Questions

251. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage cen céimeanna atá glactha aige chun breis tithíocht bheith ar fáil san Ghaeltacht do muintir na Gaeltacht, idir tithe shoisialta, ar chíos nó ar díol agus an féidir leis trácht ar an gceist. [16464/26]

252. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the qualifying criteria for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17480/26]

253. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts being made to increase ID residential places, in line with the recommendations of the Disability Capacity Review to 2032, that up to the average of 90-new residential places are needed each year from 2020 to 2032 to cater for changes in the size and age structure of the disabled population, and given the views of an orga…

254. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding provided to Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2024 and 2025 for the delivery of affordable housing under the local authority affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/26]

255. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time for vacant property refurbishment grant applications in Roscommon–Galway; the number of applications awaiting decision or payment; and the steps being taken to address delays. [17593/26]

256. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his targets for affordable housing in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17488/26]

257. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an increase to housing assistance payment rent limits is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17484/26]

258. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the unfair housing allocation caps for families who may be ten years plus on a housing list, being deemed over the threshold due to family members becoming working age or promotion or social welfare increases and so on, in that timeframe; and is there plans to address this practice. [6197/26]

259. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the market will be restored to new market in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17290/26]

260. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has conducted a poverty impact assessment of the double rent increase facing HAP tenants arising from the abolition of rent controls between tenancies which will increase top ups paid by HAP tenants to landlords and the decision of many local councils to increase council rents for HAP tenants; and if he will make a…

261. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the funding allocated to Cork County Council under the historic structures fund in 2024 and 2025; the projects approved in Cork during these years; when recipients of the 2026 fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/26]

262. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of the €150 million in urban regeneration and development funding circulated to local authorities that has been drawn down to tackle dereliction, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17661/26]

263. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on 2026 funding for the tenant-in-situ scheme; if there will be an increase in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17463/26]

264. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the Passport Office does not appear to accept forwarded pdf statements of reckonable residence from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration given that the Department routinely sends emails on receipt of such requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17904/26]

265. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will support a fast tracking to EU membership for Iceland if that country applies for membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18070/26]

266. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department plans to engage staff from the private sector who work in accountancy and corporate law firms to work in her Department during the course of the upcoming EU Presidency term; the terms under which such staff will be engaged; the number of staff her Department plans to hire; the measures planned to guard against potential conflicts …

267. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which preparations are being organised across Government for Ireland’s EU Council Presidency commencing in July 2026, and for the associated Trio Presidency programme; the governance structures in place to oversee preparation including any interdepartmental groups, senior officials’ committees and Cabinet oversight arrangements; the nu…

268. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade which Departments/Ministries have been requested to provide input to the Trio programme documents and Ireland’s draft Presidency priorities; the nature of the input sought; the key legislative and policy priorities identified for Ireland’s Presidency term, including the principal EU files Ireland expects to prioritise for progress and/or agreemen…

269. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department plans to engage staff from the private sector who work in accountancy and corporate law firms to work in his Department during the course of the upcoming EU Presidency term; the terms under which such staff will be engaged; the number of staff his Department plans to hire; the measures planned to guard against potential …

270. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence if her Department plans to engage staff from the private sector who work in accountancy and corporate law firms to work in her Department during the course of the upcoming EU Presidency term; the terms under which such staff will be engaged; the number of staff her Department plans to hire; the measures planned to guard against potential conflicts of interest betwee…

271. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the total number of applications received to the Permanent Defence Forces; the number of candidates inducted into training; the number of candidates formally attested and sworn into service; whether induction figures are being reported as a substitute for enlistment; and the way in which her Department assures effective governance, oversight, and value-for-money …

272. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Defence her plans to introduce a local participation mechanism in Irelands defence procurement process to ensure Irish SME’s are included; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18196/26]

273. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether motor tax revenue is ringfenced or utilised in general expenditure; the amount taken in motor tax revenue in 2025; and the reason this no longer transfers to local authorities. [18153/26]

274. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide funding for Sligo Airport from the recently announced €45 million for regional airports, given that search and rescue for the north-west is operated from Sligo Airport. [17879/26]

275. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport the current implementation status of each of the three Safety Recommendations Nos. 28, 29, and 30, directed at the Minister in the AAIU Final Report on the Rescue 116 accident, published in November 2021; the specific actions taken to date in respect of each recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/26]