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whether I comment on my own brief, it would probably be unhelpful if I were to start commenting on the Minister for housing's brief. I hear what the Deputy is saying, and I will mention those points to the Minister. I am not across that section … multifaceted. There are fees, living costs, accommodation costs, transport costs and materials costs. We have been through this a few times in the House, but I will recap. One of the many ways that I hope to tackle the cost of education is by producing a cost

Planning regulations stipulate that new housing developments of up to 75 units must provide a childcare facility with up to 20 places. We are in a childcare crisis and this is simply not working in small, medium and large towns. In my own town of Westport, we recently … separate developments of 50, 48 and 20 units, a total of 118 units, but no new childcare facility. There is a new housing plan coming. Are there any plans to change this stipulation in respect of housing developments

welcome the Minister to the House to deal with what is, at times, a divisive debate in the country at the moment. I have been listening to the previous speakers and, above all else, the one thing I would ask and expect of people in the House … would be reasonable for the person to be returned to the country. It is not, as perhaps has been implied in the House by some, that we are going to be indiscriminately dropping people back into random countries. It is clearly defined in the amending regulations what

Attorney General referred to and relied on by the Government in explaining its policy approach to Bills and resolutions in the Houses of the Oireachtas. To be clear about this, there has been some controversy in recent years about the Attorney General's advice being withheld yet relied … sued, the Attorney General's relationship to the Government is that of lawyer to client. This of course entails no accountability to the Houses of the Oireachtas and involves advising the Government on litigation strategy to defend or defeat legal claims. I think we are all aware that

support care in the community and in the home. I note the Minister of State's bona fides from his contributions in this House and the Seanad and that he is determined to facilitate people to "live in their own homes". I have dealt with a number … cases over the last couple of weeks and a huge issue at the moment is where people are waiting for housing adaptation grants from local authorities, yet they cannot move into their homes because those housing adaptation grants have not been sanctioned. Surely an intervention from the Minister

leading. I thank him for his work on that. This is an exceptionally important time to discuss this issue again in the House, recognising our collective focus on making sure that people can stay at home for as long as possible, that those who are in nursing homes … bring it to the Government as a matter of priority. My hope is that would be before the August break. To update the House, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and I met the Law Reform Commission in respect of that yesterday and we looked at some

Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Government have been very strong on this issue. I do not like to see divisiveness in this House when it comes to an issue as serious as this. Everybody has very good intentions, but sometimes the divisiveness by the Opposition is unhelpful … each other fundamentally on what we want to do. I recognise and appreciate the concerns of each individual and each party in this House. Historically, we have been a very strong advocate and we have placed a strong emphasis on standing with Palestine, by being the first

Like many colleagues in the House, I rise today with a heavy heart. The situation in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, is an ongoing humanitarian disaster that demands our attention, our compassion and, critically, our action. Let me begin by recalling the horrific … recognise illegal situations. The Bill gives that principle legal force. It is modest, practical and principled, and I hope colleagues from across the House will support it as it proceeds through the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. We are not acting alone. Many other EU states share Ireland

thank all the Members for their contributions. The report was published last week and is before the House this week, which shows the urgency with which the Government treats the issue of special education. The one thing I am always encouraged by is the depth of knowledge … Members of the House about special education and the challenges being faced by families and I compliment them on that. I urge them to continue that because there is a sense of urgency and genuineness across all parties and none. There was a sense of urgency and genuineness

political neglect. The GPO should be transformed into an artistic and cultural hub, complete with artists' studios, performance venues, education spaces and, critically, housing. Any hollowing out should stop and the GPO offers us a lifeline here. Its courtyards are flooded with natural light and its walls … steeped in history. This could house workshops, performance spaces and residences. With the right investment, former office units could be converted into affordable apartments for artists and cultural workers, something truly groundbreaking for a city desperate for both housing and creative spaces. If offices are truly necessary

model being the provision of supported accommodation operated by NGO providers. The increasing numbers in emergency accommodation have led to increased pressures on housing authorities to provide sufficient accommodation. To increase provision, housing authorities are heavily reliant on private emergency accommodation. Capital funding of €25 million is being … made available to housing authorities and NGOs for the delivery of high-quality, supported emergency accommodation for families and individuals experiencing homelessness

confounded and upset many people in communities where these social housing projects were due to be delivered. Two are in my constituency, Ballymun and Whitehall. These areas have high levels of social housing need. It is deeply upsetting and disappointing. Can the Minister guarantee they will be delivered … proposals we made. Will the Minister clarify whether this is the end of the PPP model for delivering social housing

county. We know that we need to do more. The population is growing. Our estates are full. We can discuss a lot about housing in places like Leixlip, Maynooth, Clane, Naas and Kilcock, where a lot of houses are being built, but with this housing we need services

places like Cork, Limerick and Galway. There is clear evidence that the growth in jobs continues in Cork. Therefore, we must develop the housing in order to accommodate those new jobs. I do not believe we are working hard enough to develop areas outside of Dublin regarding housing … more than 650,000. The industries are there. They want to stay there and grow but in order for this to happen, more housing is needed. It is extremely important that there is forward planning for areas outside of Dublin and the greater Dublin region

more expensive and took longer than a conventional build. It is very easy for us to react negatively to MMC and modular housing but my belief is that it has a crucial role to play in the future. A company was established in my area in recent years … which deals with a specific type of modular housing, namely, the conversion of shipping containers. It is something we must consider, not perhaps as a long-term solution for housing but at least as a temporary solution

Dublin local authorities are advancing development frameworks that involve the rezoning of existing industrial land to residential or mixed use to meet housing supply targets. As the Minister of State said in his reply, that is a function of the local authority but done under the auspices … edge project. While this rezoning is welcome and makes sense from an urban development point of view, I have also raised in the House a number of times the need for space for indigenous SMEs to scale up. They are coming to me and other representatives around

shortage of land. If we want to promote compact growth, or initiatives like 15-minute cities, it is important with large-scale housing developments we have adequate amounts of industrial and commercial land there as well. While I fully take the point that planning authorities do set their … authorities in terms of thinking of the amount and quantum of EE land available in their counties to support employment in the large housing developments that are going to happen, to encourage compact growth and to be complementary to the transport-led planning, which we require as well

quasi-judicial nature and where things may go next. I do not want to comment on the specifics. On the broader point about housing in Ballina, I will certainly ask the Minister for housing to engage with Mayo County Council and the people the Deputy mentioned. Housing

move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Bill before the House. It marks a significant step forward in ensuring that Ireland’s counterterrorism framework is robust and fit for purpose in the face of modern terrorist threats. The Bill … terms of where the threat from terrorism lies. People may wish to cast a sceptical eye on terrorist offences legislation enacted in the House but we cannot get away from the fact that terrorist activity continues to exist. Certain people believe it is acceptable for them

further on to St. Helen's. This is why it is about the provision of capacity in the village, which is where these houses are. When applying for planning permission for these houses, the developer mentioned up to eight schools in the area that could cope with … increase in children these houses would bring. However, the vast majority of these schools are not in Portmarnock and have enrolment policies that preclude children from these estates attending. There are schools in Sutton, Howth and Bayside. This is a very serious issue and we have compiled

public. However, the team says they are currently paid half the standard industry rate for comparable roles and calls on the Government and Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to take action to ensure they are treated with the fairness and respect they deserve. Despite their vital role, they … unacceptable for workers who serve the public interest. We cannot keep discussing workers' rights when we have not sorted out our own house. This must be addressed as it is essential to how the Oireachtas functions. We have no right to criticise other groups outside the Oireachtas when

very justice system that stands against them. This is why section 8 is so important. I have spoken about this before in this House and I felt it important to speak again today. Section 8 also allows for certain trials to be heard in the Special Criminal Court … nature, exceptional. They should be used sparingly and they must be subject to review. That is why each year we come before the House to seek democratic approval for their continuance. This is why we welcome the work of the independent review group and the Minister's commitment

year during the snow people could not get an eggcup of salt. People should be getting something for this. These people had to house themselves. They got mortgages and built their houses themselves, used direct labour or whatever. They paid planning fees, development charges and everything else. There … than it is elsewhere but as we can see from the indexes and all of the different reports, such as those from Daft, house prices are going up and that means the property tax, no matter what band someone is in, will go up. I am fundamentally opposed

most strongly centralised forms of government in the western world, with the least power devolved to local authorities. We often talk in this House about the weakness of public services and how they can be improved and strengthened. One of the best ways of strengthening public services … factor. If we want better public services delivered at a local level, including affordable, high-quality childcare, improvements in housing and myriad other services, changes are best made at local government level. I make that overall point in case anyone in the Chamber or watching the debate

number one issue facing many workers is housing, and the Government has repeatedly claimed both that it will deliver new social homes and that the planning system is to blame for the lack of delivery so far. This month, however, funding for the delivery of almost 500 social … social homes, many with full planning permission, are in jeopardy now, facing cost reviews. That is almost a third of the annual social housing delivery target. These public-private partnership deals have collapsed for one reason: private profit. The Government has claimed that the costs

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of mortgage to rent applications to date in 2026 through AHBs, local authorities and any private provider respectively. [54158/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on legislative amendments to allow for the renaming of streets. [54178/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE vacant homes officers employed, by local authority, in tabular form. [54179/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people employed in the vacant homes unit in his Department in each of the past five years, by grade. [54180/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on private planning consultancy firms by his Department, to date in 2026. [54183/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons employed in planning roles in his Department. [54184/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated under URDF funding, by project; and the amount drawn down to date in 2026, in tabular form. [54185/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered expanding the eligibility of the defective concrete block grant scheme to homes that are not a person’s principal private residence; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or Tailte Éireann regarding the treatment of private childcare providers under the commercial rates system; and if she will outline the cross-departmental

Gaeltacht the role his Department will play in amending and finalising the recently published draft national planning statement for rural and Gaeltacht housing. [53184/26

Development and the Gaeltacht whether he will take a role in the failure to deliver community centres and other community services in new housing estates. [52756/26

Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the recently announced draft National Planning Statement to Transform Approach to Rural Housing-Delivering Greater Clarity and Consistency. [53135/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to tackle homelessness since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53472/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to tackle vacancy and dereliction since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53473/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to expand cost-rental provision since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53474/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to support apartment building since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53475/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to support first-time buyers since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53476/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated cost of hosting a dedicated housing summit as part of Ireland's EU Presidency; the budget line from which this will be drawn; and whether a value-for-money assessment has been carried

Finance the estimated revenue raised by stamp duty from the sale of homes or residential zoned land to private citizens, public bodies, approved housing bodies and other non-profit companies; the estimated revenue raised by stamp duty from the sale of homes or residential zoned land

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the structure of the new Invasive Species Bureau; whether it will be an agency or a unit within his Department; whether it will have its own dedicated staff; if not, if it will be comprised

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the vacant homes grant to facilitate applications through small companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52662/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has made an expression of interest in taking ownership of Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52663/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service has undertaken any assessment of the heritage, biodiversity, environmental or public amenity value of Newbury Demesne, Carbury, County Kildare; if his Department has considered

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to request Met Éireann to urgently deal with a matter in south Kerry that has delayed the development of a walk on Valentia Island with funding secured from the Department of Rural and Community Development

Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review correspondence (details supplied); the grants being introduced to support same; the timeframe for their delivery; when they will open to applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52698/26