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know is an absolute priority for him and his constituents. He is absolutely passionate about achieving an outcome and delivery above all else. Housing is the number one priority for this Government. Making sure we can deliver housing for every citizen who needs it, be it in urban … absolutely committed to delivering on our key objectives for infrastructure to support the delivery of the more than 300,000 houses we committed to by 2030. While scaling up capacity is an enormous challenge, we appreciate that this can be facilitated through appropriate Government supports to increase

that speaks to the person she is. I thank her for tabling the matter. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for housing. The response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a cross-departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy co-ordinated … statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency under the remit of the Department of Justice. As regards the waiting list for social housing, it is not possible for a household previously on one social housing waiting list to carry the time spent on that list when applying

brought home to us the dangers posed by water and the risk of drowning. To have just one home lying vacant during a housing crisis is unforgivable but the level of vacancy and dereliction in Ireland today is an outright scandal. Approximately 160,000 homes are lying empty … lying empty because the truth is that we simply do not know. On every street in every town, we see vacant buildings, vacant houses and voids, which are visual evidence of the failure of Government housing policy. We were all reminded of it yesterday with the news

mystified by the approach of the Government to housing. I was mystified during the election campaign but I am twice as mystified now. From committing to things that would make things worse, it has moved on to implementing things that would make things worse, such as the rent … tenant in situ scheme. That complements the fact that the Government's policy is not really addressing the key obstacles to housing and will not deliver housing at an affordable level. Many people in my city and county of Cork and across the country are doing everything right

facilitate staff transfers". The Government has not yet published the final legislation on this matter. On the Deputy’s question on the housing activation office, it will be a really important office when it comes to addressing the barriers and constraints that exist at local level, for example … nominated individual to whom she referred is not proceeding with that role. As such, the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne will come back to the Government about who it might be and what the appropriate expertise will involve in the context of the establishment of that office

Cork city. This Government and Department are committed to increasing the supply of new build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long-term homelessness. At the same time, there … need to supplement this new build programme with second-hand acquisitions to respond to acute local situations where households in receipt of social housing supports such as housing assistance payment are at risk of becoming homeless or where there is an urgent need to acquire a property

Naas, Clane and Kilcock have, to an extent, become commuter hubs and, as I have referenced before, are absorbing wave after wave of housing development without the commensurate delivery of roads, schools, transport links or community amenities. We are seeing the results of decades of, if not necessarily … planning failure, then definitely a lack of implementation of the required infrastructure. Houses were built first and everything else was left to play catch-up, and in many cases, the catch-up has still to be done. Let us be very clear. The framework does acknowledge this issue

biodiversity emergency on 10 May 2019 and there is absolutely no indication that the Government realises the transformational action that is required. On housing, the Department's press release states that the Government will accelerate housing delivery. I welcome that. However, as other speakers said, the Government will … accelerate housing delivery on the basis of a model that has proven to be completely wrong and has led to a housing crisis. This is in addition, and I do not want to personalise this at all, to using the man from NAMA, which in itself

outrageous salary the Taoiseach proposes to pay his new housing tsar is €430,000. It is nearly half a million euro - an astonishing amount of taxpayers' money for the salary of just one person. It is more than the Taoiseach's very generous salary. It is even more … role of this new highly paid tsar? From what we have heard, he will focus on removing roadblocks to housing construction, getting houses built more quickly and speeding up housing delivery or, in other words, the main responsibilities of the Minister for housing. That is a very expensive

dire situation coming to light in respect of the Uisce Éireann infrastructure deficits in Carlow town. I implore the Department of housing and the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Chambers, and his Department to hold Uisce Éireann to account as it is dragging its feet on the development … State-run entity, namely, Uisce Éireann, is preventing that home delivery. We all know that our country is experiencing an acute shortage of housing. We have, as I said, many hardworking builders who are willing and are actively seeking the chance to put their shoulders to the wheel

strategic funding plan has a capital investment requirement of €10.2 billion, of which €9.8 billion is voted Exchequer funding. To meet increased housing targets, Uisce Éireann will require additional funding on top of the strategic funding plan over the next five years, which will be ring-fenced … housing and growth. This additional funding will be considered as part of the NDP review, which is due to be completed in the middle of the year. Once again, I put on record that there will be no introduction of a household water conservation charge

Sinn Féin supports the principle behind this Private Members’ motion, as many of the policy proposals are in line with Sinn Féin’s housing policy. Of course, correction is needed. The Government’s overall housing policy has not worked to date and will not work in the future … think otherwise is to ignore the facts. While the Minister, Deputy Browne, gave his opinion that the Government’s housing policies are working, opinions are simply not the facts. The housing lists are growing in county and city councils throughout the State. Homelessness is growing. The generation

over and over again and expecting a different result. However, the definition of madness has to be this programme for Government and this Housing for All scheme that the Minister has his faith in. Today, 15,378 people are homeless and 4,653 of those are children … comes in every day to our offices. My name is [I will leave out the name]. I'm resident here Mallow, a RAS house tenant for 20 years. My apartment is presently going up for sale and I have to vacate by April 13th 2025. I have literally

pressed for time. I welcome Deputy Healy's motion, which gives us another opportunity to talk about the important issue of housing, in particular the fundamental point that is the five-year emergency plan, which I absolutely support. We need to take a multifaceted approach. I have made … bigger picture. My colleague mentioned water infrastructure. Only a certain number of large towns will be able to facilitate rapid-build, large-capacity housing. We need to talk to Uisce Éireann and focus on those areas where house building will take place. We need to massively invest

bedroom accommodation is a crisis. It all goes back to the post-crash period when the Fine Gael-led Government stopped building social housing and hoped that the market, which had mostly provided three-bedroom semi-detached houses, would mop up the problem … abolition of the town councils did not help either. This Housing Commission report is a damning indictment of the Government's failed approach to housing. The Government tried to ignore it for nearly a year but it cannot ignore the facts. We have never been in a worse

move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — under significant pressure from the Opposition, the Government reopened the Social Housing Tenant in-Situ Scheme in 2022, and, following further pressure from the Opposition, provided much needed flexibility in the operation of the scheme in 2023; — since April 2023, more than … more than half of those on the grounds of landlords intending to sell the property; and — the number of people in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funded emergency homeless accommodation increased by 13 per cent in the last year to 15,286 people, including

member of four significant regeneration projects within the Dublin 8 area: those for Oliver Bond House, Dolphin House and Emmet Road and the Donore Project Consultative Forum. There is scant and limited mention of regeneration in the damning housing report so I will inform the Minister … communities' experience to date. Oliver Bond House and Dolphin House are established complexes that are mortifyingly overdue for regeneration. They have now been in progress for 20 years and it will be at least another ten before they are completed. The Minister, the Department, the Department of Public

agus leis an Aire Stáit as na róil atá acu freisin. As has been outlined by my colleague Teachta Eoin Ó Broin, the Housing Commission report is such an important piece of work that it needs to be taken very seriously by the Government. We all recognise that … housing crisis is the single biggest issue facing the Government. However, that recognition is not being met by action on the part of the Government. In fact, the Opposition - the real opposition – had to drag it kicking and screaming to have this debate

Minister and Minister of State well in their roles, especially my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins. The Report of the Housing Commission declares the current housing situation a crisis of unprecedented scale that demands immediate and decisive action. It identifies the significant and sustained shortfall … housing supply as a core issue requiring a substantial increase in delivery not just in our cities but in our rural communities and remote Gaeltacht areas. On affordability, the report shows urban areas are not the only ones affected. House prices continue to rise across the State, that

most significant reform programmes ever implemented by the State. I am so pleased it is a collective effort in this House that is enabling this. We are doing so against the backdrop of the greatest investment ever in healthcare in Ireland, the largest health and social care workforce … happening Northern Ireland and, of course, to see about the completion of the hospital, which is a priority for everybody in this House. There has also been an unprecedented level of investment in the health service workforce in recent years. As of December 2024, there were

that mental health is one of the first themes for Dáil statements of this Government's term. It highlights the fact that this House recognises the importance of mental health and emphasises the well-known saying that there is no health without mental health. It was an absolute … number of important moments for mental health. In the coming weeks, the Mental Health Bill will continue its journey through the Houses of the Oireachtas. We will launch the second implementation plan for our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. The successor strategy to our national suicide

thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this very important motion. For years, the housing crisis has been the defining crisis in this State. It has left thousands of single people and families, including children, growing up in emergency accommodation. It has seen huge numbers of young people … grips with this crisis. The Government has made the crisis worse with its plans failing year on year. Those in opposition, housing experts and many others have been telling the Government that a radical reset of housing policy is needed. By that, we mean building more affordable homes

welcome the motion. We in Aontú support the motion on housing. It is important that we seek to hold this Government to account on housing, particularly in light of the former Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the electioneering and misinformation that went on in respect of housing … previous Government. In October last year, one month before the election, the Minister said in this House: I have consistently said we will exceed that target. I still confidently predict ... that it will be the high 30,000s to low 40,000s this year. This was clearly false

Garda Síochána. I wish him well in his retirement with his family. I appreciate everything he has done in his contribution to the Houses of the Oireachtas over so many years. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the programme for Government … continue to represent the people of Dublin West. I have no doubt it is the same for everyone else here in the House. Serving and representing the people who voted for us and those who did not is why we are all here. The people should always

challenge that this Government has got to face up to. On some specific issues, there has been much debate on the housing challenge, which we are all acutely aware of as public representatives. We are in the most acute housing crisis in living memory. It will … recently seen the outturn for 2024. It is deeply disappointing, which has to be readily acknowledged. Various estimates as regards what type of housing output we need are put forward but it is clear we need to at least double the output that was produced in 2024. That

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 990 of 18 March 2026, if progress has been made on the review of the qualifying income thresholds for cost rental housing developments. [67911/26

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline his proposals and associated targets to deliver age friendly housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [69323/26

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his priorities with regard to the provision of affordable housing. [69015/26

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way he will ramp up the provision of affordable housing. [69287/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to ensure local authorities identify suitable sites for age-friendly housing developments within existing communities. [66729/26

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projects in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown approved for funding under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund; the funding allocated to each; and the number of homes each is expected to unlock, in tabular form. [69215/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of Irish Water’s current investment programme as it relates to unlocking housing supply; and the priority projects identified to address wastewater constraints in high growth areas. [69186/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures are being taken to ensure that the increased housing delivery committed to under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030 is reaching areas experiencing the greatest pressure, including rural towns and commuter counties. [69187/26

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sites currently being examined by the Housing Activation Office; the number of homes capable of being delivered on those sites; the barriers to delivery; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value of purchases of residential property by non-household entities in each of the years 2021 to 2025, distinguishing entities registered in the State from those registered outside of the State and excluding … local authorities, approved housing bodies and other public bodies, in tabular form. [69211/26

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way in which the measures being considered as part of Budget 2027 are intended to increase housing supply and support delivery, while avoiding unintended inflationary effects within the housing market. [68545/26

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the funding in 2026 for the rightsizing element of the Social Housing Acquisitions Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68590/26

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that the application of SI 612/2024 is leaving some elderly people unable to access grants for much needed adaptation where the income of all siblings is considered when only one sibling … grant for much needed adaptation refused because of the income of siblings who do not reside in or contribute to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68599/26

part of the 2025 review of the employment permit occupation lists published in May 2026, the Department considered the availability of housing and accommodation when assessing changes to the critical skills occupations list and other employment permit categories and if so, the manner in which housing capacity

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has estimated the level of pent-up housing demand in the State; the current estimate of that demand; and the projected level of such demand to 2035. [66731/26

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons with an intellectual disability currently on the local authority housing waiting list in areas (details supplied); the number in each local authority who have been waiting less than one year

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of planned Part V purchases under Housing for All, by year; the projected cost per unit for one-, two-, three- and four-bed homes; and the number planned to be purchased

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full-year cost to the exchequer of increasing income limits for social housing by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67152/26

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if carer's allowance and carer's benefit is disregarded from income assessed for local authority housing; and the income that the local authority have discretion in relation to disregard. [66005/26

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a dwelling being disposed of by a lender, receiver, mortgagee-in-possession or pursuant to a court judgment, can be acquired under the Second-Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme for tenancy sustainment purposes

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms in place to ensure that there are sufficient community and green spaces in place as part of the wider community in conjunction with the construction of new housing developments; and if he will make

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the mechanisms in place to ensure that any green or community spaces in new housing developments are available as soon as tenants move in and there is no crossover delay before

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the mechanisms in place to ensure that any green or community spaces in new housing developments are maintained and kept clean to ensure continued community use; and if he will make a statemen

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the mechanisms in place to ensure that any green or community spaces in new housing developments are usable and accessible to all residents; and if he will make a statemen on the matter

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict buildings in Limerick city that have been identified as potentially suitable for residential use; the number that have been brought back into use for housing in each of the past