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Last Thursday, the Oireachtas housing committee published an important report on homelessness. At the centre of that report is the call for the introduction of an emergency package of measures to prevent families and single people from becoming homeless, but also to get people out of emergency accommodation … least a week to consider the report, will he set out his initial response to its 14 recommendations? Will he let the House know whether it is his intention to bring forward an emergency response to finally get to grips with the ever-deepening homelessness crisis

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his review of the income eligibility thresholds for social housing support. [48578/26

growing number of working people, as a result of very modest increases in their wages, are being removed from local authority social housing waiting lists when their means assessment comes under review. I know the Minister is looking at this matter and his party colleagues and backbenchers from … Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are raising it with him regularly. Will he give us an update on the review of social housing income limits and some indication as to whether it is his intention to act on it this year

think we are very much in agreement on the general direction of where we need to go in relation to social housing threshold limits. The way I look at this is that there is a spectrum. Everybody needs to be able to get a home in their local … community based on their needs. Whether that is purely private or with supports, affordable purchase, cost rental or social housing, it is about ensuring on that spectrum that people have not only an entitlement but availability so they can benefit and get a home in their local community

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to tackle dereliction in advance of the introduction of the new derelict property tax; his plans to mandate local authorities to collect the millions in outstanding derelict sites levies; when … with streamlined and strengthened CPO powers; if he will consider introducing compulsory sale orders to bring vacant and neglected homes back into the housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48496/26

This funding will support the delivery of the wide range of projects in our cities, towns and regions required for housing delivery, safeguarding public health and the environment and, crucially, providing the capacity required to address the housing crisis in this country. This investment will deliver significant improvements

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing projects that are currently under construction in Kildare North and those which are expected to commence before the end of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48233/26

Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his response to the latest monthly housing commencement figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48047/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of housing commencements in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48187/26

question concerns the key issue of housing and all the different types of infrastructure that go with it. I ask the Minister for the information on all the housing projects currently under construction in Kildare North and those expected to commence before

related to the sports capital grants that will assist local sports clubs, and indeed local community groups, in which I am heavily involved. Housing is about the delivery of infrastructure but also about the delivery of the associated strands, with which the Minister's team is currently heavily … that. At the same time, however, we need to consider population growth and push, as the Minister is doing, towards further growth in housing and the infrastructure required

raising important issues in County Kildare, particularly north Kildare, with which he is most familiar. The key infrastructure projects announced under the housing infrastructure fund are critical. It is also about working with ESB Networks and Uisce Éireann to ensure all the required additional capacity … healthcare facilities, can also be put in place. We must have a co-ordinated approach. We are very much doing that through the Housing Activation Office. That is very important

spectrum, to be able to get the homes they need in their own local community, whether through private purchase, affordable homes or social housing. It is essential that everybody can access a home. Affordable purchase is essential for people who are on lower incomes but incomes that … above the social housing thresholds to be able to get that permanent home. I want the local authority in County Kerry to provide more affordable purchase. The Government is, as I say, providing record funding. We have built record numbers of social homes. We have also built

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to support the development of age-friendly housing within existing communities, allowing older people to remain close to family and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47608/26

matter he has raised and is committed to. The measure is in the programme for Government. It is a specific action under delivering housing for older people. I committed to doing work on that even prior to the action plan being finalised. A review is currently under … Housing Agency on behalf of the Department of the financial contribution schemes operated by local authorities. It will interact with local authorities and, once the review has been completed, the policy response will be developed in response to the findings identified in the research. I want

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the number of housing completions in Cork in 2025; the number of homes completed to date in 2026 in Cork; the number expected to be completed

also CUH, which is such a big employer, many of the incredible team of nurses, doctors and other staff need access to housing. That is a challenge we have to address but we are doing so. There are key ways that the Minister in particular has directed travel … land can be zoned, and with that investment will come. The private sector is responding well to apartment buildings through the incentives there. Housing activation funding for Cork has been very generous. On the question about villages and towns, Uisce Éireann

services. For instance, in Whitechurch lorry loads of water have to be brought in every day because there is a well servicing the housing units there and it is not able to deal with demand during the summer months. It is likewise with Courtbrack. There has been … indication from Irish Water as to when that issue will be resolved. Again, the situation is that a well is servicing all the housing estates there. Is there any plan to have a direct link between the main water schemes in the city or county to service those

each region over and over again, and the progress we are making as well. The Minister has also asked everyone in this House for their support. She is working in partnership with the committee, which is a formidable combination and that needs to continue. I and the Taoiseach … Carroll MacNeill, is going to drive and it will make a big difference. We want to work in support with everybody across this House to get to where we need

work by the Dublin Bay task force, chaired by Dublin City Council, aimed at improving the bathing water quality further. The Department of housing, along with Uisce Éireann and the local authorities, are now funding UCD's Acclimatize 2 project to carry out a study identifying and targeting … Deputy in remembering the young girl who tragically lost her life at Burrow Beach. Any such loss is absolutely heartbreaking. Everybody in this House extends their thoughts to that family and community. There is more we can be doing in terms of amenities and the point the Deputy

move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on Second Stage of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill. As Deputies are aware, the main purpose of the Bill is to provide for a project-specific, bespoke consenting pathway … courts. Part 7 contains one section relating to a consequential amendment to the Environmental Protection Act 1992. I commend the Bill to the House and I look forward to the debate and the contributions from Members

strengthen Ireland's energy security. We raised these during pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. Other Deputies have raised them in this House today already. They include investment in renewables, energy storage, interconnection, demand management and grid improvements. This is the direction of travel we want … badly need it. We will be putting forward numerous amendments to this Bill and I look forward to debating them in the House in the limited time that is being given. I really hope the Government will take them seriously and integrate as many of them as possible

political Chamber but if you strip away a lot of the politics, there is little between any of us in this House about where we need to go. It is the case that we are all aligned on renewables but to get renewables at scale and reach … need fossil fuels to fill that gap in our energy mix. It would be foolhardy of any administration of whatever hue in this House to somehow walk away from its responsibility to provide insofar as it can a back-up storage plan in the less likely but still

take this opportunity to thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this important matter and providing me with an opportunity to update the House. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of Deputy James Browne, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Under the Planning and Development

dependent on a deal being made between a local community and a local developer to provide a pitch as part of a housing development. It is a nonsense. Communities are being failed as a result. In many places, the community facilities never materialise because they are promised … when the houses are delivered, the developer has left. We have to get this right. Too many communities have been failed. Along with Sinn Féin colleagues, I met representatives of the GAA. They spoke about the report published by the GAA, No One Shouted Stop - Until

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to allow micro-companies to apply for the vacant above-the-shop grant scheme; the timeline for the potential inclusion of micro-companies; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a schedule of contracts will be provided that his Department and bodies under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand emergency accommodation in Kildare given persistent shortages in beds in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40478/26

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to develop social and affordable homes in Kildare county over the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on a software system (details supplied) for management of CAS, CALF and so on; the total cost of same; and whether it is now fully operational. [40496/26

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a comprehensive list of all upcoming cost rental and affordable purchase homes in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40503/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the recent confirmation that homes in Dublin Fingal are now to be included in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme (details supplied); whether Fingal County Council have been instructed on the implementation

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department requested any formal review from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding repeated manganese exceedances in Cork city drinking water supplies since 2024. [40599/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount allocated to each local authority for tenant-in-situ in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40720/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on housing will meet next. [36983/26

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [37495/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will meet next. [37535/26

asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on the long-term delays being experienced by those building once-off houses in securing electricity connections; if he is aware that priority appears to be given to large scale residential developments; where significant connection delays

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted any analysis of the relationship between family homelessness and child protection interventions; and if he will publish any reports, reviews, or internal assessments carried out in this area. [39456/26

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give detailed consideration to the issues raised in correspondence from a local authority (details supplied). [39992/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the above-the-shop grant to micro-businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40304/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of first-time buyers in County Wexford that have benefitted from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38796/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of first-time buyers in County Wicklow that have benefitted from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38797/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms in place in his Department to ensure delivery on the commitments in the Programme for Government; the civil servant specifically responsible for overseeing such delivery; the measures that are used to assess progress

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Department operates a formal forecasting model linking projected inward migration trends to projected emergency accommodation demand; and if he will provide details of this model. [38867/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Department has undertaken any scenario modelling examining the impact of varying migration levels on homelessness presentations since 2020. [38869/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the Department has conducted any stress-testing of emergency accommodation capacity against projected migration scenarios since 2020. [38871/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the ESRI population projections underpinning the revised National Planning Framework include modelling of projected homelessness demand arising from population growth and migration patterns. [38872/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department collects, analyses or publishes homelessness presentation data by immigration, residency or citizenship status. [38875/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any assessment has been conducted regarding the impact of migration trends on regional emergency accommodation pressures in Cork, Dublin, Galway or Limerick since 2022; and if so, if he will provide details