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relation to new builds, a big challenge is sufficient land being set aside where a large amount of housing is being built. The planning authorities are falling down on this. I have seen this in the Glanmire area, for instance, where over 25,000 people live … community facility in real terms. We need to do more forward planning on this issue. Likewise with Blarney, there are over 3,000 houses to go in there over the next few years. Land needs to be set aside now. There should be communication with local authorities

that response, we will progress the legislation. It is not the case that we receive a Bill and it moves straight into the Houses. There is always engagement with the Attorney General. I would again stress that where we have made real progress for people on the ground … line with the ceasfire or what has been agreed. In fact, when I met with colleagues in Washington from all sides of the houses, both Republican and Democratic, they all agreed that what is happening in Israel, and in the West Bank in particular, is illegal

have raised this question before in the House. It relates to the British Government's response to the State's ongoing request for full disclosure and access to all relevant documentation concerning the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974. We had the summary report of Operation … Denton in the past few months but there is still a general frustration, despite the multiple calls by this House for disclosure of all documents relating to those terrible events of 1974. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter

held by the British Government relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. These requests arise from successive all-party motions adopted by this House, which is testament to the continued importance placed on the maximum possible disclosure in the interests of providing truth to victims of these atrocities … implementation of the joint framework, which was agreed last year by the two Governments, and where legislation is currently going through the Houses in the UK and the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, is progressing legislation on our side. What is essential and at the heart of getting

families, in particular, of withheld material on truth and recovery. I also draw attention to the fact that in the resolutions from this House, we asked for an independent judicial figure of high repute to address and investigate the documents in question. I urge the Minister to ensure … that aspect of the call from this House is also heard to build trust in this overall process and ensure we have confidence in the findings thereof. I thank the Minister for her engagement with the Secretary of State on this matter so far. I urge

Kenya. I also met with Irish stakeholders in Dublin and Galway as well as a very productive meeting with Oireachtas Members in Iveagh House last June. Further meetings were also held with relevant Departments and State agencies. These engagements were supplemented by the global Irish survey, the first … support programme, ESP, will remain the primary vehicle to manage the Government’s commitments to our diaspora in the next strategy. As this House will be aware, since its establishment in 2004, the ESP has assisted more than 900 charitable and Irish community organisations in 53 countries with

want to raise an issue with Deputies continuously referring to us in this Chamber as "lackeys". If I stood up in this House and called anyone a lackey, he or she would feel it and I would have to apologise. We represent a group that went into government … lackey. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to correct Deputies when they refer to us like that in the House. The name calling has to be called

DEIS plus programme. I do not usually do this, but I remember Aodhán Ó Ríordáin looking for this when he was in this House. He is now Labour Party MEP for Dublin. This is something that has been called for across this House for a long time

unless the Government takes action on foot of the debate today. I urge the Minister to listen to the contributions from across the House, including by Members from her own party, who are calling on the Government to intervene. The bottom line is that apartments should … anywhere else and we cannot accept it here. Níl sé ceart. Last week I spoke at a protest outside the gates of Leinster House. I want to say directly to the Minister what I said to the survivors and their supporters at that gathering. Recently I attended

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 Michael Cahill - To discuss funding for improvement and refurbishment works to older school buildings across County Kerry … Deputy Conor Sheehan - To discuss the progress of a new Garda station in Castletroy. Deputy Sinéad Gibney - To discuss the maintenance of social housing in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss the significant increases in evictions nationally. Deputy Louise O'Reilly - To discuss the need

European Committee of Social Rights in 2017 found that Ireland violated Article 16 of the European Social Charter due to substandard social housing. The issues that I am seeing in St. Nathy's and other places in my constituency are exactly the same as the issues faced … different social housing estates that were involved in that case. They were dealing with damp and mould and with local authorities who simply failed to fix it. The knock-on impacts and the generational poverty that we are baking in those communities and those families is hugely problematic

Government's perspective. As I said earlier, as public representatives we all have an obligation to engage with local authorities and their housing sections, especially when these concerns are raised to us. We need to respond and I accept that point. We have taken steps to improve … local authorities themselves have the reserved function to allocate their own resources to these types of programmes and to enhance the housing stock within their areas. I am sure that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has a lot more resources than we have in the west, in County

resources needed to deliver on those commitments in every county. The criticism of An Garda Síochána by some Members of this House does not reflect the very positive view of the Garda held by the people of Ireland. The repeated references to Garda morale being … means we have a policing service we can all be proud of. As Minister, I am happy to engage with Members of this House, with the Garda associations and with the Commissioner on measures that can be taken to improve our policing service. I value the important engagement

invite the House to think about An Garda Síochána and the unique monopoly services it provides to the Irish people. Its ability to deliver those services affects us all on a daily basis. I commend our local An Garda Síochána. Since 2008 when I entered public life … radical difference between Drew Harris, the myth and Drew Harris, the lived reality. A number of weeks ago, I raised questions in this House regarding the case of Mr. John Barrett. I am sure that this will refute the myth of Mr. Drew Harris and the question

coming from somewhere and more needs to be done to stop this. What is also happening now is that there are people renting houses around our local areas. Previously, the local garda knew who every one of these people were, wherever they came in from and whoever they … seems to know what they are doing. You will not see some of them all day. They are inside in houses. You might not see them for a week. We do not know what they are doing. Certainly, it is not the Ireland that we used to know

they must be paid a decent and fair wage. Parents and carers from Before We Die visited the Dáil recently to highlight the housing needs of adults with intellectual disabilities. The name of their campaign group sums up the grim reality of what they are fighting for. They … daughter after they die. They have no plan because there are no options - no gradual transition, no certainty about where they will be housed and nobody left to advocate for their son's or daughter's well-being. Only after parents die, when there is an emergency situation

necessary funding but, again, we have to get the design and the structures right. In my view, there is funding available within housing in a lot of instances but it cannot be that we just pass it over to the local authority to deal with … somebody else's problem. There have been capacity issues within section 39 bodies in terms of dealing with this housing and residential issue. We need to engage with the different authorities and bodies responsible and get moving on it. We must engage proactively with local authorities

country, ordinary households are feeling the pressure of rising energy costs in an immediate and seemingly relentless way. All of us in this House will have heard from our constituents over the last number of weeks about the effect this is having on them, about how anxiety-inducing … given by the Minister for enterprise to the CCPC to conduct a review of the retail energy market. On many occasions in this House, I have called out the poor behaviour of energy companies and the dysfunction of our supposedly competitive market. However, it must go further than

Covid crisis by introducing a suite or basket of emergency measures which are then subject to debate, controversy and discussion across this House. There are commonalities emerging in these shock events in terms of how they impact our people and communities. We need to prepare for these events … another world. We are now in the 2020s, when fossil fuels are being fought over. We have a klepto-fascist in the White House who is engaging in what seems to be, among his many crimes, the manipulation of the markets for profit

sufficient. We should be treating it like a wartime situation and moving at a rapid pace. There are people in local authority houses who are crying out for insulation and proper air handling systems that will reduce their fuel costs. That could be done a lot faster than … fuels and that people can heat their homes from home-grown production, be it from green hydrogen from excess electricity production, better insulated housing or public transport powered by hydrogen, electricity produced at home or biofuels. I have said this 100 times and I will

which colleagues have mentioned. We have to have a step change in our investment in renewables. At Cabinet level, there is the clearing house for offshore energy. However, we have to talk about what we are doing with regard to onshore wind and solar … renewable energy while at the same time, they want to get rid of the carbon tax. There are climate-sceptic parties in this House. They are entitled to hold that particular view but we know that climate change is real and that we need to address the challenge

careful. With any measure that we bring forward, we have to be able to sustain it. All of us in the House, regardless of which side we are on, know that there is no clarity as of today on where this ends. We would like to hope that … uncertainty, this provision is there. My feeling is that the Government is aligned with Deputy Whitmore, but rather than having to burden the House again, flexibility is created there. As the Deputies are clearly aware, the Strait of Hormuz is a key transit route for approximately

being accommodated in more than 23,500 properties with the support of the scheme. I acknowledge the concerns previously expressed in this House about the potential impact of the ARP scheme on the private rental market. I recognise that it could be the case, particularly in some rural … scheme for a further year and nothing else. The 2022 Act requires a draft order to be laid before and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. Approval of the motion before Dáil Éireann today is essential to ensure the continuation of the scheme beyond March 2026. Should

county of Donegal. It is a county that is under huge pressure in terms of accommodation. It is a county with so many houses with defective blocks, it is really hard to find a place to rent. The number of properties hosting Ukrainians has gone from … other situation and we should not stand for it here. The amendments are sensible and should be supported by the House

change in terms of the number of people who are here, will be loads of people thrown into homelessness. It will make the housing crisis worse. If this is what happens, do not worry. We will be clear in terms of who has been calling for this … responsible for it which is both the Government and Sinn Féin, if they actually throw all these people onto the housing market and worsen the crisis. We know from the research by the Irish Red Cross that the ARP is not squeezing renters; trying to find a place

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether legal representation in housing-related disputes, including disputes before the Residential Tenancies Board, is being considered as part of reform of the civil legal aid scheme; and if he will make a statement

Health whether a cost breakdown exists at project or contractor level separating fire safety works from general refurbishment works in the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide that breakdown; and if not, the reason such cost categorisation is not maintained for capital projects involving

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the approval process for the capital funding allocated to the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, including the stages of approval, the approving authority at each stage, and whether any revised cost approvals have been required since

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the projected total cost of €10.69 million for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project is fixed or subject to revision; and whether any cost overruns or revised projections have been identified to date. [32663/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned commencement and completion dates for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit refurbishment project; the current projected completion date; and the reasons for any delays arising. [32665/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether interim or final fire safety certification has been issued in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide the dates of such certification and the certifying authority involved. [32666/26

Health whether any defects, compliance issues, or remedial works relating to fire safety have been identified during the course of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; and if so, to provide details of same and any associated additional costs. [32667/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether independent oversight, audit, or inspection has been carried out in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, particularly in relation to fire safety compliance; if so, to provide details and findings [32668/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national policy exists requiring that a transition plan for housing and care supports be developed for persons with an intellectual disability before reaching adulthood; if so, the details of this policy; and if not, whether such

Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the €10.69 million projected cost of the fire safety and refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the original approved budget, the current projected outturn cost, the value of all additional works identified during construction

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned completion dates for each phase of the refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, the revised completion dates, the total duration of any delays incurred, and the specific causes of such delays. [32706/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the procurement process for the works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the number of tenderers, the contract award value, the successful contractor, and whether any post-award variations have altered the contract value

Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the governance and oversight arrangements in place for the capital works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including reporting structures, risk management processes, and whether any issues identified during construction were escalated to the Department. [32708/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health to specify the exact nature of the issues identified during the refurbishment works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit which led to the extension of the project timeline; whether these issues relate to structural defects, fire compliance, asbestos, design deficiencies

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original approved project budget for the fire safety works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the current projected final cost; the value of any additional works identified; and whether contingency funding has been utilised. [32710/26

interim fire safety measures and risk mitigation protocols are in place for residents and staff during the ongoing works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; and whether any risk assessments have identified elevated safety concerns during the construction period. [32711/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the delay in completion of fire safety works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit is expected to impact bed capacity, admissions, or service delivery; and if so, the extent of such impact. [32712/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the fire risk assessment report completed in October 2024 in respect of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit classified the identified fire safety risks by severity level; if so, the classification assigned; and whether the unit was deemed compliant

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what decision-making process led to the closure of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit in February 2025 following a fire risk assessment completed in October 2024; the dates on which the findings were reviewed; the level

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the findings of the October 2024 fire risk assessment relating to the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit were formally notified to the relevant fire authority or to HIQA; if so, the dates of such notifications; and whether any compliance

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether residents continued to occupy the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit in the period between the completion of the fire risk assessment in October 2024 and its closure in February 2025; and if so, the fire safety

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a copy of the October 2024 fire risk assessment report relating to the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit will be made available; and if not, the specific legal or policy basis upon which it is being withheld. [32729/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the fire safety risks identified in the October 2024 assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit were recorded on any HSE corporate, regional, or site-specific risk register; and if so, the risk rating assigned and the dates

internal audit, external audit, or independent review has been undertaken in relation to the fire safety risks identified at the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit and the subsequent decision to close the unit; and if so, to provide details of the scope, dates, and findings

allocated or approved to address the infrastructural fire safety risks identified in the October 2024 assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the estimated cost of required remediation works; and whether such works were progressed prior to the decision to close the unit. [32732/26