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need to work harder in collaboration with Laois because people in the county continue to be under pressure to get a housing solution for their needs. I very much hear the concerns, proposals and ideas of the Deputy. We want to ensure that everybody can access a home … able to stay in their local communities. That is why, for example, we are changing the rules for rural one-off housing. The Deputy provided examples of people living in towns because they cannot live in the rural areas where they grew up and where their families

hear the Deputy's concerns for his constituents in being able to have a housing solution they can afford. He is correct; we need multiple housing solutions for people. People of a certain age will not be able to get or will find it extremely difficult

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide additional funding to Sligo County Council to enable the housing adaptation grant scheme to reopen to priority 2 and priority 3 applications, which have been paused for a number of months. [68949/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has responded to a letter sent to his Department by An Taisce about a proposed housing development (details supplied); and whether he intends to exercise the powers outlined in the letter

been a response to, or a decision made on, the letter sent to the Minister’s Department by An Taisce about a proposed housing development? People may have read about this development, particularly online. It is the housing development located close to what is known as Cú Chulainn

involved at all levels and at the highest level in relation to this ongoing, tense and concerning issue. I think everybody in the House would agree that we have come much too far to ever go back, when it comes to the North. We all agree on that … fact there is enduring hurt from the past, which I want to acknowledge. I met residents from the Garvaghy Road in Leinster House last Thursday. I was struck by two things when I met them. First, I was struck by the really good work that has gone

while we will all come at this from different perspectives and points of view, I do not doubt that every party in this House, Government and Opposition will be endeavouring to explore ways in which we can all assist people with the cost-of-living challenges. I share … relation to what it means by taxing wealth. I do not mean that glibly. We do not have enough conversations in this House about how we grow the wealth of our country so we can take in more revenue and then divide it up across our people

sole traders, are struggling owing to the savage increase in the cost of green diesel. These contractors and operators are involved in building houses and roads, sewerage and water schemes, industrial units and factories, and in energy projects involving wind, solar, the provision of electricity and connectivity. They … have enough construction and civil engineering contractors. We must mind what we have. The Tánaiste said he did not want housing provision slowed down. That was back

made regarding an audit. To add another point, what we mean by "inclusive education" is a debate we should get right in this House too. If some good is to come from the very large investments being made, which I will not go through, we will need … Deputy Naughton, has put in place is the new forum on inclusive education. There needs to be a way for everyone in this House to have input if we are to get that right. If we are spending a vast sum of money and still seeing many kids

acknowledge and accept that there are very sincerely held views on all sides of the issue in this House. There are a variety of views within my own party and within the other Government party. The Government approaches these matters with a free vote. They are treated … matter of conscience and people can vote in accordance with their own views. That happened in this House, and the legislation is now with the committee, as the Deputy rightly says. I do not want to interfere in the committee's work. I would take that approach

Since I have been elected to this House, I have heard little or nothing from the other side of the House on job creation. It never seems to feature. It is all about eating the size of the pie, eating the pie that we have

thank the Deputy for the question. In my time taking Leaders' Questions in this House, and let somebody fact check me if I am wrong, I do not ever recall being asked a question about job creation by an Opposition Member during the Leaders' Questions slot, which … going to pay the wage bill at the end of the week or the end of the month. Many of us in this House can say they have done it in past lives and many of us have never had to do that. The first thing we need

move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this Bill for the consideration of the House. It addresses two separate areas. First, the Bill contains proposals to enshrine the organisation and main functions of the Railway Accident Investigation Unit, RAIU … Investigation Unit and the Railway Safety Act 2005 are underpinned by a robust and appropriate legislative framework. I commend the Bill to the House

investigation proceedings and modernises provisions relating to intoxicants and railway workers. These provisions are all sensible. I do not think anybody in the House will argue against maintaining railway safety standards to the highest level possible. Public transport must be safe and reliable and it must be trusted … fail to provide the infrastructure that will allow them to do so. Railway investment is not simply a transport issue. It is about housing, climate, economy and balanced regional development. It helps people access employment, education, healthcare, tourism and investment and enables balanced growth rather than endless concentration

waiting up to this point. I genuinely believe that, when we consider how many homes are needed in this country to solve our housing crisis, we must realise that building them in tandem with new and enhanced public transport is crucial. That is the argument I am making … sports campus and then on into Tyrrelstown and Kilmartin Grove. This part of Dublin is another huge growth area. Thousands of additional houses have been added in the past five years and the area could really benefit from public transport. The Dunsink plan cannot work without

have spoken about again and again. It is the introduction of a new station in north Drogheda. The population is there and the housing is there and we will have an increased population, with more than 7,000 houses being built in the coming years. A train station

dementia-specific beds. This is in addition to what the Deputy has already referenced. A new 17-bed dementia-specific unit in Heather House in Gurranabraher in Cork city has recently been registered with HIQA and is expected to open in quarter 4 of 2026. It is something … opened. I agree with the Deputy that we need additional dementia-specific beds. Seventeen will come on stream in Heather House and another 30 will be available in the new unit in St. Finbarr's in Cork city, which is scheduled to open in quarter 4. The opening

deserve commendation. Tusla needs to be resourced better and it also needs greater scrutiny, as has been mentioned by other Members of these Houses in various contexts. I am concerned that the Taoiseach is concerned about the abolition of the in-camera rule because we have to look … situation where a light is shone on something, it makes people think twice, even in terms of the media reporting on the Houses of the Oireachtas and this debate being televised. Scrutiny is needed at all stages. Groups like the Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice

shoddy way seven or eight years ago in the convention centre for ten years without ever a vote in this House again. Many parties here now who are opposing it and shouting about it were party to it so it is codology to think that. People out there … cannot afford to retrofit their houses. They have not the first €25,000 to put up in the first place. They are barely about to put food on the table. They are barely able to send their kids to school. That is the reality

believe in a rules-based system, which I do although I do not know the position of every political party in this House, the rules have to be applied. As difficult at times as that may be for some people, the rules have to be applied. You cannot … years and years for an application to be processed. Despite the fact that this has been said over and over again in this House, and promises have been made about speeding up the system and more resources and staff, the reality is it still takes far too long

deeply concerning. I am also deeply concerned about the anti-migrant rhetoric we hear on different sides of the House from national leaders. Migrants who come to Ireland make an extraordinary contribution to our society in so many ways. It is important for us to remember that … things they were told to do. They got really good jobs and paid lots of taxes. They bought a house. They pay their property tax and their TV licence. They contribute to the local society. They got involved in clubs and societies. They made friends and they learned

management of migration and the issuing of work permits and student permissions to take into account issues such as the ability to house and integrate those who come here and the availability of public services. How can we be encouraging people to come here to work and study … housing is not available to them or it costs up to 60% or 70% of their wages? For some who are here, working and contributing, there are serious issues with the system. How can people be expected to support themselves when the State allows them to remain

here to work and have a better life should never be scapegoated for the failures of the State. Immigrants did not cause the housing crisis. Greed, landlordism and the failures of successive governments caused it. Immigrants did not cause a stagnation in wages while the cost of living … They should be given céad míle fáilte, not be faced with a stern Department of justice trying to appease bigots. I remind the House of a statement by the founder of the Labour Party, James Connolly: "Let no Irishman cast a stone at the foreigner

able to speak about migration and citizenship calmly, openly and honestly because if we do not talk about these issues in this House, people will talk about them elsewhere and very often without the facts. I represent Carlow-Kilkenny and I listen to people on the ground. People … talk to me about migration and about the pressure on housing, schools, GP services and other public services and those concerns should be heard. People should be able to raise reasonable questions about migration without being labelled or dismissed but equally we have a responsibility to deal

debate. It is three years ago that we should have had this debate, but we could not raise it here in the House. Any of us who raised serious issues were decried and bemoaned as far right and God knows what else. I welcome the Minister, Deputy … long as they could, but no, the Government would not talk to them. Now it has taken the decision to close Dundrum House Hotel. What happened in this situation is that there were greedy actors that had no interest in anyone else, Irish, English or from Timbuktu

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of recruiting one full-time professional archaeologist for every local authority area in the State. [46827/26

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated impact on the at-risk-of-poverty rate after housing costs among children; the consistent poverty rate among children; and the enforced deprivation rate among children of replacing working family payment, one-parent family payment, jobseeker

whether consideration has been given to ringfencing or reallocating such revenues back to the local authority in which they were generated to support housing delivery, regeneration projects, public realm improvements and local infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46071/26

generated; whether consideration has been given to allowing local authorities to retain a proportion of residential zoned land tax receipts to fund housing-enabling infrastructure, transport projects, community facilities and public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/26

whether consideration has been given to ringfencing or reallocating such revenues back to the local authority in which they were generated to support housing delivery, regeneration projects, public realm improvements and local infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46074/26

Departments and local authorities in order to co-ordinate geographical location of employers and local capacity availability in the areas of housing, school places, general practitioner availability and public transport provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46049/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a recent report (details supplied) that was published by University of Galway that analysed eight coastal local authorities and identified 2,279 properties and 570 km of roads

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of derelict sites levy assessed, collected and outstanding within the Fingal County Council administrative area in 2025 and 2026 to date; the number of sites liable for the levy in each year

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has assessed the potential financial impact on Fingal County Council arising from the transfer of derelict sites levy collection over to the Revenue Commissioners; the estimated amount of derelict sites levy revenue that

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the forthcoming National Invasive Species Management Strategy for Ireland will give due consideration to the spread of invasive African curly waterweed (lagarosiphon major) and invasive Canadian pondweed (Elodea sp.) in Lough Corrib SAC, County Galway

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the increasing number of people presenting to Kildare County Council as homeless following the introduction of the Residential Tenancies Act 2026 [46371/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the recommendations of final report of the Local Democracy Taskforce will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46387/26

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1138 of 9 June 2026, if he will undertake a regulatory impact assessment of the regulation noting that the European Commission's impact assessment of Regulation 2024/900 primarily concerned the regulation

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has assessed the potential financial impact on Fingal County Council arising from the transfer of derelict sites levy collection over to the Revenue Commissioners; the estimated amount of derelict sites levy revenue that

critical situation" within the meaning of that Article, given current levels of temporary protection beneficiaries, international protection applicants, and the national housing emergency; to publish any correspondence with the commission on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46086/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to update the house on the short-term letting Bill 2025 coming from his Department. [45285/26

Energy and the Environment whether his Department will review the eligibility criteria for the solar PV grant to make provision for homeowners in housing developments where planning permission was granted prior to 2021, but construction was completed after 2021 and where the dwellings were therefore not required

Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider amending or extending the bus route for a school (details supplied) to include houses along the L8294, considering the lack of after school facilities for families in the area which leaves them facing difficulties; and if she will make

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the guidelines for wind farms will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45789/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce a scheme that will support relocation for those living in homes located close to areas at risk of coastal erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45870/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed progress report in regard to the proposed wastewater treatment system for Beaufort village, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45098/26

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in noting that Dublin City Council has had to pause its financial contribution scheme, when will his Department allocate funding and introduce a national right sizing policy that will allow local authorities re-establish this

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will allocate funding and introduce a national right sizing policy that will allow local authorities re-establish a scheme given that Dublin City Council has had to pause its financial contribution scheme

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether for procurement spend, a purchase order can be raised within his Department's financial management systems without reference to a contract, framework agreement, procurement process or other authorising arrangement; if so, the circumstances in which

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an invoice can be paid by his Department without an associated purchase order having first been raised; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur; the number and value of payments made during quarter