Parliamentary questions

701. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on plans to make above the shop development easier, including through changes to fire regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48895/25]

702. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Castlebar historic core reactivation initiative project and the Castlebar military barracks project in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48917/25]

703. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Castlebar historic core reactivation initiative project and the Castlebar military barracks project have moved beyond the detailed project briefs and procurement strategies stage; the current stage of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48918/25]

704. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a detailed timeline for the completion of the Castlebar historic core reactivation initiative project and the Castlebar military barracks project; specifically, when the construction tender stage is expected to commence for these projects; the estimated completion date; and if he will make a stateme…

705. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the sub-projects within the Castlebar historic core reactivation initiative project, particularly the old post office sub-project; the status of this subproject; the way it fits within the overall timeline of the historic core project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [489…

706. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the legislative observations made by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in relation to the general scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024; if he is aware of the Commission’s recommendation (details supplied); the steps or actions his Department h…

707. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the legislative observations made by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in relation to the general scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024; if he is aware of the Commission’s recommendations (details supplied); the steps or actions including engag…

708. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.1308 of 8 September 2025, if the number of I-WeBS sites surveyed set-out in the previous reply refers to unique sites as listed on the I-WeBS website, or also contains sub-site of the same site listed on the website; the number of the sites surveyed in each year that wer…

709. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals submitted by his Department to the EU Commission on the review of the Nitrates Directive that is currently taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49074/25]

710. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to reduce delays in the water connection process; whether Uisce Éireann has specific targets or service standards in place for private household connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49156/25]

711. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the proposed new fire station in Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49178/25]

712. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the Cork Events Centre project, including the expected dates for the publication of the prior information notice, the call for expressions of interest, the formal tender, and the anticipated award of contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49192/25]

713. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current estimated cost of the Cork Events Centre project, including construction, consultancy, and procurement phases; the amount expended to date; the measures in place to prevent further cost overruns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49193/25]

714. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the membership and remit of the newly established Cork Events Centre Project Development Board; the frequency of its meetings; the way in which responsibility is allocated between the local authority, Government Departments, and external consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49194/25]

715. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to ensure full compliance with European Union procurement law and State aid rules in respect of the Cork Events Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49195/25]

716. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposed operator model for the Cork Events Centre, whether public, private, or hybrid; the criteria being applied in the procurement of an operator; the means by which the public interest will be safeguarded in the contractual arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49196/25]

717. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the demand and market analysis carried out to determine the scale, design, and financial sustainability of the Cork Events Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49197/25]

718. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the arrangements in place for public reporting and parliamentary oversight of the Cork Events Centre project during its procurement and delivery phases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49198/25]

719. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 257 of 3 July 2025, to provide details of the seven projects approved for funding under measure A8 of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme; the number of premises to be addressed under each of the seven projects; the number of full pilot projects completed to date; if any…

1105. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Ulster canal restoration phase 3 (Clones to Upper Lough Erne), including procurement, construction milestones, Waterways Ireland delivery arrangements and anticipated opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47400/25]

1106. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views regarding the rationale for removing the 5% minimum requirement for artistic and cultural spaces in future large scale housing developments; if he has concerns that this decision will have a negative impact on future residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44486/25]

1107. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the length of time it is taking for CAS funding to be drawn down for the development of domestic violence refuges; the length of time for each stage of the process when it comes to funding the purchase safe homes, in durations of weeks, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44491/2…

1108. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the impact of the length of time it is taking to drawdown funding, via CAS, on organisations being able to purchase properties for safe homes, as sellers will not wait; the action he will take to reduce these long waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44492/25]

1109. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine ways to make CAS funding more accessible and quicker to access for the purchase of safe homes and the development of domestic violence refuges, given the need to build capacity, particularly where there is none. [44494/25]

1110. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed planning exemption for modular homes in back gardens will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44506/25]