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number of houses being built is increasing, and the numbers of social houses are at record high levels

ensure that Europe works for ordinary working people because workers, families, farmers and small business continue to struggle with the cost of housing, energy and everyday life. Ireland's Presidency should champion an agenda that protects decent jobs, supports family farms, strengthens public services, delivers genuinely affordable housing

overall interests and needs of the union, its member states and citizens across Europe. The Government will continue to keep the House informed about progress with our Presidency programme and I really look forward to future discussions with Deputies. The Taoiseach laid out that he will be addressing … contribute to the European Union's legislative agenda. It is crucially important that Oireachtas Members from all parties and none, and from both Houses, engage fully, not just in the Presidency today but in using it to make sure our focus on Europe and European Union affairs

will ensure we have an adequately managed migration system. The Minister needs to give us clear updates. We are passing legislation in this House, but that is only first step. If we do not have gardaí across all the specialist areas, including within community policing and cybercrime, then … additional policing pressures as a result of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the EU. As a number of colleagues in the House have said, gardaí have been moved from communities and local Garda stations to other locations. This is concerning for communities that often deal with

levels. In particular, residential emissions reduced by 5% in 2025 and are at their lowest level since 1990, despite an increase in housing stock during this time. Residential usage of coal, oil and gas declined by 13.5%, 4.6% and 5.2%, respectively, on 2024 levels, while energy used … over 268,000 home energy improvements. This includes over 36,000 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty. As the House will be aware, those are people in receipt of the fuel allowance. In the most recent budget, 40,000 new households benefited from eligibility

Government was trying to put into law, in black and white, an increase of 34 cent. The Government actually passed that in this House, with the support, unfortunately, of some of the Opposition parties. That does not take away, however, from what is in this Bill, because … happen in Sinn Féin's name. I will press the amendment because there is an alternative and I ask Deputies across the House to support the amendment and, more important, to support hard-working people across the State

development regulations SI 600/2021. Such detached auxiliary dwellings must be constructed, erected or placed to the rear of a person's principal house, that is, their principal private residence. The 2024 Act shall not apply to a detached auxiliary dwelling in a rear garden that is such … exempted development where the principal house is the owner-occupied principal private residence of the landlord of the auxiliary dwelling. Section 3(2) of the 2024 Act provides a list of dwellings to which the Act does not apply. Section 13 of the Bill proposes to expand this

move amendment No. 8: In page 6, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “PART 2 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSING ACT 1988 Interpretation ( Part 2 ) 4.In this Part, "Act of 1988" means the Housing

insert the following: “Report on impact of amendments related to Judicial Reviews 4.The Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas within 12 months of the commencement of this Act detailing the impact of the amendments to Part 4 of the Principal Act related … that if the changes the Government is making have the unintended consequence of increasing litigation and causing delay to much-needed critical infrastructure, housing or renewable energy projects, they will be monitored and, if necessary, legislative amendments will be brought forward to rectify those problems into the future

these, they will not be able to afford them. I have also heard that it is about trying to get more social housing units in. It is creating lower quality and standards of social housing. Again, this is adding to stigma. It is not actually building

apply to make an amendment to the permission, as the case may be. The Government continues to be fully committed to ensuring that housing is delivered as quickly and effectively as possible and ensuring that a key part of that is viability. I wish to address some … raised. I do not accept the description here of smaller, darker apartments. I have heard every Deputy who is in here in this House on many occasions lauding the Vienna model. That is true. Every single person in this Chamber on the opposite benches has lauded the Vienna

Minister of State then spoke about space. We have a situation that is like the Celtic tiger all over again, because houses are being built and there are no parks, playgrounds or open spaces. A vulture fund bought up a building in the Blackpool, the late-night pharmacy … come from Knocknaheeny, and when Knocknaheeny was built 50 years ago the Government at the time made a decision to build housing 20% smaller with substandard material. Does the Minister of State know what is happening now? For the past 20 years Knocknaheeny has been in the middle

place are about activating the development of the 30,000 to 40,000 apartment planning permissions that have not been developed. In the housing committee, of which I am Chair, we recently had some of the largest developers in the country before us. "Developers" and "investors … words. We need them or we would never build. We would never get building the houses and apartments that we need if we did not get the investment either. What is being put in place by the people who are on the ground is the bricks and mortar

made. In some ways, the Government is being taken for a fool. I have great respect for Deputy Carrigy as Chair of the housing committee but, seriously, what else are they going to say? They are private developers. They are investor funds. Of course they are going … they want and what they are asking for. The Government is giving them everything. There is a real issue here, for me anyway. Housing is about delivering decent homes that people can live in that are affordable. These guys are not interested in that. What they want

highest annual total recorded and a 21% increase compared to 2024. That demonstrates the sustained Government investment in accelerating progress in housing delivery. We have seen that increased supply will help moderate overall price growth and help to ease affordability challenges over the next number of years … ramp up supply across the board. That is why that level of investment in capital infrastructure and housing has been prioritised by Government in our national development plan. The CSO data showed that prices fell month on month for the first time in almost three years, at minus

failing abjectly on that measure. On the measure of affordability, €400,000 is simply not affordable for ordinary working people, especially younger ones. House prices of half a million here in Dublin are absolutely out of the question. Does the Minister accept that today, as per this report … house prices and asking prices are continuing to rise? People are priced out of getting their first home. Does the Minister accept that we need to change tack to ensure that people can get a home and people who work and save hard can afford to own their

must have an honest conversation about how we improve supply across the housing system. For the Deputy to oppose housing every day and every week in her own constituency and then to lecture the Government on not doing enough shows a complete contradiction in Sinn Féin policy

Council of the European Union but we acquired another title, too. Ours is now the most expensive country in the EU for housing, healthcare and electricity. Housing costs are double those of the EU average and rising fast, as today's MyHome.ie report confirms. The cost of healthcare

health, education and disability services and ensuring we deliver for people across our country. It is similar in regard to affordability in housing. That is why we are continuing to protect capital investment in housing and infrastructure so we build more homes and ensure we reduce congestion through

year to connect a necklace of amenities along the Liffey Valley remains unfulfilled. We have seen positive steps through the acquisition of Castletown House and Lucan House but we have also seen an attempt to rezone high amenity lands at St. Edmundsbury. The Government must do more

such. It is very much the firm opinion of the Government that such amendments are not required. For the benefit of the House, I will go through the reasons for this. First, I want to address the issue of intention, as raised by Deputy Ó Laoghaire. There … extremely extensive. Postal codes for this area are not similar to Dublin 4 or N5, for the Arsenal fans in the House. They relate specifically to buildings. It is far more detailed than anything we would think about in terms of how comprehensive they are. To elaborate

agreed at EU level. That was how we were able to do it so quickly and strongly and with widespread support from the House. No doubt, when the 21st sanction package of the EU is brought forward, we should get the vast majority of the House’s support

fáil do phobal na tíre agus é ag claochlú i gcónaí. I thank the Minister of State for bringing the Bill to the House. I thank him also for his engagement with my colleagues from Dublin and me and with postmasters and representatives of postal service providers across … State believes there is a massively socially desirable aspect to the provision of postal services. I bring to the attention of the House the ability of the State to combat the ongoing pandemic of loneliness in our communities in cities, towns and rural areas throughout the country

Éireann on 9th June, 2026. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this motion. This evening I am seeking the approval of the House to conclude an opt-in under Article 4 of Protocol 21 to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in relation … forms domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors are fully supported. I commend the motion to the House

high-risk situations, we have to recognise emergency powers alone will never be enough. Women need somewhere safe to go. They need housing, refuge spaces, legal supports that work, a family law system that understands coercive control and, above all, a State that treats this as the emergency … victim was able to get a barring order is simply able to walk back into the home. I have tabled amendments to housing Bills to address this but it has gone unaddressed to this point. It cannot be the case that, continuously, women who are victims have

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether their Department will review the adequacy of the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant Scheme, including the maximum grant of €12,000, eligibility criteria, drawdown barriers and whether the scheme reflects actual remediation costs

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether their Department has received any reports, correspondence, briefings, notifications, risk assessments or other communications since 1 January 2024 concerning manganese exceedances in Cork City drinking water supplies; whether any concerns regarding recurring exceedances, treatment

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes approved, commenced and completed in County Kildare during 2025 and to date in 2026, by local authority area. [43747/26

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration is being given to increasing funding available to local authorities for the remediation of long-term vacant and derelict properties in town and village centres. [43748/26

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he intends to take in response to the continued increase in homelessness figures nationally; the additional funding that will be made available to local authorities for tenant-in-situ acquisitions and homelessness prevention

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department carried out any regulatory impact assessment of Regulation 2024/900 either before or after its adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43857/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide on all actions and commitments relating to the NPWS set-down in the active Memorandum of Understanding between an organisation (details supplied) and NPWS, in tabular form. [43872/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on correspondence issued by an organisation (details supplied) to his Department on 30 April 2026 in relation to matters concerning engagement with his Department; when the organisation can expect

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the preparatory work completed to date to facilitate the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the newly included counties; the work that remains outstanding; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the local authorities in the counties being added to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme have been advised of an implementation timetable; whether staffing, training and administrative arrangements have been finalised; and if he will

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared a project plan for the extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the other newly included counties; if so, the key milestones and target dates contained within that plan

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of homeowners in County Meath and each other county approved for inclusion in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme who are awaiting the opening of the scheme; the measures being taken to minimise

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the BER requirements for private landlords including when advertising rental properties, commencing new tenancies and undertaking rent reviews. [43881/26

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the publication of new planning guidelines for local authorities on the installation of roof solar panels on properties of architectural/ heritage value; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of dwellings currently awaiting a technical review of remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the average length of time such reviews have been outstanding; whether a formal technical review protocol

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will publish the criteria, methodology and decision-making framework used in technical reviews of remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; whether homeowners are entitled to review and respond to technical assessments

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when guidance will be issued to local authorities or technical reviewers regarding the assessment of foundation retention under I.S. 465:2026; whether a consistent national approach will apply to such determinations; and if he will make

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether homeowners dissatisfied with the outcome of a technical review of remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme have access to an independent appeal or review mechanism; if so, the details of that mechanism

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the composition of any technical review panel or group involved in determining remediation options under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the professional qualifications represented on such panels; whether independent experts are included

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the length of time between the triggering of the three-month review of the defective concrete blocks scheme and the expected completion; the longest period recorded to date in similar circumstances; and if he will make

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether applicants whose remediation options have not yet been finalised will be assessed in accordance with I.S. 465:2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43981/26

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether training or guidance has been provided to local authority staff, chartered engineers and technical reviewers in relation to the implementation of I.S. 465:2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43982/26

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has prepared estimates of the impact of I.S. 465:2026 on future remediation costs under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43983/26

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether remediation recommendations, technical reviews and appeals that remain undetermined at the date of publication of I.S. 465:2026 will be assessed under the provisions of I.S. 465:2026 or under the version of the standard

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has assessed the impact of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme on the future saleability and mortgage ability of remediated dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44018/26