Parliamentary questions

1351. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2153/26]

1352. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update regarding the proposed exemptions for building a granny flat for a family member onto an existing house. [2719/26]

1353. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 5 November 2025, to clarify whether his reply, in which he stated that he “asked that a review be undertaken of all existing Memoranda of Understanding,” means that all existing MoUs between the NPWS and 28 external organisations will be subject to the specific rev…

1354. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a timeline on the introduction of the "above the shop" vacant grant proposed; the criteria to qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73904/25]

1355. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the introduction of the enhanced “Above the Shop” Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73906/25]

1356. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility criteria that will apply to the enhanced “Above the Shop” grant, including vacancy period, construction date, and any additional requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73907/25]

1357. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if multi-unit conversions above commercial premises will qualify for the full €140,000 grant package; the number of units which must be included to avail of this amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73908/25]

1358. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a single-unit conversion above a shop will remain eligible only for the standard €50,000 grant plus €20,000 top-up for dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73909/25]

1359. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to amend the current rules requiring properties to be used as a principal private residence or for one rental unit in the context of multi-unit conversions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73910/25]

1360. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to merge the voter registration websites checktheregister.ie and voter.ie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74006/25]

1361. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the delivery of social and affordable housing in county Louth in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74029/25]

1362. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Tenants-in-Situ scheme will continue or has it been subsumed into the Second Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme; if it is to continue whether funding has been allocated to Councils; the funding which will be allocated for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74090/25]

1363. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the stipulation in the Tenants-in-Situ scheme that a residence must be in HAP for two years remain in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74091/25]

1364. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Council has the authority to buy a property under 6.12 of the Second Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme, if the tenants-in-situ are at risk of becoming homeless, even if the property has not been in HAP for 2 years, in order to address 'tenancy sustainment'; and if he will make a statement on the…

1365. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide additional information and clarity on eligibility regarding the local authority engineers, who are qualified and experienced, that are being deemed ineligible for progression under revised eligibility criteria, despite having previously been assessed, appointed, and in many cases promoted based on th…

1366. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Wind Energy Guidelines will form part of the National Planning Statement; if it will be published Spring 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72814/25]

1367. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past 12 months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [74137/25]

1368. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding competitions for executive engineer roles in local authorities, the position regarding career progression for engineers already employed in local authority roles with qualifications under the previous eligibility criteria who have relevant experience but who do not hold qualifications under the new cr…

1369. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department is taking to ensure students living in private accommodation do not face further rent increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74236/25]

1370. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department is taking to ensure there are no rent increases for students living in private accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74240/25]

1371. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of ongoing difficulties experienced by elected members of local authorities, including Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District of Westmeath County Council, in receiving timely responses from his Department to formal representations; if he has issued any guidance or protocols regarding engagement wi…

1372. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to improve inter-departmental responsiveness to correspondence from local authorities and their elected members, particularly where issues relating to childcare provision, transport, healthcare and integration are concerned. [74252/25]

1373. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the adequacy of current engagement between Government departments and local authorities and their elected members; whether his Department has received representations from local authorities regarding non-responses from other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74253/25]

1374. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether standards or service-level targets exist for his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department, in responding to correspondence from members of local authorities; if compliance with such standards is monitored; the reasons for delays or failures to respond to correspondence from elected members…

1375. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline on when the boundary review into local electoral areas will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74261/25]