Search the record

grandiose claims at the beginning of the game of politics. I am old enough to remember that last time he told us housing was the priority and that he would sort out housing, and that he had heard the electorate and recognised how bad things were. That … said and pledged. Where are we now? Many are struggling to put an affordable, secure roof over their heads. There are sky-high house prices and extortionate rents, and those in need of council housing are spending years and years on waiting lists. The Taoiseach presides over

deal that hits the most vulnerable in this country. We in Independent Ireland advised the Government parties to declare a housing emergency but they have failed to do so in their programme for Government. The declaration of a housing emergency would have expedited solutions to the housing crisis … where more than 15,000 people, many of whom are children, are without a home. The declaration of a housing emergency should bring power over county development plans back to the people and allow planning in urban and rural communities. The Government did not take on board Independent

wider family and for your team, and all the people behind you who worked so hard to ensure you were elected to this House, just like all of us in this House can relate to. I know it is especially significant for you, your family and your team … join that Government later, and to working with all colleagues in government - Ministers of State, TDs, Senators and people right across this House - as we work together for the people of Ireland. I will speak at greater length later on when the Dáil reconvenes but I would like

week is a brazen attempt to avoid sufficient scrutiny and accountability. Where is the urgency to tackle the challenges that we face in housing, disability, health and climate action? Where is the new energy that we heard so much about during the election campaign? It seems to have … used to silence critics of a genocide. In the run-up to the election, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the previous Minister for housing all insisted that 40,000 homes would be delivered last year in the absence of any evidence. In fact, you contradicted forecasts from

previous Government. It lacks ambition. It is deliberately vague and has no costings and no timelines. That means a continuation of the housing and homelessness crisis, the cost-of-living crisis, hospital overcrowding, huge health waiting lists, a broken disability service and the health recruitment embargo, known … numbers". The housing and homelessness crisis is the most fundamental issue facing this country. This programme continues the failed policies of its predecessor. There is no new urgency, no emergency measures, no reset of housing policy as recommended by the Housing Commission, and the commitment to hold

office, the Social Democrats will not be supporting any of the nominations today. As a country, we face huge challenges, most acutely in housing, healthcare, the cost of living, childcare, disability services and climate change. We cannot face these challenges and increase investment in public services … devoid of new ideas or radical measures. The transformation that we need is nowhere to be seen. This is particularly stark for housing. During the election campaign, I met family after family who were personally affected by the housing crisis. We all did. Every day, I met adults

arrangement and this whole sordid arrangement has more than a whiff off it. As we meet here today, I am conscious that homelessness, house prices and rents in this country have never been as high, with the number of new homes built last year falling by 7%. Fianna … Gael and their coalition colleagues have shown, through deed, that they will not and cannot deal with this crisis. The Government's own Housing Commission report has called for a radical reset of housing policy and the Government's response to this has been to effectively pretend that

until 5 February. We now have a programme for Government which, on the big issues facing workers and families, fails. For example, on housing where is the rent freeze that hundreds of thousands of people across the State need so badly? There are not even effective rent controls … going to have a rent register instead. Where is the massively expanded affordable housing scheme for those middle-income families that desperately need it? Where is the commitment to drive on with cost-rental schemes to provide homes for those low-paid workers who are just above

side that is in now. We have some work to do. I wish the Tánaiste the best in that regard. On housing, it was sickening to see the report two weeks ago that 60,000 houses have been started. A child would know that was because there … rebate. Today, we see that we have fallen back by 7% in terms of housing. More people came into this country than we have houses to accommodate. Those are facts. That is also the case in respect of the people we have here. I wish the new Minister

benefit from, which was completely and utterly false. Let me put some new information on the record of the House. Deputy Lowry had 57 meetings in relation to the Doncaster deal, including here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, with the organisers of the project and representatives … they originated from. These payments were never disclosed to the tribunal. Will Deputy Lowry use the Government's time to explain to this House and the public why he, on 15 March 2001, met with other key individuals in relation to this deal in Dublin? The outcome

going to achieve the ramped-up delivery homes that we all know is so badly needed. Instead, we are seeing more outsourcing of housing. There is nothing to strengthen renters' rights. The Government has even ignored its own Housing Commission's recommendations. There is no sense here … radical reset on housing policy. It is welcome that the climate targets are retained but no meaningful pathway is set out for how we achieve them. What is worse is the slashing of funds for cycling, public transport and sustainable transport in favour of building more roads

Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. - Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill as Minister for Health. - Deputy James Browne as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. - Deputy Jim O'Callaghan as Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. - Deputy Martin Heydon as Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries … both public and private. Based on an approach that has been successful in financial services, I will establish a new climate investment clearing house that will initially focus on energy transformation. Both during the pandemic and in the years since, we have shown that reform and progress

that the Cabinet is being named on the day the news broke that 30,000 homes were built in the State last year. Housing is the biggest issue affecting this country and the Government has been in reverse. When the new Taoiseach awoke this morning … While the Taoiseach was in Áras an Uachtaráin, young families were in the airports, emigrating to escape the high price of rents and houses. Ministers had to wait for one day for their ministerial seals but there are hundreds of thousands of people in this country

special day for them and their families. The Government that has been presented to us tonight is like a shabby, broken down house that has had a slap of paint thrown over it. The hope is that it will all be fine on the night, lads. That … will be homeless tonight and that 611 people are on hospital trolleys as we speak. People are living in boxrooms in their parents' houses. A generation of people will never own their own homes thanks to this Government and 20 years of Fine Gael, being backed

thank the Ceann Comhairle. I would like to update Members of the House that the Government recognises that there is an ambiguity in Standing Orders which requires clarification in differentiating between members of the Opposition and the Government. The Government believes our Dáil is ever evolving and that … standing orders should evolve to reflect the membership and groupings of the House. The Government will today bring forward a motion to establish the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform, to fully engage with the committee and to work to secure agreement, as soon as possible

resolved going forward and a settlement was made here today, which I appreciate. We will not be supporting the suspension of the House for two weeks. We have a housing crisis, with 15,000 people without homes and young children without a home

emphasise positive discussion. For my part, I intend to remain open to constructive ideas from Deputies from all parts of the House. When nominating members of the new Government, I will address more specific policy points, but it is important to state the core principles on which … which will work to underpin and promote the status, dignity and independence of people with disabilities; a spirit that will build more houses at an accelerated pace and that will work every day to build reconciliation between the different traditions on the island of Ireland. I mo ról

that, as I said earlier, the public wishes us to address with renewed energy and focus. The need to make further progress on housing is intrinsic to the social contract in this country. It was a priority for all parties in the programme for Government talks and will … focus to delivering the infrastructure required to bring our country to the next stage of its development and enable faster delivery of housing and much more. We will work together to prioritise investments across the justice system, recruiting at least 5,000 additional gardaí and building stronger, safer

concrete crisis. Tonight, as we speak, there are families going to hotels. With a red weather warning coming, they cannot stay in their houses because they are structurally unsound. There are houses that have been remediated on top of Weetabix blocks. We are in a humanitarian crisis

reiterate what was said. I can give the House and its Members an absolute assurance that I will deal with the matter expeditiously. As the Deputy is aware, and as the Business Committee will have relayed to every Member of the House, there is a process in place

impartial final decision. Therefore, in accordance with my solemn declaration that I will apply the rules as laid down by this House in an impartial and fair manner and the powers conferred on me by Standing Order 75(3), I have decided that to avoid prejudging my final

agreed. I want to raise again the issue of suspending the House for two weeks. It has been quite some time since the election. We all know that there are huge challenges facing the country and, indeed, an expectation that we all get down to work

many sleeping bags in doorways, cardboard boxes for shelter, tents lining our canals, and homeless hubs as refuge for so many families. The housing and homeless crisis crystallises the unfair society that all of you have created. Working people go to soup kitchens, families struggle for the basics

groundhog week, not just with Deputies Martin and Harris swapping roles and not just with President Trump reinstalled in the White House, but because here in Ireland in recent weeks it has felt like we have been returning to the bad old days of stroke politics

programme for Government is not up to the task. There is no sense of urgency about tackling the crises that face us in housing, climate and disability services. We are seeing no vision and a regressive set of policies. It is not only the policies that are regressive

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide additional funding for affordable and social housing in County Kerry; if he will introduce a scheme of low-cost sites in all towns across the county such as Killarney, Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Castleisland, Tralee, Dingle … Listowel and Kenmare as such a scheme will help address the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46635/24

Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options that are available to older people who can no longer use the housing aid for older people grant to buy a new fossil fuel boiler, such as an oil or gas boiler, given … grant amount will not cover air to water systems, and in many cases the house will not be suitable for these heating systems (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1144/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Q3 social and affordable housing delivery report will be published. [46343/24

Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine the case of the Housing Finance Agency interest rate adjustments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46536/24

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is currently a limit on the amount of surplus funds housing cooperatives may have at the end of a financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46738/24

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to increase the targets for affordable housing for Cork city and Cork County Council. [46844/24

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the per unit cost provided to local authorities for retrofitting of local authority housing. [46848/24

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to provide for a new local infrastructure housing activation fund or similar measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1232/25

Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the regeneration of Pearse House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1310/25

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide assurances that the issues impacting the Oscar Traynor Woods developments will not be mirrored in housing developments currently under construction in the Fingal area; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to open an investigation to ensure that no housing developments currently under construction by a developer (details supplied) in the Fingal area have any underlying issues as seen at the Oscar Traynor Woods development

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of housing units delivered under the affordable purchase scheme in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1609/25

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing maintenance workers that currently work for Cork County Council; the measures his Department is taking to encourage employment in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1691/25

Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to further extend the local development levy waiver on new houses beyond December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1719/25

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the income thresholds for applicants for social housing supports (details supplied). [1793/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the social housing waiting list in Kerry, in tabular form; how many children are on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1896/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Q4 2024 social and affordable housing delivery figures will be published; and to provide a breakdown of these figures by delivery stream (SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a new housing scheme in Kildare south (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2114/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a new housing scheme in Kildare south (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position with the derelict housing in the Curragh camp County Kildare; the outcome of the report he commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2128/25

land to charge their car; if there is a plan to support the installation of fast charging units at shared bay parking in housing estates; and if any resulting liability issues have been considered [46687/24

Harbour pilot study is complete, the plans in place to invest and protect homes and properties, bearing in mind that some of these houses have previously been destroyed as a result of tidal flooding at Cromane Point, Killorglin, County Kerry, where families cannot sleep in their homes when

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the lands at Castletown House are included in those designated in the programme For Government as being of key national heritage, and therefore for proposed acquisition by the State, the lands

Education further to the announcement that a special school in County Monaghan will be located in Castleblayney, if the school will be housed in permanent buildings upon opening; if not, if it will be based in temporary units; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Department has undertaken or will be undertaking to meet the schooling needs of the Balbriggan community given the plans for further significant housing development planned for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1195/25