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leader who will tackle the Government's waste of public moneys and the many crises we face as a nation, such as housing, health and the cost of living among others, all cemented in legacies created by previous Governments' policies. She is a leader who unites people … country and in all walks of life. The low turnout in the election shows there is a widening disconnect between this House and the disenfranchised people of Ireland. That disconnect needs to be tackled now, and anyone anywhere who has ever witnessed Mary Lou McDonald engaging with

Regarding small businesses, we expect anyone negotiating for Government to demand an immediate drop in the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9%. On housing, more than 14,000 people are homeless, 4,000 of whom are children. Immediate action must be taken. We need to declare a housing … implement emergency legislation which would streamline our planning laws for rural and urban Ireland and would also include promoting modular and log cabin houses. We in Independent Ireland have strong policies on agriculture. We are 100% opposed to the Mercosur deal. We would expect every politician going into

There is no reason to believe that, having caused a housing crisis and made it worse, having sustained a crisis in health, having failed to deliver for working people, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, its junior partner, are in any position to straighten matters out. The parties that … went innocently about my business in my kitchen, Members from Government benches on the airwaves congratulating themselves on their performance in housing and health over the past five years. Let us be very clear. No amount of back slapping or plámás can hide your failures because people live

first contribution in the House, I extend my congratulations to the Ceann Comhairle and my heartfelt thanks to the people of Kildare North for placing their trust in me. I would like to take a moment to appreciate my friend, the former TD, Catherine Murphy. I thank fellow … opportunity for us to start to work together. We all have local priorities and, for me, a resolution of the situation in Castletown House is one such priority. I ask the current Government to find that resolution in the coming weeks and months, if possible. I have been

that change but I will do it in a manner that enshrines inclusiveness, equality and sustainability. The first step in that is housing as a right. A radical reset in housing policy is urgently required, as set out by the Housing Commission. We cannot proceed with a policy

Along with others, I mark this historic day, as the House has elected the first woman Ceann Comhairle. She follows in the footsteps of Cathal Brugha, our first Ceann Comhairle, who was elected on 21 January 1919, just over 105 years ago. I was very pleased to nominate … government is formed. The Irish people said to us that a major job of work is to be done with regard to housing, health, childcare, elder care, disability, immigration, child poverty, regional disparities, climate change, carers and public sector reform. We expect the Government to get on with

These measures are complemented by wider investment in public services and infrastructure to support households and address living costs. This includes investment in housing and measures to improve energy efficiency, with more than €750 million being provided to address specific housing needs including the retrofitting of social homes

area have been waiting some time for this project. I will work with the Deputy, as I work with everyone in the House, to ensure that we meet the timelines for the delivery of this project because people have been waiting some time. As the Deputy has said … Enniscorthy and other places like it that they have been taken on board. I encourage the Deputy and every other representative in the House to look at those measures, which may be a help

principals. These schools are long established, well respected and acknowledged for the work they do in supporting their cohort of students. As the House knows, there has been a significant expansion in the range of supports offered in mainstream schools since many of these schools were established. Some … schools and their designation. I wish to thank the schools that have worked to broaden their designation. Again, I state clearly for the House that this does not mean there is a broad plan for redesignation of all mild general learning disability schools

responsibility. Fine Gael, the Minister's party, set up Uisce Éireann under Phil Hogan. It is time that we had accountability to this House because it is accountable to nobody. Does the Minister accept that we cannot allow a situation whereby Uisce Éireann is completely unaccountable … House when it comes to operational matters? Will the Government commit to supporting Private Members' legislation of mine and bringing forward its own legislation to make Uisce Éireann accountable and answerable to parliamentary questions? We cannot have this cabal doing what it is doing. The CEO is getting

exception. A number of residents were in with me this week to tell me about two cars that were burned out in a housing estate in Ballinasloe. Good people are suffering. They are suffering every day of the week and the weekend appears to be a particularly challenging … isolated incident. It is ongoing in the town of Ballinasloe and it is having an incredible impact on a number of housing estates, from Hymany to St. Grellan's to Meadowbrook to Curragh Park, and there are others. In the last few weeks to months we have

civil law and certain quasi-judicial forums. Stakeholders argued that many vulnerable people struggle to secure representation in important areas such as housing, social welfare, employment and equality matters. Finally, concerns were raised regarding the viability of the private practitioner scheme and the remuneration available to solicitors, barristers … believe are a comprehensive and important set of recommendations. I will briefly outline a number of these for the information of the House. First, the committee recommends that urgent reform of the civil legal aid scheme take place and that the recommendations contained within both the majority

years ago. We should think about how much the cost of living has changed in that time, including the costs of housing, childcare, transport and practically every aspect of people's lives. People's eligibility is still being assessed against a threshold set two decades ago. I have … what the timeline is and when we will see a proper implementation plan. We need to fundamentally rethink what civil legal aid provides. Housing, homelessness, employment discrimination and social welfare are all areas where people experiencing disadvantage desperately need legal assistance. We desperately need to support the expansion

need for mediation services and any means available to deal with disputes, even those beyond the family sphere. We are talking about housing, medical issues and other matters. If we can at all avoid having to put people through the court system, it is a win across … then I continue to actually repeat what has been said, but it definitely has been said and we have seen agreement across the House in this regard. Everyone is in agreement. There was also a huge level of agreement in relation to the review group and then

wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Erin McGreehan - To discuss the national cancer control programme's proposed national radioligand therapy plan. Deputy Duncan … Cummins - To discuss the improvements needed for diagnosis of ADHD. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the opening of the dementia unit in Heather House and the closure of the dementia unit in Sarsfield Court. Deputies Michael Murphy and Mattie McGrath - To discuss the need to strengthen Uisce Éireann

Before we proceed, I wish to remind Members of the standards expected in the Chamber. This House must be able to debate legislation and reach decisions. The Opposition has every right to challenge, object and oppose. Equally, every Member has the right to be heard without interruption. However … strongly we disagree, we must respect one another’s right to speak. That applies equally to both sides of this House. Members must make their case through the strength of their arguments within the time allocated, not through shouting, displaying placards or intimidating Members. Our constituents are best

addressed the conference of the Connect Trade Union, the union for craftworkers. They were clear with me that in order to end the housing disaster, the Government needs to resource and create viable apprenticeship pipelines and invest in public capacity. When he was making the turnkey announcement this … authorities. I notice the Taoiseach did it himself a moment ago. The Minister blamed them for not stepping up to the mark on house building. However, if they are not adequately funded and resourced with the necessary staffing capacity, the local authorities will be unable to deliver

will engage with the Minister for housing in respect of this. In terms of a timeline, I do not have a specific one here. If legal advices have been sought, they need to be sought. The Government has responded to the overall defective concrete blocks debacle and scandal … being provided for pyrite, apartment defects and defective concrete blocks. I will come back to the Deputy on the specifics of the nine houses he referenced there

brought relevant intelligence - again received by the Garda in 1990 - to the attention of the reinvestigating team. Today we acknowledge failings in this House as we honour the character and contribution of Brian Stack. As the Taoiseach has outlined, the investigation remains active and An Garda Síochána … loyal service to the State. That same year, the main building in the Irish Prison Service College was renamed Brian Stack House, again in Mr. Stack’s honour. As we know, Brian was more than a man who served the State in a senior and highly valued role

hard. I welcome the Taoiseach's full and unreserved apology today. It matters that the State says clearly on the record of this House that the family was profoundly failed by the State. However, we have to be honest that no one has been brought to justice … this. If they really want a peaceful and reconciled island and a peaceful and proper future, which we all want in this House, they must face up to what they did. As somebody from Louth, a Border county, I know that peace requires us to face

others what it is not willing to do itself. Last night, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill completed its passage through the House of Commons. It now goes to the House of Lords, which is a significant step towards implementing the joint framework agreed by both governments. We must

prison officer in Portlaoise for many years. To put it in a local context, since the foundation of the State, Portlaoise Prison has housed the most difficult people who were convicted of criminal offences. Anybody who does not appreciate the work of prison officers does not fully understand … perpetrator to justice. Maybe there are reasons as to why that might be the case that we do not know in this House. However, there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. Sheila Stack is originally a Donoghue from Portlaoise. She comes from a well

usually keep my contributions in this House to health issues and focus my work on health policy, but I asked for time on this debate because I felt strongly that this was the wrong decision. I think it is a decision that the Government and the Irish people … going to regret. I urge the Government to reconsider it, to take this slower and to not rush it through the House because it has profound changes for our nation, our sense of who we are and our place in the world. There are members of the Minister

Speaking as the only current Member of this House who has served in the Permanent Defence Force and as a UN peacekeeper, I want to address some of the claims that have been made about this legislation. Sinn Féin's continual mislabelling of legislation calling the triple lock … changed is the world around us. The UN Security Council has not established a new peacekeeping mission since 2014, yet nobody in this House could suggest that the world has become a safer place in those intervening 12 years. Our commitment to the UN is unwavering

reform rather than throwing the entire triple lock out. One important question needs to be asked honestly of all of us in this House. Do we support the deployment of Irish troops as part of UN missions such as UNIFIL? Perhaps not all in this House

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is taking to support urban villages which are often not selected for Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38010/26

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address issues (details supplied) in relation to the Draft National Planning Statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48428/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if HAP rent arrears prevents an individual from accessing homeless supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48434/26

Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a dispute between Dublin City Council and staff who worked in the leakage department who decided not to transfer to Uisce Éireann; if he will intervene to ensure that Dublin City

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable homes in the Poolbeg West SDZ. [48553/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of requests for increased CALF and CAS funding on individual projects after construction has commenced, where costs have increased above initial stage 1 approval in the past 12 months, by local authority

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the capital funding increases for Uisce Éireann for every year from 2026 to 2030, as per the announcement in Budget 2026. [48555/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made on wind farm guidelines; the stage the process is at; when the new guidelines will be in place; when a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be carried

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties that have been refurbished under the repair and lease scheme in each local authority area to date. [48572/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of complaints made by his Department to social media or online marketing companies about specific online posts or accounts for each year from 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026. [48616/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the estimated full-year cost of employing one FTE, per staffing grade, in regard to workforce planning in An Coimisiún Pleanála, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of biodiversity officers in each local authority; to provide a breakdown of the estimated cost to hire one additional FTE climate action officer in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to double the funding for biodiversity officers, broken down by cap ex and op ex, in tabular form. [48734/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered the review of local Government and that Ireland has fewer councillors per capita than any other European country; and his plans to increase the number of councillors prior to the next local

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list all powers that have been devolved to local authorities; and all powers that have been taken from local authorities since he came to office. [48749/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific measures taken or planned to increase the accountability of local authority Chief Executives and Directors of Services to elected councillors for executive decisions, in line with the Programme for Government; when councillors

Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that remain before the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021 can proceed through the Houses of the Oireachtas; whether the Government intends to advance the Bill following consideration of the research and review undertaken; whether any precautionary measures

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the Living My Life pilot housing project for people with intellectual disabilities; the progress to date; the number of participants involved; and the plans for further expansion of the model

Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current number of mental health crisis response services, including crisis resolution teams, crisis cafés, crisis houses and emergency department liaison services, by health region; the additional services planned under existing policy commitments; and the estimated full-year cost of extending

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the latest EPA report on water quality; the measures his Department is taking to improve water quality in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the concerns (details supplied) of the substantial sums spent to improve Ireland's water quality yet despite this no progress is being made; the measures he is taking

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a detailed breakdown of the funding allocated to improving Ireland’s water quality by his Department broken down by programme allocation, CapEx and OpEx in each of the years 2020 to date

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a detailed breakdown of the funding his Department provided to the water advisory body in each of the years 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47918/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of derelict sites levies collected and outstanding in Kerry County Council in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the reason for the significant difference between the amount of unpaid levies reported

Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current criteria for acceptance of residential properties to the historic thatch grant scheme; the maximum funding available to households under the scheme; when he expects the scheme to reopen for applications; and if he will