Questions

564. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his attention has been drawn to long-serving staff within the National Museum of Ireland, with over 25 years’ service, that have been denied access to an occupational pension; if he will explain the way a State-funded employer can justify this treatment of staff at a time when the Government is requiring all employers to provide pens…

565. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the length of lease and any other associated documentation from the landowner that is required for application to his Department's Sports Capital Programme; if there are any instances where an application for the Sports Capital Programme would be considered for assessment without such a lease arrangement in place but with the writte…

566. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if all documents, minute books and any other items relative to the history of The Kilkenny Design Workshops currently being stored uncatalogued in the National Archives will be transferred to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22477/26]

567. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the current status of the EU LIFE Strategic Nature Project led by the NPWS and supported by his Department and Coillte, which is intended to provide a robust evidence base to inform nature conservation measures in Ireland through the development of a bespoke platform; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

568. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that is available for Pillar Two of the EU Life Strategic Nature Project to advance the implementation of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive in relation to Lady's Island Lake SAC and Tacumshin Lake SAC; the proposed actions and timescales relating to the Pillar Two element of the project; and i…

569. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the proposed legislation to allow for the use of cabins or modular units in back gardens for residential purposes; the timeline for bringing forward this legislation; the conditions or regulations that will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22653/26]

570. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of remapping applications for processing by Tailte Éireann that pertain to Kildare properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/26]

571. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number of affordable homes delivered in each county and local authority since the introduction of the affordable housing scheme; and if he will detail the types of schemes used for example cost rental and affordable purchase. [21499/26]

572. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding allocated to each local authority for affordable housing delivery since the scheme began; and the projected funding for the years 2025 to 2028. [21501/26]

573. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual affordable housing delivery targets for each county and local authority in Ireland for the years 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028; the rationale behind the allocation of these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21505/26]

574. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes delivered in each county and local authority since the introduction of the affordable housing scheme; and the types of schemes used (such as cost rental, affordable purchase). [21506/26]

575. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actual delivery of affordable homes in each county and local authority against the targets set for the years since the scheme's inception; and the reasons for the significant shortfalls [21507/26]

576. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding allocated to each local authority for affordable housing delivery since the scheme began; and to indicate projected funding for the years 2025 to 2028. [21508/26]

577. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms which are in place to monitor the progress of affordable housing delivery at local authority level; and the way in which performance is evaluated and reported. [21509/26]

578. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether demand assessments have been conducted to determine the need for affordable housing in each county/local authority; and the way in which these assessments have influenced target setting. [21510/26]

579. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to identify the main challenges or barriers faced by local authorities in delivering affordable housing; and the steps he will take to address these issues. [21511/26]

580. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is an update on the modular homes legislation. [21512/26]

581. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of proposals to develop a national park at the Blackstairs Mountains on the Wexford/Carlow border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21538/26]

582. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the guidance that has been issued to local authorities for the processing of planning applications for solar farms in the absence of a national policy statement; the way in which his Department is ensuring that a consistency of approach to such applications is being adopted across the country; and if he will make a statement on…

583. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of an application for remediation under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in eligible apartments and duplexes 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21592/26]

584. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in the publishing of planning regulations to exempt detached modular homes and log cabins in back gardens from planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21606/26]

585. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of UDZ designation requests received by his Department since he invited applications in June 2025; to provide a list of each request including location and size of the land in question; and to provide an update on each request. [21619/26]

586. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any circumstances in which the vacant property refurbishment grant can be paid out to a successful applicant prior to the completion of the overall refurbishment of the property; for example, whether the grant can be used to cover initial portion of refurbishment works with the owner funding the remainder themselves. […

587. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide copies of records detailing total ticket sales, including volume and revenue, for each site (details supplied) managed by Clare County Council in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21703/26]

588. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide documentation showing the average visitor spend per ticket at each site (details supplied) in 2024, including breakdowns for entry fees, retail purchases, catering, and other services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21704/26]