Questions

412. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he considers it equitable that a modest disability allowance may be counted as income for means-testing purposes in some contexts, yet the absence of that payment results in households being excluded from affordability supports such as the local authority home loan; if he will review this apparent inconsistency; and if he w…

413. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the risk assessment underpinning the local authority home loan distinguishes between lack of repayment capacity and changed household circumstances arising from long-term illness or disability; and if not, whether he will commit to refining this distinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11232/26]

414. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether the local authority home loan is intended solely for households unable to access credit at all, or whether it is also designed to support households who can access credit only on unsustainable or significantly less favourable terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11233/26]

415. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has conducted, or plans to conduct, a review of groups disproportionately excluded from the local authority home loan, including households affected by disability or long-term illness; and if so, when this review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11234/26]

416. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he acknowledges that households who were compelled to sell their home following the onset of a spouse's disability or long-term illness may be excluded from the fresh start principle and other housing supports through no fault of their own; whether a review of this cohort will be undertaken; and if he will make a state…

693. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider introducing national planning guidance or legislative requirements to provide for the installation of swift nesting boxes in new residential and public developments; if his attention has been drawn to initiatives led by Fingal County Council, including the provision of swift boxes in new local authorit…

694. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has examined the potential biodiversity benefits of requiring swift nesting boxes in new developments, given their low cost, minimal maintenance and role in protecting a declining species; whether such measures could be incorporated into national biodiversity or climate adaptation policy; and if he will make …

710. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage and consult with a group (details supplied) regarding S.I. No. 374/2024 - European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 on the designation of Fallow and Sika deer as invasive alien species; if he will confirm he will apply the lawful EU derogation as intended for Ireland; if he will make no further…

730. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the inclusion of Dublin Fingal within the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme; the engagement that has taken place between his Department and Fingal County Council in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10375/26]

731. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Dublin Fingal will be included in the Pyrite Remediation Scheme; when a decision is expected; if he will outline the steps being taken to support homeowners in Fingal affected by pyrite in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10376/26]

643. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total capital assistance scheme (CAS) funding allocated in each of the years 2021 to 2025; the average CAS funding approved per unit nationally and in Dublin in each of those years; and whether he is satisfied that current CAS funding levels adequately reflect the significantly higher construction, land, and professional c…

644. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of CAS-funded projects in Dublin that have been delayed, redesigned, or deemed unviable in each of the past five years due to construction cost inflation; the average cost overruns identified in such cases; the measures in place to address viability gaps for approved housing bodies delivering CAS projects in high-co…

645. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the construction cost assumptions currently used by his Department when approving CAS-funded housing projects; whether these assumptions differ for Dublin compared with other local authority areas; when these benchmarks were last reviewed; his views on whether outdated or insufficient cost ceilings are impacting the delivery o…

646. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether that, notwithstanding significant Exchequer investment through the capital assistance scheme, the delivery of supported housing in Dublin is increasingly constrained by exceptionally high construction and land costs; whether additional CAS supports or revised cost ceilings are under consideration for Dubli…

629. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given to extending the fresh start principle to include applicants who were required to sell a previous principal private residence due to long-term illness or disability, including circumstances where the sale arose from loss of earning capacity or a medical necessity to relocate for family supp…

630. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined cases in which households affected by disability exceed income thresholds for social and affordable housing supports, yet are unable to realistically access the private housing market due to reliance on a single income and reduced long-term earning capacity; and the policy measures which are…

631. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities are permitted to exercise discretion in the assessment of local authority home loan applications to take account of long-term disability, illness-related changes in household circumstances, and the presence of dependent children; and if not, whether provision will be made for such discretion; and if h…

632. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether cross-departmental work is underway to address situations in which households affected by long-term disability fall between income supports, housing supports, and access to market housing; if not, whether such an approach will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5781/26]

79. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will introduce legislation to extend the powers of local authorities to permit the change of use or demolition of derelict and long-term vacant buildings within designated town centres, in order to address rising vacancy and dereliction and facilitate the return of these buildings to productive use; and if he will ma…

80. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional funding streams, financial supports, or incentives he will provide to assist local authorities in the acquisition, refurbishment, and regeneration of derelict properties in town centres, in accordance with Town Centre First principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/26]

81. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will introduce strengthened compulsory acquisition powers to enable local authorities to prioritise residential, mixed-use, and community development within town centres, rather than peripheral greenfield development, and to support the regeneration of derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matte…

82. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will support legislation to ensure that vacant or derelict properties in town centres are brought back into active use within defined and enforceable timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2555/26]

85. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to a public information campaign to inform tenants of their existing rights and protections under residential tenancies legislation, in light of reports that tenants are being warned by landlords of potential exits from the rental market ahead of new tenancy rules coming into effect in March 2026; and if he wi…

92. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the work being carried out by his Department into the population growth of seagulls in a location (details supplied), their migration patterns and status as a protected species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2639/26]

153. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the ongoing uncertainty faced by homeowners affected by the defective block scheme; if Fingal County Council is to be included in the scheme; to provide details on the expected timeline, administrative arrangements, and any forthcoming guidance for local authorities and applicants; and if he will make a statement on…