Questions

584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding allocated to Cork city Council for housing delivery in 2023 and 2024; and the projected allocation for 2025. [51981/25]

585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications made under the tenant purchase scheme in Cork city since 2022; the number which have been approved; and the number which remain pending. [51982/25]

281. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider reviewing the statutory framework for political party funding and governance in light of recent public controversies; the reforms being considered to enhance transparency and compliance; whether new sanctions or monitoring mechanisms are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51021/25]

282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rules governing political party support for independent candidates in presidential elections; the spending or resource implications that arise when parties formally back independents; and the means by which transparency will be maintained over funding, endorsements, and campaign coordination.; and if he will make a statement on …

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Inland Fisheries Ireland has assessed the impact of the August 2025 Blackwater fish kill on invertebrate populations, including caddisflies, and other macroinvertebrates used as water-quality indicators; and to publish results of any kick-sampling surveys conducted. [50874/25]

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken an ecological damage assessment on species of conservation concern within the Blackwater river (Cork/Waterford) SAC (002170), including otter, kingfisher, lamprey, atlantic salmon, and freshwater pearl mussel; and if he will provide the findings [50875/25]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal obligations under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive triggered by the Blackwater incident; and whether a formal appropriate assessment has been initiated in response. [50876/25]

288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mitigation and recovery measures in place to support the recolonisation of protected species within the SAC; and the timelines and estimated costs. [50877/25]

289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether funding will be allocated to long-term biodiversity monitoring programmes on the Blackwater, including aquatic plants, insect life, and riparian bird species; and the monitoring design of same. [50878/25]

362. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he accepts that the requirement to sell with tenants in situ significantly reduces the market value of rental properties in developments such as Sirius Wharf; and whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment of this provision. [49763/25]

370. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out any review of the way in which local authorities are handling county councillors’ questions (details supplied) for written reply; and if he will establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure consistency and compliance across all councils. [49693/25]

371. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that 53 families in Sirius Wharf, Cobh, will face eviction notices by February 2026 as landlords exit the rental market; and the emergency provisions that will be put in place locally to prevent homelessness in this case. [49760/25]

372. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has assessed the impact of the March 2026 legislation, which prevents landlords with more than three units from selling with vacant possession, on the supply of rental properties in Cobh and in Cork city and county. [49761/25]

373. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures being planned for Cobh to protect families facing eviction as a result of the March 2026 legislation. [49765/25]

376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the Summary Social Housing Assessment 2025 for Cork city, the current net need figure; the number of households who remain without social housing support; the steps he is taking to accelerate delivery in high-demand areas around Cork city, Glanmire, Blarney and Mallow. [49846/25]

377. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out any review of how local authorities are handling councillors’ questions for written reply; and whether he will establish a monitoring mechanism to ensure consistency and compliance across all councils. [49883/25]

398. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given reports that non-party/independent councillors are aligning to endorse a presidential candidate through county council influence, the transparency or regulation safeguards which exist for endorsements that may involve public property, resources, or public employees; if any funding is being used or diverted in ways connected wi…

271. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if every local authority has adopted and published an operational policy for the room for a student local authority tenancies scheme, which permits social housing tenants to let a room to a third-level student; the date this scheme commenced nationally; the guidance or circulars issued to local authorities; the number of applicatio…

272. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if income earned under the room for a student local authority tenancies scheme is treated as reckonable for local authority differential rent purposes; the standard approach that is required of local authorities in assessing such income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49336/25]

282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current planning policies requiring a minimum period of residence, often seven years, before an applicant can seek permission to build a dwelling in a rural area; if there are circumstances in which applicants who have resided in the area for less than seven years, such as five years, may be considered; and the…

283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific steps in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity which will address planning delays, approval times and regulatory burdens for housing developers in Cork suburbs e.g. Glanmire, Blarney, Bishopstown; if he will publish target timelines for planning decisions in those areas; and if resources will be allocated …

284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding which has been allocated or ring-fenced to support necessary infrastructure that is, roads, drainage, schools, healthcare, broadband in regard to recently approved major housing schemes in north Cork and Cork city suburbs; the timelines for availability of those supports; and the monitoring which exists to ensure develop…

285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Government annual housing targets which have been met as of September 2025 in each local authority to date; the councils that are on track and those which are falling behind; and the interventions planned to address under-performance ahead of year-end. [49510/25]

621. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that people registering for a postal vote due to disability or illness are required to have their application form certified by a doctor, and that many doctors charge a fee for this; if he accepts that this fee acts as a barrier to people with disabilities or long-term illnesses exercising their right to vote; and if …

644. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the impact of bulk-purchasing by State housing agencies on market prices for new homes; the number of homes purchased directly from developers by approved housing bodies and local authorities in each of the past five years; and whether measures are being considered to ensure first-time buyers are not c…