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workforce development plan proposed for special needs assistants, SNAs, right across this country. A significant amount of SNAs have contacted TDs in this House on the wording and the extra responsibilities they will have to undertake because of this plan. I understand there was stakeholder engagement … welcomed but that is not the feeling on the ground among SNAs. It is important that this feeling be heard in this House

raising the issue. I recognise that this is a very sensitive issue. There are a range of opinions and perspectives in this House and, indeed, among the public. The people voted to repeal the eighth amendment in 2018 and to provide free, safe and legal access to termination … arguments for and against the removal of the three-day waiting period. It is important we have a respectful debate in the House. I intend to vote for this to go through to Committee Stage. On Committee Stage, there will perhaps be a need for consequential amendments, which

councillors. There are 493 Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors out of 949. Will the Taoiseach now own his own failures - every empty house, every family on a waiting list, every night someone spends in emergency accommodation? Will the Taoiseach explain, not only to this House

have raised before with him the attempt by South Dublin County Council to massively hike rents for 20,000 families - council tenants, housing assistance payment, HAP, tenants, homeless HAP tenants and approved housing body, AHB, tenants - at an average of €1,000. It is trying to do this

constructive debate in this Chamber in which we disagree with each other agreeably and respect fundamentally the right of all Deputies in the House to have their own personal or political party opinion and their own approach to this issue. The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring there … while I have been in the Chamber. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, will, of course, continue to engage with Deputies from across the House on this issue. Deputies Sherlock and O'Gorman called for wider political co-operation to expedite the progress of the legislation

James Browne, to achieve a balance. Obviously, it is critical that we have accommodation in our cities, where there is acute pressure on housing units - we are in a housing crisis - and that those units are made available for wider society. Equally, in areas where the tourism sector

said, there has been no policy change. The law is clear in the Control of Exports Act 2023, as set out by these Houses of which the Deputy is a Member, and in our European obligations under the framework and the eight criteria that have been established. Ireland … control who comes to the Department seeking a licence. When the number of applications goes down, the value goes down. I assure the House there has been no change in policy whatsoever and no review has taken place either

which provide a busy day structure. A lot of parents feel isolated and experience a huge struggle to access services, whether respite or housing. Housing should be provided by every local authority. Adults should have a place where they can go, backed up by services, and where their

know of another couple who were so disheartened by the paucity of services available in the Kerry area that they sold their house and moved to Dublin where other members of their family reside because they could not be guaranteed the services. These people have grown … people accessing the day services, as well as the 80 plus per year. The HSE needs to forward plan for the day service, housing and respite but it also needs to be co-ordinated at a Government level so that all the various agencies tie in together

about to read contains information they both know, having been intimately involved in it for a long time. For the benefit of the House, Kilmainham Gaol occupies a unique place in Ireland's national story. The Office of Public Works recognises not only the significance of the gaol … last month I had the good fortune to bring my children there for the first time. I know I join everyone in the House who is absolutely spellbound by the story that it tells, the importance of that story to our history and the importance of making sure

There is a plan-led approach. There is also the grid investment through PR6, which is critical for all of our industries and housing. This is the €18.9 billion investment to 2030 and beyond. It is absolutely critical. We need to ensure that we remain at the cutting … countries we are not a large manufacturing country. This is something we need to protect. We have not had a situation where any housing has not been connected due to the growth in our economy

bridge the gap to the target that has been set for greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030. I have said in this House, and have said publicly elsewhere, that we will not reach that target by 2030 but we are moving towards it very well … that target in the early 2030s. For us in government, and indeed all of us in the House, it is about looking at the measures that we can take now, such as those we have discussed this morning, particularly the acceleration of renewables, the electrification of our country

Since the early days of the scheme, which I continue to champion, more than 176,000 houses have been retrofitted. The Minister of State is right that the average retrofit cost per house is €31,000 but I am conscious that 30% of all applications are for what

politically at international level, as we have done, and which we will do again in passing the occupied territories Bill in this House, the Deputy is saying that all of our athletes across all sports should stop participating in all competitions. That is what is being asked … Opposition in this House this week and it is what the Government voted down. That is not the way for this country to do its work politically. It is a matter for each sporting organisation, within its federation, to decide its own participation and it is a matter

finish for good. When a licensed travel agent collapses, customers' moneys are protected because it was decided long ago in this House that businesses holding public moneys would be subject to safeguards in respect of those moneys. It should trouble every Member of this House that ticketing agencies

this House, in any political party or none, wants to see any child in poverty or deems it acceptable, might I add, that any child would be in poverty. That is why we are doing everything we can as a Government to ensure we are assisting … ensure, in every way possible, that we are reducing child poverty. I have no doubt this is something that drives everyone in this House every single

deliver proper infrastructure where new homes are getting built. It just is not good enough. The Minister's colleague, a former Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, knows the area very well and was involved in assisting with the houses there. He is also aware of the school

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 Ged Nash - To discuss the recent fish kill on the River Glyde, County Louth. Deputy Jen Cummins … discuss religious instruction opt-out compliance in school admissions policies. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the school summer programme. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss the progress of proposed school extension

thank the Deputy for his contribution. I know Deputy Eoghan Kenny and other Members of this House were centrally involved in the Blackwater issue. As referenced, I cannot recount if a licence was ever removed. I know licences have been suspended in cases and it may be that … pathway to update the legislation and I look forward to the engagement of Deputy Nash and others in the House when we bring it to Committee Stage or on pre-legislative scrutiny, when there will be an opportunity for all to get involved. I acknowledge the work

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 Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - To discuss the loss of staff at Bunscoil Chríost Rí for 2026-27 school … Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss the need for social and affordable housing in Arklow, County Wicklow. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the proposed new prisons in The Glen, Cork. Deputy Tom Brabazon - To discuss the loss

work and for taking on this report and giving us such a comprehensive picture. I agree that we need a debate in this House once we have had time to digest the full findings of the report. Unfortunately, however, there have been so many of these situations where … know, as the Taoiseach said, there are better procedures in place now, but we can still do more. On 25 June, in this House we will be putting forward the Labour Party's Bill to ensure that where religious orders have colluded in cover-ups, that they

This is parliamentary democracy. By 86 votes to 62, the International Protection Act 2015 was passed in this House. It has been signed by the President. Why are Members inventing and deliberately misinforming people? That is what is going on here. This law has been debated in this … House at length

there plans to ensure that Uisce Éireann becomes more accountable to this House? The level of response and the slow rate of response to queries from Members of the Oireachtas is not acceptable. I would like the Taoiseach to commit to raising this with the chief executive … Uisce Éireann. The problem is that we are forced to table questions in this House and they are then disallowed, but we cannot get any answers from Uisce Éireann. I have specifically raised on a number of occasions plans for the development of the Ferns and Camolin wastewater

Connemara, one will see holiday homes sitting empty or on Airbnb, while young people in the same community cannot afford to buy a house and start a family. One will see hordes of chain tourist shops selling the same gimmicky image of what Ireland is, while local small … cannot afford the premises costs and are priced out by cheap goods made overseas. We need a system that takes into account the housing, infrastructural and community needs of areas around the country when we develop tourism. We also need to ensure that when these communities generate countless

through. We have the golf courses and carting. We have the K Club. We have the horseracing. Indeed, we have places like Castletown House, Kilkea Castle and Lullymore in the north west of the county. We have some great locations. These are places that can really bring … marketing the county. I look for more assistance from the Department, if possible, to continue that. I was lucky to be in Castletown House on Monday and got shown around for the umpteenth time. The OPW has been able to buy the land. We now have access restored

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure on rent supplements and housing assistance payments for non-Irish nationals in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38974/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the forthcoming National Migration and Integration Strategy will include specific housing supply, homelessness prevention, or emergency accommodation forecasting mechanisms. [38874/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39976/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39977/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39978/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39979/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average annual cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39980/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average cost of housing an inmate in an Irish prison, broken down by category including the costs related to food, transport, staffing, education, utilities, accommodation and any other significant costing. [39981/26

social behaviour linked to emergency accommodation facilities in Knock, Balla, Crossmolina, Swinford or other locations in County Mayo where ex-prisoners have been housed; to outline the actions taken in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40036/26

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of cases in which homelessness, insecure housing, overcrowding, or residence in emergency accommodation was identified as a contributing factor in a decision to place a child in State care during each of the past

Children, Disability and Equality the location at which a company (details supplied) in collaboration with HSE South-West, established an adult respite house; the capacity and services provided at the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40141/26

asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of providing reimbursement under the general medical services scheme for sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mite allergy; the number of patients estimated to be eligible for such treatment; and the specific assumptions used in calculating this estimate. [39643/26

McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department’s plans for the opening of new Irish embassies, consulates and Ireland houses over the next two years; if any specific areas that have been identified by her Department as a priority to extend Ireland’s diplomatic

which his Department co-ordinates with local authorities and other Departments to ensure town and village renewal funding is linked to housing, transport, community services and local economic development; and if he will consider a more integrated, multi-annual funding model for rural towns and villages. [38128/26

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will investigate the potential systemic misuse of public funds under the help-to-buy and first home schemes (details supplied); the clawback and auditing mechanisms in place when a developer is found

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current eligibility criteria for postal voting in elections, particularly in cases where registered electors are unable to vote in person due to pre-arranged personal travel; whether consideration is being given

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of stock audits undertaken in 2025 and 2026 to date, by county, in tabular form. [38602/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give consideration to the importance of tourism in County Kerry and especially Killarney town by reconsidering the short-term lets policy; to allow a waiver for the proprietors of short-term lets

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm if ECCE-only childcare services are liable for commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38671/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the impact of housing costs and homelessness risk on victims seeking to leave abusive relationships. [38582/26

asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any interdepartmental strategy is being developed to address the intersection between domestic abuse, housing insecurity and financial abuse. [38591/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total number of housing units or student beds that are constructed and in use that are wholly or partially owned by Activate Capital or any fund related to a joint venture (details supplied); and if he will

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total number of housing units or student beds that are constructed and in use that are wholly or partially owned by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38109/26

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider increasing the house price ceiling to qualify for the help-to-buy scheme. [38170/26

build homes; if he will consider a rebate of VAT for those buying their first home and those getting affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38205/26