Questions

276. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will ensure that telecom providers will strengthen and enhance fixed and mobile telecommunications networks; the proposals there is for such investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7274/26]

277. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on plans to allow for State support to amateur drama and musicals;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7288/26]

278. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are in place to support the protection of the seal population around the coast; the supports that are provided by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7289/26]

279. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the situation in relation to the tenant-in-situ scheme in cases (details supplied); which local authority should be approached to explore the possibility of a tenant-in-situ scheme purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/26]

280. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the granting of licenses for the hunting of woodcock, now red listed due to a decline in breeding population in Ireland, and considered in decline in Europe, will be paused to allow a thorough assessment of the population and the impact of this hunting on the native population before the next season opens. [7040/26]

281. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide a consolidated version of the electoral Acts, in particular the heavily amended 1992 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7043/26]

282. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an update has been received in relation to a derelict site (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/26]

283. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned about the low number of sites included on Galway County Council’s derelict sites register given the prevalence of vacancy and dereliction across the county; if he has engaged with Galway County Council in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7049/26]

284. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the erection of hoarding around a site is sufficient grounds for removal from the derelict sites register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7050/26]

285. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the appointment of a permanent head of the housing activation office; his plans to underpin the office with legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7064/26]

286. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the test stage of the Díon project is complete; whether Phase 1 of the system is ready; when and if deployment of the new system will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7065/26]

287. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has been made aware of concerns that the Electoral Commission, as well as international and domestic election observers, do not have a guaranteed right to access polling stations and count centres; whether he has plans to reform this situation to ensure guaranteed access for observers; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

288. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has conducted any review into the operation of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF); whether he will publish it; whether in his view it provided value for money; if he will detail the key lessons that can be drawn from the operation of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7074/26…

289. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the introduction of planning regulations to exempt detached modular homes and log cabins in back gardens from planning permission can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7138/26]

290. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure by his Department on social housing acquisitions in 2025; and to provide a breakdown of the number of homes purchased with this funding, by type including tenant-in-situ, vacant homes acquisition, housing first, age-friendly right sizing, and so on. [7144/26]

291. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total capital allocation for social housing acquisitions for 2026. [7145/26]

292. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he accepts that a growing cohort of working households in private rental accommodation are effectively excluded from both social housing, affordable housing supports and cost rental; the targeted policy responses that exist for this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7166/26]

293. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of private tenancies in Ireland; how this compares with other EU jurisdictions; and if he accepts that short-term tenancies, and annual leases, contribute to housing insecurity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7168/26]

294. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he accepts that greater long-term, secure rental options are required for households not eligible for social housing but unable to access home ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7170/26]

295. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of private landlords who exited the rental market in each of the past five years; and what assessment has been made of the impact on rental availability and rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7171/26]

296. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he accepts that continued reliance on both small-scale private landlords and large institutional and investment funds may not be sufficient or appropriate to meet long-term, secure rental demand; and if alternative, non-profit or social-purpose delivery models are under consideration to provide stable, long-term rental ac…

297. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons a development (details supplied) remain vacant almost one year after their completion; the specific factors preventing their allocation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7173/26]

298. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total estimated cost to the State of leaving a development (details supplied) unoccupied to date including lost rental income, maintenance and depreciation costs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7174/26]

299. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current timeline and action plan for the allocation of all vacant social housing units in a development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7175/26]

300. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department plans to set a mandatory deadline by which all vacant social housing units in a development (details supplied) must be occupied; the way in which compliance with such a deadline will be enforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7176/26]