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money. We have rising grocery costs, high energy prices – we are in the top three in Europe – a housing disaster that will have a long tail when it comes to its social and economic impact on citizens, and child poverty levels that challenge the rich country story … taxation choices made by Government as proposed in this Bill, the impact on working people and the measures proposed in the Bill on housing more broadly. In the first instance, I will refer to section 2. The only positive adjustment made to the personal tax code for PAYE

apologise for being slightly late for the debate. A very important session of the housing committee is taking place. The Housing Commission, after almost a year of delay and being ignored by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, is finally giving a very interesting session. I will refer … private developers. The State is buying a bunch of those but the number of new homes being built by local authorities and approved housing bodies is far too low. Yes, it is true that €7 billion has been spent by the State on various housing matters

move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — there are at least 2,656 vacant council homes, excluding Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) homes, across the State, including 776 homes vacant longer than 12 months; — the National Oversight and Audit Commission Performance Indicator Report 2023, found that the average reletting time … resulting in only €10.1 million this year; further notes that: — these empty homes are an insult to those impacted by the housing crisis, and have a negative impact on the surrounding community; — the housing maintenance direct labour workforce in local authorities was slashed during austerity, and has never

echo the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and reassert the Government's commitment to tackling challenges in the housing sector and with regard to critical infrastructure. We know these challenges are having a very real impact on people's lives. We understand the urgency … further. The motion claims the Government is not doing enough, but it is clear we have securely laid a foundation and built a housing pipeline that will allow us to continue to ramp up delivery over the coming years. The measures introduced under Housing for All have helped

hugely important area and they are going to need all of the breaks and support that they can get in this House and in councils. When I think of local authority housing, I think of the question I am often asked, which is: why, in the 1950s, were … able to build so many well-structured houses for people who were able to avail of them from the housing list? There was a tenant purchase scheme to allow them to move on in their lives, buy the property and rear a family in it. I was reared

sense of déjà vu. For 12 years, the Oireachtas and the wider public have been debating the need for a constitutionalised right to housing. In fact, so exercised was the then Government about the matter that, in 2013, it asked the then Convention on the Constitution to deliberate … only have we seen the most dramatic increase in adult and child homelessness in the modern history of the State, but rents and house prices have reached levels that are so unaffordable that even people on very good incomes have no reasonable prospect of affording a home. Fianna

think there is an acceptance that in previous Government commitments there has been an acceptance that there is a need for a social housing passport. It makes sense. What is clear when you read the Bill, as put forward, is that it is not a generalised free … could see situations - and we know of them - in which people would be able to move and bring their time spent on a housing list with them. As I said, the Bill sets out very clearly that the Minister can and should put forward regulations that would stipulate

which the Government has introduced and intends to proceed with this Bill. The Minister of State said "With the support of both Houses and with your co-operation, I hope to have this Bill enacted before the summer recess." We will have no say in that enactment … Government has already decided that the Bill is going to be railroaded through the Houses in a matter of days. Given the complexity of the legislation in front of us, its impact on our planning system and, on foot of that, the impact that will be felt

play handball against a haystack. I ask the Minister of State and his officials - it comes under the Department of local government and housing, as far as I know - to sort this out. Someone needs to do something. There are some good things in the Bill. Of course … have essential services, including jobs, health and educational services, school places and sports and leisure facilities. They cannot be just a series of housing estates dropped in fields around the edges of towns. That is important. Some Deputies indicated that they welcome the certainty with the county development

tentatively welcome but significant concerns remain that the legislation may make it increasingly difficult for those who should be entitled to access social housing to do so by increasing and complicating the criteria they have to meet. The Bill suggests an unreality in which the existing situation … onto the list, never mind the journey towards getting an allocation. Individuals in our society who urgently require the support of public housing and emergency accommodation must have clearer pathways to accessing those rights. They must not be presented with further hurdles and complications. The Minister has assured

there is a particular emergency accommodation she has concerns about because that should not be the case. In relation to the social housing provisions and residency requirements, these legislative reforms are building on existing policy and procedures which, in the first instance, define social housing as a long … term housing support and therefore successful applicants must be in a position to demonstrate that they have a long-term right to reside in the State, that is, their permission to reside here is not temporary or short term. These statutory provisions are founded on the Government

Constitution.” This is my first Bill to be brought forward in Dáil Éireann. The Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2026 seeks to put a right to housing into Bunreacht na hÉireann. The housing crisis is the most serious issue facing our country … that it is the Government's policies that have created this crisis. I refer, for example, to the way it has turned housing into an investment asset and failed over and over to treat it as a human right. Housing is a human right. Is ceart daonna

Féin for tabling this motion. I cannot tell you how many times I have spoken on this issue. I will come to the housing task force, the minutes of which the Minister was instrumental in getting us. When we talk about empty houses tonight, we are doing … whom are children. This Government is taking pride in its policy, a jigsaw of pieces that adds more confusion, keeps house prices artificially high, and continues to treat housing as a commodity rather than a fundamental, basic unit of society - a home. You clap yourselves on the back

elected in 2016 and since then, with all my colleagues here, we have begged, implored and appealed to the Government to declare a housing emergency to recognise that we have crisis but it has utterly failed to do that. Once again, it keeps turning language on its head … even in relation to social housing as it called HAP provision social housing. I am here to support this motion. The Housing Commission report has been quoted many times. It is really worth quoting because the Housing Commission had 200 meetings and developed 83 recommendations. I want

leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh le mo ráiteas i mBéarla. The Government is not opposing this motion given the urgent need for housing and the Government's housing action plan, Delivering Homes, and Building Communities 2025-2030, which includes a range of actions aimed at increasing housing supply across … vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes, in addition to significant levels of capital investment in State-funded social and affordable housing. Under the croí cónaithe ready-to-build scheme, local authorities make serviced sites in towns and villages available to individual purchasers at a discount

Páirtí an Lucht Oibre leis an mBille seo. This is not a complicated Bill. It makes a simple change to ensure that the Housing Finance Agency can continue to fulfil its mandate in the months ahead. This is something that we in Labour are broadly supportive … know the importance that the Housing Finance Agency plays as a pillar of Ireland's housing policy. By raising the agency's statutory borrowing limit, as this Bill does, we can ensure that it continues to play that role and continues to issue new lending approvals with

This legislation comes in the context of a severe housing crisis across the country not just now but for almost the past decade, people have been trying to find a home with little success, unfortunately. The Housing Finance Agency is about providing money for local authorities and other … agencies such as approved housing bodies, etc., to build houses and for higher education authorities. It is a body that is very useful in that context but money is not the only problem when it comes to building houses. It is a serious problem for private developers trying

Browne, and take this opportunity to reassert the Government's commitment and determination to tackling the challenges we all know exist in the housing sector. The Minister and I are very much aware of the difficulties being experienced by some people in accessing secure and affordable accommodation … difficulties people face. There is no such thing as a monopoly on compassion when it comes to matters to do with the housing sector. For this reason, we are working day in and day out to make substantial changes to increase the supply of social, affordable and private

local authority homes are in general wholly owned by local authorities, which are encouraged to ring-fence some of their own resources from housing rents and other sources to the maintenance and protection of these homes; — the Voids Programme operates on the same basis as all other Exchequer … management and maintenance to proactively address the level of maintenance requests annually; — the commencement of stock condition surveys funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which are supported by the very recent roll out of a dedicated Information and Communications Technology system which will capture

Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, in our water and electricity infrastructure, have created significant constraints to the increased delivery of public and private housing; — the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has warned that data centres pose a risk to increased housing delivery, due to constraints in the electricity … grid; — Uisce Éireann have said that meeting the Government's revised housing targets would require a significant increase in capital funding, above their current programme to increase water and wastewater capacity in urban and rural areas; — the Irish Home Builders Association have repeatedly warned that the electricity grid

their contributions. I echo the comments made by the Minister and reassert the Government's commitment to tackling the challenges in the housing sector. We know these challenges are having a genuine impact on people's lives and understand the urgency and need to ensure sufficient numbers … progress made to date. Indeed, some of the proposals put forward in the motion would be more likely to deepen and perpetuate the housing crisis rather than resolve it. Let me touch on some of them. The motion calls for a blanket ban on rent increases

right to housing is a human right, enshrined in Article 25 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN rapporteur on the right to housing reiterated that position, saying that although increasingly viewed as a commodity, housing is, most importantly, a human right. The Housing Commission … report seeks to vindicate that human right. It says that housing must be a unique, national priority. It talks about the failure to treat housing as a critical social and economic priority and goes on to say: "Only a radical strategic reset of housing policy will work

Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. I thank Deputy Stanley for his questions on the increase in the number of affordable-to-buy housing units provided by local authorities, and plans to increase the number of cost-rental units that will be provided in schemes by local authorities … well. Providing affordable and high-quality homes for purchase and long-term rental is at the centre of the Government's housing policy and our housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities. The housing plan reinforces and expands the range of existing affordable housing measures being implemented

that it allows a scheme to be put in place by the Government to remediate social homes owned by local authorities and approved housing bodies where these homes are located in designated local authority areas. Upon making the scheme designated local authorities and approved housing bodies will … provides that social homes will receive the same remediation options as those covered under the current defective concrete blocks grant scheme for private housing, and the same grant cap, grant rates and damage threshold requirements, thus any legislative changes to the 2022 Act will apply equally, where appropriate

propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 106 and 169 together. I thank Deputy Neville for raising an important question on housing projects currently under construction in Kildare North and those expected to commence before the end of 2026. My Department publishes data on residential commencement notices in each … quarter 1 of 2026, conveying an increasingly stable pipeline. Increasing the supply of new homes is critical to alleviating pressures in the housing market, helping to moderate price growth and ease affordability challenges across the country, ensuring everyone has a range of housing options available to them, whether

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a detailed update on actions taken by his Department to ensure compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights on foot of their decision in the Collective Complaint FIDH v Ireland Complaint … 110/2014 and its decision in 2017 finding the Irish State failed to take sufficient and timely measures to ensure the right to housing of an adequate standard for many families living in local authority housing across the country and that Ireland was in violation of Article

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for confirmation as to when the social housing thresholds in County Laois are to rise, as there is still quite a number of people on housing lists who are over the threshold by a small amount … many who are getting on in age worrying that if they do not qualify for social housing, they will become homeless due to extortionate rents they cannot afford once they go on to their State pension. [24651/25

Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to issue a full report on the capacity of water and wastewater for all of the towns and villages in a county (details supplied); if the lack of progress in water and wastewater infrastructure projects will … addressed urgently given the current housing crisis; if the possibility will be explored of allowing builders and developers to construct treatment plants as part of a housing development which can be overseen by Uisce Éireann and subsequently taken into their control to allow needed house building and ensure

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will now formally declare a national housing emergency, and commit to convening a cross-party housing emergency taskforce with executive powers to fast-track public housing delivery. [23354/25

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing scheme available to single people who are over the threshold for social housing but not earning enough for affordable rental; his plans to assist single people in the housing market; and if he will

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to increase housing supply in Kilkenny, including social housing and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/25

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the measures he is taking to increase housing supply in Carlow, including social housing and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20719/25

Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the measures he is taking to increase housing supply in Wexford, including social housing and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18115/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost per unit of new-build social housing delivered in 2024, by SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction (including full cost and CALF cost), CALF turnkey (including full cost and CALF cost … construction, CAS turnkey, Local Authority Part V, AHB Part V, acquisition, Affordable Housing Fund (including full cost and AHF cost), Cost Rental Equity Loan (including full cost and CREL cost), and the costs for social housing acquisition, in tabular form. [15020/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total capital expenditure in 2024 for the Social Housing Investment Programme, capital advance leasing facility, capital assistance scheme, cost rental equity loan, affordable housing fund, Land Development Agency and approved housing body borrowings. [13669/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total capital expenditure in 2024 for the Social Housing Investment Programme, capital advance leasing facility, capital assistance scheme, cost rental equity loan, affordable housing fund, Land Development Agency and approved housing body borrowings. [13674/25

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a proposal from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on ways to alleviate the debt levels in the approved housing bodies sector and to address concerns within the sector, regarding compliance … with regulatory obligations and the financial implications of significant levels of debt, which was sent as a sanction request from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in August 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11469/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on its engagement with off-balance sheet borrowing by approved housing bodies (AHBs) for the delivery of social and affordable housing; and to provide an update on his Departments consideration on proposals … from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the impact of gearing on future AHBs' borrowing levels. [12126/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will next update the Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) and the Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) for social housing; if these same measures are applied to affordable housing delivered via cost rental equity loan, CREL … affordable housing fund, AHF; and if he will give a commitment to make the revised BUCs and ACGs available to Deputies, on publication.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12652/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the social and affordable housing completion figures for 2024 will be published; the number of social housing, cost rental and local authority affordable housing units, respectively, constructed in 2024; to provide a breakdown of each

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the number of void houses in Leitrim and Sligo local authority housing supply; the number of weeks, months years that these houses have been vacant or void; and if he will make

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policy rationale for the Payment and Availability (P&A)-Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) related to the financing of social housing development by approved housing bodies; and the impact this has had for development … financing for approved housing bodies since its introduction. [6668/25

Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to update or amend the Derelict Sites Act 2020 to allow local authorities to compulsorily acquire derelict houses or buildings that have been unused for a maximum of five years … less; if compensation to the owners of such derelict houses or buildings will be abolished; if the requirement to have planning permission for any simple and standard adjustments by local authorities to such derelict houses or buildings will be abolished; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he accepts that immigration and inward migration are creating significant challenges in terms of meeting housing demand with supply; if his Department has made any recommendations to Cabinet or any other department regarding the impact … immigration and inward migration on housing supply; if he will conduct an analysis on the impact of anticipated levels of immigration and inward migration on future housing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6027/25

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that the current council housing application does not give an applicant the option to choose domestic violence in the home criteria on a local government housing application form, nor give an option … fleeing coercive control; if he will commit to amending the council housing application form to include this as qualifying criterion (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5375/25

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in light of a constituent’s recent communication with Housing Acquisitions, where it was stated that there is no budget available for 2025 to purchase properties, if he will clarify why such constraints are in place … despite prior Government commitments to address the housing crisis, specifically, what steps he is taking to ensure that landlords, who wish to sell properties without displacing tenants, can offer their properties to local authorities or housing agencies in a way that protects vulnerable tenants. [4017/25

Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of each Bill for which his Department had responsibility and that was initiated in 2024, or that was enacted in 2024, to specify in which House of the Oireachtas the Bill was initiated … ministerial or Government amendments submitted at each legislative Stage of the Bill; if the guillotine was used on the Bill in either House of the Oireachtas and the time allowed for each Stage; if ministerial or Government amendments to other legislation were only included in the Bill

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role housing authorities have during emergencies that affect their tenants’ safety and well-being such as the one ongoing due to Storm Éowyn; if housing authorities are responsible for ensuring that vulnerable tenants have access … basic necessities during extended power and water outages; if this policy will be reviewed in light of the experience of social housing tenants during Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3904/25

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current situation in relation to the purchase of local authority houses by tenants; if he plans to review this situation; if he will consider a tenant purchase scheme for approved housing bodies tenants whose … operators were amenable to the provision of such a sale and in circumstances in which income accruing would be ringfenced for further housing provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2650/25

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade which of the 23 commitments in Ireland's Diaspora Strategy 2026 to 2030 relate to access to housing for Irish citizens returning to the State; if the Department or the Minister of State for international development and the diaspora has engaged with … Department of Finance or the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a housing or tax support for returning emigrants; if so, the outcome of any such engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74325/26