Parliamentary questions

461. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the number of Housing Adaptation Grants annually approved but not drawn down by the application as they are unable to fund part or all of works needed up front; the assistance that is available to those in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47584/26]

462. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the number of Mobility Aids Grants annually approved but not drawn down by the application as they are unable to fund part or all of works needed up front; the assistance that is available to those in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47585/26]

463. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the number of Housing Aid for Older Persons Grants annually approved but not drawn down by the application as they are unable to fund part or all of works needed up front; the assistance that is available to those in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47586/26]

464. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total landholding of his Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47628/26]

465. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for funding and delivery of the 82 Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund projects approved recently given that the total cost of the projects approved is €862 million while the allocation for HIIF under A.21 for 2026 is €205 million. [47636/26]

466. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options available when a person cannot afford the necessary GP fees to fulfil criteria for a form of housing assistance when the person does not qualify for a medical card or GP-visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47658/26]

467. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the basis on which he decided not to intervene in respect of lands at Strandhill, County Sligo (details supplied); whether his office received any representations from any landowner, developer, or public representative in relation to those lands prior to that decision; and if so, to identify who made such represe…

468. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the upcoming National Planning Statement on short term lets will be published; if he intends to provide planning exemptions for historic properties that cannot contribute to long-term housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47774/26]

469. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has concerns that the lack of a minimum threshold under Regulation (EU) 2024/900 in relation to hosting an online transparency notice may place serious burdens on those engaged in political life, particularly at local government level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47851/26]

470. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider making grant aid available to persons on limited incomes seeking to purchase and install modular homes in line with the Planning and Development Act 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47857/26]

471. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the local authority home loan funding model will be extended to allow for the purchase and installation of modular homes under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47858/26]

472. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined the practice of other enforcement bodies, including An Garda Síochána, where staffing numbers without any identifying information are published by geographical area; whether any assessment has been carried out of whether comparable publication of NPWS staffing and vacancy data …

473. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing position for NPWS enforcement roles covering east Cork and Waterford, including conservation ranger, district conservation officer and regional manager roles; the length of any vacancies in those areas; the temporary cover arrangements in place; when each vacant post was last advertised; when…

474. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has carried out any analysis of the relationship between NPWS staffing levels, vacancy duration and enforcement outcomes, including inspections, Ministerial directions, warnings, prosecutions and other enforcement actions arising from reports of alleged unlawful habitat destruction; and if …

475. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection whether consideration has been given to the introduction of a targeted PRSI rebate or reduced employer PRSI contribution for social enterprises employing lower paid workers; whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the potential impact such a measure will have on employment retention and job creation within the so…

476. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to allow for the reinterpretation of the 18.5-hour work cap for carers who wish to avail of further education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46815/26]

477. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal decision on a one parent family application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46842/26]

478. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for the up-to-date position on his Department's engagement with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to remuneration and related matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46858/26]

479. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the upper age limit for participation in the community employment (CE) schemes from 66 years of age to 70 years of age on a voluntary basis, recognising the important contribution CE participants make to local communities, the benefits these schemes provide in terms of social inclusion, …

480. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for job seeker allowance for a person (details supplied) will be determined by his Department; the reason for the delay in finalising the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46989/26]

481. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of increasing the income disregards for the carers allowance means test for single and married carers in Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47001/26]

482. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the revenue raised by removing the 9.15% employer PRSI band. [47039/26]

483. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he would consider extending the domiciliary care allowance to those aged 16 and over in the case of type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47048/26]

484. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children being catered to by each of the five largest hot school meal providers, in tabular form. [47102/26]

485. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason no dedicated streamlined process exists to manage recurring jobseeker's claims arising from seasonal closures in the early years and Montessori sector; the reason workers must apply in the same manner as new applicants each summer despite the predictable, calendar based nature of this non employment period; and if he wi…