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health deserves serious attention in this House. Across Ireland, men are struggling with mental health, access to care and a culture that too often tells them to stay silent. I must commend the good work of Pieta House, the Samaritans, Men's Aid and the Irish

issues unless we tackle the social issues underpinning them. An awful lot of men I meet in my constituency office are struggling with housing issues, which is contributing to the mental pressures and the loneliness they face. They are either not able to begin their lives or they … have to tackle the social issues. Like so many other issues in terms of men's health and men's mental health, the housing crisis has a huge impact on that

also pay tribute to the men's health campaigners who have worked so hard to get this issue debated in the House today. Again, I am shocked by the fact that this is the first time that we in Leinster House have had a debate solely

welcome that we are discussing this. I find it odd, and it is noticeable, how little we discuss men's health in this House. Maybe that is something we all need to work on to make sure we bring the issue more to the fore in the Chamber … needs attention. It is certainly one form of gender imbalance that we need to address, given it is discussed so little in the House. There seems to be a preference, unfortunately, to demonise men and boys in our society. We know that men are vastly and disproportionately more

countries do not set unjust unilateral quotas that deplete this precious resource. The emerging situation is extremely challenging. I wish to reassure the House that, as Minister of State with special responsibility for fisheries and the marine, I recognise the importance of maintaining a vibrant fishing sector, both … ensure we get what is required in the December Council meeting. The last issue on which I wish to update the House today is the review of trawling inside six nautical miles. The programme for Government commits to maintaining support for our important inshore fishing sector and promoting

part of the programme for Government, reflecting the Government's commitment to this sector. It is important that, as Members of these Houses, we acknowledge that our fisheries are vital, not only for our economy but for our food security. We must ensure that those working … fishing village, dating back to the Middle Ages. This is my second time raising this matter on the floor of the House. Last month, I tabled a Topical Issue matter to discuss the urgent works required at the harbour. The harbour has not been dredged since the 1970s

Féin and our colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn have been calling on the Government to allow statements on fisheries to take place in this House. In that context, I welcome the opportunity today to finally debate the future of an industry that is at breaking point. This … that built their communities and fed our nation. Sinn Féin will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in Brussels, in this House and in every town and village across the island. I will say a few words about the inshore sector. The inshore fleet

Brexit to the sector and the extension to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, TCA, has also been raised in the House. I know it was a significant frustration to the sector that Ireland did not get some quota back from the UK in the discussions which … which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf." I assure the House that reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall remains an important issue for the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

recent budget. These are families who have had the small support of one-off payments taken off them this year while their housing costs and fuel bills are going up and they are struggling to make ends meet. It is not just the Christmas turkey that will cost … year in tax. They will have nothing to show for that in terms of investment in basic infrastructure, public services, housing or public goods, and they are getting hammered at the tills. I heard from a woman in my own community yesterday. She has two master’s degrees

defective concrete blocks, DCB, scheme was in operation, apartments in multi-unit developments were eligible. Then, in 2022, eligibility was narrowed to dwelling houses, single ownerships excluding buildings with shared structural or common elements, apartments, duplexes and multi-unit blocks. These dwellings contain the same defective materials … detached or semi-detached house. The exclusion demonstrates a serious failure in how the scheme is being managed. The Government's amendment to my motion last week described the DCB scheme as a residential home scheme, as it said that non-residential properties could be dealt with under

application in the new county. Therefore, they are not eligible for emergency accommodation, cannot get homeless accommodation, are not eligible for social housing support and have to start again from the beginning in terms of years on the list. I have raised this at all levels … outcome for the women, so I ask the Taoiseach to take a look at this. I raised it previously with the Minister for housing. Really, I have raised it at all levels. There should be a simple solution that we could look at and I ask the Taoiseach

invest in the future and delivery of modern, sustainable and resilient infrastructure is vital for our national competitiveness, fostering regional development, delivering housing and meeting social needs. The recently published review of the national development plan sets out the largest capital investment in the history of the State … unlock housing, upgrade water and energy infrastructure, deliver more roads and provide better public transport. In budget 2026 we announced €19.1 billion in Exchequer capital investment, an increase of €2 billion on 2025. This represents the highest annual spend to date in this country. Reform of delivery

elsewhere? Ordinary workers and families either get overlooked or pay higher taxes. Property taxes are going up on 1 November. Nearly every house is going to get an increase as a result of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's policy. The Minister has increased the carbon … exclusion that had always applied to developers now being lifted? Why have the selection criteria been extended to pre-1975 houses as opposed to pre-1915 properties? These are issues we will deal with on Committee Stage. Among the striking things that are not contained in the Bill

apartments. I welcome this. There is a viability issue with apartments. I hope this measure will see an increase. Viability in terms of housing is felt right across the construction sector. It is felt in Mayo. I spoke to a developer last week who has planning permission … consider the fact there is so little development happening, particularly in rural Ireland, despite the fact there is such a housing need. It is because of the viability issue but the Government is effectively saying it does not exist outside of apartments. I want to speak about spending

time when the cost of living is still a challenge for so many and I hear, as every other TD in this House does, the challenges people have in getting by, this is a difficult argument for people to accept at a time during which they are worried … code is structured. I heard a number of colleagues raise the point regarding the application of this VAT measure with regard to approved housing bodies. At the start of this debate, I acknowledged this was an issue and that, as I consider Committee Stage, I would examine whether

wishes of the Irish people. This will not be accepted by Sinn Féin. It should not be accepted by the Members of this House, but I know for sure that it will not be accepted by the people of Ireland who know we have a destiny. That destiny … sports and music spaces, where young people are loudly and proudly declaring they want to see a united Ireland in their lifetimes. This House has a responsibility, first, to endorse this Sinn Féin motion and second, to work together and not let anyone block the march of this

last thing in the minds of the little Englanders as they pushed for Brexit. If you want to clear the floors of the Houses of Parliament in England, all you have to do is push for a debate on the North of Ireland. Irish unity … side of the Bann. I had the honour of researching and authoring the first committee report on the all-Ireland economy in Leinster House since partition. I interviewed about 100 people from all communities and walks of life: business people, trade unionists, people from the community sector

belief has always been and will always be that there should be a united Ireland. On the wall of my office in Leinster House, I have a picture of my great-great-grandfather, John Hargrove, a prominent Land League leader and nationalist from Cratloe, County Clare … Border. It makes good sense to explore what a united Ireland could look like, vis-à-vis intertwined public services like healthcare, housing provision and judicial systems. This work must continue. I will conclude with a quote from Pádraig Pearse, whose basalt bust looks over this Chamber each

that of the Government. I think it is objectively fair to say, and there is not much disagreement on this across the House, that the immediate focus has been on the humanitarian aid and supporting the peace plan, on seeing the ceasefire and the hostages being released … Bill will be considered by Government shortly. I think I gave an indication about the timeline during the debate in the House on the flotilla. Notwithstanding the positive and welcome recent developments regarding the ceasefire and the hostage release deal in Gaza, Deputy Ó Laoghaire is right that

position remains the same as I outlined in this House many times. Of course, I am going to discuss and engage with Government colleagues on this and the Government will obviously make its decision as a collective and present its legislation to the Oireachtas. I will dutifully debate … that back and forth in this House. I need to allow that process to take its course. I have respect for the way the Government makes decisions. While I reiterate my commitment to the legislation, I also remind people why we talked about the legislation in the first

want to be respectful to the process we must go through in government. People know and understand that. I have outlined to the House what the Government will do. We have the pre-legislative report of the Oireachtas committee and will be considering our next steps. We will … decide on that shortly and I will update the House

depending on migrant workers to build these houses. These workers have come from Poland, Latvia, Moldova, Bolivia, South Africa and other places across the world. As I said, there are 300,000 new homes needed by 2030 and there are 170,000 people working in construction … need to be trained. How many years will it take to achieve the number of qualified craftspeople necessary to meet the demand for housing supply

student beds. I also opened Maynooth University's 116-bed project at the start of September in Teach Uí Bhuachalla, or Buckley House. We have other measures, including things like VAT. In the recent budget, we reduced VAT from 13.5% to 9% on new apartment construction. I engaged … students. I am also working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, on the rent pressure zone legislation, which is expected to come through the House shortly to ensure it contains adequate protections for students

dereliction, and in doing so to breathe new life into town centres. Town centre first complements other policies, including Our Rural Future and Housing for All as well as the national planning framework, which also aims to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Town centre first also seeks to achieve … other support funding has also been put in place by Government. Town centre first was developed in conjunction with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Bringing Back Homes details over 20 incentives, funded measures and grants that seek to address vacancy and dereliction. Supports include

Deputy is right to raise this, and I have heard it raised in the House over the last couple of weeks. I am pleased to be able to say that we now have significant funding for 2026 onwards. The Deputy’s question is a valid one, namely, whether … there is anything that can be done between now and the start of 2026. My understanding is that the Department of housing keeps this under review and, as it gets closer to the end of the year, if there is an ability to provide additional funding to local

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has conducted or commissioned value-for-money or cost-benefit analysis comparing, emergency accommodation expenditure, and, homelessness prevention measures such as tenant-in-situ purchases. [19339/26

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure on emergency accommodation in each of the years, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the total expenditure on tenant-in-situ acquisitions over the same period; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the interim apartment remediation scheme; if water ingress defects are being considered for inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19371/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 191 on the 4 of March 2026, if he could provide the value of the sponsorship in cash terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19394/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the sponsor of Ireland's participation in Marché International des Professionnels de l'Immobilier (MIPIM) Conference last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19399/26

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to his recent announcement that over 11,000 social homes have been retrofitted since the introduction of the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme; to provide a breakdown on a local authority basis of the number

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a pathfinder apartment defects remediation scheme (details supplied); the timeline, budget, and the way in which findings will be rolled out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify whether all information collected by local authority officials when a person presents as homeless or at risk of homelessness is notified to his Department; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is possible within current IT provisions for local authorities to collate and publish information on youth homelessness (18-24 years); including reasons for entering homelessness and exits from homelessness; and if he will make

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 822 of 17 February 2026, if he could provide a county/local authority breakdown of the 9,175 cases where An Coimisiún Pleanála applied the planning condition prohibiting multiple sales. [19478/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or any body under it’s aegis made a disclosure under Revenue's recent disclosure opportunity to regularise misclassification of self-employment; if so, to provide details of the numbers of workers affected

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department administers any funding schemes which can support provision of Christmas lights in rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19546/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a residential development (details supplied) has been approved for funding and inclusion under the fire safety defects remediation scheme; the current status of any application in respect of the development; the timeline for assessment

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications under the original defective concrete blocks grant scheme that reached the maximum grant payable under that scheme; the number of such cases in each local authority area administering the scheme

Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the refund process for a location (details supplied) will commence as soon as possible to allow the residents repair the roofs in their apartment block. [19744/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the working family payment is included as assessable income under the Household Means Policy 2026, of which he issued in February 2026, given that it is a payment for low income households

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department is considering legislative measures to provide greater clarity regarding the status of licence agreements in residential accommodation where occupants have exclusive use of a room and share common areas; and if he will

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware of concerns that licence agreements are being used in some residential settings to exclude occupants from Rent Pressure Zone protections; whether his Department has assessed the impact of this practice

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department is considering any legislative clarification to ensure that residential arrangements which operate as tenancies in substance are treated as tenancies for the purposes of the Residential Tenancies Acts and Rent Pressure Zone rules

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of serviced sites delivered by each local authority for each of the years 2022 to 2025, in tabular form. [19797/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to publish the National Planning Statement, which is required in order for the publication of the Planning Guidelines in order to enact Section 44b of the Planning and Development (Amendment

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 767 of 17 February 2026, his views on whether submissions in relation to localised public infrastructure that come from individuals or organisations that do not live or work in the area

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether it is appropriate for objections or submissions in relation to localised public infrastructure to come from individuals or organisations that do not live or work in the area impacted

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views of the adequacy of the existing public submission aspect of the planning system; his views on whether it should be more targeted in terms of who any potential change will most impact

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity on the application of current planning regulations governing the installation of solar PV panels on non-domestic structures, such as agricultural sheds; if he is aware that the requirement