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thank the Deputy. The Government's youth homelessness strategy commits to developing an annual information and awareness campaign on housing rights, as well as available supports specifically targeting young people. This is essential to do, particularly online where young people, who are most impacted, are most active … Housing Agency was tasked with developing these information campaigns, and in 2024 and 2025, it collaborated with SpunOut, Ireland’s youth information and support platform, to develop and run online content. I genuinely commend the everyday work that SpunOut does for young people across the country in providing

Government Deputies. I commend those Deputies on their efforts. There are days when one feels one has achieved very little in this House. However, the provisions in this Bill mean many Deputies will see their ideas and contributions brought into law. I particularly commend the people who campaigned … rent. This is an important issue that was discussed at the housing committee. I acknowledge the provisions to amend the Multi-Unit Developments Act. As a member of the public accounts committee, I am always very concerned about how we spend public money. Due to the successful campaigning

demand for these notes. It is not true. They have this system in Canada. They introduced it in 2020. I will give the House the figures for Canada, where the system is more robust. I have not seen the wording of what the Minister is proposing. What … defences for notes. There is no proof that what the Government is proposing to bring in will work. I want to give the House more figures from Canada, where there is an ombudsperson for victims. They have done huge research into the role of the judicial process

Last week, I warned this House that the Housing Agency is stretching IS 465 to exclude homeowners from the defective concrete block remediation scheme. At least one engineer is saying they will not fix defective homes, ignoring the criteria IS 465 sets out for defective blocks. The Government … where homeowners who clearly meet the eligibility criteria under IS 465 are being refused access to the scheme by engineers employed by the Housing Agency. These are not marginal cases. They are homes in which the mica content is above 6%. They fall under group 4 as regards

thank all the Deputies who raised a variety of issues. Deputy O'Meara raised the issue of affordable housing, specifically in Tipperary and north-west Kilkenny in a variety of towns. There is a variety of schemes to help people to afford housing. Lots of people have used … make sure that every county benefits from those schemes. I was in Wexford last week, where plenty of affordable houses were built with subsidies through the local authority affordable scheme. I will talk to the Minister for housing about what is happening in Tipperary, north-west Kilkenny

scourge of dereliction in the time of a housing crisis is, as was said, antisocial at best and a scandal. Many of the problems we face today predate the Minister's tenure as Minister for housing. I have served with the Minister on Wexford County Council … CPOs. We need to inflict - I deliberately use the word "inflict" - compulsory sale orders on these blights and eyesores on our community. The housing problem is a huge and important issue and the thrust of Deputy Gould's Bill, but it is only one part

Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on his work in this area and that he has brought the Bill to Second Stage in the House for debate. I am sure it will be passed. The Bill is necessary but it is unbelievable that it has taken so long, albeit … under the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to bring such a Bill to the House. It is a Bill that is fundamental in terms of development, safety, infrastructure, regulation, policing and so on. We need to examine how legislation is prepared and brought before the House and the greater

European Union launched, in December, a groundbreaking affordable housing plan with revised state aid rules and new approaches to delivering affordable housing. Will the Taoiseach put affordable housing central on the agenda of the European Union Presidency that Ireland will hold? Will he take action to ensure Ireland … Government and governments across the European Union have failed a generation of young people who cannot afford the rents and cannot afford the house prices? We have new apartments being built in Dublin. The rent for a two-bedroom apartment is €3,150. Does the Taoiseach accept that

fosta. As we approach the last Leaders' Questions, I want to wish you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and all the staff of the House a happy Christmas. Nollaig shona daoibh agus athbhliain faoi mhaise. Hopefully, everyone will have a peaceful new year, and we will see each other … children out of the box room and into a home of their own. He told people plainly that we have to fix housing once and for all. That is what he promised. He raised real expectations among families who are struggling and desperate for change. Yet, as this

which she has presented it. It is not all at the door of the Government. We had a good presentation at the housing Cabinet subcommittee meeting earlier this week, which illustrated the complex factors behind homelessness and different categories of people becoming homeless for different reasons, requiring … direct provision, for example, and family reunification are creating challenges. It is the right thing to do. Our challenge is to provide housing solutions. Let us not pretend it is all just because of wanton neglect or that someone does not care. Since this Government and the last

country. Planning authorities are required to report on the 2025 figures early next year. This information will be published on the Department of housing website. It should be noted that the draft regulation is being prepared under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. This … really important exemptions in relation to agricultural structures. They amend Schedule 2 of the 2001 regulations by increasing the provision of animal housing under class 6 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 by 50%, from 200 sq. m to 300 sq. m, increasing the total from

this, but with flawed understanding, the deterioration will continue and the scheme will be flawed. There is one positive thing. A semi-detached house is now treated as one unit, so if one house does not meet the damage threshold, then the other can be deemed so. However … space on their sites would save the Exchequer money. It would allow people with a disabled child, for example, to move from one house into a new build that is kitted out for them. They can move into their build and it is at no cost

speak on the amendments. He referred to the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2025. What the Minister is saying is that for a house built in the 1990s, a section can be put on that house connecting the 1990 blockwork to the 2025 blockwork. Who is going … specific. Given the Minister referred to 1990 to 2025, he is now connecting the basis of what is allowed for houses, whereby some part of the house will be removed and the internal structure will be left as it was. How are they going to be joined

legislated for it. However, the scheme starts with the Department of Justice. The Tánaiste made the point that this is a Department of housing issue. He also made the point that this legislation could accommodate it. He further made the point that he would engage constructively with … Minister for housing. The official response now is to go back to the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance. In the meantime, people in my constituency cannot find anywhere to live when they get to the end of the process where they are at the point where their houses

tell the people of Lios na Circe and Westport what this means for them. Not only are these semi-detached, detached or terraced houses, but the topography of where they are built means they are sitting on a number of slopes. These houses were built by an approved … housing body with the local authority and local authority mortgages. The Minister of State is saying that this amendment is designed to bring flexibility so that if one homeowner applies and they want to rebuild their house and they meet the damage threshold, the other relevant owner

programme for Government says the Government will move responsibility for the Multi-Unit Developments, MUD, Acts to the Department of housing from the Department of justice and establish a unit in the Housing Agency to regulate owners' management companies, OMCs, to ensure effective governance. That is important work … primary legislation needs to be changed. At the moment, the MUD Act refers to the Minister for justice and not the Minister for housing. A simple amendment is needed to change the reference to the Minister for housing. Until that happens, all this work of regulatory oversight

Before I speak to this subject, I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle and the staff of Leinster House for the event yesterday. We have all seen the analysis of our distinguished guests, as has been well covered in the media, but it is important to pay tribute … Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis that followed, the previous Government was very agile. That was a term used often in the House. We were able to respond to the needs of households, families and businesses. I hope that this can stay under active review and that

welcome these statements on the Government’s updated housing plan, which rightly sets a minimum target of 300,000 homes, including 72,000 social and 90,000 affordable homes. The plan is backed by €9 billion in housing capital for next year alone. It focuses on activating land … clearing blockages and expanding housing first and family homelessness measures. This is essential if we are serious about meeting needs rather than chasing yearly targets. In my area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, we can clearly see what works when the State, the county council, the LDA and approved

more. Unfortunately, it has been protected long enough by Government. It is a law unto itself right now. There is a massive housing crisis now, not alone in the want of housing but also for the people who have the houses. I hate calling them landlords because they … house owners. The way they are being treated and the way they have spoken to me with worry in the last few weeks about legislation that is coming through here, they have had it. They are running and getting the hell out of the market because we have

Government's plan to lock people who are renting houses into six-year tenancies is not going to work in Kerry. People get on to me every day because landlords are refusing to continue leasing properties to them. Trying to force people into six-year tenancies … That is how people have been getting their livelihoods up until now. The only ones who are getting planning permission for one-off houses in Kerry are farmers' sons and daughters. That is fine, and we appreciate it. However, anyone else out in the country who has been

going to Canada and a couple going elsewhere in Europe. The reason, to go back to a debate we had earlier, is housing. What are newly qualified tradespeople going to do? Will they go back to their mam and dad and stay in the box bedroom … years of age? That is a huge issue. Until we get a grasp of housing policy, it will feed into the crisis we have with apprenticeships. Another issue, which was touched on by a previous speaker, is that we have people trying to finish off their course being

greatest cod that judicial reviews are what is delaying the development of housing and planning in this country. It is also the height of hypocrisy because we all know, when we go to community meetings where residents are up in arms over some development, the Minister … maybe more of a connection on the ground. Now, there is this thing about judicial reviews. There are two facts. Lorcan Sirr, the housing analyst, has made it clear that only 0.22% of planning applications ever go to judicial review. It is double figures in one year

homeowners in Mayo. I also wish to raise retrospective payments. Time and time again, I have asked him to cover houses that people had to build before the scheme in. They have to be covered. There are gaps that people are trying to deal with. Let us take … nine months to get the results of the tests back. I am not an engineer but I can tell going into a house, because I have been in so many houses that are falling down, that somebody has pyrite. There is pyrite in the defective blocks in Mayo

Minister of State accepted this is all taking far too long. He accepted that there are huge issues in relation to social housing, appeals and the standards review. We are where we are and we all accept that, as the people who are dealing with crumbling houses have … being proposed to deal with the issues he spoke of himself and actually ensuring we deliver. A huge number of people and houses have been impacted in Donegal, Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo. Deputy Louise O'Reilly spoke about the fact that she has constituents who need

tenancies. More broadly, the Government recently published the delivering homes, building communities action plan. Additional supply over time will help to moderate the housing costs in both the purchase and rental sectors. That is why the focus has to continually be on supply. This year, the Government … allocated €6.8 billion to capital expenditure on housing delivery, a more than sixfold increase in just a decade. This will help to moderate the housing costs in both the purchase and rental sectors as additional supply comes on stream. To date, more than 4,500 new cost-rental

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposed changes to procurement SHIP, CALF and CAS turnkey approvals as part of the shift from forward purchasing to forward funding models for delivering social housing. [23317/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes he is currently bringing forward or intends to bring forward arising from the approved housing body strategic review, in tabular form. [23318/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the methodology currently being used to determine the social housing targets for each local authority area; the data sources used; the assumptions underpinning the methodology; and the rational for the targets that

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the total spend on retrofitting of housing units, by local authority, in tabular form. [23428/26

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the number of affordable houses, cost rental and cost purchase, planned for Cork City and County Councils; and on the targets he has set for same. [23430/26

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the inadequate income eligibility limits for social housing in Cavan and Monaghan, if he will have these income limits increased without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has provided analysis or advice regarding the impact of the accommodation recognition payment on housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23158/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a social housing passport can be considered; to outline the options for a person who has over 10 years on one local authority list but has settled into the community of a different local authority

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number of affordable homes delivered in each county and local authority since the introduction of the affordable housing scheme; and if he will detail the types of schemes used

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding allocated to each local authority for affordable housing delivery since the scheme began; and the projected funding for the years 2025 to 2028. [21501/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual affordable housing delivery targets for each county and local authority in Ireland for the years 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028; the rationale behind the allocation of these targets; and if he will make

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes delivered in each county and local authority since the introduction of the affordable housing scheme; and the types of schemes used (such as cost rental, affordable purchase). [21506/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding allocated to each local authority for affordable housing delivery since the scheme began; and to indicate projected funding for the years 2025 to 2028. [21508/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms which are in place to monitor the progress of affordable housing delivery at local authority level; and the way in which performance is evaluated and reported. [21509/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether demand assessments have been conducted to determine the need for affordable housing in each county/local authority; and the way in which these assessments have influenced target setting. [21510/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to identify the main challenges or barriers faced by local authorities in delivering affordable housing; and the steps he will take to address these issues. [21511/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a copy of Circular N3/92 of 7 February 1992, Counteracting Social Segregation in Housing. [21833/26

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the development of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024; when the Bill will come before the Houses of the Oireachtas; if the remediation scheme will cover balcony defects

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a detailed breakdown of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, which commenced in July 2023 under the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022; the number of homeowners … County Mayo that have received a formal remediation option determination from the Housing Agency or the relevant local authority, categorised by options 1, 2, 3 and 4; and any blended options, including the dates of those determinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/26

Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will act on a recommendation by the Housing Agency that all of County Carlow be included in the defective block work scheme; if so, when this will be announced;; and if he will

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the number of social and affordable housing units approved, commenced and completed in the Roscommon–Galway constituency in each of the years 2023 to 2026, by local authority area, in tabular form. [22319/26

Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out which body has overall responsibility for coordinating the provision of supported housing for adults with intellectual disabilities, in circumstances where the individual is engaged with the HSE, a local authority housing list, and a Section 38/39

Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total budget allocated for social housing delivery in Galway City and County Galway in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21113/26

Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new build social housing units commenced in Galway City and County Galway in each of the years 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement

Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new build social housing units completed in Galway City and County Galway in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21115/26