Search the record

future and improve services that families rely on. It attempts to balance day-to-day pressures with long-term capital investment in housing, hospitals, schools and safer streets. Housing funding will reach over €11.2 billion in 2026, up a massive 20% with €5.19 billion allocated for capital investment … social homes and continue the acquisitions programme. Homelessness services rise to €563.5 million, up sharply from last year. Water infrastructure, essential to new housing, gets a 29% increase for Uisce Éireann to €2.2 billion, with overall water services at about €2.5 billion. These are the building blocks

parents and fundraising activities to close the gap. The capitation changes are very welcome and I look forward to future increases as well. Housing supply has got a lot of attention in the Chamber in the last few days. The measures introduced by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe … clear signal of intent to start working on supply-side measures for housing. I welcome that. I recently read an academic piece by a learned housing academic and of the five measures advocated, none were supply-side measures. There are 98,000 apartments with planning permission

deliver for the record number of over 16,350 people now homeless as the Government did not take any decisive action on housing to help the most vulnerable in society." The Simon Communities of Ireland in a similar vein said: "It is deeply disappointing that yet again there … mention of homeless prevention and homelessness remains invisible within the budget and also in the ever-present conversation around housing". We know last year fewer social homes were delivered than the year before. We know the budget allocation for local authorities for social housing for this year

With our new housing plan, we are developing the homelessness prevention framework. Significant work has been ongoing in relation to that, working with all the NGOs. I acknowledge the good work by Focus Ireland and the Simon Communities of Ireland. When I became Minister for housing, the first … focus is absolutely on reducing that homeless number. It will be done through a number of different measures, including delivering on social housing, but also for those who are entering into homelessness, preventions, exits out as quickly as possible and working with people in emergency accommodation. I have

That is exactly what the Department of Finance did, working with the Department of housing. It looked at how the LDA is financed and how it can be financed into the future and examining the remit of the LDA. We have agreed to expand its role … will be absolutely critical. It will very soon be the largest housing delivery body in this country. We are fully committed to expanding its role and using financing to ensure that happens. In its gearing up it was very reliant on what are often referred to as turnkeys

reported on RTÉ's "Prime Time" last May that there were delays. AHBs said there were delays. It cannot be easy for approved housing bodies to be publicly critical of the Department of housing and the delays in because they rely on the Department for their funding. They … others - that there is huge uncertainty in relation to the approval of these cost rental affordable projects and the social housing associated with it. The Minister and the Department might be putting it across that these are questions relating to the different points at which projects are approved

that straightforward either due to the different views. We are keeping this under review but my priority is actually delivering on housing. It is a basic necessity, one of the most fundamental basic necessities, for people to have a home and to have a roof over their head … essential in the way we do things. That is where my priority is right now. I am not against a referendum on putting housing into the Constitution but it is not where my priority is right now and certainly not in my first year as the Minister

local authorities were able to match the rate of delivery of Cork county then the rate of delivery of social housing and affordable housing right across the board would be much stronger. I commend the work of the councillors and the local authority there, of which the Deputy … area of Cork North-West he can see that Cork County Council is really accelerating and progressing the rate of delivery of social housing, which is impressive. We just need to keep pushing on and making sure that they are supported by us to do that

also been strong with croí cónaithe, as well as with the first home scheme. There is a variety of opportunities there to provide housing solutions for people. I appreciate the Deputy asking this question. If there are any other specifics then the Department can come back … Deputy on the affordable housing schemes or the social housing schemes

Minister, Deputy Browne, sought that. The increase in allocation to enable 10,000 houses to be built, as opposed to any additional leases and so on, is also very significant. With respect, the Deputy cannot say it is about the market being king in terms of housing because … Government is the biggest single investor in housing at the moment

direction. Is it any wonder that so many young people do not see a future for themselves in Ireland when they see extortionate housing costs while their lives are on hold, stuck in their childhood bedrooms? How can they be expected to put down roots in this country … trying all year to get the Government to agree to set up a special Oireachtas committee on childcare so that everyone across the House could agree on a plan to reduce costs and finally roll out a public model. I ask that the Government please reconsider and commit

shameful. In fact, homeless organisations have said that they are invisible with regard to budget 2026. The measures announced in the budget on housing are all aimed at institutional investors and landlords. Where is the clear commitment to additional funding for homeless prevention measures? It does not exist … cannot cope. In fact, in my own constituency office, I cannot cope. I have tens of people coming to me every week about housing and I have absolutely nothing to tell them. In 2024, just 5% of the homeless budget was spent on category 1 homeless prevention

Minister, Deputy Browne, has outlined, there has been a very significant package of measures announced yesterday to accelerate the delivery of housing and this will be built upon further in the housing plan, which will be published in the coming weeks. I would like to take … introduction of statutory decision-making timelines in line with the Planning and Development Act 2024. I am happy to say to the House that an coimisiún has reduced the cases on hand from nearly 3,700 in May 2023 to approximately 1,350 cases in July of this

commissioned to scaffold the scheme demonstrated those benefits. Last December, when the Dáil first met after the election, in my contribution to the House, I asked what the point was in sitting in these seats and being granted the highest privilege our democracy can bestow … both for the country and, through our country's impact, for the wider world, when I look at the budget presented to the House yesterday, I am left with some fundamental questions about what vision the Government has and what its appetite for reform is. If you have

electricity. We cannot discuss this without tying in with the issue of carbon tax. Many Members of this House took a very populist angle, saying we cannot impose this carbon tax on hard-pressed people. The reality is that if we do not impose the carbon tax, then … fenced enough. I do not think the retrofitting investment overall is enough because it needs to be sped up, particularly for local authority housing. The VAT relief on electric vehicles is extended to 2030, which is very welcome but there is nothing on the charging infrastructure and making

most unfair budgets I have ever seen, even going back to the austerity years. When I walked out of the Houses yesterday I met a well-known activist in a wheelchair. A lot of the Ministers of State will know her and they have great respect … when we have a €10 billion surplus? I just cannot figure out how the Government managed to do that. When we talk about housing, we see there is no further funding for social and affordable housing. It is so unambitious. There is no mention of the more than

have heard that housing is a priority, disability is a priority, child poverty is a priority and climate is a priority. They are all priorities until they are not. For this Government today, we have seen that, in fact, big business and protecting its profits are the Government … childcare for families while rolling out a public model, introduced a weekly cost of disability payment, and turbocharged the delivery of affordable housing. Instead, it of course chose to side with vested interests. There is something quite disingenuous about saying one thing and doing another, which is exactly

invest in our future and to strengthen our foundations." I did not know whether to laugh or cry at that. As the House can imagine, coming from Donegal, we are living with foundations and houses that are crumbling down around us. We are totally abandoned … Donegal, where homes are destroyed and children go to bed at night not knowing if they will wake up in a house that is safe in the morning. It is scandalous. The widespread use of defective concrete across the State has devastated entire communities. It is not just

President is beyond political debate; therefore, so are the candidates running in the upcoming election. I want everybody on both sides of the House to respect that. There is no mention of candidates or the President in this House; they are above political debate. Thank you. That … everybody in the House

living. We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Families are struggling to afford groceries, childcare, energy bills and housing. Yet instead of easing the tax burden, the budget leaves them exposed. The failure to index tax bands to inflation means that more of their … people who keep our country running and they deserve better. There are welcome measures in this budget - increases in social welfare, investment in housing and support for the arts - but, for the average worker earning €40,000 to €60,000 a year, there is no meaningful tax relief

investors with an ill-thought-out and premature reduction in VAT for apartment building, a move that ignores the fundamental issues behind the housing crisis, which is one primarily of supply, from infrastructure to planning, to tendering, to training enough construction workers. It is also not helped … overseas investment policy that places jobs for non-essential workers - localisation workers, for example - in the highest demand housing areas. We have seen a generalised reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector, and while the small café benefits, so, too, does the larger entity that is making massive

precedent for this, given all the crises we have had before. It was right to do it but it shows that this House can act, adapt and be flexible. I have to bring the Tánaiste back to the occupied territories Bill. In my time in this House … scrutiny and we got a report to the Tánaiste well before the summer recess. Will the occupied territories Bill be brought to this House before the end of October

will answer the question but first, Deputy Bacik asked a question about the number of Irish citizens. I want to give the House the best information I have. When I came into this House, we had confirmed that 14 Irish citizens have been detained. I am aware that … commitment to Deputy Smith but not out of a lack of urgency around the occupied territories Bill. I am just conscious that the House goes into recess. I am conscious of budget week and that it is now October but I will work with Opposition parties and spokespeople

happy to update the House on the recently reached community pharmacy agreement and to take an opportunity in this House to recognise the very significant role that pharmacists play in delivering a more accessible and integrated health service across the country. Shortly after becoming Minister for Health … particularly through the unused drugs scheme, as is necessary and appropriate. I am pleased to provide the details of the agreement to the House

Right across cities, towns and villages, there are empty, vacant, and derelict houses and buildings lying idle. They are being left to rot. These are properties and homes where people should be able to live, work and raise families, but instead they are left derelict and vacant. GeoDirectory … been like that for years. It is not just Cork. I have an image of Crumlin village. What could be a lovely house with an extension on it has been boarded up. It is not just that. I have an image of Dublin city centre. A block

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will meet next. [64344/26

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [64294/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [64265/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [64827/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [64905/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [65085/26

primary and post-primary school capacity across north Louth, having regard to the substantial population growth experienced in recent years and the further housing development expected; the additional capacity identified as necessary; and the actions and timelines arising from that review. [65094/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement that has taken place between her Department, Louth County Council, the Housing Agency and relevant utility and infrastructure providers regarding the reservation or acquisition of suitable sites for new schools in the south Dundalk area

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department assessed, prior to requesting local authorities to undertake development plan variations concerning additional land for residential development, the potential for those variations to conflict with existing development plans, regional spatial and economic

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of draft or final Ministerial directions which have arisen from development plan variations undertaken following the recent Ministerial request concerning additional land for residential development; the local authorities concerned; and the reason

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of development plan variations undertaken by local authorities arising from the recent Ministerial request concerning additional land for residential development in respect of which the Office of the Planning Regulator has identified issues

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed national territorial mapping, being progressed through the three regional assemblies to identify areas suitable onshore wind energy development is expected to be completed and published; whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Planning Statement relating to onshore wind energy is expected to be published; whether its publication will be expedited as a priority in 2026, having regard to the Government’s renewable electricity targets

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of appeals involving the rating of agricultural or horticultural buildings have been brought before the Valuation Tribunal since 2020; the number that were successful; and the average length of time taken

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the enforcement mechanisms available to the RTB to identify, investigate and prosecute landlords who fail to register tenancies; to address the reported discrepancy between CSO estimates of private rentals and the number of tenancies registered

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider allowing micro-companies to apply for the vacant above-the-shop grant scheme; and the timeline for the potential inclusion of micro-companies in the scheme. [64554/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is taking to ensure that vacant, derelict and disused buildings in towns and cities are brought back into residential use; whether consideration has been given to introducing stronger obligations on owners

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict residential and potentially residential properties identified nationally; the number of these properties which have been brought back into use in each of the past five years, 2021 to date

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the timely publication of the National Planning Statement relating to onshore wind energy is considered necessary to support the Government’s target of generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and the delivery

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is satisfied that national renewable electricity and onshore wind targets are adequately reflected in Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, local authority development plans and county renewable energy strategies; the engagement his Department has undertaken

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the issuing of an initial draft of new planning guidelines relating to wind energy. [65557/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the finalisation and completion of the Regional Renewable Energy Strategies. [65961/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the commitment to introduce solar planning guidelines in the Programme for Government; the timeline for delivery; if they will be delivered by the end of the year; and if he will

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the onshore wind energy guidelines; if they will published in Q3 2026; and if not, if they will be published by the end of the year; the reason for the ongoing

McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a list of student accommodation facilities which are currently in use housing IPAS applicants and not available to students for the 2026-2027 school year. [64376/26