Questions

1030. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the national directorate for fire and emergency management guidance or the framework for major emergency management provide explicit guidance and direction to local authority fire services for the competent and complete response to emergency incidents that could occur at stationary battery energy storage systems associate…

1107. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rent limits for Galway City and County were last reviewed; if his Department has undertaken an assessment of the adequacy of HAP limits in view of rising rental costs in Galway City and County (details supplied); his plans to conduct a further review or adjust the limits to better reflect…

381. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the development of national planning statements for critical infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40392/26]

267. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current eligibility criteria for postal voting in elections, particularly in cases where registered electors are unable to vote in person due to pre-arranged personal travel; whether consideration is being given to expanding access to postal or alternative voting methods to ensure greater participation in ele…

206. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of first-time buyers in Galway that have benefitted from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37340/26]

239. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Exchequer funding provided under the first home scheme in each year since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37341/26]

408. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for delays in the processing of land registration applications, including amendments relating to boundary errors; the reason requests to expedite such applications are now accepted only from legal representatives; if he is aware of the additional legal costs to applicants as well as the impact these delays are having on…

244. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration has been given to developing a single national platform or framework for parking rules, information and payment systems to improve clarity and ease of use for the public and visitors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27761/26]

1643. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the introduction of a statutory requirement that all planning applications for grid scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) be automatically subject to a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), regardless of site size, technology type, or threshold classification; if he will consider amending the Planni…

1807. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes that have been delivered in the Athenry-Oranmore local electoral area since 2020; the number that are new builds; the number that are acquisitions; the number that are leased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26712/26]

1808. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes that have been delivered in the North Conamara local electoral area since 2020; the number that are new builds; the number that are acquisitions; the number that are leased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26713/26]

1809. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes that have been delivered in the South Conamara local electoral area since 2020; the number that are new builds; the number that are acquisitions; the number that are leased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26714/26]

1092. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity on the application of current planning regulations governing the installation of solar PV panels on non-domestic structures, such as agricultural sheds; if he is aware that the requirement for a 500 mm clearance at both the top and bottom of panels can dramatically reduce the number of panels that may l…

203. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding received under call 1 of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; the number of local authorities that have made applications; the total cost of accumulated applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17528/26]

254. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding provided to Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2024 and 2025 for the delivery of affordable housing under the local authority affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/26]

177. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Part 4 of the planning and development act 2024 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17708/26]

789. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given, in the formulation of the National Planning Statement and its guidance on short term letting (STL), to the position of properties that operate as short term lets but are unlikely to transition to long term residential use, in particular second homes where the owners use the property a number times …

628. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local democracy taskforce have reviewed the report of the expert advisory group on local government arrangements in Galway, published in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5765/26]

208. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the data for the local authority new build housing output for quarter four 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4938/26]

227. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount provided to Galway City Council under the local authority affordable purchase scheme in 2025; the number of units provided with this money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4939/26]

1409. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the income threshold eligibility criteria for social housing supports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74874/25]

437. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the implementation of the Galway Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71033/25]

438. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current timelines being met by An Coimisiún Pleanála for the assessment of planning appeals and planning applications made to An Coimisiún Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71034/25]

370. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the locations of the new emergency community centres for severe weather response will be published, the locations of each centre within each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67100/25]

380. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the proposed new fire stations within County Galway for which his Department are providing capital funding; and other support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67185/25]