Questions

1417. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the working group key findings are recommendations under section F acknowledging the changing role of engineering in the sector, section ii and section iii (details supplied). [75121/25]

1418. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to significantly increase affordable housing targets for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75135/25]

1419. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has taken any measures since assuming office against local authorities that have not been fulfilling their duties under derelict sites legislation; and if he plans to introduce further measures in this regard for the coming year. [75183/25]

1420. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General in his Department and to the head of each agency for which they are responsible; whether this scale has changed in the past two years or whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75199/25]

1421. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended on advertising and promotion in his Department, and within each agency for which he is responsible, for 2022 to 2024, by year and budgeted for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75217/25]

1422. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of press, media or communications staff currently employed in his Department and within each agency for which he is responsible; the cost of these staff for 2025 and the expected cost for 2026; whether there are proposals to increase the number of such staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75235/25]

1423. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to his Department and to each agency for which it is responsible arising from Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council; the line items or events for which a cost is expected to arise and the estimated cost for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75253/25]

1424. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the priorities of his Department and each agency for which they are responsible for, in respect of Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75271/25]

1425. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals to review the electoral boundaries for county council municipal districts in advance of the next local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75278/25]

1426. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to reconsider the importance of tourism in County Kerry and especially Killarney town by reconsidering the short-term lets policy (details supplied) and allow a waiver for the proprietors of short-term lets who have been in business three years or longer in relation to the need to apply for planning permission to be allowed cont…

1427. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the An Coimisiún Pleanála - Plean IT system will be fully operational and fully accessible for members of the public to interact with its portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1118/26]

1428. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties by local authority area that have availed of the vacant property refurbishment grant under the croí cónaithe fund, by each year since its inception to date. [1119/26]

1429. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full range of powers available to local authorities to address derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1120/26]

1430. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding options available for the construction of a second bridge over the Avoca river at Arklow, County Wicklow, in order to unlock areas in the town for development and relieve traffic pressures on the existing bridge. [1122/26]

1431. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average price of a new home in the Gorey local electoral area, County Wexford; the number of successful applications under the first home scheme in that LEA in 2025; the number of affordable homes provided in that LEA in 2025; the number that are currently being planned; the projected completion dates in that LEA; and if he w…

1432. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average price of a new home in the Arklow local electoral area, County Wicklow; the number of successful applications under the first home scheme in that LEA in 2025; the number of affordable homes provided in that LEA in 2025; the number that are currently being planned; the projected completion dates in that LEA; and if he …

1433. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the significant difference in home prices across local authority areas, if he will consider introducing qualifying thresholds for the first home scheme based on local electoral areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1125/26]

1434. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the research undertaken by his Department on the potential impact on small landlords of changes to the residential rental rules on 1 March, 2026; and if any modelling was carried out of the impact of landlords potentially leaving the sector. [1127/26]

1435. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list, by each local authority which offers pre-planning meetings and the circumstances under which they will offer such meetings, including whether they will offer such meetings to those seeking to build just one home. [1128/26]

1436. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the work of the housing delivery office including its current membership; the number of meetings it has had to date; the dates of those meetings; the actions that have been taken to date including inviting and accepting invitations for infrastructure funding; and to provide an update on any such application…

1437. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure on social and affordable housing by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency in 2024 and 2025; and the breakdown, by funding stream and by delivery agent (details supplied). [1153/26]

1438. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the fire safety defects remediation scheme will fully open for applications; the eligibility criteria and timelines; if roof and water ingress issues be included in any State-supported remediation scheme; the practical support that can be offered to apartment owners currently facing unsafe conditions and escalating costs;…

1439. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount each county council has spent on tourism in 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount they have budgeted for 2026, by each county council nationwide, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1324/26]

1440. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists, including those receiving HAP and RAS payments, broken down by county council, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1327/26]

1441. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the apartment and duplex defects remediation Bill; the issues identified by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1348/26]