Parliamentary questions

1476. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2114/26]

1477. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [213…

1478. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for limiting eligibility for the vacant property refurbishment grant (including above-the-shop accommodation) to individual applicants only; whether he accepts that this restriction is limiting the scale and pace of delivery of homes in town centres; and if he will outline any plans to extend el…

1479. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications approved to date under the vacant property refurbishment grant for over-the-shop or upper-floor accommodation; the number refused, by county, on the basis of applicant status; and whether consideration has been given to amending the scheme to better unlock the significant vacant res…

1480. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he accepts that the current requirement that the vacant property refurbishment grant be paid only to individuals is acting as a barrier to town centre regeneration; and if he will outline the changes, if any, that are under consideration to ensure the scheme aligns with the objectives of the Town Cent…

1481. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken any analysis comparing the vacant property refurbishment grant with other housing activation schemes that permit applications from companies or delivery partners; and if he will publish or outline the findings of any such analysis. [2150/26]

1482. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he agrees that restricting the vacant property refurbishment grant to individuals limits the ability to bring multiple units back into use in a single development; and if he will consider introducing a parallel stream of the scheme for multi-unit or mixed-use properties owned by non-individual entitie…

1483. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review the operational rules of the vacant property refurbishment grant which is planned in 2026; and whether such a review will specifically examine applicant eligibility with a view to increasing delivery of above-the-shop and town centre housing. [2152/26]

1484. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all private home grants are covered by the same scheme for all local authorities or if local authorities set their own scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2170/26]

1485. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person who has a right of residency in a house of their child, are not entitled to a housing adaptation grant because there is no tenancy agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2171/26]

1486. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the consideration of letters of recommendation submitted by local authorities in regard to the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; to confirm when such letters of recommendation submitted by Meath County Council and Wexford County Council will be processed; whether a submissio…

1487. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when legislation to support the remediation of apartments and duplexes will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and when such a scheme will open for applications. [2197/26]

1488. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people on housing waiting lists in 2025 in each county, in tabular form. [2199/26]

1489. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social, affordable and cost-rental homes completed in 2025, broken down by local authority; how these figures compare with annual targets set out in Government housing plans; the number of projects delayed or that have not commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2200/26]

1490. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the proposed six-year tenancy requirement contained in forthcoming residential tenancies legislation, particularly in cases where families are availing of the fair deal nursing home loan scheme; if he accepts that the proposed measure may create a conflict wit…

1491. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered the impact of the proposed six-year tenancy requirement on executors administering estates under the fair deal nursing home loan scheme; if he accepts that the proposed measure may prevent executors from selling properties in a timely manner in order to discharge debts and distribute estates;…

1492. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that, in the context of the fair deal scheme, while properties may technically be sold with tenants in situ, doing so may significantly reduce the value of an estate and conflict with executors’ fiduciary duties; if this issue has been considered in the drafting of the proposed six-year tenancy…

1493. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity on the way in which the proposed six-year tenancy requirement is intended to operate in cases involving fair deal loan repayments and estate administration; if guidance or exemptions will be included in the legislation prior to enactment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

1494. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Planning Statement will issue in 2026; if it will make childcare provision a binding requirement, including fit-out and operational phasing, and introduce a presumption against the change of use of crèche sites, with reference to an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement …

1495. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to issue a circular confirming that childcare demand in apartment schemes must be based on child-yield methodology, and that any on-site facility must be at ground-floor level with safe access and outdoor play space in rail-accessible locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2213/26]

1496. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2250/26]

1497. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any agencies or other bodies under his remit are using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the organisation are affected. [2268/26]

1498. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the exempted development regulations on free-standing residential home extensions. [2291/26]

1499. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the solutions that are in place for people who are over the income threshold for social housing but under the income threshold for cost rental schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2373/26]

1500. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of the top ten capital or programme projects delivered by his Department or its agencies over the past three years which were completed on time and within the originally approved budget; the project name, location, delivery timeframe, original approved budget, final outturn cost, and delive…