Questions

384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any formal benchmarking framework exists comparing homelessness service delivery standards across local authorities or homeless regions. [36349/26]

385. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any review has been undertaken regarding differing operational thresholds for access to emergency accommodation between local authorities. [36350/26]

386. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of emergency accommodation capacity nationally currently comprised of hotels, bed-and-breakfast accommodation, family hubs, congregated facilities and supported temporary accommodation respectively. [36351/26]

387. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any national target exists to reduce dependency on hotel or bed-and-breakfast emergency accommodation. [36352/26]

388. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any assessment has been carried out regarding the long-term fiscal sustainability of hotel-based emergency accommodation provision. [36353/26]

389. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Department receives standardised monthly reporting from each homelessness region regarding accommodation-type utilisation and occupancy rates. [36354/26]

390. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any modelling has been carried out estimating the proportion of projected housing demand to 2040 attributable to net migration assumptions within the revised National Planning Framework population projections. [36355/26]

391. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a copy of the recent correspondence issued by the Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to his Department referred to in media reports (details supplied); if he will provide details of the percentage reduction(s) in spending in his Department referenced in the correspondence; and if h…

392. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the proposed planning exemptions relating to attic conversions; whether standardised provisions will apply in respect of dormer size, roof alterations such as hip-to-gable conversions, and the inclusion of side or front dormers; and when full technical guidance will be published. [36432/26]

393. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the proposed planning exemptions for residential development will include attic conversions; if national standards will apply uniformly across all local authorities; and the extent to which individual councils will retain discretion in applying such regulations. [36433/26]

394. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the introduction of new planning exemptions currently under consideration; when draft regulations will be published; and whether stakeholders, including industry practitioners, will be consulted in advance of implementation. [36434/26]

395. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm, following remarks by the Taoiseach (details supplied), that it is the policy of his Department and the policy of Government to eventually eliminate all planning authorisations for the commercial extraction of peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36462/26]

396. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce targeted supports for practising thatchers, including grant schemes or heritage-craft stipends, to ensure the continued maintenance of Ireland’s thatched buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36467/26]

397. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of spending on advertising which was funded or overseen by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in each of the past five, including a breakdown by medium that is radio, television, social media, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36493/26]

398. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on when responsibility for property services and estate agents will be transferred to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36499/26]

399. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to urgently grant Carers Allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) as it has been processing for a prolonged time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35854/26]

400. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection 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. [35873/26]

401. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will urgently review the case of a person (details supplied); if the family concerned qualify for the grant in question; if he will outline what other supports may be available in the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35895/26]

402. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the Schools Procurement Unit has issued any guidance, circular, advisory note, or compliance communication to schools participating in the Hot School Meals Programme concerning the offering or acceptance of gifts, promotional items, complimentary services, or other inducements by suppliers during live procurement processes; and if he will provid…

403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any complaints, concerns, or reports have been received by the Schools Procurement Unit regarding procurement integrity, inducements, gifts, or undeclared supplier incentives within the Hot School Meals Programme since 2023; and if he will provide the number of complaints received and the manner in which they were addressed. [36297/26]

404. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether schools participating in the Hot School Meals Programme are permitted to consider or accept supplier-provided items, services, or promotional materials outside the formally scored tender submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36298/26]

405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the Schools Procurement Unit maintains any audit or compliance process regarding tender evaluation procedures used by schools under the Hot School Meals Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36299/26]

406. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether external administration, consultancy, or accountancy companies are permitted to administer, manage, score, or participate in tender evaluations under the Hot School Meals Programme; and whether guidance exists governing such arrangements. [36300/26]

407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department or the Schools Procurement Unit collects information regarding the composition of evaluation teams used by schools during Hot School Meals procurement competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36301/26]

408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether food quality, taste assessment, nutritional presentation, or food sampling are formally weighted or scored within the current Hot School Meals tender evaluation framework; and if he will provide details of any mandatory assessment requirements. [36302/26]