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reduce the frequency of the old 40 buses by introducing the new F1, F2 and F3. Deputies cannot walk through this House without an usher stopping them to tell them that the F1 or F2 did not turn up on a particular morning. The ushers and people … happening with great speed. I want to make sure that there is no slippage. I will do everything in my power in this House to make sure that project is delivered. I ask the Minister of State to support it in the way his colleague the Minister, Deputy

paper, but one that carries significant consequences for how transport is planned and delivered across the country. Nobody on this side of the House is against better public transport. Far from it. For far too long, rural Ireland and regions like west Cork have been left behind when … going in one way and out the other. It is not one foot extra. It takes in about an extra 15 to 20 houses along the route, which would be fantastic, especially for elderly people who do not have a transport service. There was no answer

State are living. It is a reality that was shared with us by them when they came to the gates of Leinster House. It is difficult for people to come to the gates of Leinster House to tell strangers that they are rationing fuel or struggling

same for carers, the people who look after them. However, it is particularly the case for people with disabilities, who everybody in this House accepts have additional needs and additional costs because of those disabilities. People with disabilities want to be treated and respected on the basis … from when they are born through childhood and into adulthood, they face battles. We have moved countless motions in this House on children with disabilities who must wait for assessments of need, who must wait for access to a therapist, who cannot get a special school place

fuel crises have hit people with disabilities in a significant way in the context of the cost of assistive technologies, healthcare, medicine, housing adaption supports, mobility and transport. I know many people in Mayo whose main mode of transport is specialised taxis. In rural Ireland … senior years coming to my clinic and saying that she is afraid to die and asking what supports, including in the context of housing, are available. It is quite devastating. Let us look at Government policy, campaigning, rhetoric and the promises made to people with disabilities most recent

budget 2025, the Government decided to use €3 billion of the proceeds from bank share disposals to provide funding for infrastructure, including water, housing and the electricity grid, and in the case of housing and water is additional to ongoing Exchequer expenditure. In 2025, €514 million

position to make a number of decisions about what to do with that resource, including investing in infrastructure such as water, housing and the electricity grid. There is no question of waste. There is a question of correct deployment of a one-off resource to try to improve … critical infrastructure, particularly around water, housing and electricity. I am looking at the end of the ISIF's 2024 financial statements. The ISIF discloses its direct portfolio total interest income in its financial statements and the end of the 2024 financial statements states the interest income earned

Tánaiste expresses the views of the House to the NTMA on a frequent basis. That is welcome but, at the same time, he is equivocating a bit. He is asking how much they profit, how much they are involved and saying that is not clear … that. I want him to be really clear - and I think these are the views across the House and country - that we do not want a single cent of our public money to be used in this way. Will he be clear about that and clear with

childcare. We have to empower parents to make the decisions that make sense for them. Sometimes it is someone coming into your house to mind the children, sometimes it is your children going to someone's house, sometimes it is your child going to a crèche and sometimes

will be presenting to our parliamentary party tomorrow evening on it, and he has been presenting in the audiovisual room at Leinster House as well. This issue has been raised by many people in this House. As I mentioned before, the Government increased the thresholds in the Finance

efforts by malign states to influence Oireachtas Members, which will in various ways and through various inducements try to persuade Members of these Houses of the merits or demerits of particular policy proposals. When we talk about neutrality and security, we do not sufficiently engage in issues around … with regard to cyber threats and hybrid threats. I genuinely believe there needs to be a programme of education for Members of these Houses about the potential threats that we individually face

town centre first policy, for which I and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage hold joint responsibility, is the major cross-government policy. It aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It does so by setting out a framework … happy places to live, work, invest in and visit. Town centre first complements other national policies, including our rural future, the national housing strategy and the national planning framework. Significant progress has been made. For example, town regeneration officers funded by my Department are based in 26 local

thank Deputy Doherty. If I can, I will take the opportunity to inform the House exactly what the current situation is with the 14 Irish citizens who have been detained. The Government has been very clear in condemning the actions of the Israeli Government and the illegal detention … attention. We are aware of reports that others have been injured. As soon as I can, I will provide an update to the House as to whether that includes any Irish citizens. Again, let me be very clear about these actions. The illegal detention, the way in which

thank the Deputy. I fully agree with him and everybody in this House, in that I am equally appalled by the actions of the Israeli Government in the detention of our citizens and many others in international waters but in particular the footage we saw yesterday that clearly … forward the legislation. I will not just bring it forward but will enact it. I look forward to working with colleagues across the House to make sure we can enact it as soon as possible. That is in tandem with the work I will continue

open to all proposals, including the one the Deputy outlined. The Government has introduced different kinds of supports, such as safe houses, the investment in Cuan and the different funding available through different mechanisms, be it from social protection or housing. At the same time, as the Deputy

Department are to be commended on bringing it forward in a pretty quick manner. I hope we will bring it through the Houses relatively quickly. I have a few issues. The Minister went through section 12D, which relates to the issue of being able to take away guardianship … hope it will be put through in a very speedy manner. The Minister will get the full co-operation of the House. I expect and hope we can do this in a short time. I commend the Minister and his officials

colleagues who have spoken and contributed to the debate. It is notable that everyone who spoke and every political party represented in this House - indeed, every Independent TD - is supportive of this legislation. That is unusual. The reason there is such support for it is significantly because … legislation or when somebody is prepared to advocate from a personal point of view, it can have a very significant impact on the Houses of the Oireachtas. That has certainly happened in the case of Valerie French and the campaign put forward by David and Valerie's sisters

from snowballing into crisis situations. In recent years, centres have seen a significant increase in demand. Families are dealing with rising living costs, housing insecurity, mental health challenges, social isolation, and increasing financial pressure. Many parents and young people are now presenting with more complex needs, and communities … urgently needs sustained investment in both its premises and front-line services. Every day, it is supporting a record number of families facing housing insecurity, poverty, domestic violence, caring pressures, and serious mental health challenges. Its work is indispensable. While funding has increased, much of this progress

rates purposes and the role of Tailte Éireann in that regard. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency that provides a property registration system, property valuation service … State. Tailte Éireann is independent in the exercise of its valuation functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, and the Department do not have any function in decisions in this regard. Tailte Éireann has overall responsibility under

stating a preference for the term "private commercial sector" rather than "independent sector". NUJ stated that the term "independent sector" implies that in-house content produced by RTÉ and TG4 is not independent. Screen Producers Ireland noted the definitions applied in determining what constitutes an independent production company … evidence presented to the committee resulted in a number of recommendations. I will briefly outline a number for the information of the House. Our report calls for a recognition of community media. This recommendation is born out of community engagement with CRAOL and CTA, which highlighted concerns

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 Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss funding for family resource centre buildings. Deputies Sorca Clarke, Aengus Ó Snodaigh … marathon run by two brothers in order to raise money to fight dementia. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss legacy maintenance issues in Cork housing estates. Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Paul Murphy - To discuss the rights and treatment of Oireachtas TV workers. Deputies Ciarán Ahern, John Lahart, Seán

there are no plans by the Government to alter the position. That commitment has been made repeatedly on the floor of the House and I again explicitly reaffirm it today. I want to again address a fundamental misconception at the heart of the motion before the House

Again, recommendations for reform came from the Housing Commission, the ESRI, and the Housing Agency

certainty given to the landscape because we are spending about €9 billion of State money. The direct State intervention in the housing market is around €9 billion. The Central Bank says we need about €20 billion. We need a combination of public sector and private sector investment … housing. That means a long-term certainty in terms of the rental market. I looked at all the Opposition parties' proposals before the election and all their manifestos. They are very poor in terms of analysis

long has the Government been standing over housing policy? It will be a decade of the housing needs review

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the local government task force report will to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37309/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the total expenditure in 2025 on emergency homeless accommodation, with a breakdown for the amount paid out to private providers. [37508/26

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities have adequate powers and flexibility to respond to parking pressures arising from new developments, particularly in suburban areas with high levels of car dependency; and if he will make a statement

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of first-time buyers in Galway that have benefitted from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37340/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when will the planning exemptions be introduced to allow for modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37502/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the interim fire safety defects remediation scheme. [37506/26

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to undertake a fundamental review of the Local Authority Home Loan to make it more widely accessible. [37497/26

Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the expanded role of the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37518/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the State currently receiving a pension for having worked as retained firefighters. [26565/26

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the increasing number of people presenting to Kerry County Council as homeless following the introduction of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026; and if he will make

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, or ongoing cross Departmental works, his Department is engaged in to reduce second-home saturation, protect year-round local occupancy, and sustain Irish-language community viability without relying on in-home inspections in Gaeltacht

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the planning policy statement for short term lets. [37510/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to further extend the development levy waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37214/26

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when a scheme will commence to relocate nine families, living in defective concrete block homes away from a location (details supplied); and when his Department officials will consult with

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of retained fire fighters employed in the State. [26564/26

Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated renewable energy planning guidelines will be published; the current status of their preparation and consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37541/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional measures he will introduce to ensure that HAP recipients are not discriminated against by landlords who refuse to accept HAP tenancies, despite equality legislation prohibiting such practices. [37157/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if as part of his plans for local government reform, he intends to increase the number of councillors and their powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37478/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will broaden the eligibility areas for the Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (Septic Tank) Grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34603/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Exchequer funding provided under the first home scheme in each year since its launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37341/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of affordable homes in the Poolbeg West SDZ. [37507/26

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, including the Vacant Above The Shop Grant; whether micro enterprises, small companies, partnerships or other non-individual ownership structures are eligible to apply; and whether such eligibility

Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 5 March 2026, to provide an update on the progression of national planning guidelines for solar energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37559/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to introduce statutory regulations for online property bidding platforms and estate agents to deal with potential overbidding and gazumping; his views on introducing mandatory transparency standards for active property biddings

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes by new builds and acquisitions delivered in Counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of local authority affordable homes, in each year 2020-2025 inclusive; and the estimated delivery