Questions

643. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protections and supports available to tenants residing in dwellings affected by defective concrete blocks where remediation works require temporary or permanent vacation of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/26]

644. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if specific guidance has issued, or is planned to issue, to landlords, tenants and the Residential Tenancies Board regarding the interaction between tenancy protections introduced from 1 March 2026 and the operation of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/26]

645. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will bring forward the necessary regulations that will allow for side-by-side construction of homes under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to allow some families to remain in their defective home while a new home is built on an adjacent site. [37729/26]

646. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update for defective concrete blocks regulations for side-by-side construction; when they will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37734/26]

647. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of defective concrete block grant recipients that have applied for the increased remediation option grant in each county that the grant scheme operates; the number of those recipients who have been awarded the maximum 10% increase; the number in each county who have received less than the 10% and those who have received …

648. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the social housing stock condition surveys, with a breakdown by local authority of the number of surveys undertaken; the percentage of the local authorities stock that has been surveyed to date; the methodology being used for the surveys; the data his Department is collating; and whether this information wil…

649. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on recent developments at an organisation (details supplied); and if he is satisfied that the funding provided by his Department is being managed in an appropriate manner. [37772/26]

650. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current planning laws regarding the development of quarries; the plans to reform these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37817/26]

651. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of reports received by the NPWS concerning alleged unlawful habitat destruction in each of the years 2021 to 2026 to date; the number of incidents inspected or investigated; the number that proceeded to enforcement action or prosecution; and a breakdown of data by region. [37922/26]

652. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details of any geographical areas that are currently without locally funded NPWS posts, as well as funded but not filled NPWS posts, for conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles or equivalent; the length of time each area has been without such a post; if there are temporary cover arrangements…

653. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details of the most recent date on which any NPWS posts in geographical areas currently without locally funded posts, or sanctioned but unfilled posts were advertised, broken down by region and role, for conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles or equivalent; whether each competition remains …

336. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority owned houses currently lying vacant in County Mayo; the reasons these properties remain idle; and the steps being taken to bring them back into use as social housing, particularly in light of ongoing homelessness and housing shortages. [35805/26]

337. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of five council owned houses in Swinford that have been lying vacant for approximately two years; the reasons refurbishment works have not yet been completed; and when these homes will be made available to families on the housing list. [35806/26]

338. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that is available to Mayo County Council to refurbish and re-let vacant council houses; whether additional emergency funding will be provided to speed up turnaround times; and if he will act to ensure vacant properties are prioritised over long-term emergency accommodation. [35807/26]

339. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he justifies council-owned houses remaining vacant for extended periods while families and individuals are forced to stay in homeless shelters and emergency accommodation; and the measures being introduced to prevent prolonged vacancy of local authority housing stock. [35808/26]

340. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time council houses remain vacant before being reallocated; whether targets exist for bringing such houses back into use; and if specific action will be taken regarding vacant properties in Swinford, given the increasing number of people struggling to secure permanent housing. [35809/26]

341. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or any bodies and agencies under its aegis use, or have in the past used, software and or products from a company (details supplied); the duration and cost of the contract; and the services they avail of from the company. [35869/26]

342. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding with an organisation (details supplied) and his Department, in light of the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Committee report published under Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan by Minister of State Christopher O'Sullivan, which emphasises the importance of engag…

343. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has engaged with representative countryside, conservation and rural stakeholder organisations, farming organisations, hunting associations and game management groups, regarding proposed EU restrictions on lead ammunition; and if he will detail the engagement undertaken to date. [35920/26]

344. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason local authorities are no longer accepting properties under long-term leasing arrangements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35932/26]

345. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35936/26]

346. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the final turnout for Vote 34, including capital and current expenditure and all subheads and programme level outturns, for each year from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [35946/26]

347. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his engagements with representatives countryside, conservation and rural stakeholder organisations, farming organisations, hunting associations and game management groups, regarding proposed EU restrictions on lead ammunition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35951/26]

348. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which councils accept self-declarations in terms of owning properties abroad when a person from abroad applies for local authority homes. [35969/26]

349. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how long immigrants must be habitually resident in Ireland before they can apply for local author homes. [35970/26]