Questions

661. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will establish a dedicated, ring-fenced and multi-annual local authority swimming pool fund in Budget 2027, as the first phase of a ten-year national programme of investment in Ireland’s swimming and community leisure infrastructure. [65906/26]

662. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will intercede in a case (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65797/26]

663. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department assessed, prior to requesting local authorities to undertake development plan variations concerning additional land for residential development, the potential for those variations to conflict with existing development plans, regional spatial and economic strategies, the National Planning Framework or o…

664. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of draft or final Ministerial directions which have arisen from development plan variations undertaken following the recent Ministerial request concerning additional land for residential development; the local authorities concerned; and the reason for each direction and its current status, in tabular form. [64190/…

665. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of development plan variations undertaken by local authorities arising from the recent Ministerial request concerning additional land for residential development in respect of which the Office of the Planning Regulator has identified issues, made recommendations or recommended a Ministerial direction; and to provi…

671. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms in place to ensure that there are sufficient community and green spaces in place as part of the wider community in conjunction with the construction of new housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64417/26]

672. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the mechanisms in place to ensure that any green or community spaces in new housing developments are available as soon as tenants move in and there is no crossover delay before it is available for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64415/26]

673. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed national territorial mapping, being progressed through the three regional assemblies to identify areas suitable onshore wind energy development is expected to be completed and published; whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient alignment between national renewable energy objectives, Regional Spatial and …

674. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the mechanisms in place to ensure that any green or community spaces in new housing developments are maintained and kept clean to ensure continued community use; and if he will make a statemen on the matter. [64413/26]

675. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the mechanisms in place to ensure that any green or community spaces in new housing developments are usable and accessible to all residents; and if he will make a statemen on the matter. [64412/26]

676. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Planning Statement relating to onshore wind energy is expected to be published; whether its publication will be expedited as a priority in 2026, having regard to the Government’s renewable electricity targets and the need to facilitate the required expansion of onshore wind generation capacity; and if he will ma…

678. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of appeals involving the rating of agricultural or horticultural buildings have been brought before the Valuation Tribunal since 2020; the number that were successful; and the average length of time taken to determine these appeals. [64367/26]

683. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the enforcement mechanisms available to the RTB to identify, investigate and prosecute landlords who fail to register tenancies; to address the reported discrepancy between CSO estimates of private rentals and the number of tenancies registered with the RTB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64516/26]

684. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider allowing micro-companies to apply for the vacant above-the-shop grant scheme; and the timeline for the potential inclusion of micro-companies in the scheme. [64554/26]

686. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units which could potentially be delivered through the conversion of vacant and derelict buildings in town and city centres; the estimated number of such buildings suitable for residential conversion; and if he will set out the Government’s strategy for maximising this source of housing supply. [64680/26]

687. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is taking to ensure that vacant, derelict and disused buildings in towns and cities are brought back into residential use; whether consideration has been given to introducing stronger obligations on owners of suitable disused buildings to return them to productive use. [64679/26]

688. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict residential and potentially residential properties identified nationally; the number of these properties which have been brought back into use in each of the past five years, 2021 to date in 2026; and the number currently being progressed for residential use. [64678/26]

689. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict buildings in Limerick city that have been identified as potentially suitable for residential use; the number that have been brought back into use for housing in each of the past five years; and the schemes available to assist owners in converting such properties. [64684/26]

690. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is aware of the European Citizens’ Initiative being organised by an organisation (details supplied) concerning the rejuvenation of disused buildings and their return to the housing supply; and whether the Government supports the objectives of this initiative. [64683/26]

691. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined the potential cost of converting vacant and derelict buildings into residential accommodation compared with the construction of new housing; whether barriers to such conversions have been identified, including planning, building regulations and funding; and the measures that are being considered…

706. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the timely publication of the National Planning Statement relating to onshore wind energy is considered necessary to support the Government’s target of generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and the delivery of the stated 4,333 MW of required onshore wind capacity; whether he has engaged with the Min…

708. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is satisfied that national renewable electricity and onshore wind targets are adequately reflected in Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, local authority development plans and county renewable energy strategies; the engagement his Department has undertaken with the three regional assemblies and relevant local aut…

744. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the issuing of an initial draft of new planning guidelines relating to wind energy. [65557/26]

752. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the finalisation and completion of the Regional Renewable Energy Strategies. [65961/26]

753. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the commitment to introduce solar planning guidelines in the Programme for Government; the timeline for delivery; if they will be delivered by the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65753/26]