Questions

328. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the commencement date for Part 3, Chapter 5, Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2024, which will require local authorities to prepare a strategy relating to the creation, improvement and preservation of sustainable places and communities, including the reservation of land for use and cultivation as…

329. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the publication date for a guide to the provision of allotments and community gardens by local authorities which was first promised to be completed by December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62641/25]

1031. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the dates, details and outcomes of successful prosecutions undertaken by Uisce Éireann for water pollution offences since 2020; the number of open cases currently under investigation by Uisce Éireann relating to water pollution; the number of unsuccessful prosecutions for water pollution initiated by Uisce Éireann …

455. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the proposed purchase of lands at Glen of the Downs, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56511/25]

644. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s work to develop embodied carbon methodology and to establish structures in line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to reduce carbon in construction materials for all new buildings, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a …

645. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s work to complete a built environment and planning scoping exercise, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55490/25]

646. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s publishing the Bill to transpose the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55491/25]

647. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s development of a sectoral adaptation plan for the biodiversity sector, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55492/25]

648. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s development of a sectoral adaptation plan for the water quality sector, as committed to in the Climate Action Plan 2025 and due in Quarter 3 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55493/25]

390. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a comprehensive review of the national list of invasive alien species is needed before adding a single species, such as Cherry Laurel, given that it has been identified as high-impact by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Biodiversity Data Centre, Coillte, and the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversit…

391. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the process by which species are added to the national list under the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50324/25]

392. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Part 3 (12) of the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024, which allows the Minister to impose immediate restrictions on invasive alien species not on the EU list if preliminary scientific evidence suggests the species is present or at imminent risk of entering the State, and is likely to meet the criteria…

393. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grounds on which Cherry Laurel has not yet been listed as an invasive alien species of national concern, despite repeated recommendations from Ireland's leading environmental and biodiversity bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50326/25]

394. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will continue to expand the NPWS farm plan schemes in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50327/25]

395. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated for new applications in 2026 for the five year National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme; if that funding will be increased annually from 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50328/25]

1216. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the assessment of the impact of the use of the Difco cutter in peatlands, as mentioned in the National Peatlands Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46042/25]

1217. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the restoration plan for 60 hectares of blanket bog in the Wicklow Mountains National Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46044/25]

1218. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will instruct his Department to prepare legislation to ban the sale of Cherry Laurel in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46054/25]

1219. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department undertakes studies on the damage done by Cherry Laurel to biodiversity and environment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46055/25]

1220. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the feasibility study on the creation of a national peatlands-wetlands park as committed to in the National Peatlands Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46056/25]

1221. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Programme for Government commitments regarding peatlands and maximising benefits for biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46057/25]

1222. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify which environmental projects have been submitted by his department officials as part of the National Development Plan bidding process; the budget allocation for said projects; which of those projects are directly linked to the implementation of Ireland’s legal obligations under the EU Nature Restoration Law, in tab…

1223. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dedicated funding the Government has allocated for the implementation of the Nature Restoration Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/25]

1224. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether work has begun on a specific action plan to deal with the pollution at Lady’s Island Lake, County Wexford; whether the Minister of State responsible for Biodiversity will lead on that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46062/25]

1225. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cross-Departmental discussions that have taken place in relation to Lady’s Island Lake, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46063/25]