Parliamentary questions

460. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for publication of the updated wind energy guidelines. [56583/25]

461. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any increase in the housing adaption grants in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56589/25]

462. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm if there is a practice of applying cost deductions on AHB scheme approvals, in the form of disallowing major portions of land, construction, communal, and financing costs; to clarify if this practice is in some cases disallowing costs ranging from €2-4 million of the cost to build the schemes, making t…

463. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress of the new voids programme, as promised in the Programme for Government 2025, to improve the turnaround of vacant social housing units and if AHBs are now being provided with tenant nominations prior to housing completions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56597/25]

464. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a dwelling in County Sligo (details supplied) is eligible for the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56611/25]

465. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to review the unit cost threshold of €15,000 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56656/25]

466. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been spent by his Department to conduct tendering processes for public infrastructure projects in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56696/25]

467. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to increase funding for the vacant property refurbishment grant (Croí Cónaithe towns fund); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56761/25]

468. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider incorporating ‘EnergyCloud Ready’ standards into the design and specification of new social and affordable housing developments, ensuring that heat pumps, storage heaters, batteries, and smart water tanks installed in new builds can be remotely activated to make use of surplus renewable ene…

469. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that local authorities are stalling applications to the social housing list by homeless individuals if they cannot provide a utility bill in their name or a sworn affidavit by people who are allowing them to couch surf, though this might include tenants in social housing who may be reluctant to prov…

470. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans regarding the rental reform scheduled to take place in March 2026 in order the minimise current speculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56829/25]

471. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the impact of the 45 days completeness check, as part of the European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025, (details supplied); if he will consider extending the period of time for submissions, to ensure the deadline for submissions comes after the 45 days comp…

472. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons a research stipend of a PhD student cannot be included as income in an application for a local authority home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56891/25]

473. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to include additional counties, such as Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56930/25]

474. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to include the additional areas which have been classed as high status objective catchment area and priority areas for action which were published as part of the ‘Water Action Plan 2024, Ireland’s third River Basin Management Plan’, so that all the new areas can qualify for grant aid assistance…

475. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for clarification as to whether a body incorporated can apply for the vacant property refurbishment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57034/25]

476. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the 60 positions for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, announced by the previous Minister on 4 May 2022 for the Strategic Action Plan, that have been filled. [57071/25]

477. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff currently working in the National Market Surveillance Office. [57072/25]

478. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff are currently working for the National Building Control Office. [57073/25]

479. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of construction product types the NMSO and NBCO are responsible for. [57074/25]

480. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the staff working for the NMSO and the NBCO who work for both offices, that is, the number of staff simultaneously working for both offices. [57075/25]

481. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that the NMSO was facing a national emergency according to two newspaper articles (details supplied) if the NMSO is now satisfied that they have sufficient staff to carry out their duties properly in the national office. [57076/25]

482. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the NMSO is satisfied that their staff in local authorities are competent to carry out MSO activities with regard to concrete construction products. [57077/25]

483. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and the NMSO is satisfied that the NMSO will prevent any more new builds from having defective concrete going forward. [57078/25]

484. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the vacant buildings owned by his Department or by agencies under the remit of his Department in Dublin 2, 4, 6, and 6W, including, the address and size in square meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57114/25]