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1347. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated for housing maintenance, by local authority, in 2024, in tabular form. [21063/25]

1353. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the basic units ceiling costs for the purchase of social housing provided to each local authority in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21144/25]

1358. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when funding will be allocated to local authorities for the housing grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21205/25]

1364. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost, per unit, of new-build affordable housing delivered in 2024, broken down by AHF construction, AHF turnkey, CREL construction, CREL turnkey, LDA Project Tosaigh, and LDA direct delivery, in tabular form. [21249/25]

1365. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new build affordable housing delivered in 2024, broken down by AHF construction, AHF turnkey CREL construction, CREL turnkey, LDA Project Tosaigh, and LDA direct delivery, in tabular form. [21250/25]

1368. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure in 2022, 2023 and 2024 on social and affordable housing funded through SHIP, CALF, CAS, AHF, CREL, AHB borrowing and LDA expenditure, in tabular form. [21253/25]

113. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider funding a Defence Forces liaison officer to deal with the significant housing challenges that are facing serving members and liaise with housing agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18312/25]

263. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that is owed as of March 2025 to each local authority for expenditure on the provision of housing, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18174/25]

267. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage following the Taoiseach’s recent announcement that will be appointed imminently, the powers the Housing Czar will have (details supplied) ; the function of the position; the remuneration for the position; the breakdown of the appointment process; the qualifying criteria; the person or body that carried out the …

270. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to introduce affordable housing schemes for self-employed persons. [18267/25]

271. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if regulations on service charges and sinking funds, which were drafted by the Housing Agency in February 2022, will be issued by the end of Q3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18280/25]

272. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has identified sufficient resources to put in place in Q4 2025 to enable the unit in the Housing Agency to regulate owners’ management companies, as envisaged in the Programme for Government, to commence its work on an administrative basis in Q1 2026. [18281/25]

273. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's position on Dublin City Council's proposal to restrict care leavers' access to social housing, particularly excluding those coming from foster care. [18294/25]

274. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to issue national guidelines to ensure that care leavers across all local authorities are adequately supported in accessing social housing. [18295/25]

275. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to support care leavers who are not eligible for housing priority under Dublin City Council's new criteria, particularly those leaving foster care, to prevent them from becoming homeless. [18296/25]

280. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for finalising and publishing the revised local authority level social and affordable housing targets for the 2025 to 2030 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18334/25]

148. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned at the declining number of habitable thatched houses in the State; if he accepts that the cost of thatching together with the difficulty in securing affordable insurance presents particular difficulties for residents in these classic homes; if he further accepts that the level of grant aid…

150. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budgetary provision he is making to enable the unit in the Housing Agency tasked to regulate owners’ management companies (OMCs) commence its work on an administrative basis in the first quarter of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17810/25]

599. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to provide a timeline for when local authority homes can avail of the pyrite scheme, considering the urgency of the situation for those living in such houses; if he would address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16626/25]

602. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the current housing assistance payment limits; his views on whether these are appropriate taking into account rising rental costs; if he plans to make changes in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16670/25]

606. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department could look to increase the local authority home loan in Kildare, given that the figure currently is maxed at €360,000 and the average cost of a house in Kildare is currently above that figure. [16732/25]

607. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and or his officials have engaged with the chief fire officer and or the local authority management in respect of the establishment of a new fire house in the Monasterevin area of Kildare and in respect of a full upgrade of the existing building. [16760/25]

612. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the eligibility criteria for the housing assistance payment scheme, particularly in cases where a family surpasses the income threshold due to receiving a carer’s benefit allowance for a child with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16795/25]

616. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a revised estimate for Vote 34 Sub Head A Housing will be brought to the Oireachtas; to outline the programme level changes within this subhead to those outlined in the revised estimates for Public service 2025 published by the Department of Finance in December 2024. [16907/25]

624. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the €265,000,000 approved for housing acquisitions in 2025; the amount approved for 2023 and 2024 in Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17038/25]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 21, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness last met on 2 March and is scheduled to meet on 25 May. Membership of the committee comprises the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, and the Ministers for public expenditure, foreign affairs, climate, enterprise, culture and further and higher education and…

We are losing nurses, teachers and tradespeople because they cannot afford housing in this city and across the country. Our businesses and public services cannot get workers because of the rents. We are seeing the main supply is vulture fund apartments at €3,500 a month. Who can afford that? Not one affordable house for sale was built by the State in Dublin city last year. What is the Taoiseach do…

When I think of nurses, male or female, I think of the stereotypical attributes that we associate with them: kindness, gentleness, warmth, a reassuring smile or word, but also their dedication and professionalism, as well as world-class qualifications, ability and professional capacity. It is appropriate that every year on this day, International Nurses Day, Parliament recognises and thanks those …

I am speaking on behalf of the Government on the Bill. I thank Deputy Daly for tabling it. I will speak to the legislation and explain the rationale as to why we are opposing it, which we are doing on the basis that the CRU already holds significant existing powers to monitor, report and regulate gas and electricity suppliers. Additionally, as the Deputies will be aware, a review of the comprehen…

The announcement in February 2025 represented a significant boost for the university, particularly given that this site had long been identified as a crucial element in addressing the ongoing accommodation crisis in Sligo. For several years the shortage of suitable and affordable student housing has placed considerable pressure on both the university community and the wider local area. It is, ther…

Each and every one of us, whether Ministers in Departments or Deputies in this House, wants to make sure that every taxpayers' penny that is spent is spent well, goes to where it needs to go and goes to those who need it. That is across every Department, including health, education, active travel, and investing in critical infrastructure. With the €105 billion that was announced in last year's bud…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 to abolish the mandatory three day wait rule for access to a termination of pregnancy. This is a straightforward and targeted Bill. It does just one thing. It proposes to remove the mandatory three-day wait for access to an abortion during early pregnancy. It do…

Is mór an onóir dom labhairt sa Dáil inniu ar ócáid Lá na hEorpa. As Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, I am proud to speak today to mark Europe Day. In less than eight weeks' time, on 1 July 2026, Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the eighth time. The European project was not built for easy times. It was built precisely for moments like this…

Bhí mé ag éisteacht le gach duine agus mé i m’oifig ansin. Aontaím le go leor rudaí ráite, go háirithe faoin gcaidreamh idir an tAontas Eorpach agus Iosrael. I mentioned it earlier in the House. Níl sé maith go leor nach bhfuilimid ag déanamh ár ndícheall le haghaidh sanctions agus the OTB. I welcome that the Minister said that she has consulted with the Attorney General. I urge that this be done …

I thank Deputy Nash for his considerable work on this motion and for bringing forward the Labour Party mini-budget. Too many workers and self-employed people who keep this country going, day in, day out, have nothing left by the end of the week, and struggle to simply put food on the table. The older people who built this Republic are forced to choose between heating and eating, while carers, who …

I welcome the proposals to reduce the cost of living for people. We have had a cost-of-living crisis since the end of Covid. That has escalated and it is now at crisis point. It is a serious situation and Government needs to understand that. Middle- and low-income households were never under so much pressure. Fuel, petrol, diesel, solid fuel, gas and costs are high and, as we learned today, electr…

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. If there was a general election in three or four weeks, due to the count and the formation of Government, there would be a long period when nothing could be passed. Is this performative? I want to show solutions. The Government has provided €775 million but it could introduce more supports. In respect of the 2024 plug-in solar report, in a response to a parlia…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Article 29.5.2° of Bunreacht na hÉireann, approves the terms of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, signed at The Hague on 16th December, 2025, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 1st May, 2026. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this motion today. The convention we seek to ratify is about establishing a…

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, spent time in County Louth last Friday opening a welcome new social housing development. It was great to welcome him to our hometown and our small city. In the time he spent in County Louth, there was a very strong chance that some of the men he met are survivors and victims of disgraced paedophile and former doctor, Michael Shine. The spectre or ghost of M…

I sincerely thank the Members of the House for their heartfelt contributions this evening and the specific points raised. Today, the House has reflected on the scoping exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As we close, I want to bring us back to the heart of why this process matters. It is because it affects the lives of th…

To that end, and recognising the efforts of Dublin City Council to create an agreeable and sustainable plan, funding of €13 million for the retrofit and deep refurbishment of four blocks at Pearse House has recently been approved by my Department. This follows an initial rejection of an amalgamation proposal from DCC, which would have resulted in the loss of 43% of existing homes at a very high co…

The mistake can be righted at the next budget. There is a big campaign to ask people to reverse it. Ultimately, the vote was lost by one vote. There was an amendment to say we should not be increasing people's rents and should instead be hitting the big companies by introducing what is effectively a differential rates scheme. It can be reversed for next year. We need commitments from Labour and th…

Hang on a minute, we are talking about them too. There is plenty of time to let the Deputy talk when she wants to. The whole problem of the short-term lets is a serious issue for our communities. At the same time, you see vacant council houses and HSE houses all over the place. There is plenty of housing. The Government is going after a sector it should not be going after.

I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to clarify the situation in relation to Oliver Bond flats and regeneration right across the country. I highlight that in 2026 alone, there will be just over €9 billion in capital invested in housing in this country as a result of Government policies. Some €50 million per year is set aside specifically for regeneration projects that require refurbishment and…

The Minister talks about a strong economy. A strong economy is not made up of thousands of homeless children who face Christmas after Christmas in emergency accommodation. A strong economy is not made up of young renters who cannot afford to buy a home and feel they will never have the ability to do so under this Government. A strong economy is certainly not made up of all of those people who feel…

Where I am coming from is the context of people who are living on their own. One of the big problems that we have where a person is living on their own is that there are additional costs. The cost of heating a house and normal maintenance is the same as it would be if there were two or three people living in the house. If we look at the allowance that the Department is paying out and the cost to t…

I welcome that response. The Minister's successor as the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, was in the constituency this week in Clonburris and Adamstown. He saw the scale of housing being delivered and the importance of the infrastructure that enables that housing. One such project is DART+ South West. Coming from a commuter constituency the Minister will know full well that commuters in my con…

I welcome the students and teachers from Confey College. I was on the board for ten years. Today I raise a fundamental local issue in Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth where we had another water outage this week. We have had a number of water outages affecting over 10,000 houses and 25,000 people. Indeed, the students in the Gallery, along with those in other schools, were not able to go to school …

I thank the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, for sharing his time with me and for the information he has provided to the House today. I reiterate my support for the sector and thank the representative bodies for their ongoing commitment to address the challenges we are facing in a spirit of constructive dialogue and collaboration. The Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, the Coach Tourism and Transport …

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — family law proceedings concerning child custody, access, guardianship and childcare matters, continue to be heard otherwise than in public under statutory provisions including, Section 27 of the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964, and Section 29 of the Child Care Act, 1991; — the recently published book entitled "Justice for Birth Mothers – The Fight Aga…