Search the Dáil record

23. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of regeneration plans for a Traveller housing scheme (details supplied), given regeneration has been promised for over 25 years, and its latest iteration is with his Department; when he expects funding to be agreed for the long-awaited and desperately needed regeneration; and if he will make a…

27. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the work of the Housing Activation Delivery Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65544/25]

33. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding being provided for housing adaptation grants in 2025 and the allocation for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65541/25]

37. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the work of the multi-stakeholder group under his Department in respect of developer provided wastewater treatment plants in housing estates that are not in the charge of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65853/25]

40. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on any recent tripartite engagements between his Department, Dublin City Council and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress the delivery of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65839/25]

41. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which local authorities are being supported to zone sufficient land for housing and ensure the necessary servicing and infrastructure is delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65681/25]

42. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific accountability measures that are being put in place to ensure that local authorities meet their housing delivery targets, given ongoing concerns from the construction sector regarding constant delays, objections, and bottlenecks in planning and approvals. [65829/25]

47. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing options which have been delivered to-date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65636/25]

48. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to increase the delivery of affordable housing in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65157/25]

49. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his targets for the delivery of social and affordable housing in County Monaghan. [65815/25]

55. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update of social housing output to-date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65486/25]

56. 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. [65275/25]

57. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to ensure a clear and consistent approach to rural housing and rural planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65479/25]

59. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline any involvement his Department will have with the special purpose vehicle established to implement the recommendations of the Dublin City Taskforce roadmap for delivery, as discussed in the recently published housing plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65838/25]

65. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the new measures contained in the housing plan to activate the SME builder developer sector to build more good quality homes for people to buy. [65688/25]

67. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons the completed social housing units at a location (details supplied) remained vacant for close to a year before tenants were allocated homes; and the measures which are being taken to ensure that newly completed units are not subject to similar delays in future, particularly where demand is high. [65836…

68. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific steps he is taking as part of the Government’s new housing plan to reduce the number of single adults in long term homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65671/25]

72. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether the properties in Red Island, Skerries sampled by the Housing Agency meet the criteria for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the next steps for affected homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65700/25]

73. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the implementation of his housing plan, ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030’, thus far, and set out the timeframes by which the plan will be fully implemented. [65820/25]

74. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department’s plans to deliver housing, accommodation and residential facilities for people with disabilities; the timeframes for delivery; the supports available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65786/25]

77. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the local authorities that have underspent their housing adaptation grant allocation; the local authorities that have had their funding increased under the redistribution of the underspends in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65664/25]

78. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he will support local authorities to provide more housing under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65639/25]

81. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals being considered by his Department to increase the income threshold for applicants looking to access social housing through their local authority; the last date such an increase was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65663/25]

83. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms by which local authorities can address anti-social behaviour in social housing tenancies. [65641/25]

87. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the work of the Housing Activation Industry Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65545/25]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 43, 48 and 51 together. I will outline the policy rationale. First, I would mention the electoral commitment. I promised the people of Ireland, when I ran in a general election, that if I were elected to government, I intended to do this and I intend to keep my promises. It was in my party’s manifesto. I think it was in our partner’s party manifesto. It is …

I thank all the Deputies who contributed for their insights and helpful suggestions. I want to correct one matter. I indicated, I think, that I am to meet my UK counterpart on 5 July. I am reliably informed it is 9 July. I do not want anything to be missed on the record on that. To the Sinn Féin Members who talked about their survey, that is a useful piece of work, and I can understand the sentim…

I will be sharing time with my colleague Deputy Lawlor. We are in an incredible situation in this country and in the Middle East at present. For the first time, two weeks ago, in response to a Labour Party motion and a Sinn Féin Bill two weeks ago on Israeli bonds, a significant statement was made by senior Government representatives in this House. Finally, a senior Government figure in the State …

Deputy Ó Broin will have a chance later. The fundamental objective is twofold: policy certainty and protection for renters and increased supply. I respect Deputy O'Callaghan's commitment and interest in this, but he and his party have been very weak on the supply side. All of its proposals over the past three years, cumulatively, would reduce supply and do nothing to increase it. We have a fundame…

As we speak, there are 83 vacant homes in my area of South Dublin County Council, five of which have been empty for more than a year. Each one of those homes should have a family living in it. It is disgusting that adults are stuck living in their parents' back bedrooms while the house next door is boarded up. Young people are boarding planes to Australia when they could be starting lives in thes…

So far this Government has said that housing will be its number one priority but it appears that its members are not even talking to each other and continue to think up housing policy on the fly. It cannot even get its story straight on today’s announcement about rent pressure zone reform. So far, we have seen thinking-out-loud policy briefing about sheds in gardens; a housing czar that no one wan…

We are facing a housing crisis of unprecedented scale. More than 15,500 people, including more than 4,700 children are living in emergency accommodation. This is not just a statistic; it is a national failure, and one that demands urgent action. At the same time there are an estimated 80,000 vacant or derelict properties across Ireland. These are properties that could and should be homes. This is …

The snail's pace at which vacant council homes are being brought back into use is a disgrace and it tells a wider story about the Government's other failure in housing delivery. In communities right across the State we see the consequences of this every day in vacant homes gathering dust while families sit on waiting lists, dereliction, antisocial behaviour and the crassness of people walking past…

What is required is an ongoing maintenance programme for all stock to ensure it is routinely kept up to a decent standard. No house should be in such poor condition when it becomes vacant that it takes several months to bring back. Usually, it is only after a house is vacated that it would be considered for an energy upgrade to thermal insulation and heating systems, or a new window set. I believe…

I wish to bring my experience as a county councillor to the topic of vacant homes. I was until recently a member of Wicklow County Council. A number of years ago as the housing challenges became more acute, I proposed that every month councillors receive a total number of vacant houses, broken down by district. This could be discussed every month at our full council meeting. This happened. I also …

I welcome the motion and the opportunity to once again place a spotlight on the extraordinary levels of vacant housing. The motion is pragmatic and I will support it. When I think of housing vacancy rates, I think of a man dying of thirst while a giant pool of water remains within his reach. There is a stupidity and recklessness to this issue that is mind-boggling. In the middle of a great housing…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 138 together. Ireland's energy policy is focused on achieving a sustainable, secure and competitive energy system with key elements centred around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy generation - 40% of our energy was generated through renewables last year - as well as improving energy efficiency and ensuring energy security. Mem…

I may not have welcomed the Minister of State to his position yet; we certainly have not spoken one to one yet. I wish him the best of luck. It is a serious area in which he was previously actively involved. A lot of issues were improved but many are left to improve. Unfortunately, I have a public meeting for Independent Ireland to attend so I will have to leave straight away. I will listen to his…

The overriding need in our society and in our economy is for housing. The Central Bank's director of financial stability has said 50,000 homes have to be built every year for the next ten years in order to fulfil the need. The targets the Government itself has set go nowhere near this. They are in the 30s of the thousands. Will the Taoiseach accept that the market cannot deliver the scale of this?…

Lucia O'Farrell and her family have been in and out of the offices of TDs and Senators in this House to fight for justice for Shane since 2011. I am thrilled that we are here today to witness this apology from the State and to hear the Minister recount all the failings of the State during the investigation. Today we could say it is vindication but we have to remember that all through those years …

I move the following Further Revised Estimate: Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Further Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €2,590,495,000 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, Probation Service staff and of certain other service…

Last week, South Dublin County Council passed a People Before Profit motion to allocate long-term housing to victims of gender-based violence leaving short-term refuges. Official figures show that 32 households fleeing domestic violence were forced into emergency accommodation from January to March. However, according to service providers this massively understates the problem. The housing crisis …

I acknowledge the contributions of everyone here and assure them this issue of assessment of need is a top priority for me as a Minister of State with responsibility for disability who sits at the Cabinet table and indeed it is a priority for the whole of Government, as is the national disability strategy. As Deputies know there is a disability unit set up within the Department of the Taoiseach. W…

What is the response of the Department and Government? Is it to put a pause, at least, on data centres? Is the Government’s response to state, at least, that housing takes priority? The CRU is saying to the Minister very clearly that we are adding electricity capacity and that, because of the first-come, first-served nature of the system, it is being gobbled up by data centres. Let us get real abo…

I thank Deputy McGrath for his question and I fully agree with him that in addressing our housing needs in this country, we need to deliver private houses for those who can afford them and affordable houses for those who need help to bridge the gap to own their own homes. We also need to provide social houses. We must ensure that options are there for each person in this country so that their hous…

Of course, the solution to all of this is to drive the provision of housing right through the different sectors - social, affordable and private. I welcome the new planning framework which will hopefully drive and allow local authorities to redraw their county development plans and deliver that housing. I visited two modular factories during the week. One was in Lidan in Roscommon that produces s…

One of the most consistent issues raised with me during the general election campaign was the lack of delivery on the long-promised Lucan Luas line. At doorway after doorway, people spoke with frustration, not just about the delay but with a sense that our area, Lucan, is often overlooked when it comes to major transport infrastructure. This is a wider issue across the constituency of Dublin Mid-W…

I am impressed to hear the amount of credentials and the trade union members elected here, but unlike many of my colleagues I have never been a member of a trade union. I was employed while in college in the United Kingdom doing basic work behind bars and the rest of it. I never had an opportunity to join a trade union. I was self-employed. I ran bars and restaurants in Spain. I did not have an op…

In Galway city and county, we have already seen the impact of the lack of investment in key and basic infrastructure on the delivery, or lack thereof, of housing. Let us take Galway city east as an example. It is the place I live in and the place where we want to see the development of more homes. We need to see the development of new homes, yet there has not been the required investment in the wa…

The lack of a proper road in Cobh has stifled plans for more than 1,300 council houses in the area. This is one of the reasons An Bord Pleanála gave for refusing an application by a company to move into the former IFI plant in Marino Point. We also have a massive tourism industry in Cobh, but our only bridge is the Belvelly Bridge. Under the current plans, we have heard it will be this way for at …