Search the Dáil record

305. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with local authorities as to the concerns in new housing estates being connected for both water supply and sewage connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53405/25]

307. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of transitional applications that remain to be processed by the Housing Agency arising from the transfer of applications from the original defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53666/25]

308. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the defective concrete blocks social homes scheme intended to provide remediation for local authority and approved housing body-owned dwellings; if he will clarify when this scheme has been formally implemented in Donegal; the timelines envisaged for its roll-out; the means by which applications wi…

311. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the strategic review of the approved housing body sector. [53703/25]

312. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on when the scheduled five-year review of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority will commence. [53704/25]

328. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline when the social and affordable housing delivery data for Q2 and Q3 2025 will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/25]

91. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will widen the scope of financial thresholds of the Housing Adaptation Grants to allow more persons to access the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52281/25]

92. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of residential housing units that have been built in Dublin bay south (or nearest geographical area available) per year, from 2000 (or earliest available year) to date in 2025 by social unit; affordable units; private sale acquired by local authority; private sale acquired by AHBs; private sale acquired …

93. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of social housing units that currently exist in Dublin city, by electoral district (or most granular data available), those that are occupied, unoccupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52283/25]

98. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if holders of refugee, subsidiary protection and programme refugee statuses who are applying to access social housing supports are required to show proof of income for the previous 12 months if some of that period was spent in their country of origin; if it is only required to show proof of income from the date t…

538. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further funding will be available for local authorities to help with the backlog for housing adaptation grants for older people and disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51145/25]

539. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the Wicklow-Wexford constituency currently priority one on the Local Authority list for the housing adaptation grant for older people and disabilities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51146/25]

540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to address delays in local authority housing transfers, particularly in Cork city and county, and the average waiting time for approved transfers in 2024-2025. [51150/25]

541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will review the current local authority housing transfer system, with particular reference to waiting times for approved transfers in Cork city. [51166/25]

570. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Housing for All commitment to introduce a minimum BER for private rental accommodation; the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51726/25]

571. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a housing project in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51745/25]

572. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a housing project in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51746/25]

574. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses purchased and in the process of completing purchase under the tenant-in-situ scheme, by local authority, over the past three years, by quantity, by total cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51749/25]

576. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes completed by each approved housing body in the State, and the additional social homes provided directly by local authorities, in each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51794/25]

577. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the circumstances under which a tenant in a home provided by an approved housing body can buy that home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51795/25]

580. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new social housing units completed in Cork City in each of the past three years, with a breakdown by municipal district. [51977/25]

581. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Part V housing units delivered in Cork city since 2020; and the number located in Cork north central. [51978/25]

582. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average waiting time for households on the social housing list in Cork city; the number of households waiting more than five years and more than ten years; and the measures being taken to reduce these waiting periods. [51979/25]

584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding allocated to Cork city Council for housing delivery in 2023 and 2024; and the projected allocation for 2025. [51981/25]

586. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the publication of the rural housing guidelines; when publication can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52027/25]

Households pay for their water. It is not free. It is an essential service covered by general taxation, which funds Uisce Éireann. Uisce Éireann was dressed up as a solution to all our water problems, but for the people in Dublin Fingal East whom I represent, this is not the case. Uisce Éireann is a major obstacle to the progress on building houses and getting them out for sale to new families. We…

The most effective way to prevent elderly people becoming homeless is through social housing. Some 52,000 social homes have been added to the social housing stock between 2020 and now. In addition to that, about 14,000 voids were brought back into use - these are houses in the social housing stock that were empty. In quarter 3 of last year alone, 1,600 new social homes were delivered, including 1…

I will begin by thanking colleagues around the House for their understanding that I could not be here at the very beginning of the debate. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, for taking the reins. I thank colleagues who made contributions here today, which were all very heartfelt. This week has shown how we can react and respond. It is not just about reacting. I will take up a cou…

I welcome the opportunity to have this discussion with the Minister of State. You will often hear reference made to some person, group or entity being the "canary in the coalmine". I believe that young people, when it comes to unemployment, are that canary in the coalmine. Looking at the trend, the general unemployment rate increased from 4.5% in quarter 3 of 2024 to 5.3% in quarter 3 of 2025. Whe…

One of the biggest problems of this Government over the past ten to 15 years has been its absolute inability to build infrastructure. Probably the biggest legacy element of the Government is that it cannot deliver necessary infrastructure and could not deliver it on time. Regardless of whether we are looking at housing, healthcare and hospitals, transport infrastructure like motorways, rail lines …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government's vision for water services is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024 to 2030 (February 2024), which sets out three main objectives; availability and reliability, safety and quality and sustainability, along with a series of related priorities for water servi…

I thank Independent Ireland for bringing forward this important motion on Irish Water. It has identified many of the problems, which I think we all agree on. I have to say, however, that I radically disagree with the conclusions it draws about what needs to be done. Ultimately, its motion ends up being a blueprint for the further privatisation of water services, which is the problem, not the solut…

Labhair mé faoin ábhar seo sa Teach seo. I understand Uisce Éireann has a huge body of work but it is failing on infrastructure. We have reviewed the judicial review system which will make it much easier for people to have critical infrastructure. Currently, in Dublin, especially in my area of Dublin Bay North, there is a huge issue where we see drone footage of E. coli and human waste going into …

As the Minister of State heard from each and every person who made a contribution here, accountability and communication are a massive issue with Uisce Éireann. That is the message that must go back from here. I know that People Before Profit had issues, as expressed by Deputy Boyd Barrett, but I do not see any amendment from its Deputies to this motion. They could have put in amendments. Anyway, …

Before we commence Leaders’ Questions, I ask colleagues to join me in extending a warm welcome to H.E. Ms Kara Owen, the British ambassador to Ireland, who has joined us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Ambassador Owen, who has recently commenced her role, is accompanied in the Chamber today by officials from the British embassy in Dublin. You are very welcome to Leinster House. We wish the …

You can shake your head all you want. It is the lived experience of people. They know it, Simon. They know what you have done. You are the man who stood up a year and a half ago and said he would fix housing for once and for all. Do you know what has happened in the past year? There has been a €31,000 price increase on a standard house across this State. Never since Fianna Fáil crashed the economy…

The rules of the House are one thing but Deputy Hearne is rightly highlighting a very important issue. As a constituency TD, I absolutely do consider this. I also consider it as the Tánaiste. Everybody in this House considers what more we can and must do in relation to child and family homelessness. We have different policy perspectives that we debate in this House. It is not a question of people …

I am delighted to be here this evening to note the publication of the pre-legislative scrutiny report in respect of the Bill. This is the last item of business for 2025 and I believe it is an extremely important one to discuss. I thank the Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Health, Deputy Rice, and commend him on his commitment and passion on this issue. I compliment committee members and com…

That is our approach. It is something I initiated back in 2020. We have resurrected social house building in this country through the local authorities and approved housing bodies. We have also leased and acquired housing for the social housing portfolio.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to be here to introduce the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill to this House. This is a short Bill with a single purpose. That purpose is to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes or vapes. Like all public representatives, I regularly hear from parents, teachers and coaches who are concerned about the impact that vapes…

I recognise in the Gallery the representatives of the sector, including the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, IFPO; the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation, ISEFPO; and the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, IFPEA. They are here this evening and that is significant. They are extremely concerned. They spent most of last week in Brussels. They were there when the Minister…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 13, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(c) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (5): “(5A) In carrying out the powers conferred by subsection (5), the Minister shall— (a) ensure that a review of the financial supports to disadvantaged communities, identified in the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, that are affected by crime, is c…

We will not be opposing these measures. I want to make some general points, particularly on the issue of tackling vacancy and dereliction. The grants the Minister announced this week are quite frustrating in many ways because there is no guarantee the public funding that is given out will actually go to ensuring the delivery of affordable homes. It is very frustrating because we are now seeing up …

I wish everybody a happy Christmas. I do not have the time to elaborate on it. It is not often I stand here and thank the Minister but I thank him for the work he has done. This is a great thing for farmers. It will be backed 100%. I am delighted with it. Could the Minister please work on permissions for log cabins and modular homes to allow people to put a log cabin on a site in cases where they…

I ask the Taoiseach to consider issuing an upfront fund to local authorities, but to Mayo County Council in particular, in order that they can turn around the vacant properties they have without having to go through the bureaucratic nightmare of applying for funding from central government on a house-by-house, unit-by-unit basis. Can the Taoiseach imagine what it is like to be a homeless person in…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na hAirí as teacht os comhair na Dála ar an gceist seo. Ar ndóigh, tuigim gur Bille fíorthábhachtach é seo chun a chinntiú gur féidir le Ranna Rialtais airgead a chaitheamh ag tús Mhí Eanáir agus nach mbeidh vótaí ag teastáil chun é sin a dhéanamh. Mar gheall air sin, tuigimid an tábhacht a bhaineann leis. Tá bunús bunreachtúil leis an mBille seo agus, mar sin, beimid i Sinn …

Honestly, I cannot believe I am here in 2025 talking about this issue because 14 years ago, when I was standing for local elections, I raised this issue as one of the major issues within the Mulhuddart area. We talked on top of a hill beside Mulhuddart cemetery and that piece of land now has 800 homes on it. There are now in the region of 2,500 to 3,000 houses within the curtilage of this issue an…

During the week, the news of the derogation was welcome, but the real work starts now. Unfortunately, unelected bureaucrats in Europe have put in a proviso, because of the habitats directive, that over the coming years, what a cow does in a field and the impact of this on the Barrow, Nore, Suir, Blackwater, Owenriff or whatever other river will have to be screened. This will cost the State million…

I welcome this Bill being brought forward. It is actually quite common sense. It could have gone further but I respect that the Deputy is trying to make a really big first step, which is important. We are now being recognised as the European capital for breeding dogs and pups. There are a lot of things we want to be top of the list for in Europe but that is certainly not one we want to be seen as,…

I want to speak on this issue because it will affect dozens, if not hundreds, of people in my constituency, particularly in west Sligo where an awful lot of people are now coming to the realisation that their homes have been affected by defective building materials and concrete blocks and, indeed, other concrete products that went into their houses. This is not new, of course. Donegal, Mayo and ot…