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140. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage considering the testimony of witnesses before the Oireachtas housing committee stating that the proposed legislation would lead to increases in rents, and no witnesses stating that they believed rents would fall because of the legislation, his plans to ensure that changes to rent pressure zones and rent control l…

142. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the initiative to allow builders and private developers to construct wastewater treatment facilities for smaller housing developments; when the new regulations will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5315/26]

143. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be made available to local authorities in 2026 for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4932/26]

144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the lack of affordable housing in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/26]

145. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department is tracking the progression of commenced housing units through the construction pipeline, including build-out timelines and completion rates; and how this information is being used to identify and remove bottlenecks after commencement. [5000/26]

147. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has engaged in any consultation processes with approved housing bodies and local authorities in advance of legislation removing blanket pet bans. [4416/26]

149. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the powers local authorities have to pursue developers who do not finish housing estates in terms of lighting and roadways and footpaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4921/26]

153. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the National Development Plan sectoral plan for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/26]

155. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives being taken to support affordable housing in north Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4875/26]

156. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Sligo County Council will receive its 2026 funding allocation to enable the reopening of the urgently needed housing adaptation grant scheme, which has been paused for several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4424/26]

157. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the house price and income thresholds of the local authority home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4926/26]

159. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any resolution to a social housing project in the Athy area suspended due to cost overruns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4864/26]

161. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the inadequate income eligibility limits for social housing in Cavan and Monaghan, if he will have these income limits increased without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4547/26]

163. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the modular housing guidelines; when publication is expected; and whether local authorities will receive direction on their implementation. [5044/26]

166. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take following recent 2025 data indicating house price rises of 7.9% in Maynooth, 9.15% in Celbridge and 11.8% in Naas; the measures he will take to improve affordability in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4950/26]

172. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms in place for engagement between his Department and local authorities to identify and resolve obstacles to housing delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4949/26]

182. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the provision of allocated housing for those that work in frontline public sector jobs including teachers, nurses and members of An Garda Síochána; if this is under review within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3346/26]

184. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline any policies that his Department has in relation to in-fill housing in local authority estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4920/26]

188. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in getting housing developments started on State-owned lands in Dublin 8 and 12 (details supplied); the timeframe for commencement of building work; and the number of homes expected to be built on each site. [4426/26]

189. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the ongoing contact that is taking place, and planned, with local authorities in relation to monitoring housing targets on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4933/26]

198. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider the re-instatement of the provision of new heating boilers under the local authority housing adaptation grants for older people and disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5048/26]

199. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider financial support for unfinished housing estates, in terms of lighting and so on, where the bond is not paid, the developer is not still operating and homeowners are being left in limbo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4922/26]

208. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the data for the local authority new build housing output for quarter four 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4938/26]

209. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take any interim action to request local authorities and approved housing bodies to prevent the continuation of any blanket pet bans in advance of upcoming legislation. [4417/26]

211. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding allocated to Cork County Council for housing maintenance; and if the Minister will outline any additional allocations planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4140/26]

The Minister outlined the many different locations, barracks and naval bases. I welcome that. However, the issue at the Curragh is of particular concern. This has gone on for a long time and in the past three or four decades, these houses have gradually fallen into disuse. I know some of them might be a challenge as they were built at a different time, some during the period of British rule. Wheth…

There is currently a capital advance leasing facility application for 60 new homes in Carndonagh in County Donegal. I cannot overstress how important this development is for Carndonagh. Families across Donegal are desperate for the opportunity to secure an affordable home and build a better future for themselves. The cost of houses has risen, soaring rents have left many unable to afford suitable …

I thank the Labour Party for the motion and for suggesting that we should have a mini-budget to address the cost-of-living crisis. We agree with quite a number of the measures and some were in our alternative budget. It is a fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. While a cost-of-living crisis is going on for working people in this country, where half a million peopl…

Déanaim comhghairdeas le gach Ball as a gcuid óráidí ar an díospóireacht thábhachtach seo. I thank the Labour Party and Deputy Nash for bringing the motion before the House today. It is important, in the context of the debate we are having, to make three points. I know the Opposition has to play a certain role and I appreciate that. I have been a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas for 19 years…

Perhaps we did not communicate it properly or engage quicker. I accept that. I am not living in an ivory tower, as I said. I accept that point. We acted to insulate households and businesses from the worst impacts of rising costs. That is why we have two packages with a cumulative cost of €750 million. It is the second highest or highest package in Europe. That budget surplus was not conjured up o…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make exceptional provision in the public interest for the prohibition of certain termination notices under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 during the period of 3 years following the enactment of this Act, and to provide for related matters. I introduce this Bill because we are in a housing and eviction emergency. Figures pub…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House on statements on Michael Shine, and much more importantly, his victims and survivors. The abuse of trust and attack on the dignity and the person of patients by Michael Shine was a terrible betrayal. I have the deepest sympathy and concern for all the victims. I acknowledge the many people affected, including several I have been fortunate enough to me…

-----100 homes as part of Dolphin House phase 1, and 32 homes for older persons at Glin Court in Coolock. The Department is funding eight projects currently on-site, delivering almost 1,000 homes at a total investment cost of €490 million. Additionally, Dublin City Council has a strong pipeline of regeneration projects that are currently at implementation phase, with building contractors on-site …

The approach of the Minister to inner-city flat complex regeneration is fundamentally flawed. After three long years of consultation with the local community on Oliver Bond Street, Dublin City Council made a very detailed proposal. It would take 74 1930s flats and bring them up to modern standards with a loss of 28 units. It identified a brand-new site, adjacent to Oliver Bond flats, with an addi…

I welcome our guests in the Gallery. I will say this because I say it every time - and I do not in any way mean this to be disrespectful of the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, as I am grateful she is here - but it is regrettable the senior Minister has not made himself available for this because it is a very serious issue. It might not be a serious issue to him but it is an incredibly serious i…

With respect, there have been 300 homes built in the past five years. There are 3,000 people currently trying to go through the scheme who are stuck in the scheme. Families are waiting for the basics. Side-by-side building is where you go onto an acre of land that could have a house on one side that is defective and a house on the other, and then pull it down and keep the family in this house unti…

Every week, month and year, working people who have been waiting on social housing lists for years are being thrown off those lists because they get a pay rise or an increment or, as was the case for one civil servant I spoke to this week, are awarded family income supplement. They lose their years on the housing waiting list as a result. They do not have enough income for cost rental. They cannot…

I welcome that two new areas are to be included in the scheme. It has been nearly three years since Carlow County Council first requested inclusion in the scheme for homes damaged as a result of the presence of defective concrete blocks. It is six weeks since the Minister finally received the Housing Agency's report, along with its recommendations for the Carlow area. There are only a handful of a…

I want straight answers today on the delay and the disorder surrounding the short-term letting and tourism Bill. The general scheme was approved by the Government last April, yet we are here again with no Bill published, no final planning guidance and no clarity for the people whose livelihoods are directly affected. At the same time, tens of thousands of small family-run accommodation providers a…

I would like to visit the issue of people being able to build modular homes in their gardens and subdivide them because it is a hugely important issue. It is definitely not a panacea for the housing crisis but it will help in certain situations. For example, yesterday I had a gentleman on to me worried that the legislation will not cover an area where the person who has a big enough house and want…

Yes, we can. My understanding is that it is done by regulation but we can. There will be some legislative changes needed. I agree 100% with what the Deputy said. In fact you can now subdivide a house as well under this planning statement. Equally, you can do what the Deputy said in terms of people creating a unit for themselves and renting out the house. There is no question that in many of the ol…

Many of our rural villages are being allowed to die on their knees because of Government inaction. They are being strangled due to the obstacles that are put in the way of people who want to develop changes. My journey here today took me through the village of Aughrim, which has not seen any proper development for the past decade and a half. The lack of infrastructure such as wastewater treatment …

We all understand in this House the enormous challenges faced by first-time buyers in securing home ownership. House prices are high, with the median price now at €390,000. With increasing costs in everyday life, it is becoming increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to afford to purchase a property. In this context, I find it deeply unfair and inconceivable that the State imposes an addition…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for first-time buyers. The entire focus of this Government and the last Government is and was very much on alleviating pressures on first-time buyers but also enabling them to be in a position to buy houses at an affordable level. The positive news is that as a result of measures we have taken, the numbers of first-time buyers drawing …

I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis. The Government understands fully the pressure people are under as a result of the various cost shocks over recent years from Covid to the invasion of Ukraine, when inflation was at its peak of 10%. We understand that. Prices are at an elevated high and now the war in the Middle East has again created a significant shock in terms of fossil fuel supply glob…

In April of last year, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment obtained Government approval for the general scheme of the short-term letting and tourism Bill. Once enacted, this Bill will provide a statutory framework for regulating the short-term letting sector, including the establishment of a national register. The register will operate in compliance with the EU Short-Term Rental Re…

As the Minister of State and I both know, a 19-bed unit in Heather House was first announced in 2022. Four years later this special dementia unit has not been opened and all we are getting is excuse after excuse and no date for when it will be open. The latest update from the HSE is that following HIQA's inspection, it is now looking to make amendments to the building. There is still no opening ti…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in the House today. As the Deputy knows, the Land Development Agency, LDA, acquired land beside Clongriffin train station from the market with existing permission in 2023. It subsequently sought and was granted approval for a revised planning application, broadly similar to the existing planning which took into account the new objectives and policies in D…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House. I was born on a small farm in east Clare. I know the struggles of my community. I know what it is like for farmers, particularly those with small farms, who have to provide for their families. That has not changed since the time I was going to school. I live among my people. I believe nobody in this House has a monopoly on empathy and nobody has a …

In principle, the idea of getting State bodies to co-ordinate to accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure and removing unnecessary obstacles to its development is a good one. I have concerns about the legislation but I would love to know whether it might be helpful in dealing with an issue in my constituency. This gets to the heart of my anxieties and concerns about what the Government's…