Parliamentary questions

217. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the increasing number of people presenting to Kerry County Council as homeless following the introduction of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37566/26]

218. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, or ongoing cross Departmental works, his Department is engaged in to reduce second-home saturation, protect year-round local occupancy, and sustain Irish-language community viability without relying on in-home inspections in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37974/26]

219. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on proposed new rural housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37514/26]

220. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the planning policy statement for short term lets. [37510/26]

221. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to further extend the development levy waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37214/26]

222. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when a scheme will commence to relocate nine families, living in defective concrete block homes away from a location (details supplied); and when his Department officials will consult with the homeowners on the design of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

223. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority run rightsizing schemes that are in place for owner-occupiers nationally to support the housing needs of older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37526/26]

224. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the infrastructural upgrades deemed necessary to support planned housing delivery in Kildare North; the basis on which these projects have been prioritised relative to other areas; the extent to which current departmental assessments align with local authority development plans; and if he will make…

225. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he supports closer alignment with market rent for households with higher income levels who are living in local authority housing; if he has considered the impact this would have on poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37233/26]

226. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will mandate local authorities to include targets for housing for disabled people, including intellectual disability, in their five-year plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36512/26]

227. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of retained fire fighters employed in the State. [26564/26]

228. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of public expenditure on Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and other rent supports paid directly to private landlords in each of the past five years; the proportion of these payments made to landlords owning multiple properties; and whether he has assessed the long-term cost-effectiveness of thi…

229. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated renewable energy planning guidelines will be published; the current status of their preparation and consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37541/26]

230. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional measures he will introduce to ensure that HAP recipients are not discriminated against by landlords who refuse to accept HAP tenancies, despite equality legislation prohibiting such practices. [37157/26]

231. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that applications for housing adaptation grants have been paused since 1 May 2026, and have not indicated when they will be open again; whether additional funding will be provided this year for these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37524/26]

232. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if as part of his plans for local government reform, he intends to increase the number of councillors and their powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37478/26]

233. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a comparison between the number of residential units acquired by institutional investment funds and large-scale landlords and the number of homes directly built or purchased by the State in each of the past five years; and whether he accepts that current policy is enabling investor-led acquisition to…

234. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures he will take to address the growing unaffordability of cost rental rents and unviability of cost rental developments; if his Department will outline the systemic impact of recent construction inflation on cost-covering rent calculations; the measures being introduced to support approved ho…

235. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when clarity and formal guidance will be provided to local authorities regarding the planning and regulatory treatment of modular and rapid-build housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37155/26]

236. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends introducing a universal rent scheme for social housing; if the aim of such a scheme will be to increase rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37231/26]

237. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the use of the design and build contract model for new social housing, particularly in DCC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37555/26]

238. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will broaden the eligibility areas for the Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (Septic Tank) Grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34603/26]

239. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Exchequer funding provided under the first home scheme in each year since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37341/26]

240. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable homes in the Poolbeg West SDZ. [37507/26]

241. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the number of applicants affected by defective concrete blocks who have been deemed ineligible for social housing supports or HAP due to existing income thresholds or home ownership criteria; if he will outline any proposals under consideration to addre…