Questions

151. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether S.I. No. 166/2007 - Local Government (Business Improvement Districts Ratepayer Plebiscite) Regulations 2007 remains in force and applicable within the areas that were previously under the jurisdiction of those bodies; and if the Regulations continue to apply, if he will outline the body of elected members that now holds d…

152. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a social housing passport can be considered; to outline the options for a person who has over 10 years on one local authority list but has settled into the community of a different local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22784/26]

153. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the number of employees that were employed in his Department at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22878/26]

154. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of employees in each of the agencies under his Department's remit at the end of December 2025, broken down by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22899/26]

155. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the exact date by which the new vacant above the shop grant will be operational; when local authorities will begin accepting applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22909/26]

156. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when updated guidance, circulars and operational instructions will issue to local authorities regarding the administration of the vacant above the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22910/26]

157. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider extending the vacant above the shop grant to include conversion or refurbishment of vacant rear-of-property or back-of-site areas, where such spaces are structurally connected to commercial premises but not physically located above the shop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22911/26]

158. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether properties that include both above-the-shop areas and rear can qualify for full grant support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22912/26]

159. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual uptake targets he has set for the vacant above the shop grant; the way in which progress will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22913/26]

160. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the ongoing efforts by community groups in Caherdaniel to identify and acquire suitable lands for essential community infrastructure; the supports available to assist such groups in site acquisition where private landowners are unwilling to sell or lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22968/26]

161. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to introducing measures to support compulsory purchase or facilitated land transfer mechanisms for small rural communities where critical infrastructure is being impeded by lack of available land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/26]

162. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on supports available for the development of Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) in rural villages; whether additional funding or technical assistance can be provided to accelerate delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22971/26]

163. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assistance and the options available to persons in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22982/26]

164. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of funding applications submitted by Laois County Council under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) for the proposed roundabout at the junction of Dublin Road and Collier's Lane, Portlaoise, and the Borris Road to Dublin Road Urban Distributor Road; the total funding sought for these projects; the timeline …

165. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the support levels for the first home scheme will be revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23053/26]

166. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23080/26]

167. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider the appeal for an emergency winter payment for people with disabilities raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22965/26]

168. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the current employment rate for persons with a disability in Ireland compared to the national average; the progress made towards the target of 6% public service employment; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people currently supported by the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the wage subsidy scheme, by county in each of the years 2024, 2…

169. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps being taken to reform the Reasonable Accommodation Fund to make it more accessible for private-sector employers; the number of applications refused for this fund in 2025 and 2026; and the measures being taken to ensure that individuals transitioning into employment do not lose essential supports such as the medical card or disability allowance;…

170. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application renewal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22623/26]

171. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider introducing a payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22656/26]

172. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance, including additional needs payments and exceptional needs payments, received in each of the counties of Westmeath and Longford in each of the past 24-months; the number of those applications approved and refused; the breakdown of the purpose for which each application was made; and if he w…

173. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for supplementary welfare allowance, including additional needs payments and exceptional needs payments, received per county, in each of the past 24-months; the number of those applications approved and refused; and a breakdown of the purpose for which each application was made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statemen…

174. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the real-time verification mechanisms in place to ensure that recipients of social welfare payments, including child benefit and disability allowance, continue to meet residency requirements within the State; whether these systems include routine cross-checking with immigration, Revenue, and airline or travel data; and if he will outline any plans to in…

175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the total value of welfare overpayments made to persons not resident in the State in each of the past five years, broken down by scheme; the number of individuals involved annually; and the extent to which these figures represent identified fraud, administrative error, or delayed notification of departure. [22754/26]