Questions

351. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to allow the use of private waste water treatment systems for developments in locations where there is inadequate or no public infrastructure provided by Irish Water; if large scale housing projects and such developments as nursing homes will be included for consideration; his plans to provide financial support for dom…

352. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidelines in place for battery storage units, to protect communities, similar to the guidelines that have been in place for wind energy; if he is aware of local resident's concerns when planning for such facilities are sought; the safeguards which are in place for communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

353. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to conduct an environmental impact assessment in terms of the revised exempted development provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68009/25]

354. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the first consolidated national report on homes delivered under the Town Centre First policy, including the number of units delivered in each local authority area; and if this data has already been compiled. [68046/25]

355. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the Government’s commitment to supporting sustainable rural enterprises and the economic value of the Natura 2000 network; if his Department has signed the master licence agreement with the European Commission (DG Environment) to implement the commercial licensing scheme for the Natura 2000 logo in Ireland, as established …

356. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop a construction specific funding model for the AHB sector to allow the sector to increase its direct delivery capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68097/25]

357. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet with landowners prevented from cutting turf at bogs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68098/25]

358. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the analysis carried out by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on behalf of the Minister found that the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is having a significant impact on the private rental market; if data supporting this finding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68115/25]

359. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the findings of the analysis carried out by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) for the Minister on the impact of the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) has had on the private rental market will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68116/25]

360. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered giving the LDA greater borrowing powers; if he will outline any other borrowing models that have been considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68164/25]

361. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline each metric his Department is using to monitor the impact of the Planning and Development Act 2024’s provisions; the breakdown of any data available on the impact of enacted provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68166/25]

362. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider correspondence from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67959/25]

363. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for an emergency winter support for residents on disability allowance and similar schemes to offset the deficit created by the withdrawal of the 2025 cost of living measures. [67374/25]

364. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the timeline for the introduction of the cost of disability payment. [67375/25]

365. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports in place for male victims of domestic violence whose domestic abuse payment cease soon. [67437/25]

366. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the type of training provided to staff within his Department in the use of, or understanding of artificial intelligence; if a programme is planned for all staff on their obligations under the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67470/25]

367. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of first-time pandemic unemployment payment overpayment letters that were issued in Q3 and Q4 2025; the reason these were issued now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67489/25]

368. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider making rent supplement available to people living in accommodation provided by voluntary housing bodies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67551/25]

369. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Social Protection the approximate cost of extending child benefit for a period of six months and one year respectively, in the event of the death of a qualifying child based on available data from 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67583/25]

370. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the 5% pension increase recently granted to former Irish Rail staff; when this increase is due to be implemented; if his Department has assessed the impact of this increase on the eligibility of affected pensioners for Social Protection supports such as the medical card, fuel allowance and other secondary benefits; an…

371. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Social Protection the numbers of people who remain in receipt of the employment support scheme for people with disabilities, a predecessor of the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67623/25]

372. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE staff by grade and gender working in the National Community Welfare Contact Centre as of 25 November 2025, in tabular form. [67634/25]

373. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the immediate and dedicated income support which has been provided to former franchisees (details supplied) and subcontractors who are currently unable to apply for the insolvency payments scheme; and the process by which they can secure an urgent needs payment or other welfare support without compromising any future claims against the receiver. [67663…

374. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will arrange for a definitive answer to be provided to a person (details supplied) who has been in touch with his Department over the past several months seeking to determine her eligibility for a State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67665/25]

375. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm if a person (details supplied) who was entitled to claim the bereaved partners pension received an interim payment while the legislation was being drafted; the way in which this interim payment was facilitated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67727/25]