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opportunity to update Members on the issue of vacancy and dereliction. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. Tackling vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for the Government. The reuse of vacant and derelict … properties can provide much-needed housing, while also being a catalyst to revitalising communities. A number of national structures have now been established, including a dedicated vacant homes unit in my Department, a full-time vacant homes officer in each local authority and the implementation of a vacant

welcome this motion brought forward by the Social Democrats. It follows motions put before this House before. The Labour Party has raised this numerous times, particularly for young carers who are really discriminated against. If I may reach back into the annals, there was a Deputy, Willie Penrose … timelines for doing it. While the Minister will, in fairness, increase income disregards and all of that, he needs to commit to this House how long it will be before he fully gets rid of it. He has hinted at it previously. Will he be brave enough

supposed to provide their own water. They have been asked to do so because the water is not adequate in Kenmare. No private housing scheme has been built by any individual in Kenmare in the past 20 years because of the treatment plant. Some €40 million has been … Minister to address this. The Minister is doing a lot of things, but he must make sure local authorities build houses again. They are not building any houses in places like Gneeveguilla, Currow and Scartaglin, or other local parishes

Palestinian Territory has concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. That is no longer just my view or the view of this House or this country; it is now the view of a UN commission of inquiry. This is a formal conclusion of what we have been … around the world to urgently address the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza as endorsed by all parties and groups in this House in our debate yesterday. Reports of attacks are extraordinarily concerning. I urge all parties to refrain from any unlawful or violent act against

wish to touch on today - it is something I have discussed with the Minister of State and raised on the floor of this House before - is the large-scale infrastructure fund, which was announced last November, prior to my election to this House. Tipperary GAA had applied … Tipperary in terms of delivering infrastructure. These statements are on the positive impact on the sporting landscape of this funding. Those in the House who represent Tipperary - I see one or two Members from the Rebel County here - we know the positive impact the outcome

into October and legislation regarding retrospective payments for homeowners under the defective concrete scheme still has not been published despite the Taoiseach's housing Minister in June saying it would be. I expect the funds will be made available in the Government's budget next week … properly address this crisis yet again it will have failed impacted homeowners once again. In July, I informed the Taoiseach that the houses in Elm Park, Buncrana, face immediate dangers. These houses were built with defective concrete and built on a floodplain. In response, he assured me that

going to be important in that regard. Offshore wind energy is critical for this. That is why I have convened a clearing house, involving industry and the Government, to deal with macro issues around delivering offshore wind generation as quickly as we possibly can to enable … wind in particular, and some onshore wind and some solar. It is interesting. There are people who have come to me in the House saying they are against solar energy, wind energy and fossil fuels. I do not know where we are going to get our energy

again. The Global Sumud Flotilla is a symbol of justice, peace and humanity but it is also an action. I speak for the House when I say that the rights of all citizens in the flotilla, including Irish citizens, to engage in peaceful international protest must be protected … saying. Senator Chris Andrews, whose commitment to this issue is decades long, and he should probably still be a Member of this House given his commitment to the issue, is not an actor for Hamas. Deputy Heneghan, despite some curious associations within the House, is not an actor

increased so drastically. The answer referred to market trends and risk profiles, but what about fairness and accountability? Let me remind the House of a case I raised here in the Dáil. A man with full, comprehensive health insurance - it is not just car insurance we should … been put in place, many people come to me to say they still cannot get insurance. When you are trying to buy a house, you are told straight up you will not be able to get insurance after buying the house even though the flood structures

number of people both at risk of poverty and in material deprivation; if he is aware that 'consistent poverty' fails to account for housing costs; if he will consider using both 'material deprivation' and 'at risk of poverty after housing costs' as alternative measures for future national child … will ensure all research commissioned on the topic of child poverty utilises both 'material deprivation' and 'at risk of poverty after housing costs' when measuring poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50375/25

child poverty because it captures income-related and deprivation-related aspects. In addition, we use CSO data on the financial burden of housing costs, while poverty rates by tenure status are reported annually in our social impact monitor. That also tracks progress against national poverty reduction targets … approach to measuring poverty rates after housing costs should take into account the supports available through HAP and rent supplement. We are preparing a new roadmap for social inclusion for 2026 to 2030 and considering the inclusion of CSO SILC data on the at-risk-of-poverty rate

highlight some of the great work in my constituency to emphasise the valuable work happening across Mayo. One example is the Kilmovee community housing centre. It is a small community but the social enterprise there is doing tremendous work. It is an approved housing body, runs social homes … also done great work on the AstroTurf in the community. The loop walk is a huge asset. There are plans for ten more houses in the area as well as a group home. I commend the great work of the manager, Trisha Duffy, and Tommy Horan, the chairperson

conscience and a demand that we stop managing this crisis and start ending it. We have to stop treating homelessness as a housing issue alone. This is a childhood issue and an issue of trauma and justice. A child who grows up without a stable home is more … this motion states, the ESRI research shows that one in five children, over 225,000, live in families below the poverty line when housing costs are accounted for. How can this Government justify spending over €630 million a year to reduce VAT on food and catering hospitality while

have an older car. What are you supposed to do if that is the only car you can afford? When it comes to housing, rent in Ireland is incredibly expensive. Getting a social home has a years-long waiting list. If you can get a mortgage, you will … That is under 100 homes purchased in a nine-year period. That figure is quite pathetic. The Government parties have presided over this housing crisis for nine years. In those nine years, they have seen homelessness figures soar along with the number of young people stuck living

This House can talk about many different things. Today we are talking about child poverty. I thank the Labour Party for bringing this motion forward. I have to say that talk is cheap and action is limited when it comes to child poverty and this Government's record … worked in some of Dublin's poorest communities for close to 30 years. I do not need to remind people in this House that there was an economic boom and there have also been crashes. The economy has been shattered but it has also been fantastic

here to help him, if he will let me help him. I am pointing out faults in Departments, not only the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Minister is being told what is in front of him. Why does he not let people in this House … help, who have enough experience to know that if a profit is not being made then they are not in business? In this House, if you lose all the profits, you are still in business and you get promoted. Let us stop the rot. The Minister must

quantified its position or said where that money will come from. Once again, it is more magic numbers, like the 1 million houses it is going to build, and not a single acknowledgement of its record when last in government, when in five years it managed to turn … housing crisis of too many houses into

holding them back. The Taoiseach has said on many occasions that everything is on the table when it comes to addressing our housing and investment challenges, and particularly the role private investment can play in delivering apartments and mixed-use developments. This must include and be linked … These properties currently generate no economic return for their owners, for the local economy or for the Exchequer. In the midst of a housing shortage returning them to productive use, whether for commercial or residential purposes, is a clear public good. If nothing is done then vacancy will

stubbornly high. Failure to act now will mean that these empty buildings continue to blight our main streets year after year while a housing crisis deepens. I am calling for a specific ring-fenced approach, reform of the existing regulatory and grant system, and a targeted relief that … applies where a building is actually brought back into use. In the midst of a housing shortage, returning them to productive use is a public good. This is also about restoring our towns, creating houses, creating jobs and giving our communities the confidence they deserve

thank the Ceann Comhairle. I appreciate the promotion. I raise the importance of the housing aid and housing adaption grants that are administered by the local authorities. In particular, I refer to a letter recently received by all public representatives in County Kildare stating that the grants have … people are going through trauma and concern about the quality of their lives. Will the Minister raise this issue with the Minister for housing? Kildare County Council needs additional funding. I understand it is not the only local authority involved, but at a time when people need them

thereof in such a manner as causes or is likely to cause fear in another person. Curtilage is any land immediately surrounding a house or other building which forms an enclosure around the house or building, but it does not refer to land beyond that, such as farmland … with the scourge of trespassing, which is continuing to make a misery of so many people's lives. I commend it to the House

pleased to address the House as Minister of State with special responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy. I will talk about vaping and the use of other nicotine products by our young people and what the Government is doing about this public health … forward to doing my part to ensure that this legislation is enacted as soon as possible and to have the support of this House. Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product. The evidence is not clear yet on their potential health harms but we know that they contain

this important debate. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I are very much aware of the issues of bringing the legislation before the House. Some TDs said we are not moving quickly enough in respect of it, but we are. It is a priority. I assure Members … about vaping. As has been said, the targeting of younger age groups has been very effective. I want to make sure that this House knows that a great deal of work is being done by the Department, the Minister and me. We are working on this. There

structure as to how those fees are paid. This has resulted in a situation that I brought to the attention of the House previously whereby those who have been granted civil legal aid certificates cannot find solicitors to represent them because fewer solicitors are taking on this work … Legal Aid Board. The report recommends that this review should examine the Legal Aid Board's ability to recruit and retain in-house solicitors and sufficient external expertise and look at the salaries of current and future in-house solicitors, private practitioner fees and counsel fees

engineering decisions that are still happening. Chartered engineers, under the original scheme, made recommendations for full demolition and yet chartered engineers from the Housing Agency continue to overturn them. People are being told their homes are safe when they are not. Complaints have been made to Engineers Ireland … Will the Minister and the Government use the powers under the Public Service Management Act 1997 to immediately issue ministerial guidelines to the Housing Agency to stop issuing partial fixes and ensure full remediation of affected homes? Will the Government use its ministerial authority to direct the Housing

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if an IPAS inspection of Dolcain House accommodation centre, Monastery Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 (report reference IPPSI0073) has been carried out since the most recently published inspection report dated 1 August

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; and the number of student beds no longer available to students

Migration the number of persons who have been issued with a deportation order that are currently in IPAS accommodation; and the number being housed in private rental or State owned residential accommodation. [65528/26

assess the success or failure of the proposed Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, given that no anticipated reduction in demand for housing, education, healthcare or other public services has been identified by him; whether such reductions form part of the policy objectives underpinning the reforms

list for such beds, in the Cork city area; and the additional dementia capacity the HSE states has come onstream, including at Heather House, specifying location, bed numbers and registration status. [65377/26

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 14 July 2026, which confirmed a meeting of EU Housing Ministers in Dublin in November 2026, to provide details of the Department that will lead responsibility for that meeting; the estimated cost of the meeting

stage of drafting; whether Government approval has been received for publication; the anticipated timetable for pre-legislative scrutiny, publication and passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas; whether it remains the Government's intention to progress the legislation before the end of 2026; and if he will make

National Transport Authority to address capacity pressures on bus routes serving western Galway, including Knocknacarra and Route 412, 411, 410 during peak house, prior to the introduction of the new BusConnects Galway network and fleet from 2027 onwards and accounting for these routes soon going to tender

aware of concerns that the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the proposed route is restricting local residents from obtaining planning permission for housing developments in the affected areas. [63205/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if the economic assessment of MetroLink will take account of the potential for additional housing and development around stations as a result of the increased public transport capacity provided by the project; and if he will make a statement

there are plans to include additional provisions in the drafting of the Bill; and the proposed timeframe for publication and progression through the Houses of the Oireachtas. [64109/26

that consideration; the reason that figure was not disclosed to Dáil Éireann when the disposal of the vessel was addressed in the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60570/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the average price of three-bed houses constructed and sold that were supported by HBFI since the body began lending and by, each individual year, in tabular form. [61018/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the breakdown of end purchaser of housing units supported by HBFI lending that has been completed, in tabular form. [61022/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance of the 9,258 housing units that have HBFI funding but have ‘not yet commenced/other’ according to the mid-year update, the number that were approved for funding more than one year ago, two years ago, and three

Finance the position regarding any review of the help to buy scheme that would account for a couple seeking to buy a house where only one has previously owned property, resulting in the couple not being in a position to qualify; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide a list of all housing related tax expenditures for buyers, renters, landlords and developers and to provide the annual expenditure for each expenditure from 2020 to 2025 and the individual allocations for 2026, in tabular

income first time buyers who, despite earning above average incomes, are unable to purchase a home due to the gap between incomes and house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63587/26

operate as a Garda station; the current annual cost of securing and maintaining each property; whether each property has been considered for housing or another public-service use; and if he will provide details of any proposed disposal or redevelopment. [60962/26

Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the action he is taking given that Transport Infrastructure Ireland is opposed to the development of housing at Fassaroe, Bray, County Wicklow because of the inadequacy of the M11 to cope with traffic volumes and the lack of sufficient public transport

authorities regarding the expansion of urban speed limit zones and the introduction of transitional speed zones on approach roads to towns where future housing development is planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56754/26

renewed in the recent past; the person or body that has been the successful contractor; the changes this will mean for any in-house or contracted services such as cleaning and security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56808/26

will assess the impact that the current help to buy scheme eligibility criteria are having on the delivery of one-off rural housing by first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59049/26

which the Department was informed of it; the reason that figure was withheld from Dáil Éireann when the disposal was addressed in the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56424/26

partners have more favourable rules, whether he believes this rule is a disincentive to EFT investment and encourages investors into the housing market as an alternative investment, whether he will carry out a review of the deemed disposal rule; and if he will make a statement