Search the record

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

Planning and Development Act is having an impact. Reform to judicial review will also have an impact. This is a multifaceted approach to housing. We are focusing on it and prioritising it. We are not interested in slogans or cheap politics. We are interested in a proper analysis … housing market and what it will take to get a volume of supply into the future. Yes, infrastructure is a key part of this and water infrastructure in particular. We will continue to work with Irish Water in respect of wastewater treatment plants in smaller developments. There

infrastructure at the moment. One of the most basic rules of economics is that if demand increases without increasing supply, rents and house prices will rise and availability will reduce. There is a lot of talk in the Chamber about sustainability. It is unsustainable to allow demand … housing to exceed supply every year and that is what is happening. Will the Government reduce tax on homes and increase connections? Will it reform the planning system? Will it invest properly in infrastructure? Will it decrease the number of people coming to Ireland during this crisis

mhaith liom ceist a chur maidir leis na deontais tithíochta athchóirithe. The housing adaptation grants are a game-changer for many people who are older or who have a disability and need to get alterations done to their houses. However, many constituents have raised with me the delays

something in which Deputy Whitmore has a keen interest. I look forward to working with her and all Members of the House as that Bill progresses through all Stages in the Dáil, the Seanad and at committee, as we put in place dog breeding establishment legislation that will … colleagues in government. I look forward to working with the Deputy and all Members of the House on that

NTMA Act 2014. This Part is divided into 12 Chapters covering sections 49C to 49AD, inclusive, and I will briefly take the House through the purpose of these provisions. Chapter 1 relates to the functions of the NTMA in relation to the residual matters transferred from NAMA … IBRC and provides a clear and efficient structure to bring the remaining matters to completion. I commend the Bill to the House

gone far beyond their Celtic tiger peak. Lessons must be learned from NAMA. The market will not come to the rescue of the housing crisis. The State must take a leading role in affordable home building. Finally, apartments and houses should never be treated as speculative assets; they

quote from his appeal. It stated: "It is much too large and will be very much out of character with ... the 2 storey houses and Ashbury Nursing Home". When students from County Clare are looking for accommodation this year, they should remember that this project has been held … five years, and it may never see the light of day, because of the hypocrisy of one of the Members of this House

economy is going well and there are jobs, but a lot of people are struggling more than ever. There are empty houses on a huge scale but there still are ghost estates, including in Carrignavar and right across the State. There is a site not far from here … Doherty will soon table amendments, which we believe are fair and right, to protect workers. I know people who lost their jobs and houses and whose marriage or relationship ended. They lost everything. I know people who died by suicide as a result of the banking and financial

reflect modern medicine and modern realities. The legislation also increases the mortgage protection threshold. This matters enormously given the reality of today’s housing market. The legislation also provides for a periodic review linked to CSO residential property price data and stakeholder engagement. Above the threshold, normal underwriting … this step for cancer survivors and their families. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and I commend the Bill to the House

Work is under way between the Department of energy and climate and the Department of housing in terms of a planning statement, which has replaced the format for guidelines. Remember this same Department had to work on the planning on exempted developments, which was quite a significant piece … work, on the rural housing guidelines, which are imminent, and on short-term lets. There is a lot of work going on there. I do think we need somewhat of a conversation or debate about energy. I make this point generally. We had to allocate €750 million

facts on the table in terms of the implications if we do not go ahead. It will mean less economic growth, fewer houses and less development of rural land if we do not get the upgrades to the grid over the line. Deputy Quaide is probably too young … have a national development plan that has the resources that are needed. The Critical Infrastructure Bill will be coming through the House. I hope Deputy Tóibín will support it to ensure we are able to get projects through more quickly

shades of green increasingly refers to the colour of the algae in our lakes. Often when we discuss the climate crisis in this House or elsewhere, we omit the fact that we have a corresponding and related biodiversity crisis. The evidence and the figures are pretty stark … treat biodiversity and our environment as secondary concerns. Just last week, the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 proceeded to the next Stage in this House. Ministers presented it as a practical measure to speed up infrastructure delivery. Nobody denies that we need to speed up delivery of infrastructure

Agency Act, which established the EPA. Protecting the natural environment, air quality and wildlife was an issue that Charles Haughey championed in this House as far back as 1972 and we continue to take that legacy seriously. In budget 2026, the Minister of State secured a 20% increase … information gap and is one of only three pilot sites across Europe. When I welcomed the reopening of the baths in this House in 2022, I called for such real-time information for swimmers so UrbanDip is exactly the kind of innovation we need and I commend

people hope to know somebody listens, cares, is paying attention and has a solution. Time and again, we see Government policy making the housing crisis it has created even worse. We warned it that its legislation would result in a surge in evictions. We warned it would contribute … County Council will be in a position to accept tenant in situ applications in 2026 as funding is determined by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage". She sobbed her heart out as she asked me to put a very simple question to the Government: How many

prolonged Government-sponsored housing crisis is affecting every community in this State, none more so than County Mayo, where there are 2,664 people on the council waiting list, 924 people on the HAP waiting list and 744 people on the RAS list. As a result … Government’s housing policies, working people, pensioners and vulnerable tenants are being forced out of their homes with nowhere for them to go while private rents continue to spiral out of control. Recent figures from the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, revealed a 51% increase in evictions, the highest

Here we go again. The Government comes in here and pats itself on the back for everything it is doing on housing while families face evictions and rent hikes and we have record homelessness. When Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents introduced the rent hike Bill last … need an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions and that includes council tenants. The Government needs to ramp up social housing and truly affordable private homes. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have had 15 years to get this right and again and again, they have

been a 50% rise in evictions since the new rules came into force. Once again, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are making the housing crisis worse. What is needed now is a response from the Government that for the first time prioritises renters, not vulture funds, landlords … putting a full month's rent back in every private renter's pocket. These measures should be agreeable to every Member of this House who is concerned about the well-being of their constituents. I urge Deputies to give this motion their full support

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Croí Cónaithe schemes in Carlow and Kilkenny; the number of properties have now benefitted from them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37213/26

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends placing a cap on redress for apartment and duplex construction defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37230/26

person's desire to regularise the tenancy arrangements with her Department in order that repairs can be undertaken, including repair of the house and possible subsidence issues that can be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37380/26

Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will stop insurance companies loading house insurance premiums for homes in areas which have never flooded and areas which are now protected by flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37777/26

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to commitments contained within the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2024 of the Houses of the Oireachtas that a review of toilets to ensure sufficient provision of gender-neutral toilets would take place; to provide details of any costs

Youth whether her Department will publish a single consolidated operational guide for survivors of residential institutional abuse setting out all health, education, advocacy, housing and funeral cost supports, including eligibility criteria, application pathways, responsible agencies, appeal mechanisms and expected processing times; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether housing and funeral cost supports provided to survivors of residential institutional abuse are statutory entitlements or discretionary measures; whether binding written guidance has issued to local authorities and Community Welfare Officers [36524/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications received to date for health supports, education supports, housing supports and funeral-related supports respectively under the five-pillar survivor package, in tabular form. [36714/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether local authorities have received formal written guidance, circulars or operational instructions regarding prioritisation of housing supports for survivors of residential institutional abuse; and if she will provide copies of such guidance. [36716/26

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of craft apprentices registered in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37360/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.698 of 28 April 2026, if his Department plans to make the Local Authority Regional Homelessness Financial Reports, published on his Department's website, available in future in machine-readable formats (details

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended in respect of the legal costs incurred by An Coimiúsín Pleanála in 2025 and in 2024; the individual amount paid out to solicitors and barristers representing ACP; and the amounts paid to solicitors

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid out by ACP in legal costs to named solicitors and barristers concerning High Court judicial review cases the ACP has conceded in 2025 and the 2024; the name of the plaintiffs in each

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether national building regulations or technical guidance documents prescribe minimum toilet provision ratios for men and women in public buildings including theatres, restaurants and entertainment venues; and if he will provide details of the applicable

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Galway City Council will be given its homeless allocation for 2026; if he will address the increased demand for homeless services in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36681/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered increasing HAP payments in Galway; if he has considered increasing the homeless HAP flexibility from 35% to 50% in Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for excluding commercial heritage buildings such as pubs, B and Bs, restaurants, hotels and tourism properties from eligibility under thatching grant schemes; when this policy was last reviewed; if he will consider expanding eligibility

Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the industrial relations dispute within Tailte Éireann concerning the non-implementation of a pay agreement which was agreed between an organisation (details supplied), Tailte Éireann and Government Departments following the merging of Ordnance

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the treatment of AVC pension contributions in the calculation of rent under the differential rent scheme (details supplied). [36752/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether State agencies must pay the derelict sites levy. [37093/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the legislation for the Celtic tiger era building defects redress scheme will be published. [37101/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of bed spaces that will remain in a location (details supplied) based on his Departments proposals for the regeneration of these blocks as set out by his Department in a letter to Dublin

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update and timeline for each stage of the regeneration projects in Dublin South-Central, in tabular form. [37121/26

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1691 and 1695 of 14 April 2026, the number of new staff sanctioned for hire in Kildare County Council, Kerry County Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has any usage policy on or if it sanctions for official purposes the use of messaging apps (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37205/26