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eligible for funding under some of the criteria for schemes. The Minister and I have had conversations with many Deputies in the House, especially those from west Dublin, parts of Cork South-Central and parts of the Deputy’s own constituency. We are very much committed to community … many different projects. For example, Dundrum is eligible for funding under the urban regeneration and development fund administered by the Department of housing. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has been approved for funding of €4.3 million for the new Dundrum community hub. I understand a preliminary business case

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 Sinéad Gibney - to discuss the closure of Carlow College. Deputy John Connolly - to discuss the provision … appropriate public housing for families that provide foster care. Deputy Michael Cahill - to discuss delays in payments to subcontractors to Uisce Éireann. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - to discuss issues being created in the court system by the new legal aid model. Deputy Tom Brabazon - to discuss the proposed

County Council. This is State land that is lying idle. The population of Glanmire is growing at a phenomenal rate. One thousand new houses are being built. The Minister of State's Department agreed to provide funding to the FAI back in 2017 or 2018. This was never … facilities at the scale they would like. I ask that the Department now give priority to this issue. There are 1,000 houses being built. We are collecting planning fees and all sorts of contributions for these developments to go ahead but we are not providing any facilities

about Irish freedom, self-determination and delivering on the promise of 1916. It is also about delivering sensible all-Ireland solutions on health, housing and every other issue that impacts on us. I cannot understand the position of the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, and his implacable opposition … open to this conversation and who dislike the position that was taken. I listened to the Tánaiste who spoke about working across this House in relation to delivering on Irish unity. I want to know what that looks like. I welcome the fact that Fine Gael is working

under the leadership of the national dementia office. I was pleased to bring the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Act 2026 through the Houses of the Oireachtas recently. It was signed into law by the President. Under the Act, for the first time in Ireland, all private, public … services for people with dementia and, more particularly, for their families. I very much look forward to engagement from all Members of the House throughout the debate

date and their plans going forward. They are highly commendable. I will try to be proactive and hopeful. I will share with the House the fifth and lesser known pillar of health. The results of decades of scientific studies explain why the arts, alongside diet, sleep, exercise … support costs. I will happily refer the Minister of State to an excellent book called Art cure. I have referenced it in this House previously. I have no commercial interest or otherwise in it but it is an excellent reference source. It is the science

story in itself. We talk a lot about reproductive rights for women and couples but, unfortunately, a lot of people, for reasons of housing, access to housing and economic necessity, delay having children longer than they would like to. This is an area we will come back

There is the glaring reality that we in these Houses and the Government have to be honest about - a law was passed in 2024 to regulate e-scooters. Some countries have no regulation of e-scooters but what has actually happened since we made e-scooters legal … that more children have life-long head injuries and are showing up in Temple Street. That is the regulatory regime we in these Houses passed. This is despite every effort by the Garda and others to encourage parents not to purchase e-scooters for their kids - they should

happening. They genuinely feel that perhaps if the Government knew or was aware of the impacts of the policies it decides in this House and puts through with its majority, things would change and it would have some compassion because they are in quite desperate situations. One case … they were dealing with an agent. The agent was very happy to sell to Fingal County Council. They got the same reply. Their house has now been sold. It has been sold to another landlord and that landlord would like them out quicker than their notice to quit

that there is not sufficient funding for the acquisition programme. That is what they need. People in my constituency wait on the housing list for over 14 years. These people have been on the list for ten years, meaning they are half a decade away from being housed

siblings, parents who are younger or extended families. All have been told, officially, that they have "an indefinite responsibility" to provide housing and care for the disabled person in their family. What a gross abdication of a responsibility by the State that was supposed to help … love. There is a cruelness in a system that ignores the needs of our most vulnerable, whether it is as simple as accessing housing or care, or an outsourcing of emergency care to a private sector motivated by profit over human dignity. This is not the way that

position that the only people who can operate are those who cost the State and the taxpayer more. They may have a house which could be three counties over. The perfect situation is one where there is a proper conversation between the local authority … heard Bernard Gloster, the previous chief of the HSE, say that the local authorities, from his point of view, should provide the housing and that disability services should be provided on top of that. If done in a completely planned and organised way, with the correct planning

gone. The Before We Die campaign laid this bare. A survey of 1,000 families showed that just 2% had a formal housing plan in place for their son or daughter with an intellectual disability. This is not just a policy failure but a human rights failure. Article … needs to honour it. The Minister needs to stop burying her head in the sand. We need an ambitious plan for publicly owned housing, not a profit-driven private model that fails citizens and costs taxpayers dearly

number of weekends that facility is open. I see the statement and the circular which has been issued by the Department of housing that the local authorities will have more responsibility and they will now be building housing but I have to say the Government’s policy

which supports the campaign by Before We Die, a family-led advocacy group seeking urgent ring-fenced Government funding for residential care and housing for adults with intellectual disabilities. Their needs are threefold: purpose-built housing; establishment of a clear, gradual transition plan rather than emergency placement

experience of thousands of families. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that adults with intellectual disabilities have access to suitable housing and support services that meet their needs in their own community. Adults with intellectual disabilities have the same right as every other citizen to live with … collection on the needs that exist in our community and the lack of personal transition plans, the challenges that exist with the social housing application process for adults with an intellectual disability, section 38 and section 39 providers are left completely unable to compete with private companies because

will happen to my child when I’m gone?" These families have spent years navigating services that are fragmented and under pressure while housing supports remain inadequate. Families have also raised concerns about the growing reliance on private, for-profit residential services. They want something different. They want … supports they need and the opportunity to remain close to family and the communities where they belong. This is not simply about housing. It is about dignity, security and giving families the peace of mind that their loved ones will have a place to call home. I urge

which their hands are tied. They have properties but they can only put a certain number of rooms into them. There are other houses that are lying empty. There has been a huge issue with regard to State funding in this space, but the Government also needs … ensure that sheltered housing is put in place for those with intellectual disabilities when their parents or others in the family can no longer care for them. It is utterly unacceptable that people reach an older age and have nowhere to go but nursing homes

which Aontú will support. According to the Disability Federation of Ireland, there are between 5,000 and 6,000 households with a social housing need due to disability and a total of 10% of everyone on the waiting list are people with disabilities. I want to raise … alone; indeed, I have met many others. It is sad that in the region of just 2% of these families have a housing plan. The vast majority of these 2,000 families are living in fear of dying. This issue is very important. There are solutions and many

Ratoath and Ashbourne that would benefit hugely. The amendments to the disability Act should include the right to services and the right to housing. The Planning and Development Act 2024 should perhaps be amended to include a minimum percentage of housing

needed to come back to me once they processed their thoughts. I want to put some of them on the record of the House. I thank the members of the Before We Die campaign and the parents who have been in regular contact with me, including Nora … Candi, who is a full-time carer for her daughter. She has shared her experience with me and has highlighted the need for housing that provides continuity, stability and rightful supports so that people with intellectual disabilities can live fulfilling lives. She also spoke about the additional pressures

local authority level. I am asking for two things today, which I think could be done immediately. First, I ask for a dedicated housing officer to be established in every local authority, seconded from and linked to the HSE, to finally bring together housing and health so families

generally, in terms of any change in practice, you do have to bring people with you. I can recall earlier periods in this House when other practices were legislated for and the campaigns that developed around them were far in excess of the specific issue. In other words … NPWS to ensure compliance with those 44 conditions, associated with the section 32 and section 34 licences issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A panel of pre-coursing inspectors, selected for hare expertise, inspects every club in advance of a meeting and issues

last few months, in this House and at the transport committee, I have been raising the need for increased regulation and enforcement in the area of e-scooters. I welcome the statement this week by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, that he will look at registration … believes the structures exist to roll that out efficiently. Safety is also something that I have raised on the floor of the House with regard to high visibility and helmet use by those operating e-scooters, and educating parents that minors should not be operating them. The third

House has been divided on the correct funding and revenue response to public service broadcasting more generally. Various Oireachtas committees in the last number of years have had different proposals. One was for an overall levy on all devices including tablets and so forth, which would create … only makes things worse. People are not prepared to support the universal levy, and there is no consensus on that in the House. We have problems here, but we need to make up our minds on what we want for RTÉ

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review of the differential rents scheme is underway or planned; the terms of reference and timeline of any such review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42557/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline any grant schemes or funding streams available to support community heritage events and vintage clubs, such as a club (details supplied), which has organised charity fundraising shows for nearly 20 years without

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline his plans to ensure Uisce Éireann deal with backyard/back lane wastewater issues which were formerly dealt with by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42664/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with Galway County Council to support them in the purchase of Dunguaire Castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42735/26

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department will take to allow for modular homes under planning exemptions. [42769/26

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to increase HAP payments in line with rising rents; if so, the details of those plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42783/26

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the native Irish honeybee is formally recognised as a priority species for conservation; if not, if this is under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42830/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the modified and expanded buy and renew scheme, including the timeline for further rollout; the level of funding allocated; the number of properties approved to date under the scheme

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts being undertaken to streamline the vacant property refurbishment grant application process to ensure that decisions are returned in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42904/26

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will oblige AHB's to deliver more disability properties in conjunction with local authorities by giving them a target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42930/26

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commence without delay the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2024 relating to county development plan frameworks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42931/26

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the excavation and report submitted by a company (details supplied) to his Department, funded by the landowner of a property will finalise the financial obligation of the landowner for further investigative work on the remains

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered aligning the adaptation of the ten year county development plans in 2029 to ensure consistent and continuity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42947/26

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to publish the report from the local democracy task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42957/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of improvements made in the planning system since 2020; his plans for further improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42960/26

Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the price threshold from €425.00 in Limerick for the first homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43003/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his future plans for the First Home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43008/26

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the proposed planning exemption for modular homes and ancillary accommodation units to come into effect; the steps remaining before the necessary regulations can be commenced; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the introduction of the proposed planning exemptions for modular homes; whether any statutory, environmental or legal processes remain outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43042/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the cost to date arising from Project Díon; the full set up cost of the system; and the annual cost of the hosting and operation of the system. [43099/26

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43440/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is scope in Budget 2027 to broaden the criteria of eligibility for the Vacant and Derelict Property Grant to restore farm outbuildings and make them available for residential use; and if he will

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding modelling or research into the projected increase in demand for rental accommodation directly related to the changes in accommodation supports being introduced for Ukrainian citizens from August this year; and if he will

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether, in advance of the next National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems taking effect in 2027, their Department will require local authorities and the EPA to provide a consolidated national dataset

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether their Department has assessed the public health and water-quality risk arising from the absence of a central national database identifying failed domestic wastewater treatment systems located near private drinking-water wells, groundwater sources