Questions

77. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the increasing cost of building materials, he and his Department will consider increasing the maximum grant payable under the defective concrete blocks scheme so that homeowners are not left significantly out-of-pocket due to the potential mismatch between the maximum grant cap and the actual rebuild cost; and if he will m…

78. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the evolving technical standard I.S.465:2026 will resolve anomalies faced by homeowners who are affected by defective concrete blocks who have timber-frame inner leafs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67420/26]

244. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the third call under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund announced on 28 May 2024; if the funding to all local authorities announced (details supplied) was drawn down; and the number of residential units that have been provided to date. [66275/26]

744. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the issuing of an initial draft of new planning guidelines relating to wind energy. [65557/26]

250. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for a review of IS 465:2026 to be completed; when the technical reviews will commence; when those affected by pyrite and seeking a technical review can expect an outcome to their review; if he will commit to expediting this process in recognition of the delays already faced by these homeowners; and if he will make a s…

439. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address concerns regarding recent proposed legislation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53658/26]

486. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to make it a legal requirement for title documentations including historic Tailte Éireann instruments, planning documentation and an updated certificate of compliance to be gathered and ready before a house is listed for sale; if he will consider such proposals to speed up the length of time between a property going sal…

516. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of DCB appeals heard for each county per month, in tabular form. [49627/26]

131. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the long-awaited sewerage schemes for the villages of Broadford and Cooraclare in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47825/26]

454. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to eliminate the growing financial shortfall facing applicants under the defective concrete blocks (DCB) enhanced grant scheme; if he will address the policy anomaly where grant rates are legally tied to pre-2008 'like-for-like' specifications, while homeowners are legally mandated by current buil…

458. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in light of the fact that IS465 now includes the testing of foundations for deleterious materials, if existing legislation will be amended of a statutory instrument signed so that the defective concrete block scheme will include funding to replace foundations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47513/26]

116. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the recommendations of final report of the Local Democracy Taskforce will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46387/26]

1031. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the social housing income threshold to reflect the real cost of living and housing crisis in Ireland today (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41723/26]

1042. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider a policy mechanism to ringfence court-mandated wildlife crime prosecution fines so that they remain within the county where the offense occurred; if these localised funds can be made directly accessible to registered county-level wildlife rehabilitation centres to support native wildlife care costs;…

1043. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, in conjunction with the national parks and wildlife service, will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of cattle grids to native wildlife, specifically hedgehogs; if mitigation guidelines, such as escape ramps, will be promoted nationally; and if he will make a statement on the …

1058. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure the long-term ecological and hydrological stability of the River Shannon and Lough Derg in light of the Water Supply Project (Eastern and Midlands Region); if his attention has been drawn to Marine Notice No. 56 of 2026 issued by Waterways Ireland warning that water levels have already dipped below …

1059. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legal and administrative justification for allowing Uisce Éireann to proceed to the procurement and tendering stage for the Water Supply Project (Eastern and Midlands Region) prior to securing statutory planning permission from An Bord Pleanála; the measures being taken to ensure that this parallel progression does not prejudi…

1105. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered aligning the adaptation of the ten year county development plans in 2029 to ensure consistent and continuity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42947/26]

1108. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of improvements made in the planning system since 2020; his plans for further improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42960/26]

219. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on proposed new rural housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37514/26]

605. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is provision to amend the criteria for the shop grant scheme to allow limited companies (LTD companies) to qualify for the over the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37262/26]

609. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision to amend the criteria for the shop grant scheme to allow limited companies to qualify for the over the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37367/26]

349. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Summary of Social Housing Assessment for 2025 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33909/26]

136. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for designating urban development zones; the timeframe for such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29172/26]

137. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans and timeframe to review housing supply targets arising from Census 2027 plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29173/26]