Questions

306. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which body has ultimate authority for interpreting the provisions of the local government superannuation scheme in relation to ill-health retirement and professional added years, namely the Department, local authorities, MyPay, or another body; and the appeals or review mechanisms available where conflicting advice is issued. [750…

307. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether professional added years awarded under the local government superannuation scheme are subject to clawback where an employee retires on certified ill-health grounds after reaching 60 years-of-age; the legislative basis for his Department's position; and if he will provide details of the relevant statutory provisions and cir…

308. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's policy regarding members of the local government superannuation scheme who retire on certified ill-health grounds after attaining the minimum retirement age of 60 years; whether such retirements are regarded as ill-health retirements or standard retirements for pension calculation purposes; and if he will make a s…

310. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a member of the local government superannuation scheme who entered local authority service prior to 1 April 2004 and who was awarded professional added years in accordance with the scheme retains the full benefit of those added years where they retire on certified permanent ill-health grounds after attaining age 60; if not, the…

311. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in the case of a member of the local government superannuation scheme who entered local authority service prior to 1 April 2004, who is entitled to professional added years under the local government superannuation scheme and who retires on certified permanent ill-health grounds after attaining the age of 60 years but before n…

413. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidance he is providing to local authorities to assess planning applications that may be made by persons seeking to register properties with the short-term letting register. [71645/26]

414. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department, the National Monuments Service, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, or an agency under his remit has assessed, or intends to assess, the suitability of High Island (Ardoileán), Claddaghduff, County Galway, for acquisition by the State in light of its archaeological and cultural significance (details su…

415. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approvals under the local authority home loan scheme for each local authority in 2024 and 2025 and to date in 2026; and the resources provided to each local authority under the local authority home loan scheme in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [71658/26]

116. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's assessment of the purchase prices being sought for homes under affordable housing schemes in Galway County; his Departments views on whether such prices are genuinely affordable for average-income households in the county. [68939/26]

104. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department have provided advice to local authorities to limit the provision of emergency accommodation to those not in full time employment. [69317/26]

107. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. PQ61112/26 and 139 of 28 July 2026, if his attention has been drawn to Central Statistics Office data that only 15% of new dwellings completed since 2021 have been fitted with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels; his concerns that the current Part L and NZEB requirements can be satisfied without t…

408. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for the publication of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008; the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for updating, amending, extending or abolishing the content of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008; and if he will make a statement …

409. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for the publication of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008; the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for updating, amending, extending or abolishing the content of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (details supplied); and if he wil…

416. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether Galway City Council has drawn-down funding provided through call two of the urban regeneration and development fund for the development of an innovation and creativity district designed to build deep structural links between the city, academia, research, innovators and industry comprising of four projects (details supplied…

417. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether Galway City Council has drawn-down the full funding provided through call two of the urban regeneration and development fund for progression of a transport connectivity proposal which focuses on connectivity, permeability, facilitating compact growth and creating multi-modal connections and is comprised of four projects (d…

418. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has details on the proportion of the allocated €39.44 million spent on each individual project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53445/26]

122. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress of the apartment and duplex defects remediation scheme legislation; the current timeline for publication and enactment of the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52058/26]

123. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of all funding applications made by Galway City Council for the development of affordable housing; the location of each site for which funding is sought; the number of affordable units at each location; the steps involved in the process of approving the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52…

487. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full funding provided to each local authority under the local government fund including whether the local authority was a beneficiary of the equalisation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51698/26]

488. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered the provision of a specific funding allocation to Galway City and County Council to fund an office to direct the planning and development of the Galway Metropolitan Strategic plan, National Planning Objective NPO 67 directs that a MASP be prepared for Galway to guide its long-term growth and i…

337. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the full staffing allocation, according to grade provided to Galway City Council; the additional staffing positions approved for Galway City Council in each of the years 2024 and 2025; the grade level at which the additional staff were sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50570/26]

338. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full staffing allocation, by grade provided to Galway County Council; the additional staffing positions approved for Galway County Council in each of the years 2024 and 2025; the grade level at which the additional staff were sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50571/26]

339. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of a new fire station in Galway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50572/26]

145. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and locations of housing schemes and the number of housing units that have been approved using the single stage approval process for social housing and affordable housing projects since the single stage process was introduced within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48113/26]

164. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider reviewing the income thresholds for social housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48114/26]