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fault" evictions.". The best place to be to respond to the Government's Bill probably is with the protestors assembling outside Leinster House. The Bill will make an already dire housing crisis even worse by allowing landlords charging extortionate rents that are unaffordable for huge numbers of people … interests of the people affected by the crisis but, rather, is representing the interests of those profiteering on the backs of the housing misery of others. There can be no other explanation for what the Government is doing with this Bill. My amendment No. 1 sought, in essence

market and increase homelessness. This Bill is written for, on behalf of and by big corporate landlords and institutional investors. There is a housing emergency in this State. A total of 16,734 persons were homeless on 31 December of this year, an increase … That is a scandal, and this Bill will make matters worse. The Government has consistently failed to meet its housing targets. This year it had a target of 41,000 units; it missed it by over 5,000 units. The fact of the matter is that the housing

obscene salaries. The Government wants to give them €340 million more. I was just flicking through the prices they are charging for the houses they build. A one-bedroom house by Glenveagh in Donabate is €345,000, a two-bed is €440,000, a three … incapable with their own income to afford those kinds of prices. We are giving them a subsidy on already massive profits to deliver housing that no working people can afford. Does the Government honestly think that is justified and is a strategy to deal with the housing crisis

Following the European Council meeting, there were significant issues discussed, between Ukraine, defence, the Middle East, competitiveness, climate and digital transitions, but particularly housing. Often, when we speak about housing, not only in this House but across the country, we think that it is an isolated problem … Ireland. What we are seeing is that this is a problem facing all of Europe. It is the first time that housing has featured in European Council conclusions. The Commission has been tasked with a comprehensive and ambitious housing plan. There will also be a European housing summit

would like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. At the House's discretion, I think the Deputy would like to join me in a note of sympathy on the death of his former colleague in Kerry County Council and former mayor … friend of mine and I know of the Deputy as well. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. The recently approved revised national planning framework retains the national policy objective, NPO, of supporting the sustainable development

State a good afternoon. This debate offers us a really good opportunity to recognise the really vital role the AHBs play in housing provision and in making housing a reality for so many people who otherwise simply would not have access to housing at all. In particular … consistently support marginalised communities, vulnerable people and people with additional needs and they prevent many people from simply being left behind. In a housing crisis where supply is always limited and market forces often move what supply there is towards profitable areas and thereby cater to the better

thank Deputy Michael Collins and his group for tabling this motion and giving us all an opportunity to talk about housing and discuss it as much as we can to see if we can help. This is one of many motions, Bills and whatever trying to address housing … work and see after the people to ensure that everyone has a home. The answer has to be to build more local authority houses at a standard size. We should not try to stop people from doing Airbnb. I do not believe that we will achieve

There are a couple of things I want to raise in this very important debate. We know we have a housing crisis and a housing emergency. The first one is the issue of responsibility and accountability. We have a fundamental problem here in that water is clearly … Department of housing's website as one of its core five competencies, along with planning, housing, heritage and local government. Irish Water is a State-owned company. Its shareholders are the Minister for public expenditure and the Minister for housing, and the Minister for housing appoints the board

obvious the Government does not want to solve the housing crisis. It has dropped the pretence. It has no targets, it is curtailing the tenant in situ scheme, it has always resisted rent controls and its homelessness figures continue to rise. It does absolutely nothing about … stop the flow into homelessness. It is planning to remove even the minimal rent controls. It does not want to solve the housing crisis. The truth about the Government's housing policy was revealed in the White House in the exchange between Donald Trump and Micheál Martin. When

Sullivan introduced in 2017. There was talk last year that this Bill was going to be included in the Government's miscellaneous housing Bill. It never made the Bill, but it is an important and practical measure. I have begun the steps of restoring this Bill … years now. The Labour Party introduced legislation in 2021 to enact its recommendations. We know land is at the centre of the housing crisis. Many of the problems we face at present could have been avoided had this report been implemented. The report's recommendation that local authorities

thank the Minister for being here for the debate. We have already spoken at length since the formation of this Dáil about the housing crisis. We all accept that the one thing we can all agree on is that it is a very acute crisis. Certainly … crisis that has deepened in recent years and we must find solutions to it. We will agree that whatever about individual measures, housing supply is ultimately the only solution to resolve this issue. We saw the report from the Central Bank today where the increase in property prices

This debate is welcome. As a former member of the housing committee, we have debated the issues in the Housing Commission report and have had lengthy debates on proposals to amend the Constitution. It was clear to me at the committee that, while an amendment to the Constitution … would strengthen the State’s ability to regulate and provide more public housing, the idea that it would be simple to pass a housing amendment, particularly given the experience of the referendums last year, is something we would have to give great consideration

Minister of State for being here and I wish them luck in their portfolios. I appreciate the opportunity to focus on the Housing Commission report and on housing today. I agree with the view of the commission that we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach … housing delivery, and that we need a critical mass of social, affordable and cost-rental housing. I will put forward my view about how we go about that. If we want communities to stop pushing back on planning applications for apartments, we have to make them available

colleagues, I thank the Labour Party for this debate. I have spent the past couple of years listening to the debates in this House on housing. As a younger person, I find it really hard to stomach the Government's rhetoric on housing. Rarely does it acknowledge … situation is, with unaffordable rents, soaring house prices and record homelessness. There is a real catastrophe for people in their daily lives because of the Government's housing policies. Instead, time and again, the Government tells us that it is turning a corner. It has turned so many

future. I cannot think of any better job to prepare you for being a grandparent than being an usher in Leinster House and herding the bag of cats that is often the TDs in this place. We wish him all the very best. The definition of insanity … doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. When it comes to housing, the seven threadbare pages of the programme for Government are the very definition of insanity. The Government uses the words "ambition" and "detailed". There is no ambition in these seven

propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Monday, 14 September. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 22 October. The committee works to ensure a cross-government approach to the implementation of our commitments regarding housing policy … Housing supply has increased significantly over the past number of years, with recent home completions data showing almost 17,000 new homes built in the first half of 2026. This is a rise of 11% on the same period in 2025 and the highest number of half-year

introduction, their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, the retention of landlords and attracting new investment; — the review of RPZs by the Housing Agency involved comprehensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the Residential Tenancies … continues to show resilience; — Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, recognises that the rental market is an important element of a well-functioning housing system, it contains a suite of measures to support domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply

move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to provide for universal access to social housing by abolishing income-related criteria. Why should we remove the income limits for social housing? I argue there are many … month and every year there is a constant and growing flow of households, which having waited sometimes in excess of ten years on housing lists, sometimes just before they are allocated a house are thrown off the housing list. This might be because they got a pay rise

more interested in looking after speculators and issuing nice press statements, we see it with what happened in the budget. We have a housing crisis. This will not solve the housing crisis but it is a small step. This is a solution we are bringing forward … charge enough. As if that is not bad enough, the Minister announced the derelict sites tax and then said that, as Minister for housing, he would have a war on dereliction. That is a load of bull because the tax does not come in until

Club. I was recently with the Land Development Agency, LDA, on the southside, where an existing boxing club has been incorporated into a housing development. A new boxing club is being built in the housing development. That is the way to go. Is the local authority involved … Deputy might give me the details. Deputy Shane Moynihan spoke about the interdependence of the national transport plan in terms of infrastructure and housing delivery. Housing delivery will depend on infrastructure delivery. I am acutely aware of planning considerations. South Dublin County Council is looking

cuts to the richest in our society. Instead, the Government could be guaranteeing that working people and families had access to affordable housing, groceries and childcare. That would be the sign of a strong and functioning economy. It is increasing costs on workers and families while refusing … crony class at the expense of local communities and the taxpayers whom the Government has kicked in the teeth with today's budget. Housing is the biggest crisis facing all families across the State. The Government continually insists that housing is its number one priority but its actions

with it and the focus it puts on the absence of infrastructure. I will not support the narrative on this side of the House to the effect that objections are causing the planning problems. That is a false, self-serving narrative. My office has just submitted a question … system. At any given time, I am told there are 500. I tried my best to elicit a response from the Department of housing lately but failed. However, it confirmed the number was around 500. We should not scapegoat objectors. I do not know any objectors; I know

have put them forward and we are putting them forward again tonight. The Opposition parties are bringing this motion to highlight that this housing crisis is no longer just a crisis. In fact, it has not been a crisis for many years, it is and has been … fact, beyond an emergency, it is a social catastrophe. When we look at what has happened in terms of the housing crisis and this record - we can talk about a new Government, but this is a continuation of the previous Government, which has within it Members who have

glad to get the opportunity to talk about housing again. This is a crisis. Everyone recognises that it is a crisis. I am not one bit happy that landlords or homeowners are being blamed for what is happening in the rental sector. Every side seems to be pointing … people who own houses and are trying to rent them out. I point out that I do have no house only my own. There are many vacant houses. I have asked the Government before to halve the tax or do something with it, such

mílte tithe agus á gcur i mbaol. For years we have listened to the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, say that housing is their number one priority yet every single day we get headlines about Government's failures and incompetence which is putting the delivery … thousands of homes at risk. Let us take this week alone. First, we had the Central Bank and the ESRI telling the Oireachtas housing committee that the Government will not meet its housing targets this year or next year and that without a major policy change, it will

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planned and/or allocated expenditure on infrastructure intended to facilitate housing delivery for each of the years 2026 to 2030, broken down between rural areas and villages, towns and cities; and, where expenditure cannot be categorised … this manner, the way in which the geographic distribution of housing-enabling infrastructure investment is monitored, in tabular form. [73635/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the measures contained in the European Affordable Housing Plan have been incorporated into the review or amendment of regional and local planning and housing strategies; and, if so, to identify the relevant measures and implementation

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units secured under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2024, broken down by local authority and by year; the number of those units that were agreed as social housing, affordable

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 66731/26, whether his Department has assessed housing demand using the 2022 Census data; if so, the estimated level of housing demand identified; and if he will provide the figures

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has formally instructed local authorities to include specific targets for UD+ (wheelchair liveable) dwellings within their Housing Delivery Action Plans; whether annual and five-year targets for universally designed housing, including wheelchair

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether the current housing legislation is sufficiently prescriptive in terms of directing local authorities to the criteria which they must consider when allocating available council housing. [73417/26

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagements by him or officials in his Department concerning the failure of Wicklow County Council to commence any social or affordable housing schemes in Arklow, County Wicklow; and the pressure he may be able … place on the council to develop housing in the town. [71709/26

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to identify the housing projects or zoned residential lands in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk which have been identified to his Department or the Housing Activation Office as being constrained by deficits in water, wastewater, electricity

Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of new build social housing projects in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk which are included in his Department’s social housing construction pipeline; the number of homes in each project; and the current stage

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department collects national data on under-occupation of local authority housing stock; and whether national guidance or targets are in place to ensure that scarce social housing is appropriately matched to household need

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated in 2027 for housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability, and the number of grants expected to be funded, within the over €750 million provided in Budget … address specific housing needs, compared with the €130 million for 17,000 grants provided in Budget 2026. [71821/26

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for funding to be made available to local authorities through the Housing Activation Office for projects to unlock housing. [72451/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will review the mortgage to rent scheme purchase price caps in light of house price inflation, particularly in those non urban areas that have experienced significant second hand house price inflation in recent

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority or an approved housing body's I.S. 465 building professional recommends option 1 remediation (details supplied), his power to seek documentary evidence and request review by the Housing Agency can result

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the housing assistance payment scheme will be extended to include the housing asset-owning parents of persons with additional needs and disabilities. [69734/26

Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the delivery of cost-rental housing; the measures being taken to support local authorities and approved housing bodies in increasing supply; and his priorities for the further expansion of the cost-rental

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable houses that have been delivered in County Meath in 2025 and to date in 2026; and his plans to increase the amount of affordable housing in County Meath. [67875/26

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration being given to the payment of Housing Assistance Payment to parents or guardians of an adult with a disability, who may own a second property that could be adapted if necessary & lived … their family member, with appropriately matched additional occupants with a disability, thereby removing them earlier from lengthy Local Authority social housing lists. [68070/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware that local authorities are only providing tenant moves from the private rental sector, and signing first time social housing tenancy agreements two weeks to move into their council property … weeks HAP from the date the social housing tenancy is signed for, despite the fact that the Residential tenancies Act requires private tenants to provide between 4 and 6 weeks notice on termination of a tenancy; and if he will review the matter to ensure that local authorities

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units which could potentially be delivered through the conversion of vacant and derelict buildings in town and city centres; the estimated number of such buildings suitable for residential conversion … will set out the Government’s strategy for maximising this source of housing supply. [64680/26

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether properties owned or operated by an approved housing body (AHB), including supported accommodation, rehabilitation centres, and other residential facilities provided by an AHB for housing or care-related purposes, are eligible for assistance under

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if current social housing tenants, including HAP and RAS tenants, will be included in the improved protocols for the allocation of social housing to victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse; and if he will

asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the engagement he or his Department have had with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the provisions contained in section 5.2 of the Draft National Housing Statement relating to multi-unit housing developments

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to review existing housing policy to ensure that people who become permanently disabled are not left trapped in unsuitable accommodation because of current housing schemes (details supplied) and the lack of flexibility

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the qualifying threshold for social housing to allow low income workers qualify for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53597/26