Search the record

period 2022 to 2024, 64% of the total Government spend on residential and community retrofitting across our Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's schemes was invested in upgrading home energy performance for households at risk of energy poverty across privately owned, local authority … approved housing body homes. The Department continues to build on the progress achieved in recent years. Since 2019 there has been a record level of about €1.6 billion invested in SEAI schemes to support almost 240,000 home energy upgrades, including over

continuing to support enterprise and industry. We have heads of Bill for the private wires legislation coming before the House. That will go through committee and both Houses in 2026. It will certainly act as a catalyst for private investors to invest in electricity generation that can support

tell us how you were going to pay for it or make it happen. We are all working to try to improve the housing situation. Here are some facts: planning permissions are up this year and last year; there have been more first-time buyers this year than … infrastructure task force with radical recommendations to deliver infrastructure in a faster way. Yes, there is a lot more work to do on housing but as we end 2025, it is a statement of fact that planning permissions are up, completions are up and the number of first

terms of how we grapple with these things but what we are considering, and what we are committing to, is helping to provide housing for key staff, starting in Dublin. Some work has been done on that. For example, hospitals have land banks and partnering with the likes … could provide opportunities to assist with housing pressures for key workers, starting with our capital city. Any allowances are a matter for public sector pay talks

join previous speakers in thanking everybody associated with the House for their hard and diligent work throughout 2025 and I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. The issue I want to raise relates to An Post. Management and the trustees of the An Post … Dublin Bay North have been in touch with me to ask that this agreement be approved as soon as possible. Can the House be updated on when this agreement will be approved

wish everybody here and throughout the House a very happy Christmas and thank them for what has been my first year and how welcoming they have been. I have been very delighted to see the Taoiseach has given clearance for Santa Claus to come. I wish to raise … issue on the South Circular Road in my constituency, where a number of people are housed in a homeless hostel. Unfortunately, there seems to be an issue with overcrowding there which is spilling out onto the streets and causing antisocial behaviour. That is not welcoming for anybody

thank Deputy Farrell for raising this important issue, which was rightly raised in this House today. The British ambassador was present here today, as Deputy Farrell and others have raised this issue. I know the ambassador will convey the depth of feelings and concerns of Members of this … House to the British Government. I will also raise the issue with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Government colleagues and, indeed, with our embassy in London on foot of the Deputy raising it today

conscious of the pressures on small and medium businesses as I know the Deputy is. There will be different views in this House on this. We have taken a number of measures to try to assist with that, including the 9% VAT rate, the new timeline … decision not to expand the statutory sick scheme further beyond five days. I accept there are different views on those decisions in the House, but they were taken in recognition of the reality that when we have a bright idea in here, we do not always have

Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, confirmed for me recently that Fingal County Council will be admitted to the defective concrete block scheme, which is very welcome. However, I need to highlight that a small number of very good, prudent homeowners in Skerries, Lusk and The Naul have already … eligible to be supported under the scheme. I would very much appreciate it if the Minister for Finance worked with the Minister for housing to ensure those people, who were prudent and put themselves through financial hardship to ensure their homes would be safe and remediated

take this opportunity to wish the Ceann Comhairle and all of the staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas, and even the Minister and his staff, a very happy Christmas and all the best for the new year. Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis labhairt faoin Bhille. Tá buntáistí … people would be surprised to learn that, in the course of 2025, not a single piece of justice legislation has passed through the Houses

Garda Síochána in Ireland, which is extremely significant. He was also a person with known mental health issues. Gardaí had been to the house in relation to George. There were gardaí present who were well aware of the issues that he had. Fundamentally, what happened was the result … penalty for an assault cannot be death. Gardaí followed George in their car, adding to the distress involved. When they got to his house, the armed unit arrived very quickly. I do not know why the armed unit would be need to arrest a young

this technology will be used only for what is lawfully permitted under a code of practice. I suspect most of us in this House use this type of facial recognition technology when we accessing our phones or various services. The fact that we are prepared to rely upon … regard to state surveillance, this is not a Big Brother state and it does not have a Big Brother government. Nobody in this House is advocating enormous state surveillance. However, we cannot get away from the fact that, around the place, there is a huge number of CCTV

rights of the child, genetic information and so on. They have been set out in Private Member's Bills put before this House and the Government should accept those and work through them. People's right to reproductive freedom should be respected in this House

Green Party will be strongly supporting. Along with the Bill on dog breeding last week, it is a welcome opportunity for this House to focus on some of the more extreme and, frankly, indefensible practices which animals in this country are subject to. I want to speak very … intrinsic part of rural life in Ireland. In spite of the immovable political positions adopted by some of the largest parties in this House, it is absolutely not something that is supported by the majority of people in Ireland, in either rural or urban Ireland. Last week, speaking

protected species under the wildlife Acts in Ireland and it is legal to hunt foxes under the legislation. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, has no plans to change the legislation with regard to foxes at this time. Where a specific case of animal … serious issue of animal welfare to be used as a Trojan horse for a more divisive agenda. I have heard Deputies in this House who support a ban say they have never met anyone who has been on a hunt or, indeed, seen a hunt themselves. I find

withdraw that remark. Deputies said the cause of the foxes doing harm was development. These same Deputies do not want the development of houses. They are objecting them. They are here by the way for the good of the people; they are not. It is very wrong … throw it around that way because that is not the truth. People need houses, but we need farmers. We have not got many people on the hill sides sheep farming because sadly that is not paying. Many farmers have cut down the number of ewes that they keep

would have been something he could have helped with. There is a whole load of people who are going to come to the House tonight and press a button against this Bill. Some 80% of people are opposed to blood sports. Some 80% of people are opposed … last poll. They are from all around the country, rural and urban Ireland. We have a problem in this House. Three of the big parties are going to come in here and vote the exact opposite of what most of the population wants. They can make

their business and create what is essentially the community that underpins our nation's democracy. I also thank all the TDs in the House. We may differ on matters - we do not agree on everything - but I believe we are all here for the right reason, which … proper investment in the productive capacity of our economy and society into the future. Investments in water infrastructure, the energy grid and housing have all been announced in the context of the national development plan. Big projects like MetroLink have been green-lighted and are on their

raised the need for a new Operation Freeflow, a real right to remote work and better roads policing. Every TD in this House can recount to the Taoiseach problems with public transport in their constituencies but he has abandoned the 2:1 ratio of investment in much-needed … buses, trains and trams. Those travelling to work in this House every day know the chaos that driving or commuting to Dublin now involves. With increased congestion, we are also seeing driver behaviour deteriorating. Those who follow the rules of the road can only sit and watch those

Safety Authority was the most significant measure taken in respect of dealing substantially with road deaths. As I have previously done in the House, I pay a lot of tribute to the former Minister, Noel Dempsey, who really took on this issue with the late Gay Byrne. They … transformed it. They were very unpopular in this House because they took measures that many parliamentarians opposed on drink driving and all sorts of penalties, but they did it and it is a lesson to everybody. Every now and again we need a bit of backbone in politics

need to develop affordable housing as well. We all know we need to get to 50,000 per annum overall in terms of house building and 60,000 if we can. That is the answer

type of cattle we raise in the west are pasture-based for seven months or eight months of the year. Then they are housed indoors and fed silage. It a very environmentally friendly way. It goes from field to fork very quickly. The standards are so high, with … What will the Government be doing? We would like some reassurances. Finally, I wish the Ceann Comhairle, the staff and Members of the House a very happy Christmas

said. We must protect children and limit the impact that vaping has on them. I know, and everybody else in the House knows, that the industry is cleverly targeting coloured and flavoured vapes and packaging at children. This has been going on for far too long. Obviously, bans … advertising are part of the solution. We need to limit flavours. However, I think there is a rush in this House too often to ban everything and not to consider a more balanced approach. I have spoken to many vapers over the course of the past number

Ennis. These are the last few days of their school term before they wrap up for Christmas. They have come up to Leinster House and the Dáil today. They are having a nice day out. I welcome all the boys and girls from third year in Rice College … environment as well as being hazardous to your health. I wish the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, all the staff and all Members of the House a very happy Christmas

olds, just 9% of that cohort used vapes. Last year, that was 23%. It is a significant rise. It is time that this House brought in legislation to target this. The market is worth over €200 million a year. I urge the Minister of State to ensure that … what was done with alcohol, in order that we try to protect young people in this regard. I also raised in this House a number of months ago the issue of HHC, a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, being sold in vape shops in vapes. I am glad the Government

Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on funding given to political parties to increase female participation and diversity in politics, broken down by year and by party and independents from 2019 to date. [25905/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1015 of 18 March 2026, when the standard operating guidelines referenced came into existence; if a copy of these guidelines can be provided; if training has been provided to each

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the NDFEM has conducted any specific review of fire service preparedness in County Galway following the Xerotech fire in Claregalway in January 2025, given the concentration of BESS planning applications in that county

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the bodies which operate under his aegis which have a regulatory or enforcement remit which include provision for a person convicted of an offence to receive a fine upon summary conviction, the associated maximum amount

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a planning waiver for short-term lets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25982/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a planning waiver for short-term lets, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25983/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a planning waiver for short-term lets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25985/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a planning waiver for short term lets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25986/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a planning waiver for short-term lets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25992/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason firefighters who continue to pass annual medical and fitness assessments are required to retire at 62 years-of-age rather than being allowed to continue working to 66 years in line with the State

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given current recruitment and retention challenges within fire services, whether any analysis has been undertaken by his Department of the cost, pension, and staffing implications of retaining experienced firefighters beyond the age of 62; and whether

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has been consulted regarding the replacement of firefighters due to retire in County Mayo in 2026; and the supports, approvals or funding mechanisms that are available to local authorities to ensure continuity

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that full-time and retained firefighters are required to undergo and pass annual occupational health and fitness assessments, the reason for the policy rationale for mandatory retirement at 62 years-of-age; the reason firefighters

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has considered or has proposals under way to increase the mandatory retirement age for full-time and retained firefighters from 62 to 66 years-of-age, in line with the State pension

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of full-time firefighters and retained (reserve) firefighters in County Mayo who are due to retire in 2026 and 2027, by station where possible; the projected impact this will have on fire service capacity

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessment that has been carried out by his Department or by Mayo County Council on the operational impact of the retirement of three experienced firefighters in Claremorris in 2026, with a combined service record

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date rules for an organisation (details supplied) with regard to the seven year exemption. [26060/26

Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a project in County Laois (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/26

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of cost-rental homes delivered in 2025 in the Dublin City Council area and for Dublin bay south, the breakdown by the type of delivery such as, local authority builds, local authority acquisitions

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of the eligibility for the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26124/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the names and organisations that have met with him, his political advisors or his Departmental officials on the issue of domestic residential exempted development regulations in the past six months; and the dates on which

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all submissions received by his Department to the review of exempted development regulations. [26135/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of non-Governmental organisations that have received State funding from his Department in each of the past five years; the number of such organisations currently registered in the State which have been funded

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planning advice that was provided by his Department to local authorities in preparation of the current round of development plans on the issue of electric vehicle charging point provision in new residential developments

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the announced building control regulations for ev charging points in residential developments announced in 2022 (details supplied). [26184/26