Search the record

whole problem of the short-term lets is a serious issue for our communities. At the same time, you see vacant council houses and HSE houses all over the place. There is plenty of housing. The Government is going after a sector it should not be going after

regeneration right across the country. I highlight that in 2026 alone, there will be just over €9 billion in capital invested in housing in this country as a result of Government policies. Some €50 million per year is set aside specifically for regeneration projects that require refurbishment … acknowledged. The commitment is further evidenced in the Dublin city task force and implementation plan to prioritise the total regeneration of social housing complexes within the city centre as well as the ambition shown by Dublin City Council in the recently launched Dublin home building programme. There

prospect of ever building a home there. I am outraged by the disastrous way in which the Minister has handled the housing crisis. I have been an elected representative in Galway city for the past 12 years and in that time I have never seen the housing crisis … made disaster caused by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments which continue to fail to meet the demand in terms of housing supply for the people Galway. Bhí mé ar na hoileáin amach ó chósta na Gaillimhe inné. Bhí mé ag caint le daoine ar Inis Meáin

problems that we have where a person is living on their own is that there are additional costs. The cost of heating a house and normal maintenance is the same as it would be if there were two or three people living in the house. If we look … people, particularly in rural areas, who are living on their own trying to make ends meet. The cost of heating, especially in older houses, is a huge additional cost. It is something that needs to be looked at. The cost of administration is taking

welcome that response. The Minister's successor as the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, was in the constituency this week in Clonburris and Adamstown. He saw the scale of housing being delivered and the importance of the infrastructure that enables that housing. One such project is DART+ South

Celbridge and Maynooth where we had another water outage this week. We have had a number of water outages affecting over 10,000 houses and 25,000 people. Indeed, the students in the Gallery, along with those in other schools, were not able to go to school … months ago and has had to close for five days. We have given significant money to Uisce Éireann. We need to build houses but we also need to look after those people who have houses and ensure they have the vital infrastructure

thank the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, for sharing his time with me and for the information he has provided to the House today. I reiterate my support for the sector and thank the representative bodies for their ongoing commitment to address the challenges we are facing … transport to and from our offshore islands. While the Department of Transport does not look after these services, it is important that the House is aware that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht supports island communities by providing subsidised ferry, cargo and air services

said that she had proved in court that Tusla lied in sworn affidavits. She said that judges tell Tusla to get its house in order but that nothing changes and that Tusla blocks children from speaking to verify the truth. She said that some lies are disgusting … This is despite being told by the children my ex had told them he was getting bailiffs to drag me out of the house and frightening them. He [was] completely dismissive of domestic abuse. Even when this expert [was] presented with proof my ex was not being alienated

have a shocking mismanagement of Tusla is because, in many ways, the Minister for children is absent without leave. When we have a housing crisis in this country, we have a housing Minister who is regularly questioned and has to be responsible and accountable for what is happening … housing. When there is a crisis in the health service, the Minister for Health is questioned regularly and held responsible for what is happening. However, when there is a crisis in Tusla, the Minister for children is invisible. The only critique I have from the RTÉ show last

person's budget is €1,500 per month, there are just two two-bed properties for rent on daft.ie today. The housing crisis has been normalised on the Taoiseach's watch. As a local TD, it is getting harder and harder to support people through this deepening crisis … failing the 5,500 children in homelessness, failing the 60% of renters unable to afford rent, and failing the 60,000 on the housing list. Yesterday, the Cabinet failed once again to agree measures to stop Airbnb and short-term letting companies from mopping up the supply

terms of Airbnbs in any area above 20,000 people. That is a very significant change, and rightly so because the priority is housing. Our priority is housing and will remain housing. There is an issue of balance here in terms of the proposal and this would

recognise the improvements that have been made to this Bill since we last debated it in this House, both by our colleagues in the Seanad and through the moves the Minister of State has made. It is important to recognise when positive steps are taken. While … inclusive, 288 to 290, inclusive, and 330. I am very concerned about children in Garda stations. We have had debates in this House before about people in mental health distress being in unsuitable locations at that time. It was part of our Private Members' business on accident

scheme, and a number of questions remain to be asked, specifically in respect of the take-up and why only 435 houses that were built using defective blocks, or around 13% of 3,500 homes, have had the remediation work completed. Why has there been such … know that the people who are in these homes face the insecurity that many others face, namely where they will go when their houses are being remediated. We have huge numbers of homeless people. We also have huge numbers on housing waiting lists, particularly in the counties that

Deputies all over this House were advocating for this long before Progress Ireland was ever established. There have been cases in rural Ireland where people have had difficulties with extensions and buildings in their back gardens, fields, or whatever they were attached to, including farmhouses … There is a balance here. The Deputy has opposed every single measure to do with supply of housing that we have introduced. You name it. It includes any of the housing Acts, and everything else. I do not know what Deputy Murphy's agenda is, ultimately

clearing house just looking at projects currently in the planning system or is it looking at upcoming projects in the south coast DMAP area? Is it looking at future DMAPs? How is it approaching its work and what barriers are there? How is the clearing house resourced … place to invest? A lot of international confidence has fallen away and there are clear examples of that. Is the clearing house looking at that as well

some people seem to be suggesting, but a lot of progress has been made. One of the reasons we set up the clearing house was to remove obstacles and barriers that could get in the way. It is composed of Secretaries General of Departments. Representatives from Eirgrid … make sure that everybody in the system understands that this is a national priority. That is one of the benefits of the clearing house, and the feedback has been very positive. I have to say that. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, chairs an offshore wind delivery task force

proof their association, which is replicated throughout south Kildare. There has been a lot of commentary this evening on the need for rural housing. For many months now, we have been informed a new rural housing policy is to be announced by the Government yet I continue … deal with rural people who have grown up in the area, including farming communities, who are unable to get a one-off house for themselves. The issue of serviced sites has been raised already. Serviced sites could be a solution for many rural communities. They could sustain

ensure that there are facilities within rural villages and towns to get that footfall. There has been a lot of talk about housing, particularly the proposal by Deputies Wall and Timmins around serviced sites in rural areas and rural communities. Deputy Martin Kenny raised a point about DEDs … will reflect on, combined with the proposals in relation to serviced sites in areas. The Minister, Deputy Browne, is committed to rural housing guidelines. Many of the issues that have been discussed across the House are shared in terms of people who need access to rural areas, families

overlooked. They are working harder than ever but struggling more than ever as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite in housing, groceries, childcare and healthcare. We believe it is essential to legislate to give workers and the trade unions the legal right to organise … elections, namely, make promises. While we are talking about workers' rights, we need to look at the rights of workers here in Leinster House, such as the Oireachtas broadcast workers and how unfairly they are being treated while being denied employment protections. I have previously highlighted the poor

Across many metrics, the Government is failing to address the challenges to our competitiveness and what we are hearing back from businesses. The housing crisis has worsened, with record rents and with homelessness at a record high. Employers are asking us where their workers will live. They have … that are crucial to our growth, such as construction. Our unreliable energy sources and grid capacity are stifling growth in many areas. On housing, we must confront the reality of Ireland's housing crisis. Our competitiveness is being eroded by a system that cannot provide affordable accommodation

where I lived was very much a project of the Celtic tiger era where land that was once rural was rezoned rapidly, and housing of all forms – apartments, duplexes and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses - were built at pace, but it took approximately ten years … from me, where the roads and parks are already in. It is only now that we are starting to see the large-scale housing accommodation provided. The three school sites have not only been identified but groundwork has started, and they will be open for the children

impact on biodiversity in our country, is not available anymore. That should be the focus of the Minister of State's work. This House declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019. I wish to emphasise the word "emergency". It was more than justified when we consider … scale of the risk to every person that climate change and biodiversity loss poses. In declaring an emergency, this House also took on the responsibility to respond to that emergency with action. The previous Government - the Government I was part of - took that responsibility seriously. We implemented ambitious

Government has the ability not to make a mess of everything. This Bill should be the most uncontroversial legislation to come before this House because there is political unanimity that children should not have access to vaping products, that there should be strong penalties for those who allow … should completely ban products that are clearly designed to appeal to children. That is the Bill that should have come before this House. Such robust provisions are required and there would have been political unanimity on them. Of course, as always, Government has made a mess

future and electric vehicle, EV-charging, clean public transport fleets, a circular economy waste system and, above all, a lot going into housing, with equity in housing developments, delivery of nationwide housing supply and so on, such as the private, social, affordable and mixed-tenure schemes. Money

exploitation. We can already see exactly where that road leads. On Clare Street in Dublin, up to 22 people are crammed into one house, paying up to €890 for a bed. That is in a room with three or four other people, with the landlord raking in almost … month. This is not a functional housing system. This is a return to tenement conditions which were rampant in the worst years of this State. It should not be tolerated but this Government seems to think differently. Today, the Taoiseach is calling it practical and pragmatic to charge

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a list of all submissions received by his Department during the review of Part B of the Building Control Regulations and to publish the submissions on the Department's website or to provide copies … submissions to the incoming members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. [7712/25

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to people with a disability who receive the HAP service, the rationale for setting the allowance at 20% below the poverty rate, with a further deduction taken as a fair pay your way contribution … housing system; and whether the Minister has any plans to change the 20% rate." [7719/25

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the identified defects at the Oscar Traynor Road affordable housing project; and the actions his Department is taking to address this. [7819/25

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals to increase social housing stock; the measures put in place in this regard since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7829/25

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals to increase the availability of affordable housing; the measures put in place in this regard since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7830/25

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on when the affordable housing units in the Oscar Traynor Woods development will be ready to be moved into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8082/25

Justice given that the Courts Service in Roscommon has been temporarily relocated to Racecourse Road, County Roscommon, and considering that the main court house in the county buildings in Roscommon town centre was promised refurbishment, for an update on the refurbishment timeline, and specifically, when the Roscommon court … house is likely to be refurbished and operational again for court use. [7307/25

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to recent changes to the housing aid for older people scheme by the Department of Housing, whereby installation of fossil fuel boilers is no longer covered; and if he will

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Housing Agency has submitted its report in relation to the expansion of the defective blocks scheme to additional local authority areas to his Office; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Housing Agency records the internal dimensions of rooms only and does not consider the areas occupied by internal partition walls under the enhanced defective concrete block scheme; if the entire floor area including floor

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for vacancies in private houses; the research that has been carried out to investigate the reasons for vacancies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6898/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a list of all housing projects in Dublin west where Government funding programmes are involved, including the type of funding programme, for what purpose and the number of units involved. [6943/25

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses set to come on stream within the next five years in each electoral area in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6945/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to extend the eligibility of the tenant-in-situ scheme to all tenants in rented accommodation instead of tenants who already receive the housing assistance payment or the rented accommodation scheme, as this is a scheme

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the applications received by his Department from Waterford City and County Council for social, affordable and cost rental housing developments in each year since 2019, providing the year of application, type and quantity

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will issue a statement to each local authority advising them of their budget for housing acquisitions in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7081/25

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the number, location and size of affordable cost rental units and the name of the housing provider in the pipeline to be delivered by 2030, in tabular form; and if he will

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if generators could be considered for inclusion in housing adaptation grants for people with disabilities and older people for the reason of medical necessity. [6551/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units applied for under both the CALF and CREL schemes, by county, in tabular form. [6559/25

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of capital projects that consultancy houses are giving advice on currently; the spend per project to each consultancy house, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6737/25

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the temporary waiver in respect of local authority development contributions, in view of the fact it would greatly support annual housing targets; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the commitment in the Housing for All policy to introducing minimum BERs in the private rental sector from 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5495/25

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will provide local authorities with a direction about the purchase of tenant-in-situ properties where the tenant is on the council housing waiting list and their notice to quit is imminent

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to extend the help to buy and new home schemes to include second hand houses or apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5512/25

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reviewing the government criteria for the local authority affordable housing schemes, which stipulates that just 30% of new homes in such schemes are ring-fenced for local applicants, with a view