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Minister's colleague in the Department of housing must be pretty embarrassed. Two weeks ago, he leaked to the newspapers that he was looking at a €20,000 increase in the so-called help to buy scheme, a move that would have dramatically inflated house prices just … Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, made it very clear that the Government did not want to do anything that would push up house prices, so that was not on the cards. What changed for Simon Harris in the matter of a fortnight? I will tell the Minister what

join other speakers in welcoming that 2,400 social housing units are being brought into the scheme. It is an entirely necessary, if somewhat delayed, move. However, as colleagues also mentioned, the proposal, in its current form, basically creates a two-tier system that again treats social housing … same safeguard. Private owners who dispute an engineering assessment have some way of appealing it and challenging decisions. Unfortunately, the poor social housing tenants do not have that ability. While I can see why this would be organised by approved housing body or on an estate-by-estate

Minister of State is with Swords, but it is absolutely massive and is undergoing huge change. There is a massive amount of housing being built in Swords, which is welcome. It is all types of housing, from apartment blocks to three- or four-bedroom housing … coming at scale. Unfortunately, the infrastructure is not coming with the housing. We are currently gridlocked with traffic due to multiple upgrades and works being carried out. I know you cannot make an omelette without cracking a few eggs, but there is a disconnect in the planning

cons, for want of a better term. I gave the example in County Cork where, when the approach was changed in allocating houses in my home town of Clonakilty to people on a waiting list in Youghal on the other side of the country it was initially received … capacity, costs, governance arrangements and the feasibility of cross-jurisdictional operation. The all-Ireland approach raises further legal and practical difficulties as social housing support in Ireland and Northern Ireland operates under separate legislative, administrative and allocation frameworks. These are not peripheral issues. They are central issues

this. Disabled people have been denied their basic rights. This is why I have brought forward a Bill to put the right to housing in the Constitution. We are very clear that disabled people do not have that right. It is important because a right to housing … just about a roof over your head. It is about adequate and appropriate housing so you are supported for your needs. One of the most shameful aspects of this is that the Government has been aware of this problem and has let it grow. It is a failure

Theoretically, I have no issue with this Bill or with the basic principle of codifying circulars around access to emergency accommodation and social housing eligibility. I do, however, have a big issue with the Minister using the motion to instruct. This is the second time this has happened … year. I am only in this House a short time. The Minister has effectively tacked a whole new Bill onto a tenuously related Bill that we discussed already on Second Stage and Committee Stage. Far-reaching and significant amendments to the Housing Act 1988 came to us yesterday

mind, stories of my grandparents, their parents, the republican struggles and the stories of their involvement in republicanism in Cork. In the house where I grew up, The Wolfe Tones was the only record played on a regular basis. I welcome this Bill. I truly do because … what is seriously missing is costing, funding and how we are going to do this. There are questions, which many Members of the House have raised, about whether a citizens' assembly is the right place to do it. Do we need a new structure? Certainly, there is something

thank the Deputy for the question. It is good to see some focus on housing delivery in the rebel county. Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market, helping to moderate price growth and ease affordability challenges, ensuring everyone … range of housing options available to them, whether they want to buy a house, rent one or are in need of social housing. Data on new dwelling completions are published by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, on a quarterly basis. CSO data show overall housing delivery in Cork

thank Deputy Doherty for his question and I thank the Oireachtas committee on housing for its work. The committee report published this morning makes 14 recommendations. Of course, we will work our way through the report and consider all of the recommendations, as we do with all committee … committee recommends that the best interests of the child must be a key priority in addressing homelessness, and I believe everyone across the House can agree on that. We agree and that is why legislation is being brought forward to amend the Housing Act 1988 to ensure that

thank Deputy Stanley. Firstly can I say, because fair is fair, that Laois is a good performer when it comes to housing. I have my sheet here. There is nowhere to hide here, by the way. The data is there. It shows who is doing a good … dereliction. I think there were 13 derelict sites levied during the year 2024. Laois has performed pretty well when it comes to housing delivery. It has done very well on the housing delivery targets and in relation to zoning. I acknowledge that and I thank the county council

street, waved a flag or came out to just see the occasion deserves a big buladh bos. Today, I want to talk about housing. I welcome yesterday's announcement that a project on the Lodge Road in Westport was one of 82 successful under the new housing infrastructure … investment fund. This has the potential to unlock 200 houses on local authority land and potentially 300 more. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, whom I see in the Chamber. I want to talk today about the thresholds for social housing

dealing with some incredibly important Bills that will have implications for years to come, and that is his inability to engage with the Houses of the Oireachtas regarding EU matters in a timely manner. I have lost count of the number of times that a Minister from … Department highlights the particular urgency and lists 23 June, less than a week from now, as the deadline. That is the timeframe the Houses have to consider it. The Minister might consider me to be naive but I would have thought that the purpose of debates in this

move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". I am pleased to introduce the Bill for the consideration of the House. I am conscious that the Bill has been the subject of much debate not only in this House and the media but also among … wider public. The Government fully understands the depth of feeling in Ireland and in this House on the subject of Palestine. We share these deeply held concerns. They are a product of our history and of our shared humanity. I personally understand and share the depth of feeling

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Thursday, 14 May. The committee will next meet on Monday, 29 June. The committee works to ensure a cross-government approach to the implementation of our commitments regarding housing policy … Housing supply has increased significantly over the past number of years and home completions data for quarter 1 shows that 2026 is off to a very good start, with almost 8,000 new homes built, which is the highest number of quarter 1 completions since the series began

policy and will lead to increased displacement of tenants, increased rents and increased homelessness; and — Government continues to miss their social and affordable housing targets, targets that were too low to begin with, too few private for purchase homes are being built or coming to the market; resolves … that: — Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's housing policy continues to make the housing crisis worse and in particular is failing renters; calls on Government to: — introduce an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions; — cut private rents by putting a full month's rent back

happening, and the situation continues to get worse. In Laois, rents are sky high. Notices to quit are up, homelessness is up, house purchase prices are up, and what the Government has done is given a charter to landlords and developers. The Government's changes in rent rules … sure others have had, traumatised and at their wit's end. It is worse for renters, the homeless and house buyers. On top of the sharp rent increases in the past decade in Laois, of course, we have another huge jump now. The rent for a four-bedroom

have been in the House for over ten years and in that ten years, the Government has got it wrong. That is the bottom line. It does not matter where it is; whether it is urban or rural, the Government has got it all wrong in relation … housing and the crisis has gone from bad to worse. I hear a lot of Opposition Members shouting and attacking developers. I would not be in that attacking mode at all about the people who build the houses in the first place because we would not have

housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, reinforces and expands the range of existing affordable housing measures being implemented by the Government. In particular, the plan provides for an unprecedented level of State funding in order to deliver an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually … represented a record year in terms of delivery of affordable homes. Through the various affordable supports now available under the Government's new housing plan, more than 17,000 financial supports were provided to help people secure their first home during 2025. Under the affordable housing fund, which

European Social Charter (Revised), which protects the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection, including the provision of adequate family housing; — despite valiant campaigning by residents, supported by the Community Action Network and the Communities of Practice, the conditions in these flat complexes have continued … plan is based on successful estate retrofit and regeneration, such as Killarney Court and the pilot project in Ballybough Court; — the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is refusing to fund the initial proposals for the retrofit and regeneration of these complexes in Pearse House and Oliver

second most densely populated in the country should have rural transport which links from east to west. We have also spoken about housing. I concur with most of my colleagues on rural housing. We have been restrictive about facilitating families, in many cases, to live in the communities … have. They grew up and wanted to continue to live in Togher parish but were denied by restrictive policies in regard to rural housing. We must re-address that. It is not just about creating a community that will continue and thrive into the future; it is also

Deputy looks at the world through one prism when it comes to housing; we look at it through another. In my vision for young people, housing is number one and it means a relentless focus on supply. The Social Democrats have opposed all supply measures in this House … really focus on what matters. The Deputy talks about legacy. When the previous Government was formed in 2020, direct social housing builds were in the low thousands. Last year, in 2025, we built 9,000 social homes, the highest on record since the State was founded. While

Portlaoise, which has been targeted for a lot of that growth, needs a new primary school, which Ministers have told me in the House we do not need, despite the fact that hundreds of children are being bussed all over the county to school because there … Laois. We could do with all eight in Laois and we would have just about enough. On wastewater facilities, I outlined in the House a few months ago that a number of towns and villages need wastewater and water treatment facilities and for water supply to be accelerated

Fair play to Deputy Ó Murchú. He always gets a lot in during the few minutes. I thank all Members of the House for their contributions to this evening's debate. We look forward to further engagement on the Bill as it progresses to Committee Stage … infrastructure. I have set out why radical change is necessary. We have a persistent infrastructure deficit, the consequences of which we in this House have to deal with and which are articulated by Members daily. Without radical reform we simply will not close the gap, leaving our people

needs. It is not going to in any way stop us from driving forward with the renewable agenda. I outlined earlier in the House the degree to which we have made a lot of progress in terms onshore in this country and the degree of electricity generation that … however, the need is there. We will certainly see how we can progress that even further. Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the very high house prices in Dún Laoghaire in his constituency. I acknowledge that. It is a very significant issue. In an unprecedented way, we have provided

clear, accountable, credible and capable of acting decisively when the child's safety is at risk. That is why the motion before the House today is so important. Child protection services are, of course, necessary. The question is whether the system through which we deliver those services … families in crisis and make complex decisions every day in circumstances that require judgment, compassion and professionalism. Their commitment deserves recognition from this House. However, those who are on the front line of those particular professional services deserve something else. They deserve, above all, a system that functions

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to accelerate and scale up the delivery of affordable housing via local authorities and approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12896/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline, in light of the ongoing housing crisis, the Government’s plans to achieve the target of constructing 60,000 homes annually over the next 25 years; and how the Government intends … incorporate modern construction methods, such as modular housing, to expedite this process. [9496/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the €265 million approved for housing acquisitions in 2025, by housing programme; the amount approved in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10880/25

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are further plans to reintroduce additional measures to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs by the waiving of local authority section 48 development contributions

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable housing schemes granted approval by Cabinet in February 2025 that have been communicated to local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHB), providing a breakdown by AHB/local authority

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the provisions in Circular 06/2024 - Arrangements for Social Housing Acquisitions which has resulted in approved housing bodies being unable to access capital advance leasing funding to acquire homes for those experiencing

Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to establish a State-sponsored housing infrastructure investment fund to provide finance for a major construction of social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12820/25

Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to amend the local authority house purchase scheme to enable tenants to purchase “Section 5” houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12821/25

Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the income limits to qualify for social housing as the current limits exclude a large cohort of individuals and families from both social housing and mortgage approval; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to establish a scheme whereby local authorities acquire, by agreement or by compulsory purchase, and repair vacant houses for allocation to approved housing applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12823/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of hectares of land owned by local authorities which is zoned for housing developments nationwide, by local authority; the total amount of local authority land which is zoned for housing, in tabular form

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take into consideration the circumstances of applicants when assessing applications for housing adaptations for people with a disability, housing aid for older people and the mobility aids grant (details supplied

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if assistance is available to families who go above the income threshold for social housing supports due to the automatic payment of working family payment arising from a reduction in income that year, and therefore … lose their cumulative waiting time on the housing list. [7451/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 3,000 social and affordable homes to be funded through the €450 million capital allocation approved by Cabinet on 18 February 2025 are to deliver homes within the existing Housing For All targets … Housing For All plan. [7702/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to each housing body in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; the number of houses delivered by each body in each of those years; and what the targets were

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the exact number of persons on the social housing list in the electoral area in Mayo; the way the waiting list is devised, specifically the way an applicant is assigned their position on the social housing

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing completions in Dublin west from 2019 to 2024, inclusive; and the number of houses versus apartments built in those years. [6941/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the number of apartments in Dublin west built since 2018, by categories build to rent, approved housing bodies, social housing, cost rental and any other available data. [6942/25

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 59 apartments at Clonsilla Lodge will be for private purchase, built to rent, cost rental, social housing, approved housing bodies or affordable purchase. [6944/25

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the position on the provision of affordable housing in each electoral area in Mayo; the number of affordable houses proposed for each electoral area; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the name of the housing provider, the number, location and size of Affordable Cost Rental units delivered since the passing of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, in tabular form

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ask his officials to investigate making arrangements to set aside a portion of new cost rental developments to ensure that persons earning above the threshold for social housing assistance can access the schemes … some have being missing out due to their income (above the threshold for social housing) being insufficient for the cost rental schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5827/25

Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what funding was made available to Cork County Council in 2024 in terms of returning vacant housing units to council housing stock and making them available for allocation; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has examined international housing policies, such as 0% mortgage schemes, shared equity initiatives, or expanded State-backed mortgage lending, to support individuals who can afford mortgage repayments but struggle with deposit and lending criteria … Irish housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the successor housing plan to Housing for All will be published as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4989/25