Questions

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 a property going sal…

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 long-term growth and i…

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 native biodiversity …

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]

503. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a former Dublin Airport Authority employee (details supplied) has to wait two years for dental and optical benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50836/26]

504. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has given consideration to lowering the age of eligibility for free travel passes for SEN students entering post primary schools to avail of public transport, in the event of travel without a primary carer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50839/26]

505. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people engaged with the cost of disability consultation via the telephone service where an individual with sight loss or other disabilities that limits their ability to utilise the alternative methods of providing feedback were able to engage with the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50920/26]

506. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether he will review the eligibility criteria for the additional needs payment scheme to allow assistance to be provided in exceptional circumstances where a clinically prescribed item, such as a specialised car seat recommended by an occupational therapist, is not funded by the HSE or any other statutory scheme, leaving families without access to …

507. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of Irish citizens that are receiving the State pension (contributory) but are permanently based outside of the State as of 26 June 2026, in tabular form. [50944/26]