Search the record

required, as the case may be. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage "shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or [An Commission Pleanála … consideration in the development of these modular homes, the size of the sites at 1.4 acres, and there not being enough space in housing estates. It is new legislation. I would say that a lot of the issues the Deputy has raised have been teased

have heard the contributions from the Members opposite. Every single Member of this House agreed to the recess. There was not one person who objected to it, just for the record of the Dáil and so people listening will know. To be clear, we are here today … excise increases on petrol and diesel do not go ahead next week or in October. There is a single financial resolution before the House today. The time allocated for debate, one hour, is exactly the same as we had for four previous financial resolutions in March and April

capable of changing with them. Despite some easing in global prices in recent days, international energy markets remain exceptionally volatile. Nobody in this House knows with certainty where the price of oil will be in November. Nobody knows where it will be in January. Nobody knows what geopolitical … towards greater energy independence for the future. That is what this resolution is about and is why I commend the resolution to the House. It is unusual enough for the Dáil to be recalled during a period of recess but it also happens to be recalled

cost of car ownership has become a political football. Not alone are energy costs high but Government decisions on the cost of groceries, housing, the inadequacy of public and active transport and the lack of a real right to remote work have unleashed acute financial pressures that households … without a vision to tackle inequality and build a more equal society to support those in disadvantage, in energy arrears and in a housing crisis. The Tánaiste is hearing from people around Ireland. He knows this. They cannot afford to cover the basics. They are facing high rents

specifically asked about,. What was the latest weekly update? The information the Minister has just given me was previously provided to the House on 23 April. It is now 16 July. Does the Minister have any additional information to provide to the House as of this week

fact, the Tánaiste might take the opportunity to meet with her before she leaves Dublin. People in wheelchairs gathered outside Leinster House on Tuesday. They are people living with Friedreich's ataxia. This is a progressive degenerative neurological disease. They were here at the Dáil because they have … available in Britain, Canada and the United States of America, but not here. The people who gathered on Tuesday outside Leinster House see people in other countries getting help while they are left to deteriorate. Emily Felix is one of these people

point of purchase definitely has a role. I am somewhat sympathetic to rank and file gardaí, who are asked by this House to enforce laws that are often very challenging for them to enforce in terms of their own safety. We have all seen tragic situations where gardaí … them to me, I would be happy to put them into the mix. This is something where, if we are unified as a House in saying the current system is wrong and not sustainable, and that we are going to take swift action, I really hope

council bought a site nearly three years ago for an eight-unit refuge. There was a lack of progress, but an approved housing body, AHB, Tuath Housing, has been secured to put that in place

earning too much to qualify for targeted supports and they are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the costs of childcare and housing, and also to meet everyday expenses. At the same time, wage increases intended to keep pace with inflation are pushing more workers into the higher … middle-income families through adjustments to the standard rate tax band and tax credits, together with targeted supports to help with childcare and housing costs. Will he set out the principles that will guide decisions to ensure work continues to pay and that middle-income families receive meaningful

ongoing threat to that service. I have met fire brigade staff. I ask the Tánaiste to engage with the Minister for housing and for the Government to engage on this issue. Dublin Fire Brigade staff and SIPTU have expressed their deep concern that this excellent service … Dublin Fire Brigade emergency response outside the current single operating system, which is a gold standard emergency response system. Will the Minister for housing meet the Dublin Fire Brigade in his local government capacity and also get Dublin City Council management to engage and ensure the current excellent

wider range of people would be one measure that could help us all address this issue. I appreciate that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may be waiting on the research to be received from the Electoral Commission on postal voting. However, I hope he will … postal vote alongside the person they are caring for. I hope the Minister will support this Bill to progress through the House. The Government must recognise the need not just for postal voting but to allow family carers the right to engage in politics by using a postal

part of the Tánaiste. This is certainly not the first time that Irish unity has been raised on the floor of House, but, generally speaking, it is those of us of this political stripe and on this side of the House who have been pressing

welcome this debate on the financial implications of a united Ireland. I acknowledge that the Tánaiste and so many other Members in this House see its merits in the future. I would have hoped that in this House we would at least have moved past the time

Government, it will have to be supported by the Opposition as well, because if we cannot agree in this House on the way forward in a consensual fashion, how are we going to persuade those who disagree with us and have a right to disagree with us? That … this country with scaling up indigenous enterprises and ensuring that Irish companies can go global from here. I will share with the House one anecdote. During my spell from 2014 to 2016 as Minister of State with responsibility for enterprise, we tried to host a joint Enterprise Ireland

glad of the opportunity to speak on the issue of Irish unity. Aontú is one of the few parties in this House that is active North and South and that stands candidates in elections in every county. At this time, the poll figures indicate that we are moving … issue are almost accepting the inevitability of a united Ireland. I feel an enormous privilege and responsibility as an elected member of this House at such a time in this nation’s history when we are on the cusp of Irish unity. It is an extraordinary thing

require a huge amount of money. The other angles would be the democratic implications of a vote. As I have mentioned in the House before, if a border poll passes by 52% to 48%, the legal threshold of the Good Friday Agreement is met but the social consensus … need a lot of constitutional and institutional accommodation, necessary measures that people might have to swallow. Some have been mentioned in this House, such as a devolved regional assembly in Stormont to preserve local governance for the unionist community, a shared bill of rights protecting the dual Irish

that he raised and the wide range of issues we would need to consider. We do not talk about the North in this House enough. I have been here ten years and it seems to me that we are only really beginning to have a discussion about … afraid of once we have open minds, open hearts and are respectful to the stance that everyone else takes in this House. If we were to agree on something, it would be that we all want to live on an island that every single person on the island

shopper. There needs to be an urgency about this. It is a public safety issue, and the public are demanding action. Can this House bring in legislation as a matter of priority in September? I believe there is support for it across this House and the public would

right thing to do now. It is not an accident that there are many Dublin-based Deputies in the House for this debate. Even within Dublin, there is disagreement among different political parties as to whether remunicipalisation is necessarily the way forward. Some of our colleagues in Dublin … structures or networks. It is entirely appropriate that there are different ways of collecting waste in different areas. I often think that this House over-regulates what happens at local government level. When I see legislation relating to licences for tables and chairs on pavements, I am aghast

position to make way more decisions about everything that happens in their area. If Dublin City Council had been allowed address the housing crisis back in 2012, 2013 or 2014, when it was impacting the city far more than anywhere else, we would have been ahead … absence of that, I ask that the Minister of State takes on board the comments that have been made here in the House by Members. Should he have the final review and the outcome, he should consider allowing Dublin city to do its own thing. Maybe it should

collection system. I again thank Deputy Sherlock for bringing the Bill forward and look forward to continuing our engagement with Members of this House. I thank the Ceann Comhairle, members of staff and everyone in Leinster House for their work over the past number of months. I wish

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 Thomas Gould - To discuss the bus service in Cork city. Deputy Ryan O'Meara - To discuss … Marie Sherlock - To discuss the use of periodic payment orders in the courts. Deputy John Connolly - To discuss the provision of appropriate public housing for families that provide foster care. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the proposed new Garda station at Northern Cross. Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss

yesterday. This is not the news they wanted to hear. The previous month a drug was approved and that was welcomed across the House. The very same group made that recommendation in respect of that drug. There is an urgency attached to this and we are prepared … work with Members of the House in terms of the processes. We all accept that, ultimately, there has to be a scientific perspective on this. I accept there is also a role for those at the front line clinically in respect of this condition, and in the neurological

which is having a significant impact. Across the board, we have taken significant initiatives, which have been opposed by the Opposition, to deliver housing. I still think that the Government's programme is more substantive, effective and impactful than any proposals that brought forward by other political parties … House

Development Agency. That is how thin the Labour Party's proposals are. Genuinely, there is no real substance coming from the Opposition on housing in terms of adding to our stock. We did the exemption for back gardens, but those in opposition just dismissed that. We did rural … housing and that was also dismissed. The Department also produced guidelines. The help to buy scheme, was opposed by the Opposition. The first home scheme was also opposed

Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will share analysis undertaken by her Department to assess the impact of foreign investors on the housing market through CETA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42859/26

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her view on Ireland's unique housing market that may be severely impacted by CETA's allowances for new investor activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42863/26

from its current level of €3,000, where the threshold has remained unchanged since the introduction of the euro and where increases in housing, education and living costs have substantially reduced its real value to families seeking to support younger relatives, including with home deposits; the estimated full

Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the threshold for the help-to-buy scheme is to be reviewed; if the housing price criteria is to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43742/26

data on heritage properties that have received a CAT exemption as provided for in CAT legislation; to provide a full list of all houses and gardens that are available for public view as a condition for an exemption from capital acquisitions tax on a heritage basis, including

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of buy and renew social homes delivered for each year the scheme has been in operation; and the breakdown, by Local Authority for each year, in tabular form. [41474/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase and cost-rental homes currently planned for Longford-Westmeath; the projected delivery timelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41594/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict properties; the number of applications approved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41596/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 14 May 2026, if he will consider additional correspondence in relation to the right to cut turf (details supplied); and proceed to positively conclude the CTCCS applications

Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can advise on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41628/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the acquisition and conservation of this historic building (details supplied) has been considered for use as a public amenity as part of the Dublin Bay Biosphere; and if the National Parks and Wildlife Service

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of commercial rates income collected by each local authority in the State for each of the past five years; the figures for gross rates billed, rates collected, collection percentage, and arrears for each

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to tackle vacancy and dereliction in town centres including Mullingar, Athlone, Longford Town and Granard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41639/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of individuals and families accessing emergency accommodation in Longford and Westmeath; the supports available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41641/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the national directorate for fire and emergency management guidance or the framework for major emergency management provide explicit guidance and direction to local authority fire services for the competent and complete response to emergency incidents

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to publish the financial returns from the nine lead authorities on their expenditure on homelessness services for 2025; and the lead authorities Q4 Performance Reports for 2025. [41735/26

Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he would support a ban on the importation of non-native honeybee; and to outline the work being conducted by his Department on protections for the native Irish honeybee. [41776/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staffing sanction requests approved by his Department for Cavan, Wexford, Mayo and Donegal County Councils in the period of 1 January 2023 to 1 May 2026, in tabular form; and if he will

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full year cost, if the number of conservation rangers within his Department increased to 165; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41897/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update and timeline for each stage of the regeneration projects in Waterford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41898/26

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his response to the European Commission decision to open an infringement procedure against Ireland (INFR(2026)2051) for failing to fulfil our obligations under the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is aware of the structural and safety concerns relating to balconies (details supplied); if the development is being considered for inclusion under an existing or proposed apartment and duplex defect redress scheme

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 264 of 6 May 2026, if his Department has commissioned any plans for assessments regarding the Martello Tower at Sandymount, Dublin.; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider a policy mechanism to ringfence court-mandated wildlife crime prosecution fines so that they remain within the county where the offense occurred; if these localised funds can be made directly accessible

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, in conjunction with the national parks and wildlife service, will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of cattle grids to native wildlife, specifically hedgehogs; if mitigation guidelines, such as escape