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long-needed building project, especially for the junior school, on that campus. I have been raising this matter since being elected to this House, and even beforehand, with previous Ministers for education and departmental officials. To put this into context, the school building that houses the junior national … only school that requires attention in terms of buildings. I will be raising those other schools on the floor of the House. This is one in particular, however, where I think there is a very acute need, especially in the context of the junior school. The school authorities

years in this Chamber. It is an ongoing issue for Limerick. The late former Limerick TD, Mick Lipper, raised the issue in this House as far back as December 1977. Unfortunately, it remains a challenge that many Limerick communities continue to face. There remains a prevalence of horses … green areas and others are often stabled in derelict council houses or properties. In one day in February in the space of half an hour, I counted 50 horses grazing in urban areas. During my regular visits to many of Limerick's urban areas, it is apparent that

adult children? It is a question that causes sleepless nights for so many people. Ultimately, we need a clear, compassionate pathway for lifelong housing and care in the community for adults with disabilities, so families can have certainty and peace of mind. Will the Government commit to developing … safe, permanent home and the supports they need, not just for today but for the future? All of us have been in many houses in our constituencies and we have met elderly parents caring for middle-aged children with disabilities. It is heartbreaking that they are in their

Taxes Consolidation Act, following an amendment in the Finance Bill. This concludes the social welfare and budget measures in the Bill. As the House will be aware, the forthcoming introduction of My Future Fund will take place from January. This is a transformative scheme that will improve … Oireachtas in 2024, or the policy intent that underlines the Act. I will go through the amendments now for the benefit of the House. In section 15(1), paragraphs (a) and (b) relate to the change in implementation timelines out to January 2026. Paragraph (a) restores the original

from which to pursue this work. An early learning and childcare planning matters working group with officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Education and Youth was established in 2024 and has met on a number of occasions across … population and are fit for purpose and balancing the need to ensure sufficient provision for children and families, regardless of the size or housing type of the development, with ensuring that buildings are effectively operated as intended when they were first built. In parallel, planning is under

challenge that should not be there in the first instance. I have always been of the view that where you have housing, you need to have early learning and childcare facilities. You need to have schools. You need to have, as the Deputy said, community developed around … date and time is not within my gift and the Deputies will appreciate that. That is a matter for the Minister for housing but I have engaged with him and will continue to do so. Significant work has been undertaken by the working group, some

have said in the House before, I reject both the assertions from the Department of public expenditure and the comments made earlier this year on housing and data centres. They are not correct. Government policy is clear on this. We have a growing population and growing housing stock

refer to a person who has worked abroad to save money in order to come back and build a house in Ireland. Due to the contribution they are making to the cost of building, they are unable to receive any grants and are also excluded from solar energy … borrow a certain amount of money. They may also receive support from parents. Where parents provide support, that brings people building a house under the qualifying criteria. Therefore, they do not receive any grants. Parents are providing funding to help a son or daughter build a house

inadequate response. He acknowledged that the HSE is facing significant challenges in the provision of residential placements and in the availability of suitable housing and staffing, as well as the increasing costs of providing residential care and the changing needs of service users. He has outlined the challenge … just let them go on. People who have disabilities have every right to a decent standard of living, an independent life and supported housing and to be able to live a quality life like anybody else, but as disabled people explain over and over, along with their carers

Cork, I spoke to the nurse there who told me she started working for Simon 20 years ago when the issue was 100% housing need. She now believes it split 50:50 between drug addiction and housing needs. We make it unequivocally clear that those who sell … drugs should be treated as the criminals they are. They are making easy money off vulnerable people. Based on what some in this House say on this motion, the phrase "running with the hare and hunting with the hounds" is quite appropriate. Some people have offered sympathy

welcome an Teachta Boyd Barrett back to the House. His return is great news. Workers and families in this State are under savage pressure. They are being hit from every direction: soaring rents, sky-high energy bills, rip-off groceries, childcare that costs more than a mortgage … insurance premiums that are through the roof. Yesterday’s Future Forty report from the Department of Finance clearly sets out how housing costs have skyrocketed in line with a cost of living that has spun out of control. Everywhere people turn, there is another bill, another squeeze, another

this. It is one hike after the other and it is the same with the property tax. The Minister talked about the housing report as if it was some great report for the Government. That report said there will be 15 more years of housing crisis under … Government's watch. Another generation of young people will be locked into a housing crisis and locked out of any chance of having their own home. That is the shameful record of this Government. We cannot take 15 more years. I have asked the Minister a simple question

know where to start in coming back to the Minister on his response. We all know Government housing policy has abjectly failed. The Government failed to deliver homes or meet its own targets. We saw vastly elevated and false targets last year, and thousands of people in homelessness … Minister suggests. Rather, we seek to ensure decent homes for people. I make no apology for seeking decent homes and decent housing standards as our councillors are consistently doing across the country. The Government needs to take responsibility for the failure and the failure in particular to adopt

policy change basis and this is reflected in that. We will take further decisions in terms of delivery of infrastructure and housing right across our economy. That will be the new housing plan and the infrastructure reforms it will underpin. There are issues that we need … honest about. For example, parts of EU law do not allow us to deliver levels of housing and infrastructure which are required

remarks in that context. Since 2024, approximately 59 publications have been authored. In 2025, we have had the Intergenerational Dependence on Social Housing working paper from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; the Review of Social Housing Delivery and Spend from my Department in January

comments made by the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. There were a couple of inaccuracies in his statement. The Minister told the House that the appeals process is getting faster but his own Department gave me a response to a parliamentary question that shows that … means is we are refusing to nod along to misinformation. There has been no shortage of debate, be it in the media, the House or the committee chamber. We looked at the international protection Bill 2025 for over seven hours without much in the way of Government contribution

distinct centres. There is what we would have known as the golf hotel, with 300 or 400 rooms. I understand it is still housing refugees but it is separate from the Citywest facility. The Citywest hotel houses more than 1,000 Ukrainians and then the leisure centre … Dublin did. However, I was there just as things started to get a little more complex and it was not just Ukrainians being housed there. I wrote a little paper on what I saw, which I will forward to the Minister of State. My time is up. Those

come to this. As I said on 18 September, there is a real risk to social cohesion if we do not put our house in order in a fair and humane manner as quickly as possible. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and the Minister, Deputy … team and the ministerial team. However, as our population is increasing rapidly, I sought information previously on capacity audits in the areas of housing, healthcare, education and transport in order to determine in advance the services that are required for those who legitimately apply for and qualify

very interesting debate and I acknowledge the range of views expressed across the House. When I was making notes for my closing remarks, I wrote that I would like to thank all of the Deputies who contributed to this important discussion. I said at the start that … here because we have asked them here. They are here because they are providing essential services, keeping the health service going, building the houses that we need and working in hi-tech businesses. We have gone out and looked for them to contribute and build our society. They

positive intent of what is proposed to ensure the network development priorities will prioritise the connection and supply of hospitals, Garda stations and houses. PR6, when the Deputies see it published, will identify exactly what this grid investment is underpinning. That is underpinning the houses that we need … cannot accept them. I thank the Deputies for their support for this legislation. It is critical and important. Everyone in this House recognises the urgent need for increased investment in our grid to ensure that we can continue to expand renewables and drive costs down for domestic

been a lot of talk recently about wastewater treatment systems around the State, or the lack of them. It is also about housing, where people who have made agreements to go into their homes have not been able to do so because the connections have not been there … amendment also states: (10) The Board shall, within 6 months of the commencement of this Act and annually thereafter, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report detailing: (a) the purposes for which the payment was applied [so necessary oversight] including a breakdown of project type

trustees on their behalf under an approved scheme; any future proposal to alter this arrangement shall require prior approval by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. (9) The Board may only use this payment to invest in projects that have been identified as part of a prioritisation … connections for data centres. (10) The Board shall, within 6 months of the commencement of this Act and annually thereafter, lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report detailing: (a) the purposes for which the payment was applied including a breakdown of project type; (b) the purposes

attacks, including in Drogheda over the weekend and in City West before that, should serve as a stark reminder to everyone in this House how careful and responsible we must be when discussing and debating immigration policy. These disgraceful attacks are not reflective of the views … dependent on attracting the talent and the people who make that contribution. It is also important to be clear that everybody in this House should be able to have a broader debate on what system of migration we have. Everyone on this side of the House shares

with her family today. I congratulate President-elect Catherine Connolly. She will be a President for all and will be missed in this House, but we know she will serve with the same integrity, diligence and compassion she served with here. “The house is on fire ... Please answer … counter the dangerous lies being peddled by far-right agitators online? This Government has failed miserably to deliver on its own commitments on housing and critical public services. Instead of taking responsibility for that, however, it is now pointing fingers at immigrants

many colleagues, but let us get down to brass tacks. This Bill is about providing the electricity infrastructure that we need to build houses to start to erode the deficit in housing provision. If we do not do this, we will not be able … simple. This is an absolutely necessary measure to allow the ESB to put in place the electricity infrastructure that is going to allow houses to come on stream faster and across the whole country. If there was no other reason to welcome this Bill, that would

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the Monard Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) in Cork; and the proposed timelines and targets regarding same. [66440/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the proposed connection of 69 residential properties in a location (details supplied) to the public wastewater network; the current position regarding the €992,000 funding allocation understood to be available for the project

Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66503/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will review the exclusion of local authority tenants living in homes acquired under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2024 from the tenant purchase scheme, particularly where tenants were originally

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding is available through his Department or The Heritage Council for the development of feasibility studies for tourism and heritage projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66495/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has been informed of the significant ongoing costs being incurred by 69 households in a location (details supplied) operating and maintaining private wastewater treatment systems, including electricity and maintenance costs; whether he will

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of an occasion recently where a fire engine was unable to access Gabhla Island in County Donegal in an emergency; and the action he will take to ensure this does not happen

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide assurances that members of the fire service on Arranmore Island will be retained in their current numbers; and if changes to arrangements on the island are being planned. [66705/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government has considered reviewing their national policy regarding fire services on islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66702/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update in respect of the issue of the voting age that was examined by An Coimisiún Toghcháin as part of its research programme from 2024 to 2026; and if An Coimisiún

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an updated timeline on the forthcoming new planning guidelines in relation to the rear of property buildings; if he will provide details on the changes that will be included in relation to such buildings

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current average length of time taken by Tailte Éireann to process applications for the first registration of land or property titles; and the measures being taken to reduce processing times. [66882/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has provided any guidance or instructions to local authorities regarding the financial contribution scheme for age-friendly rightsizing. [66959/26

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidelines available to planners within local authorities to assess the impact of a high concentration of renewable energy infrastructure within a rural area; and the extent to which the landscape and local community

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current plans for retrofitting all local authority homes including the timeline and estimated cost per year; the number of homes retrofitted for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the construction cost of building one, two, three, four bed homes on local authority land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67149/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and size of homes bought by each local authority in 2021 and the first two quarters of 2022; and the cost of these homes to each local authority; and to make a statement

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of acquiring one-, two-, three- and four-bed homes outside Dublin under the buy and renew scheme; and to make a statement on the matter. [67146/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of acquiring one, two, three and four bed homes in Dublin under the buy and renew scheme; and to make a statement on the matter. [67145/26

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures in place to assess the impact of a high concentration of renewable energy infrastructure within a rural area; the person or body responsible for carrying out that assessment; and the extent to which

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full cost of retrofitting all local authority owned homes by 2030; the estimated average cost per home in 2023; the number to be carried out in 2026; and to make a statement

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full-year cost of increasing HAP limits to the average cost of rents in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67165/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full-year cost of the Traveller Accommodation Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67162/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of the emergency accommodation centres for homeless people in Dublin; the number of places in each; the cost of running each; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the estimated full-year cost of providing emergency accommodation for homeless people in Dublin in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67158/26