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tenant in situ scheme has saved many families across north Kildare from homelessness due to the housing crisis created by this Government and the almost identical Government before it. Abandoning this scheme is going to leave people in a housing limbo suddenly facing homelessness. The tenant in situ … than an 11% increase next year if we get rid of the scheme. It is hard to believe this Government is serious about housing when we see homelessness figures continuously rise, the untruths told about housing targets during the previous general election, and our own Taoiseach laughing

various overspends on OPW and other projects that have been interrogated to death in the media and on the floor of the House in recent weeks and which have led to this motion. I know from experience and the Minister of State knows very well from his experience … staff do, become a watchword for waste and inefficiency. There has been a fair degree of opportunism displayed in this House and elsewhere in recent times in respect of various headline-grabbing projects, but that does not mean criticism and critique are not warranted or that these overspends

that values and believes in public services and believes in the State's responsibility to deliver in the key areas of infrastructure, health, housing and transport. What we have had is successive governments led by Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, parties that have this mixed and confused ideology … They are being squeezed by the State as regards what they are expected to deliver. I will talk about the issue of social housing. We are continuing to deliver social housing through leasing. We pay private sector bodies, often investor funds, a set income for 25 years approximating

straight. Everyone in the Opposition and the Government believes that the better and more efficiently we can do something, the more services, social housing and buildings we can supply around this country for the people who need them. Those people are our constituents around the country. I welcome … anybody have a problem if they are being reviewed to see if they are getting enough money or too much money? Take the housing sector. How many housing bodies do we have in this country? The Government had to go into its arse pocket and pull

wish the Minister well in his new role. I will raise two issues with him. The first is the issue of rural housing and the second is the port access northern cross route, PANCR, project in Ballymakenny, Drogheda. I live in an area that is viewed … their guidelines not just from the EU, but from the Office of the Planning Regulator, which sometimes takes an obstinate view of rural housing. I welcome the report. I see that it recognises that rural communities are confronted with unique challenges in housing, which causes "high rates

home funding. County Meath is included in that. That is a welcome development this afternoon. On the priorities and recommendations outlined in the Housing Commission report, we have acknowledged that many are already under way. I have selected a number of areas that I feel are important … building and its refurbishment and a modest margin are divided equally among the number of units. It is another type of affordable housing measure. The details were given to Eoghan Murphy a few years ago. That model has been very successful in Denmark. A second area relates

gross value added at factor cost in the agrifood sector in 2022 was €18.3 billion. I do not think anyone in this House would be in any doubt about the value of the sector and the importance of the sector to our economy, but also the importance … sector to communities throughout this country. I stand before the House as a TD for Dún Laoghaire, which is not known necessarily for its agricultural output. Although there are farms in Dún Laoghaire, people somehow deny that. There are many farms in the south west of the constituency

wish to raise two points on the issue of housing - the housing disaster - and how it affects the education system. First, students who wish to attend third level courses in institutions of their choice are curtailed because affordable student accommodation is not possible. For the ordinary student … disgrace. The second problem we have, particularly in urban areas, is the retention of education professionals due to high rents and unaffordability. Housing costs in Ireland are already among the highest in Europe. Rents have doubled in a decade and there is double-digit house price inflation. Newly

there is a greater role for the State and the not-for-profit sectors. If it does not see that and thinks its housing policy is working, that shows how deluded the Government is. It is disingenuous to say that 100% stamp duty on bulk purchase of homes … Minister of State said that EU funding streams are already being accessed. Whoever wrote his reply clearly has not read the report by Housing Europe, which was commissioned by a Fianna Fáil MEP. The report goes into great detail about the EU funding streams that could be accessed

truly stunned not only that the housing Minister is not here but that there is only one representative on the Government benches when in the media and in the Dáil Chamber, all we hear is that the Government wants solutions from the Opposition. When we offer concrete, well … thought-out, researched, evidence-based solutions, this is the showing we get. I come from the human rights sector where we talk about housing as one of the fundamental rights without which it is impossible to realise other rights. We have heard from my colleagues the stories

here. Worse than that, the Minister of State present is not even a Minister of State in housing. I cannot think of a time since I was elected to the Oireachtas that neither the Minister or a Minister of State from the Department was present to deal with … debate on housing. I would like the Minister of State present to give us an explanation as to why the Minister is not here. If he has some more important engagement, if he has some family business, that is entirely legitimate, but so far we have not heard

Government policy should not rely on luck. Indeed, the people of Ireland should not have to rely on luck when it comes to housing, but it is too often the case. I believe the Minister will agree with me because we are now starting to see the unravelling … housing policies of successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Governments. What has come to pass is that the relationships between the parties are coming apart. We are seeing discontent, tension and thinking-out-loud policy. We are now asking young people to sleep in sheds

éifeachtaí ná na polasaithe atá foilsithe ag Sinn Féin. Níl aon amhras orm faoi sin. Since 2020 onwards, there has been progress on housing. We went from 20,000 a year to over 30,000 a year. We exceeded the targets that were set in Housing … account. Given, however, the rise in the Irish population and the growth of our country, it is not enough, and I acknowledge that. Housing is the number one issue facing us. The last Government introduced a range of schemes. This Government, only a number of weeks in office

support. I look forward to the contest here today. I wish to avail of the few minutes we have to put before the House some of the things that I stand for and have stood for since my first election to local government in 1979 and, thereafter … support the Ceann Comhairle in her role because all of these issues need to be debated in a constructive way in this House. All of the Members deserve the right to have the time to have the necessary forum available to them to bring forward their own views

have had is the Government hoodwinking and misleading the people during the election campaign on a number of issues but spectacularly on housing. People were told that 40,000 homes would be delivered in 2024 when in fact the number was going to be 30,000. The facts … favourable for buyers and the supply needs to be increased. The structure of the scheme also needs to be changed because the approved housing bodies, AHBs, are not showing an interest in it. The Minister of State and his colleagues in government will find this

There is something profoundly undemocratic about what the Government is planning to do on housing. We have just had an election campaign during which Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael told us Housing for All was working and that the evidence for that was the 40,000 homes that … crisis? Once the election is out of the way, what we see is shock and awe for a full corporate takeover of the housing market. The previous Government, to be clear, was a Government of landlords, by landlords, for landlords, but with a veneer of concern

reiterate my support for the recommendations of the Housing Commission report and emphasise the need to act on a macro level. I will outline a few more suggestions I will bring forward in more detail at a later stage. The first is increased penalties for housing not occupied … homes in the city centre for three years from now. It would make the area safer and more vibrant. People on housing lists should also be allowed to move to new or refurbished accommodation in areas that need the population in rural towns and villages without losing their

misled on the issue of the number of homes that were delivered last year. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the former Minister for housing were all adamant that the figure in that regard would be 40,000. It was nowhere near that. The deception does not end there … Government wanted to introduce tax breaks for developers. Does the Taoiseach think the public would have voted for all of that, namely a housing policy with a singular focus of increasing profits for developers and investment funds at the expense of first-time buyers and renters

Government should examine all of the policy options that will achieve the central objective - where I think there is consensus on in this House - how do we increase the overall supply to meet the targets that have been set over a series of years. We are open … constructive feedback and engagement on that. What we have said, as a Government, is that the Minister for housing with others - the Minister for Finance, myself as the Minister for public expenditure, and others - will try to access all options to give that significant uplift in supply that

Ireland would have hoped for a significant radical shift in some areas of policy to resolve the challenges we face, particularly in housing and health, they were met with a programme for Government that resembled nothing so much as a question mark rather than definite statements. One particular … because of the condition they are in. There is a dire need for the regeneration of these complexes. Unlike the report of the Housing Commission, the programme for Government is completely silent on the issue of apartment complexes outside Dublin. There is nothing at all in this regard

countermotion tabled by the Government, we are at a particularly fragile and critical moment for this particular conflict. Like all others in this House, I welcome the agreement reached on the ceasefire and hostage release deal that has already led to the release of hostages. The immediate focus … Palestinian people to self-determination lay at the heart of Ireland's recognition of Palestine in May of last year. I assure this House that it will remain at the heart of this Government's approach. Supporting the immediate humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and working with

Chéad Dáil as Gaeilge 105 years ago. He or she should have those skills. As I mentioned as Gaeilge, in a bilingual House with two official languages we need a Chair who can monitor and, if necessary, step in and apply the rules and protections of this House … Irish. The Irish text of our Constitution and the laws trumps the English versions for legal purposes. The most senior officer in this House should be competent in that language and be able to guide and assist others with the language too. Every Teachta Dála deserves a Ceann

ESRI on a wealth tax. It is a report on which I hope we can have a comprehensive debate in this House. Believe it or not, some four years after the publication of the report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, we still have … full debate on it in this House. The Government is running away from it. I have been calling for such a debate, and I get the impression that some on this side of the House do not want to have it either. On the subject of broadening

thank Deputy Ó Súilleabháin for raising this Topical Issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. The Housing Act 1966 provides for the charging of rent by local authorities on social housing tenancies. Rents are based … lower rents. This system is know as the differential rents system. It is a critical piece of the State's welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who cannot meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. The making or amending of such rent schemes

allocated to homeless services in 2027. The funding will ensure local authorities can provide emergency accommodation, homelessness prevention and tenancy sustainment services, including Housing First and outreach supports and other services, to households who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness and that these households … Homelessness is a complex issue in which causal factors and family circumstances vary considerably. Homelessness is also interrelated with other areas of the housing system and with broader social and healthcare policy and service delivery. Therefore, it is important to have a whole-of-government approach when dealing

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 27 November 2025, for an update on the number of affordable homes being provided in the Wicklow part of the Wicklow-Wexford constituency; to confirm that none … affordable purchase houses in the Wicklow County Council area referenced were in the Arklow Local Electoral Area and to specifically outline what new affordable homes are under construction or have been provided in the constituency which comprises primarily the Arklow LEA and the southern part of the Blessington

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on current guidelines for local authorities installing solar PV on social housing; if local authority tenants are eligible to apply for a grant for these either through their local authority

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a survey has been done of electricity costs in social housing before and after retrofitting works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34367/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department's consideration of Fingal County Council's proposals for housing at Tuckett's Lane Park, Howth received in 2025. [34573/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when in 2025 his Department received updated proposals from Fingal County Council for housing at Tuckett's Lane Park, Howth [34574/26

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the process whereby Fingal County Council was informed by his Department that it must remove green roofs from housing proposed for Malahide Road, despite the provision of such green infrastructure being

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all capital projects including social and affordable housing, water services, heritage and local authority-led projects funded under the remit of his Department which have been completed

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has considered a CALF application for 60 houses in Carndonagh (details supplied); if so, his decision in relation to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34935/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the action plan on delivering housing for older people, as committed to in 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities'; the way in which the consultation process for the action plan will be conducted, including

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review ongoing of the housing assistance payment scheme within his Department with a view to ensuring it is operating as smoothly as possible for tenants in receipt of this support

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review ongoing of the housing assistance payment scheme within his Department with a view to ensuring it is operating as smoothly as possible for landlords that have tenants that are in receipt

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review ongoing of the housing assistance payment scheme within his Department with a view to ensuring that anyone entitled to this payment can access it and is fully aware of their entitlements

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2022, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34981/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2023, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34982/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2024, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34983/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme for 2025, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34984/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme to date in 2026, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the total cost to the exchequer of the housing assistance payment scheme since the scheme was established to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the housing assistance payment scheme, specifically related to the practical accessibility of HAP for single adults in high-cost areas (details supplied); and if he will

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the specific mechanisms being used by his Department to address the affordability of housing at a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/26

Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all capital projects, including social and affordable housing, water services, heritage and local authority-led projects, funded under the remit of his Department that have been completed on time

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application has been made to the Housing Activation Office in respect of the next section of the Athenry Ring Road; when a decision is expected to be made on this application

Minister for Social Protection if a constituent (details supplied) is forbidden from getting a second Community Welfare Payment when moving into a council house, 14-years after getting a payment when moving into their previous council house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35053/26

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if she or other Departments have had any discussions with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding a future use for the vacant housing accommodation at the Curragh Camp; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all capital projects including social and affordable housing, water services, heritage and local authority-led projects funded under the remit of his Department which have been completed on time