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House prices are completely out of control and have been for a long time. They have increased by 68% since 2020 when Fianna Fáil took over the housing Ministry - 68%. In Dublin, the median price of a home is €500,000. That is half a million euro … home. What is the Minister doing to address the issues that are contributing to inflation in the market, such as dysfunction in our housing market, ghost bids, gazumping and opaque bidding processes? What is he doing to address that

refurbishment programme is the largest regeneration programme in terms of funds in the history of the State. The remediation of local authority social housing estates and flat complexes in the country's most disadvantaged communities is one of my key priorities. This includes those defined by the most … extreme social exclusion, unemployment and other issues in these local communities. That said, given the critical shortage of housing across the State, unnecessary or unjustified reductions in density are not supported where such reductions result in a significant loss of homes. We cannot stand over or justify this

Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who was in Donegal in recent weeks, where he met with residents and saw the condition of these houses. There is an urgency in that some of the houses are in appalling conditions, are clearly unsafe and families are still living in them … same time, they live on a dangerous flood plain. Of course, those houses should never have been granted planning permission. We inherit the legacy of what came before us. I appreciate the Minister has agreed to the principle of relocation but there is anxiety that this could drag

underpin, for future generations, basic utilities for economic development and for the very basic supply of water itself. We acknowledge there is a housing crisis. Water will enable us to build more houses. If we do not get this done, there will be thousands and thousands of houses

raise the topic of URDF or its successor, the new cities and towns initiative. I welcome the Taoiseach's announcement yesterday that the housing Minister had raised this at Cabinet and that a new round of funding will be provided for populated areas which are in desperate need … towns like Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Naas are all areas which have seen huge population growth in the past 15 years and new housing continues to be built in these areas. This is being done without much State investment in communities or facilities. URDF funding typically had been

friendly postman calling to the door and handing in a letter may be the only person who the person in that house sees for the day. The postman might bring a bit of news for people, put a smile on their face, have a bit of gossip … maybe a parcel from America at Christmastime, and it was a big deal when it came, but now there are parcels for houses every day because people are buying everything from the kitchen sink to items of clothing. Everything one could think of comes from Amazon. I should

seven years is a bit long, and I take that point, but I am speaking more generally. I will ask the Minister for housing for his observations. We are committing unprecedented sums of money to local authorities on housing across a whole range of headings. Only today … authorities tend to use it for other reasons or in different ways. They spend an amount on the deep retrofit and refurbishment of houses

move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2026. This is urgent legislation, intended to ensure legal certainty for wards of court who are moving to a decision … granted a waiver of pre-legislative scrutiny for the Bill. Nonetheless, it is vital that all legislation is properly considered by the Houses of the Oireachtas and I look forward to having the opportunity today and tomorrow to listen to the views and concerns of Members of this

There has been no ambiguity regarding what I have previously said in the House. This is the first time Deputy Byrne has raised this issue in the House with me on oral questions. There has been no ambiguity regarding this issue from my point of view … verification or whether it believes age verification is a necessary tool. Deputy Byrne might use the opportunity this evening to enlighten the House as to where exactly her party stands on this issue

agree with the Deputy. To be honest, unfortunately, it is not isolated to one cohort in society. People in this House get their fair share of it as well and it is totally unwarranted. Whether a person is in Opposition or Government, there is a common thread that … name on a ballot paper and get in here. The abuse some people get, particularly women Members of this House and the other House, is absolutely unbelievable. These nameless and faceless trolls hide behind makey-uppy names and invariably have a flag of some description stuck on after

secure home, this child's education is going to be seriously impacted. We have people in my constituency stuck on the council housing list for ten, 12, 15 and more years. We have so-called affordable housing where a three-bedroom house is over €.0.5 million. On what

refurbish vacant homes. Everybody knows that is simply not enough. In Limerick, the number one issue raised with me is the need for housing. There are approximately 2,000 people on Limerick's housing list and these figures are growing. People are waiting years without any prospect … quit has left many people desperate with nowhere to go. It is time the Government provided proper funding, turned vacant local authority houses into homes, improved the tenant in situ scheme and restored the funding that was there for it, restored funding to homeless prevention schemes and increased

increasing numbers of people, particularly younger people, beg in the streets. Even older people are not spared the impact of the failed housing policies of successive Governments. What society can claim to be fair when homelessness within it continues to climb? What Government could possibly hold its head … people across this country and in my constituency. During the local election campaign two years ago, I knocked on the door of one house in Terenure. The woman who lived there came to the door. Within minutes, she was in tears. Her young son was inside

very specific committee on artificial intelligence, the legislation has gone to the enterprise committee. I appreciate the reason the rules of the House say that has to happen but we make the point that the AI office is about more than just enterprise. On the imminent recruitment … learn. I mentioned the awareness campaign and the general public. We need to look at doing it in here internally then within Leinster House as well so that people become very much aware of the transformational powers, positive and negative, of AI. We are using AI products

welcome the opportunity to address the House. I sincerely thank Deputy Byrne, as Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and the overall committee for the important work they have undertaken in their first interim report, which is the subject of this motion. The extensive engagement … direct ads based on profiling when the user is a minor. It has been noted on a number of recent occasions in this House that several investigations are ongoing on these matters and the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration are examining

150th anniversary of that important event is approaching in April this year and I commend the Deputy for raising this issue in the House this morning. Obviously, the State gets involved in many official commemorations. Aside from that, it is important that we recognise as a community … elected representatives in this House that we also have a responsibility and an ability to celebrate great historical events. The Department, in which I am not the Minister, has done a very good job of respectfully commemorating important events that happened 100, 150 and 200 years

think we all have to admit that we stumble from disaster to disaster in this House. We had the SNA disaster last night. We have the disaster of housing with 17,000 people who are homeless in this country. Now we are talking about the disaster … medical students, from doctors to nurses, are leaving this country because there is nothing there for them. They cannot afford to buy a house. They do not want to be in business in this country, and rightly so. People who study medicine want to be carers for people

From listening to speakers across this House, there is clearly huge pressure on our national GP system. I acknowledge the extent of the work by Deputy Toole during the formation of the Government. The knowledge she has from her first-hand experience in healthcare is something we need … what is best. Too often, we see they are not being listened to. The clear solutions Deputy Toole has constantly raised in this House are admirable. I can definitely learn more and more. I am an engineer and do not know much about healthcare but she does

Minister of State the upset this has caused. He will have heard it from his constituents, as well as Members of this House. I want to address the circular. It is deeply disrespectful the role SNAs play. It does not properly define the spectrum of issues they have … symptomatic of an official view that we should be restricting access to special needs assistants, not broadening it. I asked questions in the House about how much it would cost to provide a special needs assistant in every classroom in the country. I am sorry

speaking. They asked me to say the circular that still defines the role needs to change. That has been said across the House today. The Government committed to the update of the circular alongside the work force development plan. This work must be done properly and in consultation … families are stretched in north Dublin, particularly in Dublin Bay North. Schools are under pressure. Inclusion is something we talk about in this House and it must be visible in our classrooms. I thank Minister of State again for his visit to St. Michael's House Special National

racism. To be very clear, I primarily blame the Government. Deputy Simon Harris has tried to blame minorities and refugees for the housing crisis. That is pitiable and abominable but it is really not surprising. If Sinn Féin thinks this is going to push back against its supporters … wealth that exists in this society. This Government has a record budget surplus but it has never used it to resolve the housing crisis. We have had a housing crisis for 12 or 13 years now, since way before the recent migration. Migration has also gone down

These statistics were provided by the Red Cross. I debated this with Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson on RTÉ radio. There is an implication that refugees are affecting the housing market. That has been said lots of times. It has been said about Donegal. They are not. Sinn … Féin needs to point out the source of the housing crisis. It is Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael handing things over to vulture funds. We should not blame minorities

IPAS accommodation. I do not know why or how any such statement should or could be controversial. The Minister has essentially told the House that the owners of properties essentially held all the cards in terms of the contract negotiations that took place. When discussing the previous amendment … informing the public. The lack of transparency has allowed what I have described again and again as massive profiteering. The Minister told this House that we were in a very difficult situation and if someone came forward with an offer of property, they held all the cards

some of them. I was not being rude; I swear. I thank the Minister of State for his visit to St. Michael’s House today. I have often seen him in special schools in north Dublin. It is great to see him there, taking that hands-on approach … pride they showed could not be more topical for this debate. We saw that investment is needed in Baldoyle and St. Michael’s House. It is needed in St. Michael’s House and across north Dublin, especially, as I am always saying to the Minister of State

mentioned. I also want to bring the Minister's attention to the case of Seán Horan, a resident in St. Michael's House in Ballymun. I would really welcome the engagement with the Department about it but the system needs to be changed. According to Seán's mother … entered mainstream school and is in fifth year but is now being removed from St. Michael's House. His is mother abided by all the rules but we are not providing adequate funding for the north side. Seán's mother is worried and he does not know where

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

been made under the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan in reducing delays to major public infrastructure projects, particularly in the areas of housing, water treatment and transport. [74922/26

running below profile in 2026 as outlined in August's Fiscal Monitor; and the implications this may have for the timely delivery of housing, transport, water and energy infrastructure projects. [68544/26

targets and introduce a strategic framework, as recommended in the Future Forty report, with medium and long-term goals for infrastructure provision across housing, transport, energy and water services. [68424/26

euro area monetary policy since 2015, including the ECB's asset purchase programmes and the subsequent tightening of interest rates, on Irish house prices, rents and the general cost-of-living; if so, the findings of such assessment; if not, the reason; and if he will make

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which body has ultimate authority for interpreting the provisions of the local government superannuation scheme in relation to ill-health retirement and professional added years, namely the Department, local authorities, MyPay, or another body

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether professional added years awarded under the local government superannuation scheme are subject to clawback where an employee retires on certified ill-health grounds after reaching 60 years-of-age; the legislative basis for his Department

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's policy regarding members of the local government superannuation scheme who retire on certified ill-health grounds after attaining the minimum retirement age of 60 years; whether such retirements are regarded as ill-health

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which a homeowner in an affected apartment or duplex can access the apartment and duplex defects remediation scheme where applications must be made by a management company that does not own the property

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a member of the local government superannuation scheme who entered local authority service prior to 1 April 2004 and who was awarded professional added years in accordance with the scheme retains the full benefit

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in the case of a member of the local government superannuation scheme who entered local authority service prior to 1 April 2004, who is entitled to professional added years under the local government superannuation scheme

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the ethics framework for SPC sectoral members, given public concern about the data-centre zoning in the Naas Local Area Plan 2021–2027. [75222/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the checks that exist to ensure a person who served on an SPC while a development plan or local area plan was being prepared did not take part in deliberations on zoning

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether sectoral nominees to local authority Strategic Policy Committees must make declarations of interest under Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001; and whether those declarations must cover directorships of companies