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65. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means by which he plans to prioritise water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver the capacity to facilitate housing development in our towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24655/25]

66. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department collates data on the total number of persons on local authority housing waiting lists across the country, and, if so, to furnish that figure. [24059/25]

71. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the allocation of €1 billion in additional capital investment to Uisce Éireann announced as part of budget 2025 on 1 October is additional funding or part of its existing funding requirements; his understanding of how this funding is being allocated to non-domestic capital investment as outlined in the budget anno…

72. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding from each local authority under the social housing investment programme in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the date on which each application was submitted; whether the application was approved; if the application was approved, the date on which approval wa…

74. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to increase the qualifying income limits for eligibility for social housing supports; and when the last change to these limits was implemented. [24773/25]

76. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to offer any additional supports for those leaving domestic abuse in terms of finding new housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24864/25]

78. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding being allocated for housing adaptation grants in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24598/25]

82. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Oscar Traynor Road housing development, and on the timeline for delivery. [24568/25]

85. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation for building and acquiring social housing in County Monaghan, by category; the number of such homes built and acquired, in total, by year from 2019 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24847/25]

88. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation he has made to Dublin City Council for social housing in 2025; the amount of that which is for refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24742/25]

93. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the tenant in situ social housing acquisition programme for Fingal West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23726/25]

98. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the process for the establishment of the strategic housing activation office; to detail how the office will sit within the structures of his Department and whether the office will be underpinned by legislation; to provide the staffing complement of the office, including the number of people seconded f…

99. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce additional housing supports to single-income households trying to purchase a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24732/25]

101. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether each county's house-building targets will be monitored monthly by the Minister; if he will meet with all county council chief executives and directors of planning on a quarterly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24825/25]

109. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost-rental housing units delivered in County Meath in 2024 and to date in 2025; how that compares to targets; the ambition he has in terms of cost rental for County Meath in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23596/25]

110. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for a new, comprehensive starter home programme across the public, private and approved housing body sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/25]

112. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific steps being taken to fast-track the delivery of affordable housing in commuter belt areas like Kildare north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24731/25]

115. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the establishment of the Housing Activation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23495/25]

116. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department are more carefully vetting the potential applicants for the proposed Housing 'Tsar', in light of the issues surrounding a former candidate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24353/25]

244. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant council houses, broken down by local electoral area, for 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/25]

247. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a housing community living scheme for senior citizens who have indicated a wish to relocate from rural areas in County Kerry into towns and villages around the county where they can access services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25040/25]

248. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the social housing waiting lists for Kerry in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25053/25]

249. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the average duration spent on a social housing waiting list in Kerry in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25054/25]

250. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to each local authority for housing acquisitions in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25067/25]

101. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 245 and 247 of 3 April 2025, if Leitrim County Councils social housing acquisition budget for 2025 is €2 or €3 million. [24517/25]

Where does the responsibility lie? It needs to be clearer. There was a policy decision by the Department to zone these extra lands. In the case of Laois, as the Minister knows, substantial extra lands have been zoned in the last two weeks for an increase of over 8,000 houses, which will bring an increase of approximately 25% in the population in four or five years. They cannot all be in Portlaois…

What measures is the Minister taking to address rent increases in Kerry? We recently saw a three-bedroom house in the town of Tralee with an asking price of €2,400 per month. In the public sector, increased rents are being asked for by local authorities. However, because services have been stripped from the local municipal district, in houses 11 to 16 in Mountain View in Balloonagh Estate in Tral…

I thank the Deputy. We are making significant funding available to increase the numbers of social and affordable housing. I encourage the Kerry local authority to maximise the use of the available funding to deliver social homes and affordable purchase homes across County Kerry. The Department will not be found wanting in supporting an increase in the supply of homes. The key to challenging high r…

I raise with the Minister the financial contribution scheme whereby local authorities acquire houses from over-60s at market value. In return, one third of the net proceeds of sale are given to the local authority and the senior citizens get a local authority unit and pay a differential rate on same. There are significant benefits for the economy and the overall housing situation. Those getting ol…

I thank the Minister of State. As the Minister of State will be aware, being from Cork, the reason I am raising this is that the number of new jobs being created in Cork is increasing every month and, therefore, the need for additional accommodation needs to be highlighted. We need to try to fast-track that housing. Cork City Council and Cork County Council are working hard with people making appl…

I largely agree with the Deputy's analysis. We are still seeing the scars of that financial crash, where people who lost their home at a certain age are now ageing. We have to be prepared. That is one of reasons we are doing a specific body of work led by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, which will come to Government shortly. Alongside the reasons the Deputy pointed out, we are also seeing…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025 be deemed to be read a second time this day six months, to allow for the consideration of the legal and policy implications of the Bill's provisions to be undertaken.". I thank D…

When you read the book Defects written by my colleague, Deputy Eoin Ó Broin, you realise that the decisions that led to this absolute disaster emanated from this Chamber. Again and again over the years, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments and Ministers were challenged about the regulation of the building and construction industry. Again and again, they failed to properly regulate and oversee tha…

I welcome Deputy Ward's motion and am delighted to be able to sign it. There is no doubt that huge credit is due to people like Professor Paul Dunlop and his colleagues at Ulster University, as well as Members of this House, including members of my own party such as Deputy Mac Lochlainn and others who have led the charge along with Deputy Ó Broin in relation to this area here. The reality is that…

Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an Teachta Charles Ward agus leis an bhfeachtas atá ann mar gheall ar defective blocks, agus de bharr an rúin atá os ár gcomhair faoi láthair. Communities have been battling for years in relation to the very basic premise that the house they have paid for should be of a standard that they can live in and that can stand. Communities have been battling for years in defenc…

I am glad to say a few words in support of Charles Ward's motion. He has raised it many times inside here since he was elected, as others have done. I cannot understand how this is taking so long to resolve. There has been quibbling about the foundation. It is only a day's work to put in a foundation. Often it is done much quicker than that if the concrete came - proper concrete - and it is organi…

I thank my colleagues who stood with me today and those who took the time to go beyond the briefing material and the political framing and had the empathy to understand what families are living through on the ground. Before we vote, I want to speak plainly, not in a language of schemes, standards or reassurance, but in a language that explains what is happening to people on the ground. I have sat …

I welcome the statements on Pride this week. Pride is as important as it has ever been. Pride is protest and it is a call on people to stand in solidarity with those who identify or whose way of life is under attack. I pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Laura Harmon, on her work and advocacy as cathaoirleach of the rainbow caucus. Speaking up for trans healthcare is so important, given that Ire…

I am very pleased to be able to speak on this issue. It is hugely important. There is so much to be said about Pride and the importance of expressing pride and of facilitating that expression of pride but I will focus on two particular issues. The first is conversion therapy, which is not banned in this jurisdiction. This practice is there to "convert" or "cure" people of their sexual orientation…

I often wonder why are we having these statements on Pride? I reflect in many ways on my own political journey and I remember that, as a student and young person, I saw Máire Geoghegan-Quinn decriminalise homosexuality. As someone who was very closeted at the time, that had a big impact on me in terms of challenging my own thinking. My experience, even though I never hid my sexuality, was that I …

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to bring this Bill before the House today. The purpose of the Bill is to give full effect in Ireland to EU Regulation 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and Council, and of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which I will refer to throughout as the AI Act. The Al Act is designed to provide a high level of protection to peop…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille seo. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeidh na dlíthe cuí againn chun dul i ngleic le AI agus go mbeimid réidh le déileáil leis an teicneolaíocht atá romhainn. On behalf of the Social Democrats, I welcome the Bill and the discussion on Second Stage on the regulation of AI, as provided for in the Bill. Before speaking more specifically, including on some of the ame…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an mBille seo a thabhairt os comhair na Dála. I welcome this Bill and want to start by commending the Minister of State and her officials on the considerable work behind it. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, I have watched this framework take shape and I want to state clearly that its arrival is good news. It puts our i…

The Minister does not need me to inform him just how important Dublin Airport is to this island. Directly, thousands of people work between both terminals every day and indirectly we have seen very impressive figures of the impact of the airport on hundreds of thousands of jobs. In 2025 alone, 36 million passengers went through Dublin Airport, a 5% increase year on year and a 46% increase since 20…

I have raised the matter with the Minister for Health. Indeed, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to her for her attention because it is a matter that is more directly within her remit. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality does not determine the use of buildings when it is not involved in funding them. The design of buildings and the designation of space within them, including f…

-----to be true. We have also taken a number of other measures, including this week, with more than €800 million through the housing, activation and infrastructure office to help counties right across this country to put in place key enabling pieces of infrastructure that are required to deliver more homes. Housing is an emergency in this country. Housing is a real challenge. The cross-party commi…

"Certainty, clarity and stability for the rental sector" were the words of the Minister for housing when he introduced his disastrous rental reform Bill in February. He did mention the word "eviction" once. As predicted, this new law has caused carnage in the private rental sector - not stability, just chaos. There were over 7,000 notices of termination in the first three months of the year. That …

Over the past week or so the Tánaiste has been very critical of county councils which he said think they have "done enough" on housing. He said, “There’s too much sluggishness in parts of the system, in terms of zoning land." Laois cannot be counted as one of them if one looks at what it has done on zoning this week. It has exceeded the Department of housing's targets. We need more affordable and …

Rare disease is an issue that affects thousands of families across Ireland, yet too often it receives far too little attention in this House. In particular, many patients face struggles gaining access to the medicines and treatments that could transform or even save their lives. The word "rare" can be misleading. When people hear the term “rare disease”, they imagine something that affects only a…

I realise this is the third Topical Issue out of five relating to Irish Water. I cannot say I am surprised, although they are different issues. I feel obliged to come here this evening to relay the concerns of the residents of Courtbrack, outside Blarney. There is an issue happening with their water supply for some time. I have all of the emails here from Irish Water. There are pages and pages of…