Parliamentary questions

353. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service still follow the flawed policy of accepting a 15% permissible disturbance threshold for protected habitats in special areas of conservation and special protection areas, as referenced in multiple historical appropriate assessments; and if he will m…

354. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria considered when the threshold for entry to the Croí Cónaithe scheme was set at 20-units; if a viability study was carried out to ensure that schemes below 20 units are more viable, than those above 20-units; if there is scope for this to be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matte…

153. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the ongoing uncertainty faced by homeowners affected by the defective block scheme; if Fingal County Council is to be included in the scheme; to provide details on the expected timeline, administrative arrangements, and any forthcoming guidance for local authorities and applicants; and if he will…

154. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No 263 of 6 November 2025, his views on the concerns raised by Dublin Fire Brigade regarding the creation of two different CAD systems, one for fire and rescue calls, the other for ambulance calls, which poses a serious threat to the resilience currently present and threatens pub…

155. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to monitor and enforce compliance within the housing assistance payment scheme. [68337/25]

156. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a requirement or quota for wheelchair-accessible one/two-bedroom units in new housing developments. [68338/25]

157. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects under his Department’s remit in a more timely, efficient and customer-friendly manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68372/25]

158. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that one of the last remaining ‘ghost estates’ (details supplied) is taken in charge for affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68380/25]

159. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he confirmed that, although not required by statute, his Department voluntarily publishes its annual consultancy spending online in the interest of transparenc…

307. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide information on the current oversight guidelines for estate agents in allocating bids on housing; if there are any regulations in existence for transparency on how properties are sold via estate agents; if there are any forthcoming regulations on improving transparency on how properties are…

308. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the proposals to update regulations on planning exemption, following the consultation in August 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67310/25]

309. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the transfer of land from Horse Racing Ireland to the Land Development Agency at Leopardstown Racecourse which is zoned for public housing. [67314/25]

310. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 5 November 2025, to review the correspondence (details supplied); to address the issue raised therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67365/25]

311. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the social housing thresholds in County Mayo, in view of the fact that some individuals are unable to access the housing list despite only being over the threshold by a small amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67415/25]

312. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to increase the income threshold of €30,000 for the mortgage to rent scheme in Mayo, to reflect current economic conditions and inflation. [67418/25]

313. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individuals that have applied for the mortgage to rent scheme across the State; the number which have been successful; and to provide a breakdown for each for the past five years, in tabular form. [67419/25]

314. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the alternative solutions that are in place for families facing repossession; and who are at risk of eviction when they cannot qualify for the mortgage to rent scheme. [67420/25]

315. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to conduct an immediate review of eligibility criteria for the mortgage to rent scheme to prevent homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67421/25]

316. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider raising the income threshold for the mortgage to rent scheme to €35,000 without delay. [67422/25]

317. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to conduct a full review of the mortgage to rent eligibility criteria and engage with money advice and budgeting service and approved housing bodies to assess demand and impact. [67423/25]

318. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons why Part 4 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 was recently repealed by the European Union (Political Advertising) Regulations 2025; the substantive differences between the provisions of those Regulations and the previous Part 4 of the 2022 Act; to summarise the interactions he had with Ministerial colle…

319. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing supports in place for male victims of domestic violence who owned the family home, continue to pay the mortgage due to the fact children remain in the family home, and had to flee the home due to violence and whose wife was never on the mortgage. [67436/25]

320. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for affordable housing schemes in County Galway; the location for same and the criteria to apply for said housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67439/25]

321. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for affordable housing at a location (details supplied); the criteria potential buyers will need to meet to be eligible to purchase; the way in which the process will work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67440/25]

322. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the planning guidelines for solar farms as detailed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67451/25]