Parliamentary questions

338. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline, in light of the ongoing housing crisis, the Government’s plans to achieve the target of constructing 60,000 homes annually over the next 25 years; and how the Government intends to incorporate modern construction methods, such as modular housing, to expedite this process. [9496/25]

339. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants in Clare on the tenant-in-situ scheme; and the number that have been rejected since inception. [13042/25]

340. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policy for homeowners who suspect they may have pyrite in their home as the adjoining home has pyrite and is in the redress scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13052/25]

341. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the Land Development Agency to begin delivering houses for Limerick, given it has yet to lodge a planning application for direct delivery in Limerick since their inception, despite being active in Limerick since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/25]

342. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the work his Department is undertaking to review the planning guidelines provided to local authorities regarding the residential zoned land tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13076/25]

343. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that Government-funded approved housing bodies (AHBs) are competing with potential owner occupiers to buy houses, and in Limerick analysis suggests that AHBs buy six out of every ten new homes, which is totally distorting the market; if there is a strategy in place to ensure a good mix in future h…

344. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13186/25]

345. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to exempting community facilities, childcare facilities and social enterprise facilities from paying rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13236/25]

346. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on t…

812. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a proposal from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on ways to alleviate the debt levels in the approved housing bodies sector and to address concerns within the sector, regarding compliance with regulatory obligations and the financial implications of significant levels of debt, wh…

813. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider changes to the grant scheme available for upgrading septic tanks (details supplied). [11997/25]

814. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on its engagement with off-balance sheet borrowing by approved housing bodies (AHBs) for the delivery of social and affordable housing; and to provide an update on his Departments consideration on proposals from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the impact of geari…

815. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of water service stations in Ireland that have access to a back-up generator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12221/25]

816. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the temporary waiver scheme in respect of development contributions for planning for houses will be continued for the foreseeable future. [12977/25]

817. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the representatives from his Department who will be attending a conference in France in March 2025 (details supplied); the contents of the addresses and speeches that representatives from his Department will be making to the conference, including material to be distributed by his Department at the event; …

818. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will announce the funding allocations and sanctioned number of acquisitions that will be designated to local authorities under the tenant-in-situ scheme for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10647/25]

819. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people employed in the planning division of his Department, by grade level. [10686/25]

820. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can seek emergency funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service and meet with them to address the urgent and ongoing problem of coastal erosion that is damaging walking trails in Courtown Woods, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10694/25]

821. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reviewing the Government criteria for the local authority affordable housing schemes, which stipulates that just 30% of new homes in such schemes are ring-fenced for local applicants, with a view to substantially increasing this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

822. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the delays to some interim remediation scheme pathfinder projects due to a requirement to re-tender for contractors; how he will address it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10745/25]

823. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of the very welcome news that the Westgate Vision Project has been approved for Drogheda town, if he will commit to additional urban regeneration and development funding to ensure that the project is commenced as swiftly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10747/25]

824. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authority pensions are index linked; when the increases take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/25]

825. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing grants available for a person (details supplied) living in a home who’s owner is now deceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10773/25]

826. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will revise current housing policies to ensure fairness for older individuals who have contributed to society throughout their lives, specifically, many retirees who only become eligible for placement on the housing waiting list once their income drops upon retirement, a situation which forces them to fac…

827. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the eastern gateway bridge in Cork; if it will be included in the National Development Plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10872/25]