Parliamentary questions

478. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will introduce legislation on a directly elected mayor for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51458/26]

479. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which the preliminary business case for the Cork Event Centre, submitted by Cork City Council in December 2025, was or will be approved by his Department; whether the 12 to 18 month timeframe for completion of the new procurement process, State aid clearance and planning compliance, as set out in the …

480. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of parties that have formally registered interest or submitted expressions of interest in the new Cork Event Centre procurement process to date; the projected date by which a preferred bidder will be selected; and the specific milestones his Department expects Cork City Council to reach in 2026 (detail…

481. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current estimate of total State aid required to deliver the Cork Event Centre, beyond the €57 million already approved; the status of a company's (details supplied) planning permission for the South Main Street site, including whether it has lapsed; whether a fresh planning application will be required; and t…

482. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the high-level data on stock audits to date [51471/26]

483. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amendments to apartment design guidelines to protect inhabitants from the adverse health consequences of extreme heat (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51553/26]

484. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the web link to his Department’s Q2 2026 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; to confirm the date on which this report was published; and, if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [51567/26]

485. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that existing small landlords are excluded from the new RAS scheme launched recently; the rationale behind this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51581/26]

486. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to make it a legal requirement for title documentations including historic Tailte Éireann instruments, planning documentation and an updated certificate of compliance to be gathered and ready before a house is listed for sale; if he will consider such proposals to speed up the length of time between …

487. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full funding provided to each local authority under the local government fund including whether the local authority was a beneficiary of the equalisation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51698/26]

488. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered the provision of a specific funding allocation to Galway City and County Council to fund an office to direct the planning and development of the Galway Metropolitan Strategic plan, National Planning Objective NPO 67 directs that a MASP be prepared for Galway to guide its lo…

489. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a mink eradication programme in the Lough Derg area, similar to the initiative established in the midlands around Lough Ree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51722/26]

490. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Midlands Mink Eradication Programme; the criteria used to select this area for the pilot initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51723/26]

491. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the area covered by the Midlands Mink Eradication Programme; the volunteer groups involved and the number of volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51724/26]

492. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further Mink Eradication Programmes are being considered for other regions across Ireland; if so, the areas being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51725/26]

493. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm if ranched Atlantic salmon will be added to the Third Schedule, Part 2A of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011), in light of recent statements by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) confirming that ranched fish are a negative influence on …

494. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether Men's and Women's Sheds as charitable organisations are exempt from commercial rates. [51746/26]

495. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, when a commercial premises is being valued for the purposes of commercial rates by Tailte Éireann, if it is Government policy that solar panels installed on the premises will result in an increased valuation. [51758/26]

496. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51770/26]

497. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51788/26]

498. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total cost of engagement with a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2020 to 2025, across his Department, by project, year and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51806/26]

499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the public consultation and engagement with the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage he intends to undertake with respect to the Sustainable Rural & Gaeltacht Housing DRAFT National Planning Policy. [51824/26]

500. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to issue a directive to permanently abolish commercial rates for Men’s Sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51844/26]

501. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are instances in which a person who availed of the back to work enterprise allowance for an upcycle business, but whose business was forced to close for 18 to 24 months due to Covid can avail of the scheme again before the five year waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51733/26]

502. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50809/26]