek information on savings, only income, yet applications get refused when the Local Authority becomes aware of savings over a certain limit which seems undefined. [19902…

1101. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in each of the past five years that were within five percent above the social housing income threshold but consequently ineligible for supports; the options available to such households; whether his Department has considered tapered eligibility to reduce cliff edge effects; and if he wi…

1102. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific supports that exist for long term renting households with stable employment who are ineligible for social housing due to income and simultaneously ineligible for purchase supports due to age; and if he will bring forward a scheme or pilot to address this cohort; and if he will make a statement on t…

1111. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has plans to reform the capital assistance scheme as it applies to approved housing bodies providing accommodation for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20501/26]

1113. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the funding thresholds for three- and four-bedroom houses to reflect prevailing market values; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20503/26]

1132. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the 2026 budget allocation for the tenant-in-situ scheme; and for housing acquisitions for each of the 31 local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20837/26]

1135. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress of the drafting and publication of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024, in light of the recent publication of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage's report on pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme; his response to the recommend…

149. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure transparency in the home-buying process, to curb ghost bids and gazumping, and to curtail bidding wars that are leading to higher house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18166/26]

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans by local councils to increase rents for council and HAP tenants reflect the commitment in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan to review the rents paid by social housing tenants, or if even more rent increases are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18049/26]

151. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to ensure the provision of housing for people with disabilities, to ensure that Ireland complies with Article 19 of the UNCRPD, including but not limited to expansion of the capital acquisition scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18183/26]

164. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his progress toward delivering affordable housing in east Galway; the measures currently being advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16786/26]

166. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions that are being taken, and the progress being made, on monitoring the housing targets in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17860/26]

168. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a solution for people who are still linked in name only to a mortgage, despite being separated and living elsewhere, but who cannot join the social housing waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17604/26]

170. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the first call under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund. [17291/26]

171. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason workers on social housing waiting lists are removed from the waiting list by local authorities when one year of their wages goes over the income threshold, and they lose all the time they have spent on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/26]

172. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 October 2025, if he will provide an update on discussions his Department has had with Galway County Council in relation to the Ros a Mhíl and Eanach Mheáin social housing developments; the current status of the feasibility studies and cost reports on the sites; an…

173. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Social Housing Construction Status Report for Q4 of 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16458/26]

174. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the qualifying criteria for cost rental housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17481/26]

175. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop infrastructure to facilitate the building of more houses in the constituency of Sligo Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17286/26]

181. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding allocated for affordable housing since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17494/26]

182. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review will be carried out in six months’ time to measure the impact of the new rent rules, in order to have accurate information on the effect on housing both in County Laois, and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17085/26]

185. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the tenant-in-situ scheme for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; if he can commit to multiannual funding of this scheme; if allowances for the increased cost of housing in Dublin can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16472/26]

It is the greatest cod that judicial reviews are what is delaying the development of housing and planning in this country. It is also the height of hypocrisy because we all know, when we go to community meetings where residents are up in arms over some development, the Minister's own party members will also be there giving it loads. I attended meetings before the election. If the Minister recalls…

I do not know who thought it was acceptable, or who thought it was acceptable for the Minister to go back on his word. It is certainly not acceptable to me or to homeowners in Mayo. I also wish to raise retrospective payments. Time and time again, I have asked him to cover houses that people had to build before the scheme in. They have to be covered. There are gaps that people are trying to deal …

The Minister of State accepted this is all taking far too long. He accepted that there are huge issues in relation to social housing, appeals and the standards review. We are where we are and we all accept that, as the people who are dealing with crumbling houses have to accept it. Nobody likes legislation that is dropped at the last minute without any possibility of proper scrutiny but, the fact …

I thank Deputy Farrell. The Deputies are requesting a report on the rent tax credit operating in the absence of a cap on rents, and making a direct comparison between the amount of the credit and rent increases. They suggest that the rent tax credit should be complemented by rent caps. There are currently certain limits to rent increases. Rent increases in a rent pressure zone cannot now exceed ge…

I will start with a headline from the Irish Examiner that ran "HSE warns it cannot fill vacancies even with agencies as staff shortage crisis deepens". We are talking about health insurance and the rising cost of it. Why do we have such a shortage in the HSE? Why are private hospitals being built and providing a service efficiently, with efficient staffing? We see the 96-bed unit open in Limerick,…

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the women who have campaigned very vigorously to stop violence against women and girls. It is also very appropriate that this House is discussing the issue of violence against women and girls today, which, as Deputy Farrell says, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. That is a day that is not just recognised in Ireland but is recognis…

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important question about the key measures I and the Government will be taking to support first-time buyers under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030. I thank the Deputy for his regular engagement on this important issue for his constituents. The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 sets out a broad rang…

The Report of the Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum presents an ambitious and transformative vision for the AHB sector and sets out a detailed roadmap of policy development reforms to enable the realisation of that vision over the years ahead. The forum, which was established in December 2023, undertook a comprehensive review of the AHB sector and concluded its structured engagements and analy…

I thank the Deputy very much for raising this important matter. It gives me the opportunity to update the House on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Government fully understands and acknowledges the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing and the stress that is caused when defects arise in their properties. The Gov…

On a personal level I wish the Minister and his family the very best. He has been a civil and thoughtful adversary for the years we have both been in the House. He never held back in letting us know what he thought about our perspective on politics and economics. I am not going to hold back in saying that I think the legacy that has been left behind by the years of Fine Gael Government since I hav…

Go raibh míle maith agat. I start by expressing the Social Democrats' warm welcome for President Zelenskyy's upcoming visit and our absolute, unreserved condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is an imperial war that has caused massive loss of life. We talk about the war in Ukraine and Russia's attack and sometimes I think there has not been enough focus on the number of people killed …

It has been a little over a month since the Minister for Finance and Minister for public expenditure stood in this Chamber and delivered to the country this Government's budget for 2026. We heard on that day all about the choices this Government was making - which industries it wanted to give tax breaks to, which boardrooms would be popping Champagne, and which food chains would see bumper profits…

I know the Department of housing has a huge amount on its plate in addressing the housing crisis but to be honest, it has always been very clear to me that updating these planning guidelines to make developers provide appropriate crèche facilities in new estates has never been a priority for the Department. In the last Government, I got plenty of excuses about why the Department had not done it ye…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. I look forward to the debate and discussion here with Members in respect of this legislation. I acknowledge and thank Deputy Carthy, who is the Chairperson of the justice committee, for the fact that the committee has agreed to waive pre-legislative scrutiny …

Táim anseo today to speak about an issue related to disability services in my constituency but which affects the wider Dublin area and the country. I will speak about St. Michael's House and about a constituent whose issue I have raised and want to raise again today. St. Michael's House on the Ballymun Road provides a range of services and supports for people with disabilities and their families, …

First, I want to say fáilte ar ais and welcome back to Deputy Boyd Barrett. I never thought I would say this, but I have missed his voice in my left ear across the aisle. It is great to see him back. I acknowledge the wonderful electoral victories against Trump in the US overnight. The stunning win by Zohran Mamdani in New York, in particular, proves that voters want a message of hope. That takes…

The report from the Department of Finance is not a projection. It looks at over 2,000 scenarios on a no-change policy basis. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, was very clear yesterday that we are changing policy on an ongoing basis when it comes to infrastructure and housing, and we have more to do. We have a new housing plan being published in the coming weeks. We will have significant infrastructure…

I did not get a chance earlier to pay tribute to and congratulate Catherine Connolly. I also pay tribute to Sr. Stan who was a Listowel woman and a Kerry woman. In a week when we saw the outrageous attack on the house in Drogheda and convictions for racially motivated murders, I would love to know what she would have thought about the way the country is going. I pay tribute to her for all of her w…

I am glad to get the chance to talk about this serious and, for some people, emotive matter here this evening. I welcome the investment by Government in the ESB. It surely needs to improve when we see communities left without electricity for days and weeks in places such as Cordal, Brosna, Gneeveguilla, Glencar and Knocknagoshel earlier in the year because of a storm. I have to mention one aspect…

Although I am a TD for Kildare North, I do not profess to have the same knowledge of the tillage sector or indeed the agrisector as the previous speaker, Deputy William Aird, who is from my neighbouring county of Laois. At the same time, I can speak to our unity in regard to the farmers of Ireland and the work they do. Four weeks ago I attended a public meeting in Killashee House. Deputy Aird was …

First of all, I would reject completely the analysis of the Deputy. We have been listening to a lot of empty rhetoric on the side of the Opposition in respect of housing. As I said earlier, housing supply is not where we want it to be but it is significantly way up on where it was five years ago on an annual basis. In the second quarter of this year, there were very high figures - the highest sinc…

Across Waterford city and county, the housing crisis is worsening by the day. We see it on the ground and in the statistics and the figures. We are witnessing the inevitable result of years of Government failure and a lack of political will to deliver homes for ordinary people. I met again in recent days with housing officials in Waterford City and County Council. To be fair, they are working hard…

This was a budget where workers were left behind. We had no personal income tax relief for workers. Hard-working families - the backbone of our economy and the people who keep our economy going, ticking over and working - were left with their hands hanging. We saw a reduction in the VAT rate. Many millions of that will go to multinational chains. I have heard descriptions of franchises run by fami…

The Land Development Agency is a key part of the Government’s housing strategy in delivering affordable homes for rent and sale in communities right across Ireland. The Department of Finance’s report on the sustainable funding options for the Land Development Agency considered the financing needs of the LDA and the implications of this need on the business model and operational activities of the a…

The Minister can criticise Sinn Féin’s housing plan all he wants, but I am going to be straight with him. I live in the real world, and the prices of affordable houses in my own area in Dublin Mid-West are simply not affordable. I will give some examples. A two-bedroom affordable home in Clonburris costs €380,000. A three-bed affordable home on the same scheme costs €418,000 and a four-bedroom aff…