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Ireland faces an emergency crisis in terms of infrastructure, housing, energy and water. According to the ESRI, an additional 40,000 construction workers will be needed for the housing plan and an additional 40,000 will be needed for infrastructure. That is 80,000 construction workers

Department is also working on planning exemptions. There is a lot of work there. The Department is also working on rural guidelines for housing and one-off housing. There is a lot of work in that Department but I accept that we do need to bring this

true and accurate information. Sinn Féin’s position is that children have a right to be online, and all of us in the House need to legislate to make it safe for them to do so. We have legislated to make the offline world safe for children … size approach, but there are still gaps in legislation that need to be addressed. We look forward to working with everybody in this House to make that happen. In particular, I look forward to working with the Minister on that

online bullying and harassment. Some of us are aware of horrendous cases where lives have been lost. We have a responsibility in this House to protect young people online and offline and also to listen to them. The damage algorithms do is lethal for young men with radical … parents cannot be expected to keep up with it without supports. Fianna Fáil also held a workshop with young people here in Leinster House. Some of the reports coming out of that were quite staggering. I was very passionate that we should bring in young people to discuss

Deputy Dolan but I also remember my phone not having the capability that phones have now. More important, when we in this House were growing up, we grew and acquired a phone. Our children today are growing up with phones as if they were part of their body … other interactions we see with technologies around them. I honestly believe that while it is right and proper that we in this House take a proactive approach to addressing this, we need to be a champion for it at EU level as well. We need to make sure

again thank the House for facilitating the motion and thank all the TDs who contributed. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, this proposal will enhance the ability of member and partner states to tackle crime more effectively in a rapidly evolving political, social and technological landscape. That … Deputy Carthy’s remarks in relation to how Europe works and his remarks are almost the same. I commend this motion to the House

also have to be mindful of problems that have been raised over time, not only outside of here but also in this House. Some of them can be addressed quite quickly and some of them are being addressed. It is not every single film company, DAC or producer … acknowledgement of the changes the Minister and others before him have made. Some of that is because, in fairness to people in this House, people get up and raise the issues. We have had the support of those involved in the industry. They have told us the truth

supporting what the Minister is bringing forward on this Stage. As Deputy Charles Ward and all of us on this side of the House have raised, the issues affecting the people of Donegal, Mayo and other counties along the west coast that have been affected by defective concrete … concern is how we are going to ensure that is not going to continue. In Ballymun, in my constituency, we have social housing that was built not 40 years ago, but in the time of the regeneration two decades ago, and yet there are major problems of dampness

were turned down, and had been living in a car with their family since September, were granted them this week. The Minister and House can rebrand certificates and rename schemes all they want. The system remains incapable of delivering timely and fair outcomes for homeowners. The Bill … doing that. Auxiliary grants for modular homes and end-to-end turnkey packages for everybody affected by defective concrete, from apartments to houses, is the only way we will get out of this. Mark my words; there will be death. Somebody will die in a defective concrete home

mould is creeping into children's bedrooms. These are not statistics; they are real people living in fear and paying mortgages on houses that may not stand in six or seven years. The current redress scheme is failing them. Costs are spiralling and homeowners are being asked … simply cannot afford that. This is the reality for thousands of families. I urge every Member of the House and every Minister in government to stand behind these people, deliver 100% redress and give them the dignity, safety and justice they deserve. This is not just about bricks

provides for the amendment of section 3 of the Building Control Acts. This amendment introduces an additional power by which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may make building regulations. The amendment facilitates the provision of information in respect of systems installed in a building … compliance on completion in certain circumstances; to change the names of certain certificates issued under that Act; to confer on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the power to make regulations relating to enforcement notices; to extend the powers of authorised persons; to provide

income outside of the State pension. Where will they get the €50,000, €60,000 or sometimes €90,000 to rebuild their house? This is not going away. We will be back here and the only thing that will change is that these homes will be more expensive … have the backing of the community and of the campaigns. Whether the Minister likes it or not, legislation will be introduced in this House at some stage with 100% redress, because that is the only way we will deal with this issue once

visited many families in many homes who have shown me chimney stacks falling down and massive gaps in the walls of their houses. We have the incredible situation of children sleeping in rooms on windy, stormy nights in fear that the building is going to collapse. I have … over many years, which was overseen by Fianna Fáil, in large part allowed this defective concrete to be sold and put into the housing infrastructure of large parts of this country. Indeed, there is still not accountability in terms of the quality of construction products in the market

that perhaps a policy instruction came from the Department of justice and that the Department of Finance legislated for it. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is legislating in this instance, and there may be policy discussions. Quite often in the context of housing policies

because this is something that I have dealt with in my constituency with one of my constituents whose property is a semi-detached house and the house next door does not meet the damage threshold. I do not even know how the Minister will realistically get builders

have not met the damage threshold, there will now be a mechanism by which they can apply through the local authority or the Housing Agency for the damage threshold to be deemed to have been met when it was not originally and therefore both homes can be remediated … Minister of State is saying but that is not what I am reading. If that is the case, on what grounds is the Housing Agency going to be able to overturn the original decision not to award a grant for remediation? How flexible will that flexibility

were told was rigidity in the scheme. We were told the old scheme was restrictive when it came to conjoined, terraced and detached houses. The amendment tries to introduce flexibility. We keep hearing about the onus in terms of the damage threshold. This measure effectively provides an opportunity … respect of it. What it attempts to do is quite straightforward. I really hope we will have the full support of the House

Amendment No. 46 proposes the same follow-up period to be given to an application for an updated remediation option grant where the Housing Agency requests additional information. The Bill allows the form and manner for these requests for further information to be set out in regulations. Therefore … additional requirement is not necessary. In any case, it would place an additional administrative burden on designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in processing applications for an increase in remediation option grants and an updated remediation option grant under the Bill. For those reasons, I cannot accept

following question in accordance with an Order of the Dáil of 9 December 2025: "That the amendments set down by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and not disposed of are hereby made to the Bill; in respect of each of the sections undisposed … agreed to in Committee; the Title, as amended, is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Bill, as amended, is accordingly reported to the House; Report Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed

national development plan, with nearly €50 billion, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer funds, across all the enabling infrastructure and subsidy for housing support. This is a central priority that we made in the new national development plan so people can build a future in this country. This … want to ramp up housing supply with the other interventions that we have made

been mentioned already, as we speak there are people with disabilities protesting outside the gates of Leinster House because they are struggling with the cost of living. The hard reality is that in the budget the Government took away the supports that these individuals were relying on. People … disabilities, many of whom are going to be forced into real deprivation. That is why they are gathered outside the gates of Leinster House pleading for the Government to introduce an emergency winter disability payment and do the right thing. Will the Government listen to the disability sector

really hope a decision is not taken to cap the vacant refurbishment grant at a level that would reduce the number of houses, particularly at a time when the Minister for housing has acknowledged that dereliction in its own right is a form of antisocial behaviour and that

Deputy has not referenced the housing plan, which is to sufficiently ramp up the provision of social and affordable homes to ensure we ramp up overall housing supply. The Deputy is misrepresenting the facts on this. It was something produced by SpunOut. It is not something

Amendment) Bill 2025. I thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her officials for bring it forward. It has long been debated in this House. This Bill is a direct and careful response to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Costello case, which held that, legislative change would … revenues in communities up and down this country. It is worth underlining, for the benefit of some of the commentary outside this House, that CETA is exactly the type of trade agreement Ireland should be championing. It expands markets for our goods and services. It respects and protects

take away the ability of our local authorities to deal with planning laws and that power was given to the likes of this House. The power was taken from parties in local authorities to make decisions for counties where people were elected. The Government now wants to take … power away from TDs in this House to enact Irish law. We saw what happened with Mercosur. Ciarán Mullooly MEP, from Independent Ireland, fought to make sure that rural Ireland was protected. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, which told farmers they were looking after them, made statements last

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional supported housing units planned or in development for adults with learning disabilities in Longford and Westmeath, along with expected delivery timelines. [23986/26

parents who are caring for adult children with learning difficulties in County Kildare; the number of these families that have applied for supported housing units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24062/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units for people with ID that are planned to be delivered in County Kildare; the timelines involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24064/26

Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide ringfenced funding, that is, dedicated capital for small scale community based supported housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24068/26

Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide details of the total number of supported housing units for people with disabilities currently available in Dublin south central; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24419/26

Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units for people with disabilities that are planned or in development in Dublin south central; the expected timelines for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24420/26

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units for residential care of those with intellectual disabilities are currently operational in Cork; if all of the named service providers in Cork have submitted Disability Support Management Advisory Team forms

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units currently available for adults with learning disabilities in North Dublin. [24597/26

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of additional supported housing units for adults with learning disabilities that are currently planned or in development for North Dublin, including expected timelines for delivery. [24598/26

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to indicate whether dedicated, ringfenced capital funding will be provided for small-scale, community-based supported housing for adults with intellectual disabilities; the level of funding envisaged; and the timeframe for delivery. [24610/26

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether her Department will publish annual data on unmet housing needs for adults with intellectual disabilities, alongside the number of new units delivered; and if so, to indicate when such reporting will commence. [24612/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units in Cork. [24964/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of supported housing units that are planned in Cork. [24965/26

McGreehan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps being taken to improve coordination between the HSE and the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage on the delivery of supported living units for adults with disabilities; and if she will make a statement

third parties (details supplied); the title and final cost of same; and whether the report is published and or laid in the Houses of the Oireachtas. [26846/26

same, if applicable; to provide a breakdown of where costs were incurred; and whether the report is published and or laid in the Houses of the Oireachtas. [26865/26

currently exists whereby adults with an intellectual disability who wish to seek full time residential care or placement are required to submit a housing application to a local authority when the local authority does not provide full-time residential care for such adults; and if she will make

McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if there is cross-departmental co-ordination between her Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the long-term planning of residential places for adults with an intellectual disability; and if she will make

surplus to requirement; if she will engage with Kerry County Council in regard to these surplus lands/buildings as they are suitable for housing purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24533/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of beds that have been unavailable for use at Heather House Community Nursing Unit (Daisy Unit) in each month from February 2025 to date; and the number of residents displaced as a result in each month

Flynn asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been put in place to offset the loss of 25 beds at Heather House Community Nursing Unit since February 2025; and whether additional capacity has been sourced externally, including through private or voluntary providers, as a direct consequence

Minister for Health the interim staffing arrangements currently in place to ensure the safe operation of the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit pending the finalisation of an approved workforce model; and the current whole-time equivalent staffing levels assigned to that unit. [24694/26

asked the Minister for Health the total projected cost, procurement process, and key timeline milestones associated with the fire safety works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit; and whether any delays have arisen since the works commenced. [24695/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of admissions to Heather House Community Nursing Unit that could not proceed, were delayed, or were diverted elsewhere in each month since March 2025 due to the temporary closure of the 25-bed Daisy Unit for fire

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the temporary closure of the 25-bed Daisy Unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit has resulted in a net reduction in operational bed capacity at the facility in each month since March 2025; and if she will