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years in office, are we finally going to see some joined-up thinking? The Government has asked councils to rezone additional lands for housing in unsustainable areas when we do not have the infrastructure in place already, in places like Clonburris and Adamstown. They are areas with … fares, it is giving a big middle finger to people in my constituency. Where is the joined-up thinking that says if more housing is going to be put in, it will have facilities and infrastructure alongside it and buses that actually exist

review of their own county development plan at the moment. It is important in that review that we are all increasing our housing targets and the allocations that we have been given, and that we are making sure land is zoned on land that is appropriate, but also … balance right. We have a national development plan of over €100 billion and much of that is to make sure we are delivering houses in the right places and the infrastructure is there so that people can access them and the local authorities can deliver them

Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is leading on this and he is working closely with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Department of housing. The intention from the Department of housing is to issue the national planning statement specifically on this, akin to guidance, and that work is under

that we look at what other levers are available. It is a priority for this Government, and a priority in the Government’s housing plan. The Derelict Site Act contains a number of actions and powers that can be provided to the local authorities. There is a derelict … derelict site register is far too low at four so much more needs to be done. I understand the Department of housing has recently met Wicklow County Council to highlight this and to be clear that more needs to be done on its part. The Minister, Deputy Browne

fill. This is the eighth occasion on which I have brought forward either a financial resolution or legislation before this House demanding that the Government respond, demanding that it have ordinary workers' and families' backs and demanding that it get rid of carbon tax on home heating … When I say this is the eighth occasion, the reason I keep bringing this back is that I have stood in too many houses and had too many conversations with people who tell me they are pushed to the pin of their collar just trying to keep their

hour speed limits where appropriate. I would very much like the Minister of State to give an update to the House on its status in each of the local authorities and if he does not have up-to-date information on the status, for him to engage directly … number of road deaths and pedestrian injuries caused by vehicles falling? I very much hope this legislation passes swiftly through the House and that the various sections are commenced as quickly as possible

safety data. Road safety campaigners have been banging this drum for a long time. In a previous debate on road safety in this House, I spoke about the frustration of public representatives who know the dangerous locations in their communities but who cannot always access the data necessary … town centres, residential areas and around schools and places of public assembly. I had the pleasure of hosting Love 30 here in Leinster House for an audiovisual room briefing on the campaign, alongside other organisations including the Dublin Commuter Coalition, Irish Doctors for the Environment, Cycling Ireland

nitrous oxide. It is not a banned substance. Residents ring in to say there is somebody sitting in a car outside their house taking nitrous oxide and driving off. They contact the Garda and are told the fact it is not a banned substance means there is very … empower the gardaí. It is probably a non-issue for the Bill today but we all need to wake up in this House to what is happening in our communities. Theft of cars is on the rise. It is in many working-class communities but not exclusively

speed. People have to drive with total control of their vehicle at all times. Legitimate questions have been raised by Deputies in the House while we have been discussing this legislation. It is all in the interest of having safer roads, reducing the number of deaths … amendments to the Bill. We will be making additional improvements on Committee Stage, and I look forward to working with Deputies across the House to make sure we get this Bill enacted as quickly as possible with the amendments I intend to bring in on that Stage

renewables will be critical in that regard, but I will turn to that in a moment. I assure the House that supply, which is critical for an island nation, is being monitored on a regular basis. Thankfully, approximately 50% of our electricity is generated through renewable sources … scheme for those at risk of fuel poverty and those in receipt of social welfare payments. We have done more than 35,000 houses under that scheme and we have increased the number year on year. We want to do more of that because it is a protection

electricity as the whole of Kildare annually, as well as 18,000 litres of water a day. This would jeopardise urgently needed future housing in the county by placing additional pressure on stretched infrastructure. The massive drain on energy resources by data centres will also lead to spikes … emissions of half a million cars. If allowed to go ahead, this project will spell disaster, worsening the already dire cost of living, housing and climate crisis. The hyperscale facility would create further problems in terms of noise pollution and property valuation due to being planned mere metres

when we had water shortages, eating up our renewable energy and the gobbling up of our infrastructure resulting in delays of much-needed housing delivery in the middle of a housing catastrophe. What does our Government do? The very same thing it did with the vulture funds - roll

Dáil term and reflecting on developments over the past year, I want to emphasise our shared responsibility to ensure that Leinster House is a safe, respectful and professional workplace for everyone. Robust debate and political disagreement are essential to parliamentary democracy. They must, however, be conducted … that respects the dignity, safety and well-being of all Members, all staff and all those who engage with the work of the Houses. Each of us has a part to play in upholding the standards expected of this institution and ensuring that any concerns are treated seriously

doubled in the past ten years. It used to take two years but now it takes four. The Taoiseach's policies created this housing disaster and this report shows that they continue to make it worse. We saw during the summer house prices and rents way beyond what

Recent ESRI research shows that child poverty has risen sharply. After housing costs, some 260,000 children are living below the poverty line. I want the Taoiseach to picture a classroom with 30 children and I want him to imagine seven of those kids. That is the equivalent … line in this State. It would take 5,000 52-seater buses to fit all of those kids. That would stretch from Leinster House to Glendalough. I know that the Taoiseach is going to come back to me and talk about hot school meals and they are welcome

Deputy Ward and I are moving this Bill today, but it would not be before the House without Saoirse Aylward's extraordinary strength and determination. Saoirse was 31 weeks pregnant when she lost Jax as a result of a road collision. She was preparing for his arrival … Colleen Langan, who continues to campaign for justice for her aunt. Saoirse refused to accept the silence of the law and today this House has the opportunity to answer her. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is listening and responding positively. I hope we can now work together

enforced today by the Central Bank, which highlighted that constraints in essential infrastructure, including energy networks, act as a major barrier to housing delivery. At a time when families are locked out of home ownership and housing demand continues to grow, it is unacceptable that access to critical

notice for thousands of people. My main criticism and critique is of the communication and the information provided. All of us in this House struggle to get accurate information from Uisce Éireann. I cannot advise my constituents or even keep them safe under boil water notices … accurate information is not coming from Uisce Éireann. What are the Government's plans to make Uisce Éireann more accountable to this House and more accountable to us, as public representatives, when we ask it direct questions to ensure we get answers that are accurate in a timely

undertaken to ensure people know their rights. It has already been covered but journalists' sources are really important. Most people in the House will be watching "RTÉ Investigates" tonight with Rita O'Reilly's report. It is important journalists' sources continue to be protected and that journalists remain … also very concerned about the young people who are involved in the criminal justice system. As I have said before in this House, I worked in the school completion programme for almost two decades. Over that period, we lost children from education because they were groomed into criminal

believe that is realistic or even practical. We then have the issue of whistleblowers. I will walk out of this House and meet a number of the whistleblowers who are on the television programme tonight. I will walk straight out of here and meet them again, having … very interesting question. Privilege is not defined here. I am taking it from the Minister that, given the legislation brought into this House previously by Brendan Howlin and enhanced by others, while we are talking about journalistic privilege and the concerns I have expressed, I presume Oireachtas privilege

changed. Criminals are using mobile phones, computers and new technology, and the law has to keep up. I said many times in this House that giving gardaí powers is only part of the answer. We need gardaí on the ground as well. In rural Ireland, particularly in west … does. We need to make sure people out there are protected and that they know that the criminal who comes into their house, steals their property or hurts somebody will serve a serious sentence and not be back out there on the streets within weeks of a crime

wish Michael a speedy recovery. The Healy-Rae brothers have been nothing but welcoming to me since I was elected to this House and I see how hard they work. It is not fair that any public representative, male or female, should face violence, and my thoughts … great grandfather was garda. I thank the Minister and the Department staff involved in preparing this legislation and bringing it before this House. For me, this debate is about giving gardaí the tools they need to protect people. I have spoken in-depth about how I believe CCTV

speech. All of the mud that flows into the water of this debate is coming from the Government's side of the House. All of the disconnect from reality is emanating from the Government's benches. Every time that I contribute on this issue, I have to start … which is highlighted in this motion, is the neglect of the Defence Forces. Other colleagues have mentioned it. Again, one side of the House is responsible for the neglect of the Defence Forces, and it is the current Government and its parties in successive Governments

want to talk her through some things that potentially will not make sense but let us see if I am misinforming the House about any one part of it. In June 2001, Irish voters rejected the Nice treaty. Most of the concerns raised during that campaign referred … improving our Defence forces, including our Naval Service and radar capacity. That is actually just a Government failure. There is nobody across this House who would not see increased investment as something we would all support but this just has an element of shadiness to it. Two referendums

With regard to housing estates, there is the proximity to existing dwellings on tight housing estates with small backyards. Those are the three things I ask the Minister of State to bring back

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time for approvals under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF prior to the introduction of DION, compared with current processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44414/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cases under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF currently awaiting approval; the average and longest waiting times for such approvals, the number of cases outstanding for more than twelve weeks

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 19 February 2026, the measures his Department is considering to succeed the cessation of turf cutting compensation schemes as the payment period concludes for many applicants

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give an update on the work his Department is undertaking to address the scourge of vacant properties (details supplied); if demands will be put on property owners to use it or lose

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether delays in approvals under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF have been attributed in whole or in part to the operation and/or full implementation of the DION system; if so, whether his Department

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approval letters issued under the mortgage to rent scheme and CALF in each of the past three years; the average time from application to approval in each year, in tabular form

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for full rollout of the DION system; the date from which all CALF applications will be required to be processed exclusively through DION; whether contingency arrangements exist in the event of continued system issues

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessment that has been conducted regarding the cumulative impact of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on housing demand, accommodation requirements and public services in Ireland versus pre-existing law; if the Government has published any projections regarding the likely financial cost

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [12359/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [12361/26

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [12365/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [12366/26

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [28189/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [32048/26

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [38776/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [38897/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [38900/26

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [38903/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will meet next [39594/26

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [39725/26

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [42077/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will meet next. [42080/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [42219/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will meet next. [43620/26

view on the threat of high-cost arbitration, already in effect, and impacting the Irish Government in terms of proposing, implementing or amending housing, infrastructure and climate legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42762/26