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Behind every eviction is a person or a family who is seriously at risk of homelessness because there are simply not enough houses out there for them. There is already a severe shortage and the more pressure that is put landlords to leave the market, they are leaving … There is nowhere for them to rent and there is nowhere for them to go so they have to stay in their houses that are crumbling. We have been saying this time and time again and it has to be listened to. The Government needs to put emergency

show the highest level of eviction notices since the Famine. I do not know if the Minister fully realises the gravity of the housing crisis. A 51% rise in eviction notices means thousands of people across Ireland find themselves in the horrible position of trying to find … Carlow for new tenancies has hit €1,500 per month. I mentioned the Famine. It is a famine situation in a lot of houses because they cannot afford the rents, and they definitely cannot afford to eat. We have St. Vincent de Paul and others in our communities

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the regeneration of Oliver Bond House following his meeting with the regeneration forum. [37767/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the voids programme review committed to in the Government's housing plan. [37768/26

mentioned the NOAC report. I will refer to some of the figures in that report. In 2024, there were 4,251 empty council houses, which was an increase from the previous year. One in four of those homes was empty longer than a year. I know of houses

market but also to ensure significant improvements in the security of tenure for renters. Multiple expert reports, including those from my Department, the Housing Agency, the Department of Finance, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, the OECD and the International Monetary Foundation, IMF, agree that the former … supply of properties available for renters. Delivering Homes, Building Communities recognises that the rental market is an important element of a well-functioning housing system. It contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply

thank the Deputy. Unlike connections in the delivery of new housing, reconnections are not a measure of tackling vacancy and dereliction, as many vacant properties never lost their connections. The vacant property refurbishment grant, funded under the croí cónaithe towns fund, has been a key measure in addressing … shop grant and expert advice grant were launched on 1 April 2026, with applications and information on the grants available online. In the housing plan, a commitment was also given to explore an extension of the vacant above the shop grant for properties owned by small or micro

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to scrap development levies for one-off housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37318/26

thank Deputy O'Meara for this important question about levies on one-off housing. I thank the Deputy for his ongoing engagement with me and the Department in terms of how we can deliver more homes in County Tipperary and at an affordable price. Development contributions allow local … payment of different contributions in respect of different classes or descriptions of development. In other words, they get to distinguish between one-off houses and larger developments. The level of contribution and the types of development to which development contributions should apply are determined at local authority level

development fees, how much it charges and what kind of variation it charges between the various schemes where there would be one-off houses, housing schemes or apartments for that matter, and who is paying those

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an updated timeline for the delivery of the retrofit scheme to all social housing units in County Louth and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37523/26

Minister provide an updated timeline for the delivery of the retrofit scheme to all social housing units in County Louth? Louth County Council has been very good at delivering on retrofitting and has at times gone beyond its targets. I would like to think that it would … given the facility to get through the entire cohort of social housing units that require to be retrofitted

fuel poverty, which is really important as part of our retrofitting schemes, the building of A-rated buildings and nearly zero energy buildings houses and now moving to zero-emission houses as well. We will continue to engage with Louth County Council to look

Louth County Council has one of the longest lists for social housing. It must deal with the issue impacting on every local authority at this point , namely an insufficient amount of money to deal with maintenance needs. I constantly deal with those who work for the council … them on the list for retrofitting, it means that at least you can ensure that they are in a house that is properly insulated and warm and that they will not be facing astronomical costs during the cost-of-living and cost-of-fuel crises with which

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline a timeframe for the upward revision of social housing qualifying income limits. [37496/26

possibly linking the eligibility thresholds to some metric, and I have given that some thought since the committee meeting. Given that social housing is typically for a set percentage of households depending on their income, EU-SILC data, which is updated every year, could provide a useful link … same with disability allowance. We also have a larger number of working adult children forced to live at home because of the housing crisis, which can also result in families losing their position on the list. I am talking to colleagues in my own parliamentary party

themselves in that position; that is my experience. They want to be able to fully engage in employment while also qualifying for social housing. As a State, that is what we should be doing, and it is what we did decades ago. People were working and still qualified … social housing. We need to go back to that model. I welcome the Minister's words here this evening but I emphasise the urgency of this. It needs to happen

anybody having to give up work or to cut back on hours. Unfortunately, this can happen when people try to stay on a housing list because that is their housing solution, and the quality of social homes being provided is very high. As I said, we are keeping

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 Albert Dolan - To discuss the pricing of train tickets between Athenry and Galway. Deputy Joanna Byrne … turf cutting on Barroughter, Clonmoylan and Ardgraigue bogs in County Galway. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss legacy maintenance issues in Cork housing estates like Glentrasna. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan - To discuss loss of medical card access due to age-based insurance restrictions on general practitioners. Deputy Donnchadh

particular has had an impact on the rental accommodation sector. What engagements is the Minister having with the Department of housing and State agencies in respect of ending the accommodation supports and ensuring that we do not end up with unforeseen or unplanned for impacts on a housing

want to see high-visibility policing. In order to achieve the objective Deputy O'Gorman and virtually every other Member of this House wants in their constituencies resourcing and numbers need to increase but they are looking good. Two weeks ago, the Minister of State, Deputy Collins … highest ever. In fact, this year I believe we will beat the highest ever and I hope to come back to the House on that

Gannon is one I made about something said by a previous opposition spokesperson, that when you walk around Dublin and not just Leinster House, high visibility of gardaí is evident. That is the case. People say it to me and to lots of people in this House

going to come forward with even further amendments in terms of that legislation. I have listened to what people in this House and some of the important stakeholders have said, and I am going to introduce a statutory form of non-disclosure for counselling notes. The Deputy … question asks that I should ban them completely. In listening to people, be they in this House or stakeholders, I also have to listen to the Attorney General and the advice I have received. The unambiguous advice I have received from the Attorney General and the advice that

agricultural measures scheme. When demand far outstrips supply something has to give. On that basis it felt fair to me that a residential house be taken out as opposed to farming activity. The intensive energy user on a farm benefited most from being able to apply for TAMS … targeted agricultural measure. There are other ways for residential houses to get in there. I take the point that it would be better to have one central application process. I like that we were able to support farmers in reducing their energy requirements. TAMS is aligned

than him. They know we are building more homes than the EU average. They know that Ireland delivered the strongest rate of new housing completions across 19 countries in the EU in 2024. They can see the homes and the cranes. They can see the figures. They know … Doherty does each and every week is hop on the latest headline. While we are making serious policy decisions across a spectrum of housing challenges, he has no sense of direction

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is provision to amend the criteria for the shop grant scheme to allow limited companies (LTD companies) to qualify for the over the shop grant; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the RAPTOR (Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors) protocol and associated system for recording and investigating raptor (bird of prey) persecution and mortality incidents remains operational within the National Parks and Wildlife

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to reintroduce the financial contribution scheme for local authorities. [37366/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provision to amend the criteria for the shop grant scheme to allow limited companies to qualify for the over the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37367/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average turnaround time for mapping applications; if Tailte Éireann will consider agreeing to a specified time to drive transparency and efficiency in the property transfer process; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of additional staff employed or that will be employed by his Department directly or under contract for the purposes of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 [37456/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider increasing the grants for vacant properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37464/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a national planning statement is being prepared in relation to short-term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37465/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider making it mandatory for local authority meetings to be live streamed, recorded and published for the public to view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37466/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure local councillors are given greater autonomy over the development of their County Development Plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the number of social homes retrofitted in each of the past five years respectively. [26991/26

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will reinstate funding to the Oliver Bond Regeneration Forum which ended in August 2025. [37606/26

Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that a person (details supplied) receives a prompt and adequate response from the property agents to their request for a detailed breakdown of the fire levy charges. [37618/26

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can ensure that student accommodation located in rent pressure zones is not subject to inflating service charges, as an alternative to rent increases, as providers are restricted in increasing rents in these areas. [37628/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the €150 million is ring-fenced to support households exiting long-term homeless accommodation will be allocated among local authorities; the criteria that will apply; the number of exits from homelessness that

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria that will govern access to the contingency fund of approximately €16 million; the way in which local authorities may apply for additional allocations; whether this funding is expected to be fully drawn down

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the rationale for authorising local authorities to commit up to 30% of their 2026 base allocation for acquisitions that may only complete in 2027; the way in which this multi-annual approach supports pipeline

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current and planned development works at the Martello Tower at Meelick, County Galway; the proposals to extend the existing public walkway to provide safe and direct access to the Martello Tower; the plans to provide

Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the regulations and guidelines being considered relative to the development of on shore wind farms; and if an indicative timeframe will be provided for their implementation [37644/26

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role his Department has on the Developer Provided Infrastructure (DPI) Steering Group; the number of times this group met in 2025 and to-date in 2026; the role his Department places in oversight on this

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if landlords with tenancies in place prior to 1 March 2026 will continue to retain the right to terminate a tenancy under section 34 of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2025 where vacant possession

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are in place to ensure that landlords are not placed in a position whereby tenants remain in dwellings deemed unsafe due to defective concrete blocks or where substantial remediation works pose a health

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protections and supports available to tenants residing in dwellings affected by defective concrete blocks where remediation works require temporary or permanent vacation of the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if specific guidance has issued, or is planned to issue, to landlords, tenants and the Residential Tenancies Board regarding the interaction between tenancy protections introduced from 1 March 2026 and the operation of the defective concrete

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will bring forward the necessary regulations that will allow for side-by-side construction of homes under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to allow some families to remain in their defective home