Search the record

Tánaiste's colleague, the Minister for housing, James Browne, has pulled the plans to build nearly 500 units within the Dublin City Council area under public-private partnerships. A total of 1,000 new homes have already been delivered under public-private partnerships and a further … both staff and resources. We have a lame duck Minister. We need to now redirect moneys to the local authorities, which will deliver housing more cost-effectively than the public-private partnership schemes. Local authorities need to be the lead developers in delivering these badly needed homes

this as a Government to see what can be done to make sure we have adequate childcare facilities built, especially in new housing estates. Where planning permission is granted for 40 or 50 houses, there should be co-ordination about putting in place adequate childcare facilities because parents

welcome this opportunity to provide an update to the House on the devastating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan, and to hear the views and concerns of Deputies. Many have described the conflict and its impact as a forgotten crisis. In truth, it is has at times been … those in neighbouring countries displaced by the crisis. In the current global crisis of funding cuts to humanitarian aid budgets, I assure the House that Ireland will remain steadfast in maintaining our focus on reaching the furthest behind first. Our assistance is delivered through a range of international

journey. Freenow guesstimates a fare. A person orders a taxi. If he or she wants to go from Rathfarnham to Leinster House, Freenow offers them a guesstimate of how much that will cost, which is useful because passengers the know roughly how much it will cost. They also … taxi, I pay a €3 fee between the time of ordering and the time it takes for the taxi to come to my house. That into account the distance the taxi driver has to travel to arrive. I may cancel. There is time and fuel used. Through this

deals with noise and shadow flicker. This is very important because we know it is a real problem. At the moment there are houses where shadow flicker passes over them. This is unfair to residents. The Bill clearly sets out that they need to be located far enough … November 2025. The letter sets out very clearly what it means. I also have an exchange of letters between the then Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and the then Minister for the environment, former Deputy Eamon Ryan. In a letter

solution ye see fit is a simple reply email and no action just fills me with anxiety about another winter of this. The house is vibrating here again, I've damage all over the house from the vibrations as well as all my family being sick ... [over

very people who tried to protect us. Today, I am saying, "Not any more; not on our watch." Under legislation endorsed by this House, whistleblowers are being punished for doing the right thing. We are supposed to be the ones defending these people, but look what actually happens … their lawful remit and the misuse of taxpayers' money to shield such behaviour. I want to bring to the attention of the House a case involving Meath County Council, where significant procedural failures have been highlighted to me. I have also received confirmation regarding other State authorities

Dáil and to not mislead, however unintentional that may be. This takes me to comments made on the record of the House on 12 November 2025 by the Taoiseach in respect of the handling of protected disclosures. In essence, he appears to have claimed that there is somehow … actually properly applied. There may very well be resource issues in this regard, but it is important, when legislation is enacted in this House, that the authorities responsible for prosecuting and processing complaints in that regard know what they are doing, engage properly with complainants and that justice

result. It led to the disclosures tribunal. On the recent protected disclosures Deputy Toole mentioned, I also raised these here in this House, including one from a healthcare professional. It raised deeply serious concerns about systemic failings during the Covid-19 scam-demic vaccine roll-out and treatment … Health, the Taoiseach and all the other agencies to deal with the protected disclosures that Deputy Toole and I have brought to the House in good faith. It was a very serious situation that happened during Covid and it continues because, of course, we have had no investigation

polarisation of the language in some of the contributions, which I thought was unnecessary. This is something people from both sides of the House have strong views on. We should all respect one another's views without getting to the level of name-calling, which was very regrettable … period were 566,377 people, up 6.9% on the same period in 2024. So, it is incumbent on all of us in this House when we throw away comments like "this does not have public support

rural towns and villages that includes investment in public spaces, tackling dereliction and ensuring proper services and amenities. I have referenced in this House the situation in my home town of Carrickmacross and many towns like it that are desperately trying to revitalise their traditional town centre … part of protecting the vitality of the hospitality sector. We must do more than that. We need proper focus and debate in this House about how we can invest in and develop our rural towns and villages and support businesses and entrepreneurs trying to bring employment back

hope there will be no opposition to it. I see it as a very positive measure. I am convenor and chairman in the Houses of the Oireachtas of the Ireland-South Korea parliamentary committee. We had a meeting yesterday attended by the South Korean ambassador … point because it is important that it gets read into the Dáil record. The most beautiful tapestry, which was shown here in the Houses at some point - I believe the Ceann Comhairle has seen it - commemorates seven Irish priests who were martyred during the Korean War. They were

Meanwhile, we have people fleeing persecution who need to get accommodation. As others said, we should not conflate inaction on constructing housing with the immigration situation. It is also fair to say that at least 30,000 people are coming from within the EU and another … coming into Ireland legally every year. We do not have the capacity right now to provide housing, so we have to look at where our industrial policy goes, where people should be working and what kinds of job are needed. We certainly need a lot of immigrants

from these EU funding streams. Government has no hesitation commending the motions that we opt into these proposals which are laid before the House. By doing so, under an Article 3 opt-in it will ensure that we are at the table with our European partners involved … with their counterparts as the work progresses to tweak aspects to better fit with our system. I commend the three motions to the House

this, that, and the other. Fine Gael has been in government for 14 years. It is the party that has created the housing crisis. The solutions they come up with, over and over again, dig deep into the pockets of workers and provide these benefits to developers … investors. It has failed in the past and it will fail in the future. What the Minister should be doing is building public houses on public land. That is what he should do and with this amendment the Minister can live up to the promise he made

time again, and for good reason. I fully accept that budgets are about choices and we will have rigorous debates in this House about whether our choices are right. I contend – the Deputy will have a different view – that the choices we made this year were about trying … boost economic resilience, protect jobs and stimulate housing supply. We have had that debate and we will continue to have that debate. I wish to make a couple of points. I understand that the absence of indexation of income tax credits this year has an effect on workers

legislation coming forward next week and there is also the commitment in terms of the planned review of the scheme. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will, as required by section 51 of the 2022 Act, carry out a review of the operation of that … standards. I will certainly constructively engage, as part of that review, with the Minister on the issues that have been raised in the House this evening

will give the Tánaiste a quick example. Solomons Court in Letterkenny has 1,400 houses and every single one of them has defective concrete. Some 15 have been remediated. With some, that involved full demolition and with others, it was partial remediation. However, the majority of people there … numbers of people are going to need to move. In Donegal, 25,000 will potentially have to move. Where are we going to house them? That is how serious this

personal promise he made to the electorate. I am sure he will acknowledge that if he wants to be honest with the House tonight. He made a commitment that the renter's tax credit would increase by €100 each year. In his first budget, he decided to break … When I argued for the introduction of the renter's tax credit and convinced Government there was a real issue in that its housing policy had resulted in runaway rents and had put huge pressure on individuals, the argument I heard from the Minister's party and from

Deputy Doherty can ever form a Government or can find people in this House who wish to form a Government with him, he will realise that you go out to the people and seek a mandate from the people on your manifesto. You get as many votes … people and their Government and the contract between the Government and the Civil Service. It is what we answer for in this House. The programme for Government is very clear in its commitment to progressively increase the rent tax credit during the lifetime of this Government

State supports some of them but does not support others. I made the point to the previous finance Minister that, rightly, the Houses of the Oireachtas identified that those who are participating in home dialysis needed support from the State and the support was offered through the taxation … benefits, but others are not. That is not right. The system is not fair for those individuals. Within the collective wisdom of this House, we are surely able to recognise that it is appropriate to give people support, and we now need to make sure everybody availing

Across the political spectrum, we all share the objective of trying to use every bit of underutilised capacity we can to provide housing. The Bill provides for substantial changes to the living cities initiative. The Deputy has noted the scale of the reform and the expansion … included or not included. Many Deputies have made representations for other towns to be added, although not on the record of this House. There are always compelling cases. Considering that this is a significant expansion, what we have decided to do is to utilise the towns identified

difference is that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have decided to increase taxes significantly on the cost of trying to keep your house warm. In my county, two thirds of people rely on home heating oil to keep their house warm in winter. Across the west of Ireland

responding to him. First, as we have discussed, and I understand and acknowledge that this is how the rules of the House work, nobody is about to vote on anything other than an amendment to have a report on mineral oil tax. We need to be honest about … country. Mineral oil tax comprises a non-carbon and a carbon component, commonly referred to as the carbon tax. Legislation passed by this House provides for multi-annual increases to the carbon component of the mineral oil tax. I assume the Deputies are requesting a report on legislated

November, the Taoiseach told this House that legal advice states a Minister cannot read protected disclosures. That claim has caused real alarm throughout the country because if a Minister cannot read protected disclosures, the Minister cannot verify whether the Minister is being misled. It is an extraordinary position … RTÉ "Prime Time Investigates" has exposed it, a senior retired governor called it universal and it is on the record of this House from 1996, meaning we have known about it here for over 30 years. Yet, when the matter reached the State legal apparatus of the Chief

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual uptake targets he has set for the vacant above the shop grant; the way in which progress will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22913/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the ongoing efforts by community groups in Caherdaniel to identify and acquire suitable lands for essential community infrastructure; the supports available to assist such groups in site acquisition where private landowners

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to introducing measures to support compulsory purchase or facilitated land transfer mechanisms for small rural communities where critical infrastructure is being impeded by lack of available land; and if he will

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on supports available for the development of Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) in rural villages; whether additional funding or technical assistance can be provided to accelerate delivery; and if he will

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assistance and the options available to persons in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22982/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the support levels for the first home scheme will be revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23053/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23080/26

Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing last met. [14265/26

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing will next meet. [14634/26

schedule of the gifts that he and or his officials gave to the US President and his staff and officials in the White House on 17 March 2026; and the value of the gifts. [22258/26

gifts that he and his officials received from the US President and his staff and officials on his visit to the White House on 17 March 2026; and if he will provide a further schedule of items he and his officials received as gifts over the course

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the current status of the EU LIFE Strategic Nature Project led by the NPWS and supported by his Department and Coillte, which is intended to provide a robust evidence base

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that is available for Pillar Two of the EU Life Strategic Nature Project to advance the implementation of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive in relation to Lady's Island

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the proposed legislation to allow for the use of cabins or modular units in back gardens for residential purposes; the timeline for bringing forward this legislation; the conditions or regulations that will apply

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of remapping applications for processing by Tailte Éireann that pertain to Kildare properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21406/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actual delivery of affordable homes in each county and local authority against the targets set for the years since the scheme's inception; and the reasons for the significant shortfalls [21507/26

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is an update on the modular homes legislation. [21512/26

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of proposals to develop a national park at the Blackstairs Mountains on the Wexford/Carlow border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21538/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the guidance that has been issued to local authorities for the processing of planning applications for solar farms in the absence of a national policy statement; the way in which his Department is ensuring that

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of an application for remediation under the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in eligible apartments and duplexes 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21592/26

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in the publishing of planning regulations to exempt detached modular homes and log cabins in back gardens from planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21606/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of UDZ designation requests received by his Department since he invited applications in June 2025; to provide a list of each request including location and size of the land in question

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any circumstances in which the vacant property refurbishment grant can be paid out to a successful applicant prior to the completion of the overall refurbishment of the property; for example, whether

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide copies of records detailing total ticket sales, including volume and revenue, for each site (details supplied) managed by Clare County Council in 2024; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide documentation showing the average visitor spend per ticket at each site (details supplied) in 2024, including breakdowns for entry fees, retail purchases, catering, and other services; and if he will make