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children with disabilities throughout the State. We are back here tonight with what in many respects is a unique motion before the House. It is unique in a number of ways. It is unique in that it is signed by the entire Opposition. Every party of Opposition … asking the Government to stop breaking the law. This is amazing in so many respects. The Opposition is coming to the House to ask the Government of Ireland to stop breaking the law in respect of the most vulnerable children in our society. The motion calls on Government

This is a very important moment for this House. It is not every day we see all Opposition parties co-sign a motion and I thank Sinn Féin for using its time tonight to bring this forward. It is such an important conversation we will have here tonight … reality. I welcome the continuation of the waiting list initiative into 2026. This is a commitment the Labour Party received in this House a number of years ago and one for which I know Cara Darmody has fought since she began her campaign. This will help those waiting

their child. Parents are exhausted and they feel ignored. They are disappointed and desperate. I have said that so many times in this House in the year since I was elected to the House. I am sick of saying the same thing again and again. These parents

assessment of need. The reason is that we do not have enough permanent staff. We do not have them because of the housing and cost-of-living crises, which mean professionals, including teachers and others, are all being forced to emigrate. This is going to continue owing … fact that although there has been a budget surplus in this country, the State has refused to invest it in public services, including housing. The care system and children are suffering as a result. Dublin West has the longest waiting lists, not that it is a competition

worst nights of the year, 15-year-old Cara Darmody is sleeping outside the gates of Leinster House. She is putting everyone in here to shame. She is calling on this Government to address the backlog of assessments of need for children with special requirements as the national … month until every child receives their legal entitlement. I highlight a stark warning from Ireland's disability coalition, which is also outside Leinster House today. Someone from my community, Sarah Attridge, travelled nearly five hours to get to the gates here today, protesting that budget 2026 has left

long wait to access support services once a child receives an assessment. The waiting list to access services in the CDNT in Chamber House in Tallaght is now more than 56 months, or almost five years. I met Katherine Zappone in 2016 while going into Chamber House

band. I raise this issue because the Government introduced legislation that increased the band valuation by 20%, but when that legislatoin was introduced, house prices had already gone up 29%. In counties such as Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo, they had already gone … those property owners are going to be hammered as a result of what the Government has done. Many houses are going to be moving up a band as a result of that. There is an issue if, for example, property owners go from the lower band

Inflation has risen sharply in recent years. Nowhere is this more evident than in urban areas, particularly in Dublin. The median house price in the capital now stands well above the €400,000 group A CAT threshold, yet there has been no recent adjustment to this threshold … Exchequer of increasing the group A threshold? Has any serious consideration been given to linking future thresholds dynamically to the official house price index for greater fairness

about liveable towns and how we can widen the scope of the scheme, which is obviously welcome. Last week, I spoke in the House about the housing Bill and the benefits of it. I referenced that when benefits are introduced, a lot of the time

population growing so fast and keeping up in terms of the infrastructure. The Deputy regularly keeps me on my toes in this House on the infrastructural needs of Kildare. There are some supports such as the vacant premises refurbishment grant that is in place nationwide and is having … shop again, with no derelict buildings and either new businesses open or premises that will not open being converted into homes in a housing emergency, this is what it should be about. How do we recreate? What is the new main street or new town centre looking like

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 Sean Fleming - The transfer of patients from Erkina House in Rathdowney, County Laois and the future

understand the strength of the Deputy's feelings. As I said, he has been advocating for Erkina House for many years and also for the residents who live there and who called it their forever home. I understand how difficult it is for residents who have lived … mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and HSE policies, including Time to Move on from Congregation Settings and Design for Mental Health Housing 2015 to 2017. However, I hear him loud and clear in relation to the facility. On many occasions, the HSE has moved out of facilities

exponential growth in 30 years, more than doubling from the 1990s. In truth, we have been failed by successive Governments who rightly want housing delivered, but have utterly failed in their duty to deliver the necessary social infrastructure required in tandem with housing. This week

questions genuinely do not know at this stage what is accurate or inaccurate. Any or all of them are deeply worrying for this House. Will the Minister guarantee that the answers he gives to questions from Opposition spokespersons will be accurate and he will not mislead the House

sync with the views of ordinary decent Irish people. We need to be transparent in how we are dealing with the housing of people who are exiting the IPAS system. Our councils need to inform the councillors of any relevant policies that impact housing allocations. Also, in regard

know who builds houses? Workers build houses, not developers

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 Marie Sherlock - To discuss the parents notify system. Deputy Sean Fleming - To discuss the transfer of patients … from Erkina House in Rathdowney, County Laois, and the future of this facility. Deputy James Geoghegan - To discuss the issue of unaccompanied minors seeking international protection in Ireland. Deputy Ryan O'Meara - To discuss the inclusion of commercial bus operators in the under-nine free-travel scheme. Deputy

Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, I thank the Deputy for giving us the opportunity to have this discussion on the floor of the House and to put some of that new information on the record of the House. Also, I thank the Deputy's colleagues on the Committee

thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I welcome the Deputy's remarks at the start of his contribution that he is not against renewable energy measures. As he will be aware … statement under the 2024 Act. This will ensure enhanced clarity and increased consistency across the planning systems at all tiers. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently undertaking a scoping exercise - it is at an early stage - to identify the component factors relevant

thank the Deputy for bringing this to the House and raising such an important matter. It gives me the opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary role our healthcare workers played during the pandemic. They went far beyond the call of duty, working on the front line, treating Covid-positive … determined that Covid-19 does not meet the criteria required for recognition under the Social Welfare Acts. I assure the Deputy and the House that while the special scheme will conclude at the end of this year, the supports available to staff will continue under established public service

well recognised by medical professionals but there is nowhere to send them. They are not fit to hold down a tenancy in a house or to live in group supported accommodation but in a setting like that, they function. The HSE recognised that at the time so what … happened? The most recent reply I got to a parliamentary question was that no decision has been made regarding the future of Erkina House. We need to get straight answers as to what is happening. I ask the Government to use this resource and opportunity, make decisions

thank the Deputy again for bringing this important issue up. I assure the House that I understand, as the Deputy said, how important it is for all persons with mental health difficulties to have the relevant mental health services in place from the HSE in the location that … check that out with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I will also check the site with the HSE. The Deputy said Erkina House is a HSE site. I will also speak to the Minister of State and Department. I assure him someone will come back

know their children will have a school to go to next September. One challenge this community faces is development. There has been huge housing and infrastructure development in Kilternan but it has not been matched with school place provision. Of course, we want to celebrate that this … beautiful part of our constituency is under development but it has to be matched with the resources that are needed. There are multiple housing projects under construction and commencements due over the period ahead locally. The need for school places will only grow in the area

delighted that we are able to bring this motion to the House today. As the Labour Party health spokesperson in the last Dáil, I was privileged to receive a number of briefings and to speak to members of the trans community, a community that is so often talked … that attacks on her from people in this Chamber have been absolutely disgraceful. We will not tolerate such behaviour towards anyone in this House

trans people here and elsewhere. The Gender Recognition Act was not perfect, but it was a good first step. It sailed through these Houses almost ten years ago, almost without a whimper, much to the credit of the then Minister, Joan Burton, and the then Minister of State … rights to be themselves, then we need to put the provisions of the motion into action. I commend the motion to the House

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current project timetable for the fire safety works required to Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the date on which the works commenced; the current stage of completion; any interim milestones set; and the reason the works

Minister for Health the total cost estimated and incurred to date in respect of the fire safety works to Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; and whether additional funding has been approved to complete the works. [24700/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the approved workforce model for Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the dementia-specific unit, is expected to be finalised; and whether she will provide the total approved whole-time equivalent staffing complement required for the facility

Health whether funding has been approved for the full staffing complement required to operate the 19-bed dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit safely on reopening; and if not, when such funding approval will be made. [24702/26

asked the Minister for Health whether any external fire safety, regulatory, or risk assessment was carried out in relation to Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit, prior to its closure in late February 2025; and if so, the date and outcome of that assessment. [24703/26

that legislation to enable care partners for vulnerable people in hospitals, hospices, care homes and other health settings will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas; the status of the work indicated in response to a previous Parliamentary Question (details supplied); and if she will make

Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 5 March 2026, the engagements she has had with the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government regarding funding for the Integrated Homeless Services Hub in Cork city (details supplied); the way in which this project is being

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the training local authority housing officers receive on public sector duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26531/26

number of residential properties owned by the Health Service Executive that have been transferred to local authorities or other State bodies for housing or social use in each year from 2020 to date. [26817/26

completion date of this review, and whether it will include measures to improve timelines and oversight in the reuse of residential properties for housing purposes. [26822/26

satisfied that vacant residential properties owned by the State are being utilised in a timely manner in the context of current housing demand [26832/26

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. [26855/26

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. [26874/26

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. [26854/26

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. [26873/26

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. [26859/26

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. [26878/26

years from 2019 to 2025 and to date in 2026, by library; the engagements he has had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the new Cork city library project to ensure that it is designed and developed in line with his Department’s National

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his plans to support housing for families in Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22989/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to granting housing functions to Údarás na Gaeltachta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22990/26

Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23127/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an inspection of completed works will be carried out for a grant application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23140/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individuals and families currently in emergency accommodation in County Clare, by municipal district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individuals and families currently accommodated in hotels and B and Bs as emergency accommodation in County Clare; the locations of such accommodation; and the cost to the State of providing this accommodation

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties purchased by Clare County Council under tenant-in-situ or other acquisition schemes in west Clare, including Kilkee, in the past two years; and whether additional funding will be provided to increase