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thank Deputy Heneghan for continually raising this matter since his election to the House. My colleague the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has the lead role for cyber security and the Department receives inputs in the security domain from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces … further briefed and view its work. Challenges with putting ships to sea have been well documented and were discussed in the House earlier. This year, we are seeing the benefits of a number of initiatives I have overseen, such as the patrol duty allowance, with the number

offshore supply, private wires make Ireland's overall energy system more resilient, more secure and far better. It will also help with the housing crisis and it will help with the cost per unit of electricity because we are increasing the supply and reducing the demand. Everyone will … with the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, last week regarding my Bill and I hope to get support from across the House

agree entirely with the policy principle and I will work with the Deputy and everyone in this House to fix it. I am very clear on that. To flag some information that may be of use to the House, we probably will need to change legislation

Ukraine, these sanctions need to capture the activities of the shadow fleet. What I would say, and say to those outside this House too, without commenting on important national security issues, is that we are obviously plugged to a range of structures in terms of information exchange … have processes in place to speedily respond to that in a very competitive market for attracting people. I have outlined to the House a number of measures we have taken to try to make such a career more financially attractive. I accept there are issues with cadet

huge water quality issues. We have previously discussed the issues around Lady's Island Lake this year. It is also relevant to the housing plan that will be published later this month by the Minister's colleague, the housing Minister, in terms of how and where we build

done in an appropriate manner in full consultation with those communities. Important related work is progressing, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to review the existing wind energy development guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance … being carried out on the draft guidelines as part of the review process. In this regard, I am advised the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage intends to undertake a public consultation on updated draft guidelines as part of the screening process, whereby all interested parties

budget. The Deputy is making a constant effort to misrepresent and mislead the Irish people on the measures we took in relation to housing supply, but they are the right measures. We took a decision to reduce the cost of building an apartment to help to make sure … more apartments are built. This week, there was an Oireachtas housing committee meeting. I am not sure if the Deputy has seen it. If he has not, I am sure Deputy Ó Broin will fill him in. Person after person who has responsibility for building apartments came

meeting most of them. I do not think when you meet them you describe them in the way you do in this House. You have also come in today, and you tried this at the finance committee yesterday, to try to suggest the measures we have taken … five in a five-year term, they will see we have taken decisions that will make a fundamental difference to housing supply, to jobs and employment, and to protecting our country. That is what many of the people on the doors I knock on want to see from

need to look at the facts, and the Tánaiste knows them well. The Government published a report this week saying that to meet housing demand alone, we need at least 50,000 additional construction workers. The Tánaiste also knows the facts about our ageing population. Again, the report … areas where migrants are essential. I challenge the Tánaiste to say where he will reduce the supply of migrant workers. Is it in housing, health, pharma or tech? What area of the economy does the Tánaiste think can do with fewer migrant workers? Let us stick

entire body of research. We are endeavouring to inform this on the basis of scientific research. In November 2024, the Department of housing made changes to the way the grant scheme works for certain homeowners, as the Deputy is aware. This followed receipt of the preliminary results from … with the work on their dwelling under the option determined or the option of a full technical review of their application by the Housing Agency. This review will be informed by the current research, once the full review of IS 465 is complete. If homeowners choose to continue

While we are on the issue of cancer, I missed the opportunity yesterday but I also welcome Deputy Boyd Barrett back to this House. Many people right across the country were inspired by his interview this week. I know it has been an extraordinarily difficult time … might not believe it but we missed him in this House

requirements that go alongside an increase in the numbers of judges. I also welcome the Bill’s intention to amend the Street and House to House Collections Act 1962, the Child Care Act 1991 and the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, to repeal certain provisions of the Family Courts

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 Carol Nolan - Contract work delays for St. Brendan's Community School, Birr. Deputy Albert Dolan - To discuss … staff at the CCTV monitoring centre at Moyross, Limerick. Deputy Rory Hearne - To discuss residential waiting lists and funding for St. Michael's House, Dublin 9 Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the impact of the changes to BusConnects routes in Dublin South-West. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - To discuss

integrated homeless health hub in Cork city. In October 2024, I arranged a meeting between the Department of Health, the Department of housing, the HSE in Cork and Cork City Council. It was agreed that we would all work together to establish a day centre where people … reduce the number of people who are homeless. This hub can help with that as well. It can help people to access housing that is suitable for them. At the moment, people who are homeless feel there is no one supporting them. They feel that they

again today. I welcome the opportunity to take this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health and to inform the House of the current position relating to the provision of an integrated homeless health hub in Cork city. Cork city has a huge population. The Minister … homelessness. This hub will provide a service centred around the basic needs of the clients presenting, but with a focus on homelessness, housing and migration, and it will be aligned with health. The provision of the service shall reduce the need for emergency department presentations. The integrated inclusion

national service plan for 2026. We want to continue to support the likes of St. Michael’s House. Over 1,200 services are being funded by HSE Dublin north county and Dublin city and west, including many in the Deputy’s constituency. I assure him that the Department … working alongside service providers such as St. Michael’s House and the HSE to address these challenges and to support providers right across the country to carry out the vital work they do in the delivery of services to those with a disability

Council grants for literature, yet Sally Rooney exists. The current definition of "arts" also includes architecture. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and these guys can literally charge what they like, and yet they are considered to be artists and comedians … word change to an Act, but one which could make a huge difference to our comedic acts. I commend it to the House

delighted to inform the House on recent developments and achievements on drug policy. The Government will not oppose the motion. It is not helpful to get into a political dispute about drugs policy. It is important not to argue over something that affects the lives of so many … several more actions we need to take. Drugs are changing all the time. This is a changing world. All of us in this House are very mindful of that. We cannot be complacent about the harms and dangers associated with illicit drug use and a volatile drugs market

reduce pressure on the courts, the Garda and our prison system. It was reported last month that it costs €99,000 to house a prisoner for a year. The current approach does not work. We know that addiction is not a choice, but recovery can be an option … supports. This would be a far better use of public money. We have an opportunity to build a model rooted in public health, housing, education and social support that saves lives instead of wasting them in courtrooms and prisons. Right now, too many people are caught

these individuals in such situations were from the leafy suburbs, it would be an issue of far more importance here in Leinster House. Any drugs policy needs to have as its objective the reduction of harm. That has to be the absolute objective in relation to any issue … other drugs. The objective of any policy has to include the reduction of the use of drugs. It is often said in this House that there is a dichotomy and that it is either a health-led issue or a criminal approach and that is not the truth

mbeadh siad ar son an rud seo. It is important that what we said during the election is brought in to this House and carried through. Parties across this Chamber said that they would be for decriminalisation and some that said they would be for reducing the current … assembly report in January 2024 and the Oireachtas joint committee report in October last, but a lot of what we see in this House is report after report but no action. As Deputy McAuliffe said about Deputy Tóibín mentioning the legalisation and how it would reduce

trying to put together a housing plan. Does the Minister agree that we face another 15 years of a housing disaster

need to remove some of the regulations that exist in parts of delivery of infrastructure and also in housing. The Deputy's solution on housing is just more State investment

ignores the market continuously. We need to have a viable housing market that allows small builders and developers to deliver housing right across our economy

adequate compensation packages for farmers affected and biosecurity measures must be stepped up. As a preventative, I am calling for a housing order to be implemented as we know wild birds play a huge role in spreading avian influenza. We saw this recently in Fota Wildlife Park … like Fota that have had to keep their gates closed and for poultry farmers for loss of earnings. Will the Government put a housing order in place

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a summary of all wildlife licences granted in the period 2019 to 2025 in respect of herring gulls and removal of their nests and eggs, such a summary to include

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of meetings which have taken place between him or officials in his Department and an organisation (details supplied) or bodies which are members of the organization in 2025; to provide a list of those

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of maintenance contracts using public funds that his Department or his/her agencies has where a company (details supplied) carry out works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18358/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 654 of 27 January 2026, the number of individual dwellings which were the subject of the remediation claims to date; the total number of estimated dwellings affected which are likely

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 645 of 20 January 2026, the reasons why he has no plans to propose amendments to the provisions referred to; whether he has relied on any research or reports in forming

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to elaborate on the January 2026 homelessness statistics by giving a breakdown of the lengths of time spent in emergency accommodation by the 17,112 people mentioned in the report; to state or estimate the average

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of growing delays in Tailte Eireann property registration times and the subsequent risks to the conveyancing process; if he or his officials have raised the matter with Tailte Eireann

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of staff in Tailte Eireann per annum, under the respective four main function sections of Corporate Affairs, Registration, Valuation, and Surveying from its establishment to 2025, in tabular form. [18517/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total budget for Tailte Eireann per annum under the respective four main function sections of Corporate Affairs, Registration, Valuation and Surveying from its establishment to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review and extend resources to Tailte Eireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the revised estimates under Vote 16 for Tailte Eireann reduced the annual target for applications for registration submitted and fully processed electronically by 10% in comparison with the 2025 target; and if he will

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if alternative EA MLA issued accreditation schemes other than the NSAI are acceptable for modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18521/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next round of URDF funding will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/26

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding his Department's review of the current exempted development regulations; when he expects these changes to come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18564/26

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff from his Department seconded to other Departments or agencies in the Civil Service, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the Department or agency, in tabular form

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff from his Department seconded to a firm in the private sector, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the company, in tabular form. [18614/26

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff from his Department seconded from a firm in the private sector, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the company, in tabular form. [18632/26

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management have reviewed protocols, procedures and preparedness of fire services for dealing with Lithium battery fires following an incident (details supplied) last year and given proposals

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the implementation of a nationwide CBL system; the timeline for roll out of the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18805/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent to date by his Department to facilitate Ireland’s participation in the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes, by expenditure type, in tabular form; and if he will

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the persons attending the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes on behalf of the Irish Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18808/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide documentation, presentations and promotional material produced by the Irish government and/or his Department for the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the organisers of the Irish stand at the Marché International des Professionels de l'Immoblier 2026 Conference in Cannes; his Department’s involvement in same; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the apartment and duplex defects remediation scheme will be in place and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18811/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to track and count the number of build to rent units which are being built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18821/26