Parliamentary questions

269. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans/local authority home loans from Cork in 2026 to date; the total number that have been successful; the total number that have been refused; the average time from application to decision, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

270. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Voids Programme is currently open for applications; the number of applications approved to date in 2026; and the overall amount provided, by local authority. [54151/26]

271. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of mortgage to rent applications to date in 2026 through AHBs, local authorities and any private provider respectively. [54158/26]

272. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on legislative amendments to allow for the renaming of streets. [54178/26]

273. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE vacant homes officers employed, by local authority, in tabular form. [54179/26]

274. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people employed in the vacant homes unit in his Department in each of the past five years, by grade. [54180/26]

275. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on private planning consultancy firms by his Department, to date in 2026. [54183/26]

276. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons employed in planning roles in his Department. [54184/26]

277. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated under URDF funding, by project; and the amount drawn down to date in 2026, in tabular form. [54185/26]

278. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied); if his Department is planning to amend the enforcement of the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities, which is prohibiting young couples from farming backgrounds building a house next to the family home along TII routes; and if he will mak…

279. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered expanding the eligibility of the defective concrete block grant scheme to homes that are not a person’s principal private residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54246/26]

280. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding provided to MABS in each of the past five years. [54161/26]

281. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to carry out an urgent review in respect of means in relation to a carer's allowance application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53751/26]

282. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the range of topics covered and the outcome of his discussions in Cork with Members of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53920/26]

283. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports available through his Department for victims of domestic violence; the number of recipients of these supports in each of the years 2020 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53929/26]

284. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending eligibility for the fuel allowance to all people with disabilities at the current rate, at an increased rate by €20 per week, and extending the payment period to 52 weeks at the current and increased rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53971/26]

285. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional yearly cost of increasing weekly rates for carer’s allowance for all up to €350 per week per person in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53972/26]

286. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the working family payment application in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53974/26]

287. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if the person concerned meets the PRSI contribution requirements to qualify for the State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53984/26]

288. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of lowering the retirement age to 65. [54017/26]

289. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of self-employed people who have a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54018/26]

290. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an urgent needs payment in Cork. [54169/26]

291. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance in Cork. [54170/26]

292. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an additional needs payment in Cork, by reason, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [54171/26]

293. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people employed under a CE scheme in Cork currently and in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [54172/26]