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which are absolutely unaffordable. What is happening in the housing market can be seen on the Crazy House Prices Instagram page. People are highlighting it. This is going on right now. There is case after case of people being gazumped. There are ghost bids with people putting

available that could significantly improve the child's quality of life and health is not right. The HSE is engaging on this matter. In light of it being raised in the House today by a number of Deputies, I will seek an urgent update as well

Today I stand before the House representing the voice of the Irish taxpayer who is rightly appalled by the flagrant waste of public money on this and the previous Government's watch. Where is the accountability? Where are the checks and balances in the public procurement process … that is rampant in the public sector. It allowed taxpayers to follow the money. It was a tool to enable Members of this House and the press to track where money was being spent. One thing we know for certain is that money is being spent

gender equality, some of which I will outline today, have never been more important and I look forward to working with this House and all stakeholders to ensure we can advance these priorities together. As Minister with responsibility for gender equality, I am especially pleased that we will … pursuit of gender equality is an issue that concerns us all, including everyone in this House, as well as all those who walk the streets of our towns and villages right across the entire country. For women and for men, for girls and for boys, it is vital

proves why we were right to walk away from that opportunity, when this is the reality facing this country as a result of its continued and unwavering approach to failure. A Government that claps itself on the back for record housing supply is still failing to meet demand … build a future, put down roots and plan for their families. This Government does not see housing that way, however. It sees it as an investment opportunity first and a human right second. When it sees a crisis, it reverts to tax breaks. The Government will vote down

Much time has been wasted over the last five to ten years when we should have been developing housing, but it is never too late to start doing the right thing. It needs to be focused on keeping rural communities alive because the consequences of an action … major focus of the next rural development policy, but he can understand a little of my cynicism when we passed in this House a number of weeks ago the national planning framework, which had zero ambition. It had so little to say about rural communities, rural development

prison officer in Portlaoise for many years. To put it in a local context, since the foundation of the State, Portlaoise Prison has housed the most difficult people who were convicted of criminal offences. Anybody who does not appreciate the work of prison officers does not fully understand … there are reasons as to why that might be the case that we do not know in this House. However, there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. Sheila Stack is originally a Donoghue from Portlaoise. She comes from a well-known family

most common issue that arises is raised by people who are looking for social or affordable housing. It is raised with me on the streets regularly in Arklow, as it is right around the country. We would imagine, after the hold-up for all these years, that suddenly

articulated enough in the House. This country, the Government and the Oireachtas are doing everything we possibly can, and we will continue to do everything we possibly can, to support the people of Palestine, support international law and support human rights. It was good to hear that recognised … view, the view of Deputy Smith and the view of most Members of the House that the agreement should be suspended as Israel is clearly in breach of the human rights clauses, which are not just there for padding. It is clearly in breach of the human rights

might term environmental justice and to have access to the courts on important matters of justice and rights. Such is the dire situation with the delivery of housing, offshore energy, transport projects and so on, which are key to our economic performance and the success of our society … burger barons, neither was Simon as sensible as the moniker he has given himself suggests. The Dáil needs to exercise its rights and constitutional functions when it comes to accountability for our public spending. This is precisely why I will shortly be publishing legislation to establish an office

population in this country rent. In my own constituency, where we are standing right now, about 50% of people rent. I am one of the very few renters who has ever entered this House and spoken in it. The number of people renting in the private rental sector … most of their rights to evict in this Bill, the security of tenure measures may not be sufficient. I have a word of warning for the Minister. The good people of this country will not stand for the Government's continued failures in housing. Importantly, the Minister

based on their experiences. Like all of us in this House, I recognise the need to do everything we can to improve the availability and delivery of social and affordable homes right across our country. It has been the single biggest issue in our review of the national … homes right across our country. That is why in the budget we took tax measures to improve the viability of apartments and other interventions when it came to the reduction of VAT on apartments from 13.5% to 9%. That will strengthen the viability of housing supply across

past. I am from a constituency where we have seen significant housing growth in the last 30 years. Our population in Kildare has doubled from 120,000 in the 1990s to 250,000 right now and I have yet to see a mobilised effort, a demonstration … last couple of years is the manifestation of an absence of political leadership, if I am honest, in all sections of this House. We have seen too many examples of where immigration and diversity is what makes us thrive as a country, but what we have allowed

distribute funding through early years services and whether our childcare model represents the right way to do things. I have raised the issue of páistecare in this House before. It is something I hope to raise with the committee. I appeal to the Minister to consider a special … press pause at some point and question the way in which we are distributing the funding. Is it being spent in the right way to yield the maximum output for children, staff and families

that is built in the country and the Government takes the credit. I see this as the Government’s drive to reach the housing targets it missed by pumping money into private developers and construction companies in a desperate means to get the figures up. What … could build 7,000 social and affordable homes on that land. That is 7,000 homes in Dublin right now, which would be a significant contribution to reducing the housing crisis in west and north Dublin, but what is the Government doing? Not a brass farthing has been

construction. However, the Government has ignored the fact that this issue is having an impact right across the construction sector. That is why we have the paradox whereby we have a housing crisis but so little development, particularly in rural counties like Mayo. Housing commencements for the first … viability gap that exists right across the construction sector. Meanwhile, the Government took in over €3 billion from VAT on construction materials and services last year. Development contribution levies, connections to services, etc., are driving the cost of construction and choking housing delivery. I ask the Tánaiste

towns and villages I mentioned. The Government says that not enough land is zoned for housing. The Minister of State and I know it is not in the right place in some areas, but there is substantial land zoned. The Department has informed me there

Land Development Agency is a key part of the Government’s housing strategy in delivering affordable homes for rent and sale in communities right across Ireland. The Department of Finance’s report on the sustainable funding options for the Land Development Agency considered the financing needs … this need on the business model and operational activities of the agency. This report and the pressing need for further expansion in housing supply of all tenure types have informed the Government’s decision in June to expand the role and remit of the LDA. The annual report

elected and I was absolutely delighted to see €15 million allocated in this year's budget. The details have to be right and the money has to go to the rural pubs that are struggling most. Keeping these doors open is one of the best ways we have … build one-off rural homes in their locality. These changes are the biggest overhaul of our rural housing policy in more than 20 years. The guidelines strike the right balance between supporting rural communities and ensuring vibrant towns and villages while protecting the character of our countryside

especially in the midlands, is the need to upgrade our electricity grid to support new housing and developments. We know that transformers and other critical components are not necessarily in short supply right now, but they are being ordered and manufactured globally. If peace were to emerge … proofing our grid? Can the Tánaiste provide an upgrade on any promised legislation and policy to accelerate these upgrades in line with our housing ambitions

international community to respond to this moment is also a rebuke to multilateralism, international law and the universal applicability of human rights, both at home and across the world. The convictions and values we hold dear have emerged from our own history of conflict and peacebuilding on this … developments on the ground. Ireland has consistently called for a meaningful interpretation of Israel’s human rights obligations under the agreement. We welcome this initiative from the Netherlands. As this House will recall, Ireland and Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission in February 2024 requesting

housing and industry. It has all been swallowed up by data centres. The Government cannot say it wants to increase grid capacity for housing and employment when, at the same time, it lifts the cap and continues to prioritise data centres over critical infrastructure. Transport is the same … original commitment of the Minister in the previous Government. If we do not get those basics right and if we continue to strangle our local authorities and approved housing bodies with too little funding and too much red tape for the delivery of social and affordable homes, then

across all of our housing stock, local authorities continue to receive and address repair requests in a standard manner. Furthermore, the Department of housing will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. In particular, I note all 31 of the local authorities … regard to the turning around and re-letting of council properties. This is a matter which the Deputy rightly raises and I have addressed on the floor of the House previously. It certainly should not be the case that it takes some local authorities up to a year

terms of a vulture fund or cuckoo fund. If the Government is proud of its record on housing, and if the Minister thinks he is going in the right direction, why not tighten up what the Government did in 2021. If the owner-occupier guarantee is an achievement … Investment funds should not be competing with families for family homes and this is another way that Government is failing in terms of housing. While this is not a silver bullet, it is a step we can take to rebalance housing in this country back towards ordinary people

mark a major milestone - the recent launch of Ireland's National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. It was fitting that we launched it in the Round Room in the Mansion House, the venue of the First Dáil, and it is here in the Chamber … centre of policy. Disabled people must have the right and the means to live where and how they choose, to participate fully in their communities and to lead lives of their own making. That means better access to housing, support services and opportunities for engagement in culture, sport