Parliamentary questions

604. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is in favour of tiny homes being built in Ireland; if he plans to update planning policy and planning legislation to enable same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2810/25]

605. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people that have applied to Cork County Council for the tenant-in-situ scheme and the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2866/25]

606. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available for the renovation or renewal of vacant commercial premises; if none exists, whether he is intending to introduce or expand any schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2905/25]

607. 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. [2949/25]

608. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a schedule of special advisers attached to him, as of 29 January 2025; and the official grade and or title held by that special adviser. [3001/25]

609. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in receipt of housing assistance payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3037/25]

610. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of properties registered with each local authority for short-term rentals; the total number of applications of planning permission for short-term rental in each local authority; the total number refused and accepted, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3064/25]

611. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for delivering on the commitment in the Programme for Government to extend the eligibility for the pyrite remediation scheme to include homes with damage category rating 1 with progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3065/25]

612. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason no tenant-in-situ cases have been approved in 2025 for Cork city; the number currently pending; and when these will be processed. [3077/25]

613. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering additional funding to local authorities such as South Dublin County Council, to enable the council to pursue in a more aggressive way the replacement of sodium bulbs with LED lighting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3095/25]

614. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the short-, medium- and long-term future of the cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme and the social housing variation of same, given that the issue is causing a lot of anxiety among tenants in Dublin south west with South Dublin County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3098/25]

615. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of rate reviews that have taken place in Cork County Council in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3151/25]

616. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict properties in Meath in the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/25]

617. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any new programmes planned, or being implemented, in Meath to address the current level of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3182/25]

618. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available to people who lost their home due to storm Éowyn and now have to find alternative accommodation while they rebuild, particularly in the context that emergency accommodation in Galway has been full for months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3186/25]

619. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, or any body under its aegis, currently outsources cleaning services and/or service officer/security officer roles to private companies; the value and length of any related contract, by body, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3200/25]

620. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, or any body under its aegis, currently directly employs cleaners and/or service officers; if so, the number of staff employed in each role; the value and length of any related contract, by body, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3218/25]

621. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total value of the annual mileage claims for each Ministers of State assigned to his Department in 2023 and 2024 respectively; to provide a breakdown for each year of the individual claims; the annual cost of overnight allowances related to the civilian drivers of each relevant Minister of State in 2023 and 2024…

622. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the composition of his private office, inclusive of the grade and increment of each civil servant assigned to their office; whether they are located in the private or constituency office; the value of any allowance paid to those individuals and the purpose of each allowance; and if he will make a statement o…

623. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available to urban communities in establishing group sewerage schemes to replace failed shared sewers in older housing estates, similar to the group sewerage scheme grant which is available rurally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3298/25]

624. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received responses from the four Dublin local authorities to his letter of 18 October 2024 regarding Ireland’s Obligation under the EU Birds Directive; for an update on the work the four bodies are undertaking with the National Parks and Wildlife Service on a comprehensive review of inland sites us…

625. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the body that provides the letter required as part of the application confirming that the applicant is a first-time buyer in relation to the affordable purchase scheme in Galway city that will be taking applications shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3310/25]

626. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the review of the existing suite of engineering qualifications in the local government sector commenced by the previous Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage in April 2024 has concluded; and when he will publish the outcome and act on any recommendations made within. [3311/25]

627. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date for the announcement of the Community Monuments Fund 2025; if funding will be granted towards Coolbane Mill, Freemount, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3424/25]

628. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position in relation to the Department HLGH Working Group review of the current engineering qualifications declared under s160 of the Local Government Act 2001. [3519/25]