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listened to carefully, and for their best wishes on this, the first day on which I am dealing with a debate in the House as Minister for Justice. I also wish Deputy Carthy well in his position as Opposition spokesperson on justice and, indeed, Deputy Kelly … have all the answers in respect of justice issues and I do not think the House would expect me to. I will be very open to listening to ideas from Opposition Members and I am happy to go along with what Deputy Kelly suggested, by which I mean

issues I raised when I was first elected in 2020. The programme for Government is not serious about addressing the urgent issues of housing, childcare and public transport, among a long list of other matters, and things have only got worse over the last five years. The number … risen. Shamefully, the number of homeless children has also risen. What is more, not only did the Government fail to reach its housing target again this year, but it deliberately misled the electorate on housing completions just prior to the election. Over the weekend, Deputies may have heard

Housing is the single greatest issue facing my generation. I acknowledge that the delivery of housing units, particularly at scale, is the number one priority for this Government and rightly so. However, one of the biggest barriers to housing and the building of houses in north Tipperary … west Kilkenny is a lack of capacity in the water and wastewater infrastructure. In Cloughjordan, my own village, we cannot build a single house because there has been no capacity in the system for years. In Ballycommon, over the road from me, 32 houses could be built

watched the Taoiseach's answers in the Dáil Chamber over the last five years. I have to say the answer he gave on housing and the 40,000 homes is one of the weakest I have ever seen him deliver in this House. He said … claim of 40,000 homes? Why did the Taoiseach not accept that data from the CSO? Is it only when it comes to housing completions in an election year that he does not listen to CSO data? Is that the case? Is it that for everything else

deal that hits the most vulnerable in this country. We in Independent Ireland advised the Government parties to declare a housing emergency but they have failed to do so in their programme for Government. The declaration of a housing emergency would have expedited solutions to the housing crisis … where more than 15,000 people, many of whom are children, are without a home. The declaration of a housing emergency should bring power over county development plans back to the people and allow planning in urban and rural communities. The Government did not take on board Independent

honour to be re-elected to serve my community. It is the honour of a lifetime for all of us in this House to be elected or re-elected to serve. I pay tribute to all our Labour Party activists and campaigners who gave their time and commitment … communities, which have been failed by many of the policies and priorities of the outgoing Government. They have been failed on housing and healthcare. All of us, over the course of the campaign, will have heard intimate and, in many cases, heartbreaking personal stories from those

that. Instead, it is being put into a risky scheme without even basic due diligence being done. This Bill follows the same failed housing policy we have seen for the past 15 years, which is to hand taxpayers’ money over to the private sector and hope … State knows that. It is basic economics. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been trying to subsidise their way out of the housing crisis for well over 15 years. The consequences have been catastrophic. It has led to record homelessness, record rents, record house prices, record numbers

rented accommodation, after we lost our child through stillbirth, due to the landlord selling it. We moved into a relation's abandoned house which has no insulation, thick cavity walls and only has had its first kerosene boiler fitted after we moved in. Without kerosene, there … drum and it lasts for only a few days. A 300 litre buy of kerosene lasts for a few weeks but our house is still cold and I cannot afford to fill it, even after the fuel payment. The roof needs to be fixed and every room needs

linn chun an cheist seo a fhreagairt agus an t-ábhar a phlé. I wish to raise the issue of the provision of housing with appropriate bedroom accommodation for families who are local authority tenants or local authority applicants for housing support and who also provide foster care … being in the best interests of children. If we expect foster families to provide that home environment, we must ensure that the State housing supports help them in doing so. There is, unfortunately - and I have encountered this - a lack of clarity on how local authorities assess

years. One cannot look at the budget in isolation. Over the last five years, we have increased the number of social houses by 59,560. That is a massive change since 2020. In 2025, 9,000 social houses were built. This year, the figure will be over … look at the ten years to 2020, there has been a sea change in terms of the Government getting back into building social housing, which is taking pressure off private housing. We are also building affordable housing for people. The number of drawdowns by first-time buyers

paid for through higher taxes as well as cutting provision for the investments we need to sustain high employment, more housing, better public services and sustainable energy. The contributions so far have accused us of being Scrooges, miserly and insulting. Above-inflation income measures have been described … also pushing forward investments designed directly to increase indigenous businesses and protect sustainable, long-term revenues for the State. Major investments in energy, housing, transport and other areas are essential for expanding the productive capacity of the economy and underpinning fiscal stability. We are conscious of risks

this was foreseeable. Over a decade ago, a number of Independent councillors and I tabled hundreds of motions seeking to tie in housing delivery to transport, infrastructure, schools, playing pitches and community facilities. These motions were voted down at the time by an alliance of Sinn Féin, Labour … Social Democrats and, at times, People Before Profit councillors on the grounds that they might delay housing delivery. That is an argument, but we are supposed to be building communities as well as housing. These councillors trusted Government agencies to deliver the supporting infrastructure. Our appeals

knows it, I know it and pensioners watching in today know it. There are 260,000 children living below the poverty line when housing costs are factored in - 260,000 - yet all that this budget can offer their struggling families is a €6 increase in the child support … most. They are more hollow words and empty promises. Increasing the renter's tax credit and developer subsidies will not fix the housing crisis. What renters really need is genuinely affordable homes where they can feel safe and secure. Every year, the Government tells us about the billions

private bus operator who is tied into three-year contracts, there is nothing extra. Regarding construction, people have machines for road and housing infrastructure. They are working and paying to build their own houses are paying exorbitant taxes to the Government and receive nothing. The Government has said … increased the tax threshold. If someone built a 1,000 sq. ft house five years ago, it would have cost €120,000 but that same house today would cost €220,000. The Government forgot to mention that it has taken 13.5% VAT on that extra

welcome the very substantial funding provided to Cavan and Monaghan county councils since January 2025 to continue a very impressive and comprehensive house-building programme throughout both counties. Houses are being delivered, and that is very welcome. The Minister visited County Cavan a few months … request. He met with senior councillors and council officials from the housing division. One common theme in all of those contributions was the urgent need to improve the income eligibility limits. As the Minister knows, we all meet constituents at weekends. Every weekend, I have people with

modern rail line or system. Therefore, we welcome these changes. As the Minister knows well, we talk about road safety frequently in this House, and rightly so given the near decade-high figures for deaths on our roads. There are tragedies every day on our roads. Thankfully, rail … safety is not something we have to talk about too often in this House. Thankfully, rail safety is not something we have to talk about too often in this House. Like Deputies Keogh and Pa Daly, I want to say that we are thinking about Eoin Doyle

thank the Taoiseach for the update on the progress made on housing. I will raise one specific issue relating to the qualifying income limits for social housing. It is the intention of the Government to increase these limits. I want to raise the issue to ensure that happens … more decisive than that. We need a seismic shift to help to narrow the gap between those who fall just outside the social housing limits and those who are in a position to afford accommodation in their own right. That gap is growing. One of the measures available

opportunity to update Members on this important measure, which was signed into law during the summer recess following the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas at the end of last term. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government … planning authorities. The revised exempted development regulations include a new class 3A, which allows for the construction, erection or placing of a detached house in the rear garden of a principal house, subject to certain conditions and limitations, as set out in SI 340 of 2026. It should

First, we will use every lever. I accept that housing is the social issue of our time. There is no question about that. We are using every lever but from time to time the Opposition objects to many of the levers that we deploy in respect of housing … Could I pick the Deputy up on social housing? Between 2020 and 2025, we have delivered 60,000 social homes, through build, acquisition and leasing. Over 9,000 new-build social homes were delivered in last year. That was the highest annual total in the State's history

from September 2026. The ARP scheme was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of members of the public who opened their houses, whether in their entirety or through the provision of a room, at their own expense to provide shelter to people displaced by the Ukraine … free monthly payment of €600 to hosts per eligible property used to accommodate people granted temporary protection from Ukraine. The motion before the House arises on foot of a Government decision of 26 May last in respect of the phased reduction of the ARP from

were all taken aback. Commentators, Opposition politicians and campaign groups and people working in the space were disappointed both on the rural housing piece and that of Gaeltacht housing. Not only was it underwhelming and the cúrsaí Gaeltachta deeply disappointing but it looked like something that had been … thought. It has taken very little from the consultation, submissions and recommendations of various Oireachtas committees and discussions here in this House. I feel it was a rushed job by the Department of housing - the Minister may disagree; he may not be at liberty to agree with

that would help women who are victims of continuing domestic violence. There does need to be a far greater degree of flexibility in housing policy, for example. The Minister for housing has, since the Deputy last raised this issue, updated Cabinet in respect of measures to transfer time … social housing between local authorities to facilitate women to leave where they are and to go another location but also to develop protocols with local authorities in respect of how women in circumstances of domestic violence can avail of housing, the provision of safe houses and, of course

housing committee, so this has come like a bolt from the blue for anyone who does not because of the suddenness of these changes. I will give some practical examples because this will cause absolute chaos for councillors and TDs who are at the coalface of dealing with … housing crisis. They are the least of my worries, obviously. I am worried about the people who will be affected. I am really shocked to read just now about all of the bodies that have condemned this legislation and the Minister is simply, yet again, not listening

Government. I welcome the committee's focus on this important area. Indeed, many of the recommendations put forward are addressed in our new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, and are being progressed by my Department in collaboration with other Departments, local authorities and their service delivery partners … prevention. There are many prevention initiatives already under way in the Department and across government, including the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. I recognise that more needs to be done and a co-ordinated approach is required

particularly in Cork. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis. I thank the Deputy for extending his sympathy to her in the House. I thank Deputy O'Flynn for raising this issue. I do not dispute that it is serious. One reason we decided that … time the Minister of State with responsibility for older people should be based in both the Department of Health and the Department of housing is the recognition that we cannot just have conversations about older people from a policy perspective in the Department of Health. We also need

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on housing schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46417/26

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to change the planning laws and guidelines to disallow permeability pedestrian pathways and cycle-lanes from new housing developments through older estates which were constructed in some cases over 30; and if he will

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to comments reported in the media that the Government intends to relax planning rules around rural one-off housing, if he will clarify the specific changes being proposed; and when these measures are expected

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of statements noted in the media regarding a move towards a more flexible approach to rural housing, whether the local needs criteria are to be revised or relaxed; and the way in which this

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for a more unified national approach to rural housing planning, as referenced in recent media reports; and the way in which consistency will be ensured across local authorities in the application of such policies

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being considered to provide greater flexibility to planners in assessing rural one-off housing applications, as indicated in public commentary; and when updated guidance will issue to planning authorities. [46520/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer of social housing acquisitions in 2025; and to provide a further average cost breakdown by sun scheme including tenant-in-situ, vacant homeless acquisition and so on. [46635/26

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the standardised data on emergency accommodation collected from Local Authority housing departments; if the reasons people require emergency accommodation are included; the way in which this is used for the planning of services to prevent homelessness

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the role of his Department in the promotion of Irish business and State agency interests abroad through the Ireland houses diplomatic initiative; the engagement his Department has had to date with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the establishment of new Ireland … houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45634/26

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated annual cost of providing a housing first tenancy, including the cost of wraparound health and social supports, to a single adult experiencing long-term homelessness; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount in the capital budget as set out in table 12 of the Annual Progress Report 2026 that is designated for the construction of new-build social housing units; and if he will make

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions that are being taken, and the progress being made, on monitoring the housing targets in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45420/26

Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review social housing income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45425/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the operation of the capital assistance scheme (CAS) in County Mayo; the total number of homes delivered to date under the scheme, broken down by client group older persons, persons exiting homelessness, people with … projects currently approved, in construction or at planning stage in the county; the level of funding allocated to Mayo County Council and approved housing bodies for this purpose; and the expected delivery of CAS-supported homes in the county over the next three to five years. [45495/26

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of housing units which were necessary to meet demand in each year from 2016 to date; and the total number of units which were actually completed in each year, in tabular form. [45520/26

Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the minimum permitted number of car parking spaces per apartment or housing unit in a development. [45730/26

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for a first-time buyer purchasing an apartment (not a new build) in Dublin under the Government’s housing policy. [45739/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the cost to the State/ total amount paid out on the housing assistance payment HAP in each of the past fifteen years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any Government bodies currently who can take cases to court on behalf of Irish tenants in relation to broader housing related issues, for example in a case where an OMC does not take

Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the €360,000 statutory total prize cap applying to District Court-licensed lotteries, including house draw competitions; whether consideration will be given to increasing this cap in line with current housing market values and construction costs

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the role her Department and the HSE will play in scaling Housing with Care or Housing with Support models for older people as part of the continuum of care between independent living and nursing home care

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing completions in Dublin south-west in each of the past five years and to-date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44650/26

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing completions anticipated in Dublin south-west in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44651/26

Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase housing supply to ensure it matches the pace of population growth. [44664/26

Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the eligibility criteria for the vacant above-the-shop grant to registered companies; if he acknowledges that the current restriction limiting applications to individual applicants inhibits the uptake of the scheme … views on whether extending eligibility to corporate owners would rapidly accelerate housing supply in urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44722/26