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thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue of the upward revision of social housing qualifying limits. As the Deputy will know, the then Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, increased the limits in 2023, as I recall, by about €5,000 for each of the various … inflation and increases in social welfare payments, but time has moved on since then. We are now carrying out a review of social housing limits, what they should look like and whether we need more reform of them, other than simply increasing the limits for those

raise the issue of the failure to regenerate social housing flat complexes. The Government is giving billions of euro away in tax breaks to wealthy investor funds, yet it has turned to our most disadvantaged communities living in substandard housing conditions in social housing flat complexes and told … Minister have any sense of embarrassment or shame that after being in government for 15 years, Fine Gael has failed to address the housing conditions of the most vulnerable in this country? The community of Oliver Bond flats are devastated. Similarly failed are communities in the north inner

apartments. Some of the older private rented stock is in very bad condition. Tenants complain to me about dampness, mould, poor ventilation and houses that are impossible to heat. This creates health issues. It is not just a housing issue; it creates a health issue as well. Tenants … some are in a very bad condition. Tenants can often get a notice to quit. After a period of time, the flat or house is re-let. Much of the private rental stock has a very poor energy rating and this well known. Every TD here knows this

trouble. All of these things need more people, and to have them we need more people living in rural areas, and that means housing in rural areas. Housing is the key thing we need to look at. If we do not put practices in place … these places there are no towns and we are talking about one-off rural housing - to allow people to come and live in their community then we have serious problems. Last week, the Government brought in a notion it was going to allow people to build a little

Ireland. I will start with one close to my heart, that of rural planning. This is an important component of dealing with the housing challenge. I have worked through four county development plans in Wicklow and made many changes to help with rural planning. There are currently many … another. This is especially important for elderly people who live in unsuitable accommodation. Third, we need to identify hamlets to allow clustering of houses in rural areas and broaden the qualification for building in hamlets to include nearby villages and towns. Fourth, housing need criteria should

Under the helm of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, critical deficits have opened across almost all sectors from transport to housing, water, energy infrastructure, healthcare and our digital systems. Successive Governments have allowed dangerous gaps to open between the Ireland this Government claims we are and our critical … lost productivity and a daily tax on people's lives, especially those who have no alternative but to commute for long distances because housing is unaffordable near to where the jobs are. This brings me to housing, which in itself is a form of critical infrastructure. Fianna Fáil

aims to make processes efficient. I did pre-legislative scrutiny in the previous Dáil when it needed to be done quickly on the housing committee and it was done in a matter of a couple of weeks. We were able to do it quickly and efficiently. The Government … ability. I do not buy that, to be frank. Deputy Fleming said that the designations the Minister makes will be laid before the House and there will be an opportunity to debate them in the House. That is technically correct but it is a bit of stretch because

went back on it and eventually was purchased under a compulsory purchase order in 2019. In all that time since then, those two houses have not been brought back into use. The final nail in the coffin happened last year when there were significant changes … making them homes. I think we all recognise that and there is huge pressure for volume and to build lots of houses at the moment. I totally understand that but it is not acceptable that there are streets in our communities where the blight of dereliction continues. That

welcome the opportunity to raise the issue of the maintenance of social housing in Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown. I am a TD for the Rathdown constituency and there is often an assumption it is an affluent area only. I have to say I have made it my business … some of the homes to see for myself. I have genuinely been appalled at the standard of accommodation that some of our social housing residents live in. The key issue is that they are simply living in substandard conditions and I would like to get into some

thank Deputy Gibney for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to update the Dáil on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Critically, the management and maintenance of local authority social housing stock is, first and foremost, a matter for the respective … local authority, in this instance Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. This includes activating and funding pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementing a planned maintenance programme and carrying out responsive repairs. Local authorities must also ensure their tenanted

many circumstances, it is not just about the crude oil. What the Government has announced needs to be welcomed. Members across the House acknowledge the difficulty people have been experiencing, particularly commuters in Kildare North going to and from work. There has been an increase in public transport … demand and a need for private transportation, particularly for people living out of town and for people with young children. This House needs to acknowledge that public transport works for some people but it does not work for a lot. For example, a family might have

move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. This Bill has a single purpose - to assist the Omagh Bombing Inquiry established by the Secretary State for Northern Ireland in February 2024 to investigate whether the bombing … made clear its commitment to facilitating and supporting the work of the inquiry to the greatest extent possible. The Bill before the House is another important step towards delivering on that commitment. The Bill deals with the taking of oral evidence before our courts and will sit alongside

under the remit of the Department of justice. It is currently not possible for a household that was previously on one social housing waiting list to carry over the time spent on that list when applying to another local authority. However, in line with a commitment … housing plan, a protocol to allow households fleeing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to transfer time spent on a social housing waiting list to another local authority will be established and implemented this year. My Department has already engaged with local authorities and the County and City

Again, I thank the Deputy for the points he has raised. Targeted migration is essential for sectors, such as housing. It does not worsen the housing challenge that we are presented with. Through controlled and skilled-based migration into sectors such as construction, engineering and housing delivery … directly increases our housing supply. That is reflective of the example where access to qualified tradespeople and technical specialists for housing completion will be a positive. Last year, over 2,000 permits were issued in the construction sector. That was a 47% increase on 2024. That is reflective

always do? If you are brought up on a small farm, in some counties at least, you might be able to build a house on the land, although some, with the way planning is going at the moment, are blocking that. You might be able to build … house. In fairness, if you have the site, you will build a house. For someone trying to buy a house in Dublin, it is €500,000 at the moment for what we call half a house compared with some of the houses we are looking

willing to put forward a stipulation that would have stated the Bill would not come into operation until he can assure the House that the Department has the capacity to bring it into operation, and that administrative, operational and staffing arrangements have been put in place to enable … systems, are in place. This is eminently sensible. The Minister is signing us up to obligations which he cannot assure the House will be adhered to. The Minister should ensure measures are taken to ensure that all relevant bodies, agencies and contractors are capable of performing the functions

Aontú for tabling this motion. It is well put together, well thought out and well planned. I have mentioned these issues in the House on a number of occasions and brought them up when I was a member of Cork City Council regularly. Speaking of Cork City Council … been no planning application made and we know the town floods regularly. Blackpool is in my constituency. Last month, I stood in a house on the Commons Road in Blackpool, which has been flooded on three separate occasions. The family, a son and his elderly mother, were just

self-appointed, so-called army council of the Provisional IRA. I welcome the fact that we are naming him in this House. I also welcome the fact we are speaking openly about his activities. It is extraordinary that he was allowed to kill with impunity. He was resettled … about full truth and honesty. I listened to the Sinn Féin leader. We need to hear full truth and honesty in this House when we are having a debate on a report as important as the Kenova report. This has a bearing on other cases

nothing in the Bill that will bring rents down. I looked on daft.ie recently and I found that within a kilometre of Leinster House, it is €695 a week for a studio apartment on Hatch Street, €4,500 a month on Tara Street, and for a two-bedroom … Bill is going to put a rocket booster under rents in the private rental sector. Either the Minister or some other Minister for housing is going to come under undue political pressure and will have to come back to try to address this again. The rental market

This is something I have looked at and discussed with the Minister, Deputy Browne. I have a limited remit because the Minister for housing and the Department of housing have full control over the rental rules and landlord and tenant legislation. I make submissions and I have engagement … student accommodation, PBSA. With regard to the private residential sector, there are challenges in trying to come up with student-specific rules for houses in which students might be living. To take a typical three-bed, semi-detached house in one of the university towns as an example

heretofore but, second, there has to be a balance between attracting private sector investment in addition to the enormous public sector investment in housing. The Department of Finance estimates that to get to 50,000 houses a year, we need about €20 billion in the economy allocated … spent on housing. The State will not be in a position to find €20 billion every year for the next ten years and, therefore, we do need a balance. There is no question but that this emanated from the national Housing Commission although not the specifics. The national

thank Members of the House for the opportunity to provide an update on the Government’s work to accelerate infrastructure delivery, and to discuss my Department’s role in the management and delivery of capital projects and programmes. In particular, I will outline some of the recent … acutely aware of the multifaceted and interconnected challenges the Government faces in infrastructure deficits and the need to prioritise investment in major housing, water, energy and transport projects. In the programme for Government, published one year ago, we made five key commitments for infrastructure delivery. They were

trying to give it solutions. We want to work with it. We want to do so because the people we represent have no housing and cannot get hospital appointments. There is a crisis in this country. What has the Government done? It has brought out a new, shiny … pages, 110 of which outline the problems and indicate why there is a crisis and an emergency in the area of housing. The document does not say that the Government has been in power for the past 15 years. The Government is blaming everyone else. There

effect on families, namely, the blanket ban that is often imposed on having pets. It was an important policy to get into our housing plan. For many people, especially those who live on their own but for all families, pets provide comfort and connection … enormous source of emotional support and companionship. Pets are often seen as part of the family. The new national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, commits to reviewing the code of practice for the approved housing body allocation process, which is an agreed set of arrangements between local

their own legal advice. That legal advice has confirmed to them that a blanket ban would be unconstitutional. I want to assure the House that today’s legislation is not the end of the matter. I am committed to restricting intrusions into victims’ privacy rights to the maximum … impartial and objective judicial scrutiny. I expect to be in a position in the near future to bring concrete proposals before this House in this regard. Elsewhere, the Bill introduces measures to protect those at risk from the sexually predatory behaviour of accommodation being offered in return

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to boost overall housing supply since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53479/26

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the work of the Housing Activation Office since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53480/26

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government will consider restoring grants for the recommended demolition and rebuild (Option 1) for homeowners who commenced this option at their own expense and were previously downgraded to a lesser option by the Housing

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific pathways that exist for people with intellectual disabilities who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to access appropriate housing, care and support; the way in which his Department co-ordinates with

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a review option and compensation scheme for homeowners who proceeded with an option 1 demolition and rebuild of their home under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, in line with … recommendation of their engineer but not in line with the option provided for by the Housing Agency, following the introduction of IS 465:2026 based on the up-to-date scientific evidence. [53592/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a major low-cost sites scheme in County Kerry and across the country as part of the solution to the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53596/26

rightsize", from larger family homes to smaller principal private residences; whether his Department has examined the potential impact of such a measure on housing mobility and on the more efficient use of existing housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52057/26

Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities are required to include youth hubs or youth spaces in new housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51916/26

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of all funding applications made by Galway City Council for the development of affordable housing; the location of each site for which funding is sought; the number of affordable units at each location

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in approving the application for the improvement work in lieu of local authority housing scheme (IWILS) on behalf of a person (details supplied). [52123/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to allow for the replacement of old or defective double-glazed windows under the housing grant scheme, with new double-glazed windows, especially if they are not fit for purpose, drafty, rusty or leaking

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the regulations relating to service charges and sinking funds for owners' management companies, provided for under the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, remain under consideration; when it is expected that these regulations will be introduced … whether additional resources are planned for the Housing Agency to support its proposed regulatory role in the owners' management company sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51028/26

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, as part of the new national planning statement, he will review or amend the provisions of the national roads guidelines that restrict one-off housing on national secondary roads such

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the proposed rent increases for residents of a facility (details supplied), whereby monthly rents are proposed to increase from approximately €371 to €571, with some individual tenants facing increases … views on whether such increases are compatible with the objectives of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51240/26

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider introducing additional statutory protections for older persons living in approved housing body accommodation to ensure that tenants on fixed incomes are not subject to excessive rent increases; and if he will make

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he intends to undertake a review of the approved housing body sector to examine governance, financial sustainability, value-for-money, asset management, rent-setting practices and tenant protections; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual cost of the housing assistance payment in 2024, 2025, and projected cost in 2026; and the number of tenancies in receipt of HAP in each year; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that was spent by local authorities on social housing maintenance in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025; the projected spend in 2026; and the number of properties that received necessary works

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full year spend on retrofitting of housing by local authorities; the total number of units retrofitted in 2024, 2025 and estimates for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessments in relation to water, waste water and so on, that were carried out on the Sustainable Rural and Gaeltacht Housing Draft National Planning Policy Statement; when the strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessments

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost per unit of accommodation to carry out a social housing stock condition survey. [51391/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new social housing leases entered into in 2025; the average cost per year arising from these leases; the breakdown of lease type and average annual cost of each sub type

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to make it a legal requirement for title documentations including historic Tailte Éireann instruments, planning documentation and an updated certificate of compliance to be gathered and ready before a house is listed

Research, Innovation and Science to detail his Department’s plans to address construction labour force shortfalls and the impact that will have on housing delivery; if he will consider a State construction company to increase to build public construction capacity to ensure Ireland has the workers needed … directly deliver affordable housing, attract skilled labour home from abroad and an expand of the use of modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37933/26

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the publication and commencement of the proposed National Planning Statement on rural housing will require planning authorities to initiate statutory variations to their County Development Plans where existing policies are inconsistent with the new National