Questions

700. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency have been given to understand by his Department that they should not include green roofs in housing proposals. [34576/26]

701. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of BER exempt domestic properties in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/26]

702. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there are any mechanisms in place to prevent spurious or incorrect BER exemption claims on domestic properties; if there is any oversight or monitoring of domestic properties which claim BER exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34639/26]

703. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is currently reviewing the mandatory retirement age for members of the Fire Service; the stage that review is at; when he expects further information or recommendations to be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34701/26]

704. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is examining the introduction of an extension scheme for firefighters approaching the current retirement age, similar to the system available to members of An Garda Síochána, whereby personnel may apply to continue in service subject to efficiency, maintained fitness levels, and the successful completion of requ…

705. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any proposed changes to the retirement age for firefighters would require legislative or regulatory amendment; and if so, the expected timeframe for such changes to be drafted, approved and enacted, should this be proceeded with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34703/26]

706. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all capital projects including social and affordable housing, water services, heritage and local authority-led projects funded under the remit of his Department which have been completed on time and within budget in Cork North-West in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make…

707. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the new National Planning Statement on Solar Energy; and to provide a timeline for its publication. [34750/26]

708. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is to be a review of local election boundaries in advance of local government elections in 2029; and a timeline for any such review. [34818/26]

709. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any update on the expected publication date of the Taskforce on Local Democracy report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34837/26]

710. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports, remedial measures or discretionary arrangements that are available to a person who purchased a vacant or derelict property but was not advised by the local authority or any relevant State body at the time of purchase of their potential eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant; whether any flexibility …

715. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a review and redrawing of the local electoral areas for the State's local authorities is expected to take place; whether this will occur in advance of the 2029 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34929/26]

716. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has considered a CALF application for 60 houses in Carndonagh (details supplied); if so, his decision in relation to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34935/26]

717. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the action plan on delivering housing for older people, as committed to in 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities'; the way in which the consultation process for the action plan will be conducted, including the timelines, stakeholders to be consulted, and the way older people and representative organisations will be …

718. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review ongoing of the housing assistance payment scheme within his Department with a view to ensuring it is operating as smoothly as possible for tenants in receipt of this support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34978/26]

719. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review ongoing of the housing assistance payment scheme within his Department with a view to ensuring it is operating as smoothly as possible for landlords that have tenants that are in receipt of this support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34979/26]

720. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review ongoing of the housing assistance payment scheme within his Department with a view to ensuring that anyone entitled to this payment can access it and is fully aware of their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34980/26]

721. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2022, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34981/26]

722. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2023, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34982/26]

723. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2024, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34983/26]

724. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2025, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34984/26]

725. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme to date in 2026, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34985/26]

726. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme since the scheme was established to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34986/26]

727. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the housing assistance payment scheme, specifically related to the practical accessibility of HAP for single adults in high-cost areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34987/26]

728. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the specific mechanisms being used by his Department to address the affordability of housing at a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/26]