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very much welcome this opportunity to come before the House to discuss the Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The development of this new housing plan was a commitment under the programme for Government. It reaffirms that housing is the number one priority … expects that all people and organisations, whether public or private, will play their part in tackling the challenges we face in increasing housing supply and reducing homelessness. The Government is entirely focused on building 300,000 new homes. By the end of 2030, there will

Club. I was recently with the Land Development Agency, LDA, on the southside, where an existing boxing club has been incorporated into a housing development. A new boxing club is being built in the housing development. That is the way to go. Is the local authority involved … Deputy might give me the details. Deputy Shane Moynihan spoke about the interdependence of the national transport plan in terms of infrastructure and housing delivery. Housing delivery will depend on infrastructure delivery. I am acutely aware of planning considerations. South Dublin County Council is looking

Minister to look at it. If it were to be changed, it would not be that much more costly. Not too many houses are affected but each and every one is important. I ask the Minister to have a look at this between now and Committee Stage. Recently … Patrick's Day in 2006. I toured the city and saw the devastation there. The only difference was that after Hurricane Katrina the houses were not left standing. Those houses were totally demolished whereas in Donegal the houses are not demolished but they are crumbling. Through time, unless

have taken out the front of buildings with 300 or 400 tonnes of stone propped over the buildings. For a semi-detached house - it depends on the era it was built in - there could a 6 in. or 9 in. block wall in the middle separating them … roofs - then the rafters are on the same wall plates, which means that if you disturb anything, you weaken it. If a house on one side is defective, the same bloody blocks are on the other side. If you open it to the elements, you make the other

contributors to what has been a wide-ranging debate. I want to touch on what the Government is doing generally on housing. The housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, is one of a number of items. The first was the national planning framework, which has been revised … population. One of the points that came up earlier related to local authorities. We want them to provide for up to 50% more housing than the targets that were laid down by the Department. We need more land zoned for development. That is important. Then

want to speak to and support the amendments. The starting point is that, as I have said before in this Chamber, housing is a fundamental human right. I do not think it is a coincidence that there is no mention of housing being a human right … Government's new housing plan, because what is going on in Donegal, Mayo and other counties, including Limerick, Sligo and Clare, shows why housing is a fundamental human right. We have people, children and families living in housing situations that are completely unsustainable, with holes in walls, children

small island off the coast of Ireland, Arranmore Island, and I live in a section of it. Within five minutes of my house was one of my neighbours. He moved to Letterkenny and I moved to the Finn Valley and the two of us had houses. I built … house; he bought his. His house is semi-detached. He has children trying to go to college. His neighbour has knocked down his house. He is not in a position to get it and he would not meet the damage threshold. I have been up at his house

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. After months and months, we finally have the Government's new flagship housing plan. After almost a year in office, we finally see how the Government hopes to bring an end to the housing catastrophe in this country. However, what … plan that scrapped targets, provides no serious pathway to secure affordable homes for ordinary people and is not ambitious enough on social housing. It has nothing new on affordable ownership and it does not even give proper clarity on the role of State bodies like the LDA. This

housing disaster, as the Minister is well aware, is worsening by the day. Unfortunately, the housing plan he and his Government have developed offers very little hope that they are willing to accept the utter failure of this and successive Governments. This housing plan is no radical reset … thousands who will emigrate in the coming years, as they see no future here because they cannot afford the crazy rents or house prices. The Minister is about to deliver a double blow to renters this coming March. What is going to happen is his rental changes will

funds myself on a year-to-year basis for building costs. In 2021, the average cost of building a 2,000 sq. ft house was €120 per sq. ft on a greenfield site with a builder's finish. It cost €240,000 in 2021 with … that. In 2023, it was €180 per sq. ft. The same house went from €240,000 to €360,000 and the VAT was €48,600. In 2024, it was up to €200 per sq. ft - the same house with nothing extra. It cost

welcome the publication of the action plan on housing and the target to deliver 300,000 homes through a whole-of-government approach. It is ambitious but appropriate. We need ambition. Housing affects everyone in society, whether someone waiting on a local authority housing list, a young person … hoping to buy or older people looking for more suitable housing. This issue is urgent. In my area of Carlow-Kilkenny, I meet constituents every week. Single people are finding it very hard to get one-bed houses or one-bed apartments. I know that is a priority

limited time available to me, I want to call again for the declaration in law of a housing emergency. Housing is a human right enshrined in Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A housing emergency exists in this State. The Government … Housing Commission asserts that "Only a radical ... reset of housing policy will work". It further asserts that "It is critical that this housing deficit is addressed through emergency action." Successive Governments have failed to solve this housing emergency. Housing plan after rebaked housing plan has failed dismally

need a housing plan that is going to work. Rents are up sky high and will get higher in March. House prices are up sky high. Evictions are up sky high. There were 15,000 notices to quit and eviction notices in the first nine months … infrastructure in Laois, it will not happen. The northern orbital route in Portlaoise needs to be built to free up land for housing. The bypass in Mountmellick needs to be built. The southern orbital route in Graiguecullen, County Carlow needs to be built. These projects need

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met yesterday, Monday, 15 December. The committee works to ensure a cross-Government approach to the implementation of our commitments regarding housing policy. This week’s meeting was specifically focused … homelessness challenge, in particular the national housing plan commitments in this regard, including the development of a homeless prevention framework and a child and family homelessness action plan. We are making good progress on the delivery of homes to those most in need across the country, with

need to see how these strategies will be implemented on a minute level. One of these I refer to specifically is the affordable housing programme. In my time in the local authority, going back some years, there was a very clear and obvious way that the affordable housing … programme worked. There was a clear and obvious way that people could access the affordable housing programme. People went on an affordable housing list. As the local authority developed a suite of affordable houses in conjunction with social houses, they were sold to those people on the list

opportunity to update the Dáil on tenant in situ acquisitions. I am taking this matter on behalf of James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Acquisitions with tenants in situ are a category of purchase under the second-hand acquisitions programme which help prevent social housing … been examined. Along with the clear focus of Government on increasing the supply of new build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme has been, and will continue to be, an important policy response to priority needs. The Minister for housing has this year secured

provision on a phased basis to enable tenancies affected to be terminated over a period of time to assist in managing demands on housing services as a result of such deferred termination; and to provide for related matters. As the House knows, the level of homelessness has reached … historical high. In October, there were 16,766 people, including 5,274 children, in Department of housing-funded emergency accommodation. Of course, that is not the true level of homelessness. When we include rough sleepers, women and children in Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges and all those people

fear that the rush to label it as mica may have been influenced by the wish not to knock down all the houses and to save money, to be crude about it. I remember hearing a member of the panel on a radio station. They explained … layperson that with pyrite, the house has to come down, but with mica, the house can stay up. I remember it so well. I am a layperson. I am certainly no scientific expert or geologist, but I trusted that. I always use the example that when

scheme of things, when you look at projections of what this will cost, it will be 43 houses and roughly €22,000 per house. Given the different-sized houses, it is an average of €22,000 per house. Going by the 29 March deadline, there is a price … Government, the hike in fuel costs, transport costs, rising insulation costs and rising silicone costs. All the different oil-based materials for houses, through different budgets, have created an increase. We are asking for fairness for 43 houses. It is a pittance when looked at in the scheme

want to take the opportunity to discuss my experience from a housing perspective. As someone who has been a councillor in County Kildare for a number of years and, indeed, a town councillor before that, I have seen the different tranches. I have seen a housing boom … housing bust, and now I have seen continuing price increases in housing. We have seen that a lot of those houses have become out of reach for ordinary people. A lot of our friends and families have not been able to buy in the area and have

outdated standard. Even Engineers Ireland, through its director general, told an Oireachtas committee that IS 465 is simply not fit for purpose. The Housing Agency still instructs engineers to follow it. This is not a mistake; this is a choice to ignore the science because acknowledging it would … Government claims the appeals panel is independent but section 39(10)(b) of the Act states: the Appeal Board shall— [...] (i) direct ... the Housing Agency ... to reconsider its decision ..., or (ii) replace the decision [itself] That does not sound like independence to me. In reality, the board never

Deputy raising this question. I have been informed, and it is my understanding, that the services managed by Tusla's Liberty Street House are not being curtailed. This is the information that has been given to me. Tusla is undertaking a reform programme that will continue to meet … needs of service users of Liberty Street House. The integration of services will mean that the services provided within Liberty Street House will align under the proposed structures of the front door teams. Front door teams are a feature of the new Tusla referral and service user management

many people who are homeless in this country, and particularly far too many children. We had a meeting of the Cabinet committee on housing this week. At it, we heard directly from the CCMA, the representative group with responsibility for representing chief executives of local authorities. I specifically … referenced to them at that meeting action 5.7 of the Government's housing plan, which talks about social housing allocations needing to prioritise children in long-term homelessness. It is due back through the Department of housing early in 2026. I urge all of us - I make this

because it is an important issue in relation to the expenditure of public money and the impact of that on the delivery of housing. A well-functioning housing market, we can all agree, is crucial to supporting labour mobility, improving competitiveness and ensuring that Ireland remains an attractive … location for both domestic and foreign investment into the future. It is key for our people first and foremost. The newly released national housing plan targets the delivery of 300,000 new homes from 2025 to 2030. High-density housing, such as apartments, will form a significant portion

move: "That the Bill be read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of colleagues. As Deputies will be aware, back in 2023 the Houses enacted the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act. The Bill … introducing today is an amendment to that legislation. The legislation the Houses enacted in 2023 constituted an important contribution to updating An Garda Síochána's technological capabilities by providing it with a statutory basis for the operation of recording devices. The type of recording devices that An Garda

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department currently collects or holds construction and delivery cost data at individual housing unit level for social housing schemes funded or approved by his Department; if not, when a decision was taken … collect such data; who authorised that approach; and whether he intends to introduce unit-level cost reporting for future social housing delivery. [73643/25

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 15 May 2025, if he will provide an update on the research being undertaken to develop a new social housing eligibility model; if this research has progressed further; whether … consultation with stakeholders has commenced; if, arising from this research, there will be any increase to social housing income thresholds in line with commitments under the Housing for All Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71624/25

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a video advising adults how to move back in with parents, if guidelines on applicants for social housing at local authority level will be amended in order that those who have had to move … back in with parents, on foot of the video advice from his Department, will not be deemed 'suitably housed' and will still be eligible for social housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71777/25

Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding allocated to Carlow County Council for housing grants in 2025, under housing aid for older people grant, housing adaptation grant for people with a disability and mobility aids grant, in tabular form

Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding drawn down by Carlow County Council for housing Grants in 2025, under housing aid for older people grant, housing adaptation grant for people with a disability and mobility aids grant, in tabular form

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department requires local authorities to submit detailed cost breakdowns for affordable purchase housing schemes funded under national affordable housing programmes; if so, the nature of those cost breakdowns

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared any projections or forecasts relating to future construction and delivery costs, per social and affordable housing unit under Housing for All or any successor programme; and if so, to outline

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether people participating in HAP or the RAS are eligible to apply for cost-rental housing; the number of people participating in these programmes that have availed of cost-rental housing to date

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for establishing and implementing the protocol in the new housing plan to allow individuals who are fleeing DSGBV to transfer time spent on a social housing waiting list to another local authority

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units built in 2024 and 2025, by each Dublin city and county local authority through direct contracting with builders, with figures provided on a per local authority basis, and distinguishing houses

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the social housing units built in 2024 and 2025 by Dublin city and county local authorities, the number that were delivered under part V arrangements, with figures provided separately for houses and apartments, for each

Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the fair deal where a house must be sold within one year of the date of death, if a new tenant after 1 March 206 has a right to a six year tenancy … same house after it is sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71950/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department has taken since 2022 to establish a residential-specific productivity baseline for use in housing policy formation, including any internal memoranda, assessment frameworks or technical guidance issued to inform national housing

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dates on which the Housing Activation Office submitted reports to him since 1 January 2023 identifying infrastructure barriers to housing delivery; the number of barriers escalated; and the number that remain unresolved following those

ensure that there are enough construction workers with the necessary skills to balance the competing priorities of building the Metrolink without placing housing targets at risk, which will require the construction of houses as well the building out the electricity grid and wastewater infrastructure … with the Ministers of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or Transport to discuss this; if he has met with the Taoiseach to discuss this; the plans and/or targets that have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67796/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when each local authority will be required to publish its Housing Delivery Action Plan; the target for the delivery of cost rental and affordable purchase homes by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of one off rural housing applications received by each local authority over the past three years; the number of one off rural housing applications refused by each local authority over those three years

Migration the steps his Department will take to ensure that any IPAS or direct provision accommodation subject to resident charges meets the minimum housing standards set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations. [69930/25

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the social housing thresholds in County Mayo, in view of the fact that some individuals are unable to access the housing list despite only being over the threshold by a small amount

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for affordable housing schemes in County Galway; the location for same and the criteria to apply for said housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67439/25

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to allow the use of private waste water treatment systems for developments in locations where there is inadequate or no public infrastructure provided by Irish Water; if large scale housing projects and such developments … assist in meeting the rigorous standards that may be required by Irish Water; if he will ensure that funding is made available for housing developments in particular to assist with such costs and to prevent an uneven divide between sites serviced by public infrastructure and those developed with

residential construction from 13.5% to 9% now applies beyond the point of sale and to the point of construction as housing agencies may own the land, and many valuable housing projects would not have benefitted from the change otherwise; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the role credit unions play in supporting the delivery of social housing through the Credit Union Approved Housing Body Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72868/25

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ applications, for social housing and cost-rental properties, completed, by local authority, for the years 2023 and 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to expand social housing provision during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73534/25