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that. The review provided 75 recommendations to be worked through. Most do not require legislative change. It is important that the House receives an update on the steps the Minister is taking to improve services, to ensure access to services through community providers and to ensure hospital-based … question of life and the balance of probabilities entirely to clinicians, which is not right and an abdication of our duty in this House. Most problematically, the amendment ignores the intention of a clear and tight definition and the process recommended by the review is ignored. We should

people. Why? So that nobody blames Bertie Ahern, Fianna Fáil and the landlords and developers Fianna Fáil has allowed to profit from the housing crisis. People from the Congo did not take corrupt payments from developers to blow up the property bubble. They were never found … never rolled out the red carpet for developers and vulture funds. They are not the ones who sowed the seeds of the current housing disaster and they were not the ones who refused to maintain council flats and then voted to increase council rents. All of this

Cheann Comhairle. I too welcome everyone in the Public Gallery to listen to the statements today. I welcome the opportunity to address the House and to update Members on the recently published National Safety Camera Strategy, and on road safety matters more generally. My colleague, the Minister … there are many experts across a range of partners collaborating to take action and deliver positive road safety outcomes, and I assure the House that progress is being made. Key deliverables for this year include passing the national vehicle and driver file Bill 2025 to allow local authorities

would certainly welcome. Recently, the Minister of State was very kind to meet with a delegation that I had brought here to Leinster House to discuss the N68 road, which leaves Ennis, heads out to west Clare and passes through a village called Darragh. In that vicinity there … very much has local usage. It has a shop, local school, sports pitches and a litany of entrances into and out of houses and farmyards in that area. The Minister of State met Mairéad Collins, Michael Fitzgibbon and Kevin McNamee here in Leinster House. They brought maps

entirely reassured by the Minister's assurances. He talks about a code of practice which this House will have no hand, act or part in developing. His own Department and his office, in particular, since he has taken office have been incredibly reluctant to provide information … Members of this House on how decisions are made or how matters relating to the outworkings of legislation actually work in practice. I would have thought this would be a fairly standard safeguard to ensure the public could be assured that, before this type of technology is utilised

need for these designations to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas is absolutely critical because I do not trust this Government not to bully its way through on things it wants, over the legitimate concerns of stakeholders, in these decisions. I want to highlight again an instance … developer-led stuff. The Government will do anything for the developers. What do we get out of it in the end? We get housing that nobody can afford. We get speculation. I suspect the same is going to happen with giving away these sites. It is wide open

record in the history of the State. I accept that there are challenges and many issues, the most important one being housing in terms of enabling young people to buy houses that they can afford and rent, and that we can provide social housing for those who cannot

decades, the residents of Oliver Bond House have lived in some of the most appalling conditions in our city. Decades of neglect have left these families living in damp, overcrowded, rat-infested homes. In April, the Department of housing wrote to Dublin City Council refusing a funding request … compared with the council’s proposal of just 26%. In light of this significant development, will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for housing to revisit his decision? Dublin City Council's plan is the best proposal to bring these homes up to modern standards while retaining the right

State. It sets out total public capital investment of €275 billion to 2035. Investment in this critical infrastructure will enable 300,000 additional houses by 2030 and expansion of our onshore and offshore electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure through a €3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid … economy, our homes and our climate targets. The upgrading of our water and wastewater infrastructure will enable social inclusion, environmental sustainability and housing delivery. This funding of €12.2 billion to 2030 represents the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of water services and water quality. Enhanced

losing nurses, teachers and tradespeople because they cannot afford housing in this city and across the country. Our businesses and public services cannot get workers because of the rents. We are seeing the main supply is vulture fund apartments at €3,500 a month. Who can afford that … affordable house for sale was built by the State in Dublin city last year. What is the Taoiseach doing to ensure workers can afford to live in our city and can afford the rents and house prices? It is a crisis that is threatening our economy and destroying

also at moments of fear, uncertainty and loss. They are the beating heart of our health system. It is not enough for this House to simply recognise that their work is important but to ensure that those who deliver care in healthcare settings outside of hospitals … midwives and that they be respected and retained within our health system. That is a truth that all of us in this House agree with regardless of party affiliation. Despite criticism, it is also an area where the Government has made solid progress. Since the beginning

coast schemes still remain in planning. From my engagement with the offshore renewable electricity support scheme, ORESS, 1 developers, I can tell the House that we expect at least two of those to come through planning toward the end of this year. That will mean that we will … long-duration battery storage within our system, and that has expanded greatly. That is important because Deputies, both in government and across the House, look at curtailment of renewable energy resources of sometimes up to 16%. The more battery storage we have within our system, the more

identified as a crucial element in addressing the ongoing accommodation crisis in Sligo. For several years the shortage of suitable and affordable student housing has placed considerable pressure on both the university community and the wider local area. It is, therefore, understandable there is ongoing frustration. In November … sale was agreed on the clear condition that a substantial portion of the lands would be dedicated to the construction of student housing, reflecting the urgency of the situation. The site has the potential to make a transformative impact, with early proposals indicating capacity between 300 and more

Each and every one of us, whether Ministers in Departments or Deputies in this House, wants to make sure that every taxpayers' penny that is spent is spent well, goes to where it needs to go and goes to those who need it. That is across every Department … focus and priority for all of us. That is an objective of Government and of all of us in this House. One of the Department of public expenditure and reform's key roles is the development of guidance, codes of practice, and circulars to make sure

basis of her own free choice. This was the compassionate position put before the people in 2018, which I and many in this House supported, and it is the basis on which services have been provided since. The question before us now is whether the State should continue … overdue. It respects women’s decisions and it removes an unnecessary barrier to care. There are many other issues that these Houses should and must work through arising from the review of the Act. It raised many issues that we have to carefully work through, which will take

ahead, I want to spend a moment on what the European Union has meant for Ireland because it is important, particularly in this House, to say it plainly. In over 53 years of EU membership, Ireland has been transformed. When we joined in 1973, we were an economy … business. It matters for Ireland too. Simplification can help us address some of our most pressing domestic challenges in infrastructure delivery and housing. Recently, along with six member states in total, I have written to Commissioner Dombrovskis, calling for simplification of permitting and planning rules in order

ansin. Aontaím le go leor rudaí ráite, go háirithe faoin gcaidreamh idir an tAontas Eorpach agus Iosrael. I mentioned it earlier in the House. Níl sé maith go leor nach bhfuilimid ag déanamh ár ndícheall le haghaidh sanctions agus the OTB. I welcome that the Minister said that … states to roll out these systems. Ireland knows better than most that targets are being set relating to strategies, working groups and clearing houses. We are continuously discussing this at the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy. Action is what we need. We are generating enough renewable

announced. Those protests were not just about fuel costs. They were also about much more than that. They were about energy bills, renting, house prices, childcare fees, education costs and more. Fundamentally, the social contract has been torn up by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Previously, a decent … week, I have people telling me they are under pressure - young families and workers who earn too much to qualify for social housing but nowhere near enough to buy their own home; small businesses stretched to their limits, with some forced to close; and carers and older people

fuel, gas and costs are high and, as we learned today, electricity costs are the most expensive in the European Union. Rents, mortgages, house prices and waste charges are high. Health insurance does not just go up once a year anymore. It goes up two or three times … companies generating electricity. We need to get into our heads that this has happened. Mortgages are at an all-time high because house prices are at an all-time high. I am not asking the Government to throw money around the place but we should have targeted measures

welcome the SEAI grants, the return on cost and instant relief plug-in solar would deliver, particularly for people in social and affordable housing, are much bigger. I understand there are long-term returns from rooftop solar and that it is a more durable system. However … doing it and other EU countries have done it. We need to act on it. That is one of the solutions. The clearing house in the Taoiseach's Department for offshore renewable energy is welcome. However, having spoken to developers of wind energy and long duration energy storage

Ukrainian people and I took part in discussions about the measures we can take to ensure accountability for that aggression. Ireland and this House has been firm in its support of Ukraine throughout the more than four years of this war. We have been firm in our support … sends a message to Russia that it cannot carry on as if nothing wrong has been done. At this point too, the House should understand the financial cost to Ireland would be a proportionate annual contribution towards the administrative costs of the claims commission. It is too soon

Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, spent time in County Louth last Friday opening a welcome new social housing development. It was great to welcome him to our hometown and our small city. In the time he spent in County Louth, there was a very strong chance that … necessarily want to interrogate the words of the Minister today and what she said on previous occasions, especially back in March in this House, but there is a clear expectation that a form of statutory inquiry or commission of investigation will emanate from this process. We know

sincerely thank the Members of the House for their heartfelt contributions this evening and the specific points raised. Today, the House has reflected on the scoping exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. As we close, I want … made reference to various aspects, which the Minister is taking under very careful consideration. We have listened carefully to everything raised in this House today regarding the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. I want to thank all Members for their continued engagement on this very important matter

Council to create an agreeable and sustainable plan, funding of €13 million for the retrofit and deep refurbishment of four blocks at Pearse House has recently been approved by my Department. This follows an initial rejection of an amalgamation proposal from DCC, which would have resulted … very high cost. The Department is currently working with the Council to find an equally appropriate solution for the Oliver Bond House flat complex. This remains a priority regeneration project for Dublin City Council and for the Department. A recent funding submission received from the council for blocks

more. I wish to speak for a moment about South Dublin County Council. In my constituency we do not have that many social housing flats. Obviously, we have lots of social houses and the same sorts of issues apply. The biggest issue is people waiting for years … years for windows and doors that are necessary. There are gale-force winds passing through their houses. The idea of having insulation or whatever in that context is obviously a complete joke. Just as in Dublin city, Fingal and Galway, the management in South Dublin County Council, with

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives his Department will take to address the supply side constraints which would help to expedite housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9805/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department will introduce to incentivise local authorities to achieve their housing delivery targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9806/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department will take to push local authorities including Dublin City Council to employ a full-time accessibility officer who would be responsible for assessing the requirements of people with disabilities when planning infrastructure … including local housing developments, cycleways, and so on. [9808/25

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if houses older than 1940 can be considered under the warmer homes scheme; and if not, what the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland recommends for the property owners; and the number of houses that have been

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will release the necessary funding to local authorities in Donegal and other affected counties to remediate their housing stock that are the homes of hundreds of families affected by defective concrete blocks. [8705/25

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a scheme of affordable housing and low-cost sites for towns and villages with a population of less than 5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses in County Meath now being considered for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; when a decision on these will be made; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address an issue for social housing applicants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/25

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of void houses in each local authority area for the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8251/25

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider the urgent establishment of a taskforce for Clonmel town centre (details supplied) to deal with the extensive levels of vacancy and dereliction facing the town; if he will work with the Minister … Justice and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to establish such a taskforce to deal with the many issues facing the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8281/25

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will establish an independent investigation into the trading of 44 homes for profit in Cork in view of the fact that they were grant aided under section 20 of the Housing (Amendment

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans in relation to the recommendations of the Housing Commission report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8418/25

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a fully completed apartment complex is lying vacant for the past six months on the corner of Grange Road and Nutgrove Avenue, Rathfarnham; and if this development was included in his Department’s figures … housing completions in 2024, notwithstanding the fact that it remains vacant. [7262/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any active plans to build social and affordable housing units on State lands in Louth by the Land Development Agency. [7301/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been a directive from the Department to local authorities to limit the number of approved housing body units that can be delivered in a local authority area. [7303/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the work that has been done in cooperation with the Department of Health with regard to the forward planning for future young adults who have a disability who will have a housing need. [7304/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units have been delivered specifically for people with intellectual disabilities over the years 2020 – 2024, per local authority area, in tabular form. [7305/25

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sites zoned for housing in each county by the local authorities, in tabular form. [7373/25

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason solar panels were not installed on any of the new housing at a location (details supplied); if there are any plans for new builds to be required to have a minimum number of solar

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions that will be taken by Government and local authorities to ensure the housing completion targets of 41,000 by the end of 2026 and up to 60,000 per year

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the work and remit of the central housing supply unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7648/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason most of the projects approved under the local infrastructure housing activation fund have not been delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7650/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in the completion of projects under the local authority mortgages and that local infrastructure housing activation fund as evidenced by only 15 of 24 projects being completed since

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list the 3,000 social and affordable homes to be delivered through the €450 million capital allocation approved by Cabinet on 18 February 2025, broken down by the number of units … each local authority area and the social housing landlord associated with each scheme that is, named AHB or the relevant local authority, in tabular form. [7703/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the proposed allocations schemes for cost rental housing including an update on whether any regulations have been issued by him and any scheme specific cost rental allocations schemes approved