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1115. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total quantum of land held by local authorities, by each local authority, earmarked for social, affordable and cost rental housing; to outline the total number of units which could potentially be delivered on the landbank in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44520/25]

1121. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider directing local authorities to systematically collate and publish data on the number of families presenting with a housing need as a result of domestic violence; if he will ensure that women and children residing in domestic violence refuges are formally recognised as homeless and inclu…

1128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the delivery schedule for major housing projects under the National Development Plan, including an account of the number that have been delayed by judicial review proceedings or planning appeals since January 2024. [44818/25]

1130. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable housing units currently under construction or approved for development in counties Longford and Westmeath; the estimated completion dates for these units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44856/25]

1138. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that he has received a request from Leitrim County Council for funding to deal with historic structural issues around the unfinished housing estate (details supplied); if he will confirm if his officials have decided on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44995/25]

1139. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the duties he intends to delegate to the strategic housing activation office within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45012/25]

1140. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the officials seconded to the new strategic housing activation office within his Department; the length of time the secondments are expected to last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45013/25]

1146. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all unused properties, lands and buildings, under the ownership or control of his Department within County Kerry; the length of time they have been idle; the plans in place, if any, for future use; if these unused properties, lands and buildings can be used for affordable and social housi…

1148. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the promised updated planning guidelines for rural houses for a period of public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45202/25]

1149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out concisely the delegated sanction that local authorities have to purchase second-hand acquisitions and the categories of housing involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45203/25]

1158. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if variable local authority home loan interest rates will reduce in line with the recently reduced costs of borrowing for the Housing Finance Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45233/25]

1160. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding made available to Cork County Council for housing maintenance for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45265/25]

1161. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding made available to Cork City Council for housing maintenance for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45266/25]

1163. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity for local councils on the issue of self-employed people wishing to put their name on the social housing list in relation to the discretionary requirement from individual councils to request a minimum of two years' accounts with an auditor’s report and a notice of assessment and/or …

1164. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Meath County Council is permitted the use of its own discretion when requesting a self-employed person, seeking to apply to join the social housing list to provide a submission of two years' accounts with an auditor’s report and a notice of assessment and/or self-assessment acknowledgement for the…

1165. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to introduce legislation compelling county councils to request self-employed individuals seeking to join the social housing list to provide minimum of two years’ accounts with an auditor’s report and a notice of assessment and/or self-assessment acknowledgement letter for the preceding 12-month…

1168. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of social housing new builds by Cork City Council, in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45319/25]

1169. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of social housing new builds by AHBs in the Cork City Council, area in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45320/25]

1170. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of social housing new builds by Cork County Council, in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45321/25]

1171. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of social housing new builds by AHBs in the Cork County Council, area in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45322/25]

1172. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of newly built houses, acquired by Cork City Council, in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45323/25]

1173. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of newly built houses, acquired by AHBs in the Cork City Council area, in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45324/25]

1174. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of newly built houses, acquired by Cork County Council, in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45325/25]

1175. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name and location of newly built houses, acquired by AHBs in the Cork County Council area in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [45326/25]

1179. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the government plans to introduce specific policies to support first generation homeowners or young families, in view of the campaign by a person (details supplied) highlighting housing affordability challenges faced by younger demographics.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45357/25]

I welcome this debate on international protection but I am very conscious that it could be taking place in very different circumstances. The backdrop to these statements could, but for the grace of God, have been multiple fatalities as a result of the arson attack in Drogheda. I want to be unequivocal in stating that there can be absolutely no tolerance for racism or racist attacks. Nobody should …

When we talk about international protection, we need to wrap it up in the subject matter of migration. That is getting lost, not just in these Houses but in the country, and it is deeply concerning. Everybody in here has family members who have gone all over the world, mine included. I have double the number of first cousins outside this country than in this country. My only sibling lives in Ameri…

Why are we having this debate? That is the first question I want to ask. A child was horrifically sexually assaulted. We are not discussing gender-based violence. I have just come from a committee that the rape crisis centre set up. Four TDs showed up. Nobody from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael was there. They do not care about that issue. A racist riot followed the assault. Massive harm was done to gar…

I am pleased to be back after a short absence due to illness. I am delighted to be back. I tried many times to have debates here in the previous Dáil and I was denied. I too want to condemn the attack in Drogheda. Actions like that are totally reprehensible and cannot be condoned. Let me be absolutely clear: Ireland's international protection system is broken. The Tánaiste himself admitted that it…

I extand a comhghairdeas mór to our new Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, on her historic landslide win. I know as President she will do us proud just as Michael D. Higgins has done. I also want to acknowledge the loss of the great Sr. Stan. She did the State immense service through her work on social justice and she leaves a truly remarkable legacy. May she rest in peace. I condemn in …

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill will provide the legal mechanism for the payment of €1.5 billion of equity investment in ESB, as committed to by the Government under the national development plan. I will set out the broader context for why Government equity investme…

Ireland's electricity grid is not fit for purpose. It is holding back housing delivery across the State. It is stalling renewable energy projects and limiting development in towns, villages and rural areas. It did not just happen by accident and it did not happen overnight. It is the result of years of underinvestment, poor planning and mismanagement by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governm…

Ba mhaith liom comghairdeas mór a dhéanamh le Catherine Connolly, an Uachtarán-elect. What I say in this contribution is not directed at the Minister of State; it is directed at the entire system I have been facing ever since being elected to this House. I welcome the Bill and the opportunity it provides. The billions of euro in investment in ESB Networks are badly needed. I am a member of the cli…

These small local issues will be the things that help. At the moment, it is not only that there is a housing crisis. Where somebody is waiting for a connection to build houses, if someone else can easily build a solar farm and have a direct line link to those houses, it will speed up everything. Germany, the UK and Denmark are doing it. I understand the Government is bringing forward a policy and …

I also warmly congratulate our President-elect, Catherine Connolly. I wish her the very best in her appointment. Leaving Mayo-Galway rivalries aside, I know she will do a tremendous job. I wish her the very best. I thank all the Deputies for their engagement in respect of this very important Bill. I appreciate the general support right across the Chamber in that regard. The fact that many Members…

The latest figures from the Department of housing show that, again, the Government will miss its targets for building social and affordable homes this year. It promised 10,000 new social homes and completed fewer than 2,000 in the first half of this year. The Minister for housing has boasted that more than 26,000 social homes are at various stages of design and construction. He had the temerity to…

With all the shouting and roaring, I thought there was an election happening this week. This debate involves examining the Finance Bill and many of those concerns have already been raised but are being rehashed here today. I welcome the opportunity to examine the Finance Bill, which gives effect to the budget’s targeted tax measures and supports for businesses, jobs and housing while modernising …

Subsequent to the election, the Government produced a very ambitious programme for Government, which made many commitments to improve the lot of people in this country. Of course, the extent to which the Government can meet its commitments is contingent on a successful economy, and that should be obvious to everybody on all sides of this House. The Government decided to strengthen the economy and …

We are waiting to see whether Deputy Fitzmaurice comes in or whether we can use his time allocated in our slot. My colleague tells me we can use the time. Deputy Lawless got to use some of it and I will use some as well, with the permission of the Acting Chair. This is another chance to talk about the budget overall, although we are looking at the specific measures in the Bill itself. I support t…

I thank the Minister for the work he and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, have done over recent weeks and months in relation to this budget but also the work the Minister has done since 2017 when he took office in the Department of Finance. The certainty he has brought to the country and to the economy cannot be taken for granted. I am very conscious that when it comes to budget time, there are no e…

-----but in east Belfast we were called much else. We were Lundys. We were Free Staters. We were Fenian scum. That was the language too many of us know in this House. I fear it is creeping back in. We need to take the responsibility, all of us who believe in a truly united Ireland, to call it out from all angles. It is important to acknowledge that we support the Good Friday Agreement in full. Wh…

I see reports that a Garda van has been set alight and fireworks and missiles are being thrown at gardaí as a large crowd have gathered outside Citywest Hotel. I condemn that violence. It is an ongoing situation. I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. I thank Deputy McDonald and her colleagues in Sinn Féin for putting forward this motion. It is timely. I am glad to hear that the…

Is iontach é sin a cloisteáil, i ndáiríre, mar bhí an bhuairt ann nach raibh cainteanna ag dul ar aghaidh. Mar sin, cuirim fáilte roimh sin, ar a laghad. It is great that those engagements have taken place and I thank the Minister of State for his answer and for detailing the level of engagement and the issues that have been discussed by the Minister with the Department of housing. There are two b…

I speak today on behalf of the constituents of Dublin Fingal West, dealing with the stress caused by their houses literally crumbling around them. Families did everything right. They saved, they waited for their homes to be built, took pride in their home and now they live in fear, with cracks going up the walls, through the floors and the ceilings yet the response from the Department is painfully…

I am in full support of this vital motion to reform the defective concrete redress scheme. Families across Ireland are living in homes that are crumbling around them - unsafe, uninsurable and unfit for human habitation. The current scheme is failing them. The appeals are delayed for years. Partial repairs are unsafe, and the financial burden is crushing. These families did nothing wrong, yet they …

I welcome the chance to speak on this motion today because this has been the single biggest issue affecting Donegal over my time in politics. It has been traumatic for every single family who has been affected by defective concrete blocks. It has been my objective throughout my time in politics and in Cabinet in the previous Dáil to work to ensure we get a scheme that would help people rebuild the…

Today, I have constituents who feel unheard, unseen and left in limbo. I want to acknowledge that progress has been made. The Government has taken steps in recognising the scale of the housing defects crisis by the establishment of the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme and by announcements of increased caps offering choices between non-demolition, remediation or a full technical review. T…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important motion. The issue of defective concrete was a huge problem in Leinster but what we are seeing in Donegal and down along the north west and western seaboard is catastrophic in both its scale and the effect it is having on families. The motion is very reasonable. It calls on the Government to "cease all partial remediation", to "reinstate th…

As my colleague suggested, we have to be fair. A child's life is involved in this. His parents are not in the Public Gallery and have not, from what I understand, requested any motion to be brought in this House but have requested a multidisciplinary statutory inquiry. I sit on the the Opposition benches and I argue with the Government on many matters, but the Government has agreed to meet with th…

I welcome the statements on the budget. Like others, I recognise that this is the first of five budgets in this cycle. The key premise and most important thing about this budget is that it is about safeguarding the economy and protecting jobs. That is central to us having the most high-functioning economy in the whole of Europe. That had to underpin any decisions that were made. Previous speakers…