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likes, people often cannot straight answers. That is not good. The programme for Government commits to transferring these functions to the Department of housing. The Government remains committed to that. I need to check the exact timeline and come back to the Deputy. My personal view is there … compelling case to review more broadly the existing law. I will discuss that with the Minister for housing and ask that he liaise with the Deputy

There are 60,000 households, many of them families with children, in receipt of the housing assistance payment, HAP. They are classed as having their housing needs met but I want to give the Tánaiste a case of one person in my constituency. Last night

must intervene there. I would argue that, when it comes to the issue of the social contract, fair rents being set for social housing is an important part of that, too. It is an important part of getting that balance right. There are significant supports, as there should … available to help people in need in relation to housing but it is also very important that the rent levels reflect reality. Local authorities, generally, exercise significant restraint in relation to that. There is obviously a very difficult and very upsetting case there of a man doing

alternatives are not there. We need to make retrofitting work for everyone not just the well-off. We need targeted supports for rural houses and solid-fuel homes, and we have been calling for that for years. Phasing it out without providing alternatives is madness. Measures … make one point and we may come back to this on Committee Stage. The original 1987 Act states that owners of non-domestic houses shall use the best practicable means to limit or if possible, prevent air pollution. Given that the consequences of allowing pollutants from non-domestic

many people. The Bill will focus on air pollution while many family businesses and small business will struggle simply to keep their houses warm in this fuel crisis. I received an email from a constituent during the week. She is a carer. She called … front of his electric oven to keep warm because he had run out of oil and sticks to be able to heat the house. That is an incredible image. Pensioners who worked all their lives in this country are now forced, due to the lack of affordable fuel

station and the child is released into that person's custody. They are brought home and they are not even kept in the house for the rest of the night sometimes. No prosecution may flow from that. Whatever about there being no prosecution, the reality is there … crime problems, tell me that there is a growing problem with juvenile antisocial behaviour. This is a problem that exists in parks and housing estates and on main streets. In Deansgrange recently, the windows of many shops were broken overnight. That was done by one particular offender

very constrained site. It is quite compact. There is a portion of it that is owned by the religious order where housing is actually being developed. In the wider Santry area, it is very positive that we have more housing supply but there is an increasing population. Around

thank the three Deputies again for giving me an opportunity to update the House regarding the accommodation at St Aidan's CBS Whitehall. The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school … Aidan's and I undertake to bring that back to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, on foot of their representations here in the House

said earlier, the legislation is now in an advanced stage of development and I intend to very shortly bring it before the Houses by amendment to the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026. Turning to the Bill under consideration today, its Short Title specifically states … long time for a scheme by which their convictions can be disregarded. It is clearly a goal that is widely shared in this House. I believe that the legislative scheme I will shortly be bringing forward offers the speediest route to achieving this in a way that

really vulnerable. They are scattered around nursing homes all over County Cork when there is a purpose-built nursing home at Heather House. I was hoping that the Minister of State would be able to give me a date today. Regardless of whether it is June, July … that the northside must always fight? Why must I come in here every week to stand up for the northside? Heather House has been built and the funding is supposed to be there. The Minister mentioned units at St. Finbarr's and in Midleton. I do not think

point to the new developer-led wastewater services infrastructure initiative, which took effect on 4 March 2026. This might be an option for housing development in the interim. This developer-led infrastructure enables developers to design and construct wastewater infrastructure, in conjunction with Uisce Éireann, to agreed standards … investment is going to support the delivery of key projects in cities and regions to deliver additional water services capacity for the new housing targets. That is what we expect Uisce Éireann to do with the capital allocations that we have made as a Government

continued push on this because the situation on the ground in Kanturk makes this even more stark than ever before. There are houses that have already been built in good faith but cannot be occupied now because they cannot secure a wastewater connection. Families are in limbo. Homes … wider community to be in. It represents not only a waste of time and investment, but a missed opportunity to deliver much-needed housing. Local families are feeling the impact. Young people who want to build and buy homes in their own community are facing delays and uncertainties

relation to the protesters. That plumber told me that he has been called out time and again each day, when oil tanks in houses are airlocked. The reason they are airlocked is that people have to buy drums of oil for €30, put that in to last … asked how he can charge them a callout fee when they barely have the €30 for the drum of oil to keep the house heated. That is the reality for too many people in rural Ireland. We absolutely feel it. There are over 700,000 people

know that international energy prices moved in the intervening period. The package we introduced on Sunday, which was voted through the House last night, is in addition to the previously allocated €250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure. It is also … would beholden to in the decades ahead. It is aimed at providing that energy security. I thank the Deputies from across the House for their contributions. However, we cannot accept the motion and I support the Government's countermotion

Taoiseach went to places like Sheriff Street, Seville Place, Ballybough or East Wall, or the flat complexes of Clarion Quay, Chancery House, Island Quay and Longboat Quay, he would find that out for himself. Families are crying out for very basic and long overdue maintenance but they … meeting its responsibilities and that is a fact. Central Government is not funding Dublin City Council to provide a decent, acceptable standard of housing and that is a fact

There is no question about that. Also, the number of social houses we are building that are of a very high quality is the highest since the 1970s. There were close to 12,000 social houses delivered last year

Haulage Association, the IFA and farm contractors. In fact, we had introduced a €250 million package three or four weeks ago in the House. As I said earlier, we have been introducing cost-of-living packages on an ongoing basis. The budget had some significant measures, including … help low-income families in particular, the fuel allowance and so on. Everybody accepts that people are under enormous pressure - everybody in the House does - because of global crises. The war in particular has exacerbated matters and prices have shot up. That has really caused concern

energy supply. He also acknowledged the fragility of Irish dependence on imported fuels. That admission is important - and it is important to the House - because Ireland imports approximately 86% of its energy, which is one of the highest dependence rates in Europe. At the same time, the Government … develop its own resources? Will he commit to reviewing and repealing the legislation that prohibits nuclear energy, which was first introduced in this House in 1999 and the provisions of which were continued in the development Act of 2024? The State's position in this regard

commend the amazing Lelia Doolan, the long-time neutrality activist and human rights campaigner. She is outside the gates of Leinster House right now having completed a mammoth 220 km walk from Shannon Airport. Lelia is 91 years of age and has been walking in a gentle, peaceful … wipe out an entire civilisation in Iran. That was genocidal rhetoric. Will the Taoiseach meet Lelia Doolan today as she comes to Leinster House? Will he stop allowing US military use of Shannon Airport in the face of the war-mongering we have seen? Will he guarantee that

democratic process, how we have not gotten through amendments and how the whole way in which this has been brought before the Houses has been a disgrace. That is all true but the ultimate thing is that this is the Minister's legislation … what the three Deputies here, including myself, have said, that this is not good legislation. This is not the way to treat the Houses of the Oireachtas. It was impossible to scrutinise this and to go through all of its components. Definitions are confusing. The make

appreciate that this is a very difficult situation to manage. In the first instance, we need to ensure that verified minors are not housed with adults. The point I am making is that there needs to be a secondary tier, as it were, for disputed minors because … simply answered repeatedly that he was satisfied that it would. That is not good enough and that is not an assurance to this House. I hope the Minister can give us a more substantive reassurance

provides for the definition section of Part 4 to include definitions of "accommodation centre", "clothing allowance", "daily expenses allowance", "family member", "house rules" and "material reception conditions". Seanad amendment No. 64 proposes that the provision of material reception conditions and the monitoring of reception conditions in Chapters … ensure applicants are living in safe and adequately managed accommodation. Seanad amendment No. 85 provides for the inspection of centres used to house those seeking international protection. An authorised person is permitted to enter and inspect a premises with the consent of the occupier or pursuant

community. As I see it, there are two important problems facing grassroots football in this country. One lies at the feet of this House and one at the feet of the FAI and the leagues. For those who get to play football, our league starts in early August … have had more games called off than we have played. Ireland is simply not equipped for winter football. I know others in this House disagree but some clubs might have an AstroTurf pitch; most do not. We need to have an open conversation from a health perspective

Irish energy sector in fossil fuels. That is not to take into account hypotheticals that could come with regard to our housing system if that changed towards a more public system and Canadian pension funds had investments in private housing, which some of them do. The Minister

confidence motion on Tuesday where the anger of ordinary people was expressed in a robust way by Deputies on this side of the House. The Government was accused of being out of touch and not listening to the people. A day later, after having a good Second Stage … will not be voting for this as is because it has not been given the proper scrutiny it deserves by this House

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the financial shortfall being experienced by applicants who do not have access to bridging finance under the defective concrete blocks scheme; if he is aware of the impact of the requirement

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the budget for cost rental for 2026 will be increased to take account of inflation due to the Iran war and its impact on making cost rental viable; and if he will make

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the secure tenancy affordable rental investment scheme will be put to the market as an available and viable option in regional growth centres outside of the cities; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the capital budget for cost rental is fully allocated for 2026; if additional resources will be made available to support AHBs with the purchase of additional cost rental apartments that will be delivered

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessments that have been carried out by his Department on the impact of current and proposed rent regulation measures on the supply of rental accommodation, including any available analysis of landlord exits or changes

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether carer's allowance can be included as income in assessing the amount of HAP a person can receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32063/26

Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32106/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department, or any agency under its remit including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has undertaken any ecological, biodiversity, or conservation assessment of the area known as Murphy's Rock in Cork

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the area known as Murphy's Rock in Cork is currently designated or proposed for designation under any national or EU environmental protection frameworks, including special areas of conservation, special protection areas, or natural

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria applied by his Department in determining whether a natural site may be considered for inclusion on Ireland's UNESCO tentative list for natural heritage, biosphere reserve, or geopark status; and whether sites

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the formal process by which a natural site in the State may be advanced for consideration under UNESCO frameworks, including World Heritage, Biosphere Reserve, or Global Geopark designation; and the role of his Department

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered, or will consider, the ecological and natural heritage value of Murphy's Rock in Cork as part of any future proposals for UNESCO designation, including biosphere reserve or geopark status

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any gaps have been identified in ecological or biodiversity data relating to Murphy's Rock in Cork which would prevent its consideration for national or international designation; and whether further surveys or studies

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered a rent-to-buy scheme including a State component (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32130/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of AHB units funded under CALF in 2025; the number of schemes this applied to; and the number of schemes of less than 20 units that currently have funding under CALF. [32146/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of AHB units funded under CAS in 2025; the number of schemes this applied to; and the number of schemes of less than 20 units that currently have funding under CAS. [32147/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time from initial application to approval for CAS funding projects. [32150/26

Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32176/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of protected disclosures that have gone missing or have been compromised that have been submitted to his Department or State bodies that are responsible to his Department. [32291/26

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32365/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take steps to ensure that Daingean Fire Station County Offaly is made operational (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32394/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of active HAP and RAS tenancies on 1 November 2025; and to provide a total number for each scheme. [32781/26

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason families who are currently rebuilding/ remediating their homes under the defective concrete block grant scheme cannot avail of the increased cap of €462,000 all at once rather than having to work

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No.1759 of 14 April 2026, to outline the administrative processes between now, including the Order, and the date on which the scheme will be available in Meath; exactly which 'relevant parts

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time for first registration applications in each year from 2020 to 2025; the current average processing time in 2026 to date; and the number of applications currently awaiting examination for more than