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Does the Minister accept that we have a serious problem in our housing market? We can look at it in terms of the gap between advertised sale prices and actual selling prices. We have a problem with that massive gulf and it is ordinary people - families and individuals … being squeezed on house prices, 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

time talking about everything other than the actual question, which relates to the currently tenanted flat complexes, such as Oliver Bond House, St. Michan's House and Pearse House, where the Department is preventing, blocking and delaying the approval of funding. Initially it was because the national planning … framework required that density be increased, and following the intervention of Dublin City Council and many of us on this side of the House that policy shifted. The current policy is that there can be no decrease in density as part of bringing these older flat complexes

council tenants. The new scheme is supposed to augment the council's maintenance budget. The council currently maintains an ageing housing stock, with over 50% of Dublin City Council properties being built between 1930 and 1977. Previously, Dublin City Council calculated rents based on weekly payments … will be assumed if supporting documentation is not provided. The reality is that these rent increases will disproportionately impact Dublin City Council social housing tenants who are already struggling with the cost of living. While if it is true that there is a funding gap between the cost

rent and to make sure we deliver supply. Without properties, apartments and homes to buy or rent, every conversation we have in this House is interesting but academic. It is interesting but abstract if we do not build enough homes. The Housing Commission, which I am sure … building apartments should be the State. Surely we see the benefit in private investment alongside an unparalleled level of State investment in housing. We are investing more than most European countries in housing supply, yet we know, as do the Housing Commission and everybody who has looked, that

Taoiseach spoke earlier about the need for housing and everyone right around the Dáil here agrees on the urgent need for more houses. He spoke about 50,000 houses and it is welcome that he has that aspiration and the policy to try to back … costs rising constantly. Then we talk about muck away. On 1 March this year, for the small operators that take away muck from housing sites, €10 a tonne is going onto a load of muck. That is €200 a load. Some €3,000 for a semi-detached

deciding what level of a quota any given sector is having beyond the construction sector, he said that his Department takes into account housing need and housing availability. How does the Department take this into account? On the one hand, we need international workers to help us build … homes that we need but, on the other, we have a housing shortage. When the population of a given area is substantially increased through any means, that is going to add pressure. How do those things balance out? The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I come from a county that

back to 2017. There is always flooding at certain points. Unfortunately, some very poor planning decisions were made in the past and houses were built on flood plains all across the country. That is exactly the case in the worst areas. Terrible planning decisions were made, houses were … State knows, Burnfoot is just a wee village in the south of Inishowen, not far from Derry city. Burnfoot always flooded. The houses in question were on a flood plain. Everybody knows that there are council houses and private houses that should never have been built where they

that be right? Another woman contacted me. Herself, her partner and her two kids are living in a room in her parents' house. They got a mortgage, but the mortgage is not enough to buy a house. She said they applied for a mortgage … Minister know what is happening? I looked at Daft.ie today. I challenge the Minister to go online and look at it. A house in my area, in Farranree, was on sale for €225,000. Does the Minister know what it sold for? A house in a working-class

programme for Government in black and white for all of us to see. The Minister of State referred to many other aspects of housing we could get into debates about such as how the Government missed its targets over and over, how it is pushing house prices beyond … about whether we believe that vulture funds with unlimited capital should be allowed to come in here and buy up and bulk-purchase houses from under the noses of first-time buyers. Young couples who have scrimped and saved and done everything right and everything they

having enough time in the Oireachtas to tease through things. I would also balance that point with the fact that there is a housing emergency and every day matters. Every day we do not take a decision is a day where progress is not being made at enough … speed or enough pace in relation to housing supply. We have been very clear as a Government for quite a sustained period of time as to the changes we wanted to make in relation to the rental market. I do not think, and the Deputy would expect

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Hearne as an gceist. It should be noted that housing issues pertain to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The primary objective of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to ensure the Irish language endures as the main community language in Gaeltacht areas … worth noting that Údarás na Gaeltachta will have a role, albeit a secondary one, in working with relevant stakeholders to support housing supply in the Gaeltacht. An t-údarás maintains a significant property portfolio across the Gaeltacht and wastewater infrastructure at various sites is part of that

cannot tell the Minister how many times I have marched in the streets protesting about housing. I have done it against what feels like every single one of the Minister's predecessors. A huge reason I have been so frustrated with Government parties and why I joined … Social Democrats was the utter failure in housing for my generation over multiple governments. Today, years after I first started political activism in protesting on housing, I find myself in this Chamber as a private sector rental tenant with the unique opportunity to tell the Minister exactly what

more of their wages in rent and mortgage payments, other people are making an absolute fortune out of the misery of the housing crisis. For those people, this is not a crisis; this is a cash cow. For the banks, corporate landlords, investment funds and large developers … housing crisis is not something to fix; it is something to feed off. It is something to keep alive at all costs. Those powerful interests want to squeeze every drop out of ordinary workers and this legislation is proof positive of that fact. The Government are the middle

going on out there the same as I do. They know what is going to happen. Tenants going into new apartments or houses, or existing ones that become vacant, face extortionate increases. Tenancies do not just change every six years. The Government knows there is regular turnover … existing tenancies. That is the current situation, before 1 March. A crummy one-bedroom apartment now costs €,1750 per month. A three-bedroom house in Kilminchy costs €2,100 per month. A four-bedroom house in Foxburrow costs €2,500 per month. We have had the highest eight

welcome the Minister to this House and the opportunity to discuss the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025. I am very conscious that the main aim of this wide-ranging piece of legislation is to promote the welfare of children who may not receive adequate care and protection … this House could ever disagree with that aim. As the Minister said herself in her opening remarks, this Act has been amended a number of times and it extends over a number of key areas like childcare, foster care, residential care and child protection. I wish to address

more specific needs. There needs to be a review not only of the adaptation grants provided but also in relation to housing. I know of people whose adaptation grants have been approved, but technically they cannot actually deliver it because they do not have the space within … confines of the house. I know of people who need to change their house on the basis of their children's needs. It would be a lot easier if they were actually in social housing. They may have bought a house from the local authority at one stage

what Ireland's judicial system could be - a country that treats survivors with dignity, with prisons that rehabilitate and that understands that housing, safety and justice are deeply connected - but what the Bill actually delivers does not come close to that standard. It is a timid, risk-averse … wrong. However, when the committee recommended real protections such as extending tenancy rights, regulating platforms and protecting people in informal housing, the response of the Government as a whole and not just simply the Minister was "Well, that is a housing problem", as if anyone in the country

when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, sometimes with dodgy backhanders, were rezoning land on greenfield sites left, right and centre. They built houses everywhere with no facilities and infrastructure. Then, when we had a chance with strategic development zones like Clonburris, Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, the Labour … Democrats accused me and others in Lucan, where we were trying to put in playing pitches, of being snobs and trying to move houses to Clondalkin instead when we were trying to move houses to Kishoge train station so people could walk down and get a train

Uisce Éireann. Last July I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister around the question of accountability of Uisce Éireann to these Houses. While his office responded that he does not have a say in the operational matters, it was indicated that Uisce Éireann could be called before … accountable to elected Members. I commend the Minister on all the work he is doing, particularly in terms of the announcements regarding housing activation and so on this week. The biggest domestic challenge is the construction of housing. Water and wastewater infrastructure is critical to that

next five years. This funding will support the delivery of a wide range of projects in our cities and regions required for housing delivery, safeguarding public health and the environment. It is worth reflecting on the increased scale of investment in Uisce Éireann. It has had a fourfold … year in a safe and co-ordinated manner without compromising service continuity. It has also been stated and acknowledged many times in this House that a legacy of underinvestment in our water infrastructure by local authorities means that there are many challenges that Uisce Éireann is seeking

Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of Deputies today, and to working with all Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann to progress … this important legislation through both Houses. Home support is a vital service that is delivered to thousands of people nationwide every day. It provides a very important service to individuals of every age and their families, as it enables people to maintain independence and dignity while living

number of actions across 2025 and into 2026 to try to speed up construction while ensuring that we are getting high quality housing into the marketplace. We have revised the national planning framework which ensures that we have the infrastructure matched with the zoned land to ensure that … getting those high-quality houses. We have increased the amount of funding for the purchase of local authority housing. This is key to ensure security of tenure for those who fall into a position where their property is being sold. We have also increased significant investment

most vulnerable. I have attended many of the meetings with Uisce Éireann. As Members may be aware, I have raised in this House the appalling water conditions on the northside of Cork city and the southside, in the Taoiseach's own constituency. Questions were put to Uisce Éireann … That is not a proper answer for somebody who is visually impaired. When Uisce Éireann gives the Minister some speaking notes for this House, I do not know if it is being 100% accurate. I want to refer to my own constituency, Cork North-Central. We received

getting planning in much the same scenarios. This change was signed into law in 2012 by Leo Varadkar, a former leader in this House, and the Minister with responsibility for this, who later agreed with me in this Chamber that a total ban was very wrong … schemes. We never had any one of those schemes in Kerry. I cannot understand why. I cannot understand how you can call one house an affordable house when the house beside it costs the standard price, is the same size and costs the same to build. Surely

gave the council half an acre or an acre. That land was transferred to the council. In return, the council built the house and you rented it and later got the option to buy it back if you were a farmer. If you were not a farmer … want to move back into their into own areas. There is a narrative out there that if you are building a one-off house, you are somehow polluting the area. That is not the case. I know exactly the types of houses the Deputy is talking about. Grants

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will share analysis undertaken by his Department to quantify the level of concentration of ownership of Dublin housing stock by foreign investors, or subsidiaries of foreign investors by country of origin over the past

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to share analysis of the level of concentration of Canadian ownership of Irish housing stock over the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42862/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the funds allocated to each local authority for the energy efficiency retrofitting programme 2026, to improve the energy performance of social housing stock; if the funding has increased from

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the housing infrastructure investment fund; the number of proposals received from local authorities; the timeline for announcing successful projects and associated funding allocations; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Second Hand Social Housing Acquisition Programme monies allocated to local authorities has to be spent in the calendar year; the reason committing the money is not enough given the often protracted nature

Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to proceed in 2027 with social housing needing to be energy retrofitted to a A2 standard given the increased costs in having said works done; and if he will make a statement

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rent limits for Galway City and County were last reviewed; if his Department has undertaken an assessment of the adequacy of HAP limits in view of rising rental costs

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider introducing a requirement for local authorities to work with developers of all new major housing developments to produce a comprehensive amenity plan as part of the planning process with a view

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is considering expanding eligibility for solar PV grants to all social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43057/26

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider broadening funding to local authorities to install solar PV on social housing, particularly on units which have air to water heating, given rising electricity costs; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on social housing protections for victims and survivors of domestic violence; if victims and survivors can move between local authorities and keep their time on the list; if this will pertain to historical

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the housing schemes that are currently being reported through Project Díon. [43100/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing allocations provided to care leavers under the Capital Assistance Scheme care-leaver category in each year since 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in regard to the new rules for rural housing, the definition of a rural area under urban influence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43210/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the preparations in place to account for any upward demand in housing directly related to the changes in accommodation supports being introduced for Ukrainian citizens from August 2026; and if he will make

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the review of the 2017 Policy and Procedural Guidance for Housing Authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence, committed to under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units expected to be delivered in the Athy municipal district during 2026 and 2027; the number currently at design, planning and construction stages; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for the introduction of the proposed amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2024 relating to rural housing policy and the operation of “local need” criteria; to confirm whether the forthcoming legislation will explicitly

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on the social housing waiting list who are naturalised Irish citizens; and whether this category is tracked separately from Irish-born citizens. [43986/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department or local authorities collect data distinguishing between Irish-born citizens and naturalised citizens in assessing housing need; and if not, whether there are plans to introduce such data collection. [43987/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has engaged with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to analyse the impact of naturalisation trends on housing demand; and if any such analysis will be published. [43993/26

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if will urgently sanction additional funding to Sligo County Council to enable the reopening of the housing adaptation grant scheme to Priority 2 and 3 applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities assess social welfare incomes for social housing support applications on a gross or net basis; if a separate or modified assessment applies to applicants in receipt of taxable social welfare payments such

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any exemptions or provisions within rural housing policy for persons who are unable to afford the adaptation or modification of their current home to meet their changing needs, which would allow them

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities operate any dedicated housing priority pathways for care leavers or care-experienced young adults at risk of homelessness; the number currently supported under such pathways; and if he will make a statement