Questions

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 outpace public hous…

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 housing bodies,, local…

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 address this issue for im…

242. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, including the Vacant Above The Shop Grant; whether micro enterprises, small companies, partnerships or other non-individual ownership structures are eligible to apply; and whether such eligibility was considered at design stage; and if he will consider broadeni…

243. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures in place for local authorities to bring vacant housing stock back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37543/26]

244. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the proposals and associated targets to deliver age-friendly housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [37537/26]

246. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 5 March 2026, to provide an update on the progression of national planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/26]

247. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to introduce statutory regulations for online property bidding platforms and estate agents to deal with potential overbidding and gazumping; his views on introducing mandatory transparency standards for active property biddings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37480/26]

248. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes by new builds and acquisitions delivered in Counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of local authority affordable homes, in each year 2020-2025 inclusive; and the estimated delivery for 2026, by county, in tabular form. [37532/26]

249. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Croí Cónaithe schemes in Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of properties have now benefitted from them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37213/26]

250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends placing a cap on redress for apartment and duplex construction defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37230/26]

585. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of craft apprentices registered in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37360/26]

586. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.698 of 28 April 2026, if his Department plans to make the Local Authority Regional Homelessness Financial Reports, published on his Department's website, available in future in machine-readable formats (details supplied), in line with open data standards; and if he will make a statement on the m…

587. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended in respect of the legal costs incurred by An Coimiúsín Pleanála in 2025 and in 2024; the individual amount paid out to solicitors and barristers representing ACP; and the amounts paid to solicitors and barristers representing third parties in 2025 and 2024, in tabular form. [36627/26]

588. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid out by ACP in legal costs to named solicitors and barristers concerning High Court judicial review cases the ACP has conceded in 2025 and the 2024; the name of the plaintiffs in each case; and the date ACP conceded the cases, in tabular form. [36628/26]

589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether national building regulations or technical guidance documents prescribe minimum toilet provision ratios for men and women in public buildings including theatres, restaurants and entertainment venues; and if he will provide details of the applicable standards and enforcement mechanisms. [36663/26]

590. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Galway City Council will be given its homeless allocation for 2026; if he will address the increased demand for homeless services in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36681/26]

591. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered increasing HAP payments in Galway; if he has considered increasing the homeless HAP flexibility from 35% to 50% in Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36682/26]

592. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the grant system for the repair and conservation of thatched buildings was last reviewed or updated; whether the scheme applies solely to domestic dwellings or if commercial heritage buildings such as hotels, pubs, guest houses or tourism-related properties are eligible for support; if he will consider expanding eligibility an…