Questions

79. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will introduce legislation to extend the powers of local authorities to permit the change of use or demolition of derelict and long-term vacant buildings within designated town centres, in order to address rising vacancy and dereliction and facilitate the return of these buildings to productive use; and if he will ma…

80. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional funding streams, financial supports, or incentives he will provide to assist local authorities in the acquisition, refurbishment, and regeneration of derelict properties in town centres, in accordance with Town Centre First principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/26]

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]

1383. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the thresholds to qualify for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74354/25]

1409. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the income threshold eligibility criteria for social housing supports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74874/25]

1452. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the new measures for the delivery of age-friendly housing, that are not currently in place, being introduced in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1627/26]

1457. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the planning permission exemption for modular homes will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1670/26]

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 with the requirement to…

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; if he will consider…

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 requirement; and if…

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. [2207/26]

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 on the matter. [2211…

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]

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]

512. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to support rightsizing during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73542/25]

296. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the announced removal of the blanket pet ban on tenants in social housing will be introduced. [72789/25]

297. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the announced removal of the blanket pet ban on tenants in social housing will apply retroactively to tenancy contracts signed before this announcement. [72791/25]

542. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidance provided to local authorities in regard to the assessment of savings when it comes to assessing income for social housing support, in particular when it concerns a disabled person whose savings are a result of receiving an inheritance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71331/25]

544. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the new guidelines for erection of modular units in residential back gardens. [71386/25]

561. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 15 May 2025, if he will provide an update on the research being undertaken to develop a new social housing eligibility model; if this research has progressed further; whether consultation with stakeholders has commenced; if, arising from this research, there will be any increase to socia…

571. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a video advising adults how to move back in with parents, if guidelines on applicants for social housing at local authority level will be amended in order that those who have had to move back in with parents, on foot of the video advice from his Department, will not be deemed 'suitably housed' and will still be eligible …

606. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department has taken since 2022 to establish a residential-specific productivity baseline for use in housing policy formation, including any internal memoranda, assessment frameworks or technical guidance issued to inform national housing targets. [72307/25]

607. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted any assessment of the budgetary or value-for-money risks arising from the absence of residential-specific productivity indicators in the construction sector; and the outcomes of any such assessment. [72308/25]

608. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which his Department last requested the Central Statistics Office to examine residential construction productivity separately from other construction activity; and to provide details of any technical workstreams, consultations or data-sharing arrangements agreed since 2022. [72309/25]

432. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the introduction of a new single stage process for social housing delivery; when this process will be available to local authorities; and the number of applications that have been received under this process to date. [70926/25]