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Before We Die group. I am very conscious of the need to join together the disability Department, the HSE and the Department of housing in respect of sustainable long-term residential accommodation for disabled adults. There is a spectrum in terms of dependency and the needs for various … levels of support for people to go into a housing situation. It cannot be a case where providers of services tell people to go to the local authority and apply for what will be general support services in time. That is not a sustainable model, in my view

Féin as an tairiscint thábhachtach seo a chur chun cinn. Tá géarchéim tithíochta ar fud na tíre. Tá éigeandáil ann. There is a housing crisis all over this country. It is an emergency. Is fadhb ar leith í sa Ghaeltacht. There is a specific crisis that affects … glacadh ar cíos. Young people are leaving the Gaeltacht, just like they are leaving this country, because there is a lack of housing to buy or rent. There is a fundamental flaw within the Government's housing policies, which is the over-reliance on the private market

suffering in the context of getting staff, such as nurses and doctors, to come and live in the area. We need to incentivise housing in the area. We need to provide affordable and social housing. We need to provide low-cost sites in the area. We also need … bring back the housing grants. This is the only way we will get people to return and live in these regions. They are beautiful parts of the world but scenery will not provide a living. We need to encourage people with other ideas. I call for the grants

aged pensioners. One old-aged couple's rent is increasing from €63 to over €80, over €20. It is absolutely terrible. In a housing crisis, as people struggle to get on the property ladder, many adult children have remained in the family home to save money … deposit or mortgage. Their parents are now being punished for helping their children save for a house because if their earnings are more than their parents, their parents' rent goes up substantially. This has been a big shock for many people who are already struggling financially. Parents

this chaos, we now have new residential tenancy rules and the mass exodus of many small landlords from the housing system. I have met many of these small property owners. They were all people who worked hard, contributed to our economy, paid their taxes and decided … leading to this backlog. This backlog has escalated dramatically in the past few years, potentially impacting property transactions, agricultural transactions, conveyancing and housing market efficiency across Ireland. This highlights the urgency of ongoing efforts to clear applications and prevent further escalation and delays. I was also able

losing up to 8 m to 10 m from their coast each year. It is estimated that, in Wexford alone, over 1,400 houses are at risk, and in Ireland, it is estimated that almost 100,000 people's homes are in danger from coastal erosion. The severity … facing significant loss and damage to their coastal defences. This is having a huge impact, not only on the land and housing, but also on beloved community amenities. We must also look at Irish Rail. There is a stretch from Dublin to Wicklow town that is under severe

occupational therapists due to begin work in 45 special schools on a phased basis from April. I am pleased to inform the House that the initial recruitment campaign for 90 therapists is now closed, with interviews currently under way. There was a very good response with almost … NCSE undertakes a robust process to ensure they are based on the care needs of an individual school because - as Members of the House are aware - SNAs are allocated to schools, not individual children. The NCSE is not charged with cutting resources. It appreciates the complexities of young

once surrounded your suffering is broken is a moment of light shining in the darkness. We have heard, as we should, in this House on many occasions of the systematically cold and harsh treatment of children and the endemic culture of abuse which went unchecked in our State … long. It is right that we should hear these harsh truths in this House and it is right that we should apologise for them. In truth, we can never apologise enough for what happened. In May 1999, the Government apologised to the victims of childhood abuse and recognised

that would be part of an assessment that would be carried out regarding this. If we look at it now, we have social housing development in the Gaeltacht. In every single social development in the Gaeltacht in Donegal, 80% of the houses have to be given to Irish … reach a certain standard in terms of Irish. That is one of arm of government saying that for those people who have a housing need, and there are people in the Gaeltacht who cannot speak Irish and have a housing need who also need to be accommodated

know that house prices are too high for too many but it is also important that we do not misunderstand what a median price is. A median price does not refer to every house or indeed a typical house, as the Deputy said, in Dublin. Anyone who searches … being first-time buyers. I want to put those facts out there to have a rounded conversation on where we are at regarding housing, housing supply and first-time buyers. Yes, I will say that supply is the key to all of this because it is. We have

made to the Tánaiste - the CSO has said this very clearly, and I am sure the Tánaiste does not dispute it - is that house prices have gone up €100,000 in four years alone. In the past year, they have gone up €32,000. Is the Government listening … colleagues that their lives are being put on hold and that they have lost a decade as a result of Government policies on housing? The social fabric is breaking down. Some people see no future here because of affordability issues. I am asking the Tánaiste what the Government

weeks. I acknowledge the upset and devastation that has been experienced by people across the country recently. Seeing one's home, business, housing estate or town under water and trying to manage the clean up and repairs has to be a very stressful and devastating experience. I will … weeks, the village has faced what its residents are saying is the worst flooding they have seen in over 20 years with several houses and properties flooded after the River Derry burst its banks. Around 300 people live in Clonegal and at least eight houses were badly affected

tenant in situ scheme? Elected members in Kerry have been asking the local authority to buy land banks to build local authority houses in small villages, such as Scotia's Glen, Gneeveguilla, Firies, Curragh, Currans and all these places. I hear the council is slow to buy these … proposal on modular homes? I do not see them materialising in Kerry. It was to be a faster way of delivering housing. The problem, which I raise here continually, is that many people in Kerry cannot build a house of their own because they cannot get planning permission

stamped copy from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. We had three days of Second Stage debate on that Bill in the House earlier this month. In fact, on the third day, frankly, we ran out of speakers, not only from the Opposition but also from the Government … assessment in respect of it. That is why a decision was made to have Committee Stage taken on the floor of the House. We are going to have a very thorough consideration of amendments that have been put forward by colleagues on Committee Stage, which has been allotted

Earlier, the Minister spoke about the democratic process and how the EU migration and asylum pact was democratically voted through by the Houses of the Oireachtas and, therefore, there should be no question of it or the implications for Irish sovereignty. To be clear, when I say, “Irish … have three amendments in this regard. I have moved amendment No. 2. It expressly states it should be the will of these Houses to ensure no external body or institution would have the ability to make laws in respect of migration or international protection without the express approval

responded to a request by the Department and put forward a site in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow. This was River Lodge, or Trudder House, in Newtownmountkennedy. It was offered to the Department. That site had been long fought for by the community to be handed over for community purposes … public representatives like me and councillors and other TDs within the constituency looking for answers as to what was being planned at Trudder House. We reached out to the community liaison person who was in place. I can only say that the community felt they were lied

tried to create a housing crisis, you could not do a better job than this Government is doing. It has allowed investor funds to come in and purchase family homes - ordinary homes - from under the feet of families who need them. Big corporations and big multinationals are coming … money while families are looking for a roof over their heads and for their own homes. The Government has created a situation where house prices have increased by 50% in the last five years. We have record homelessness. We have sky-high rents that are outside the availability

failed to increase funding to tackle voids, leaving more than 200 council home properties always vacant in Limerick in the middle of a housing emergency. Last week, to top it off, the Minister pushed through a Bill that will increase yearly rents … renters. It is a legacy of failure, missteps and an inability or unwillingness to address any aspect of the housing crisis or treat it as the emergency it is. Prior to last year's election, the Government misled voters about the number of housing completions that took place

thank the Sinn Féin Party for bringing this motion to the House. This is not about stopping funds but about building enough homes for Irish families to be able to afford to live in their own communities. It is well worth noting that. We know that … people aged 18 to 34 are still living in their parents' box rooms. That is a fact. Since 2020, house prices are up by 40%. Rents increased by 84% from 2020 to 2022. Some places are recording increases of between 150% and 200% in rents. Last week

years at a time it is blatantly evident that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael simply are not capable of dealing with the housing crisis. Many people chose to forget the two so-called opponents of Irish politics, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, were forced to drop the facade … coalesce in large part as a response to the public outcry in 2020 at the housing crisis and the failures of those parties to address it. Let us ask what has happened since. Let us compare December 2020 to where we are now. House prices have increased

thank Deputy McGrath for his useful information. I will bring it back to the Minister. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is focused on ensuring that existing houses are utilised to their full extent. The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, reinforces … derelict buildings to be remediated back to rental standards and designated as social homes. The scheme will be open to local authorities, approved housing bodies and small builders or contractors. Further information will be available in the coming weeks. It will be a matter for all local authorities

State construction company, which is about social housing, I think they would acknowledge, and would take a minimum of two years to establish. We already have the Land Development Agency, which is doing social housing and affordable housing and will also be doing private housing and doing that … Social Democrats want to create a new agency on top of that just to do social housing, to have direct labour, which I think will be very problematic and challenging in the construction labour market we have in the modern era and I am not so sure

Deputies who submitted amendments to this Bill. I have to agree it is a terrible Bill. The Minister said he is solving the housing crisis. I do not think anyone buys that. I do not think anyone out there buys that. I do not think the electorate buys … that comment. I rise today to speak for renters, who, although they make up 30% of the population, are seldom heard in this House or in our public conversation. I am a renter. I have rented my entire adult life. I want to be clear that I have

they are certainly based on no change. We are going to drive supply. Everything I have done since becoming Minister for housing has been to address the housing crisis in this country, and I have always acknowledged there is a housing crisis in this country. Everything I have … done is to try to address the housing crisis to get people into the homes they need, whether they are social, affordable or private, for rent or ownership, or for people in towns, villages, rural Ireland or inner cities. We have to solve that housing crisis, which

counselling is incorrect, it will be far more difficult to reach the correct decision later. Second Stage of the legislative process in this House is about the principles of the legislation. Committee Stage is not designed to introduce entirely new substantive measures that affect liberty, family life … natural justice without seeing the protections that make it lawful. I do not see how any qualified barrister or solicitor in this House could possibly countenance such a vote, without also saying that legal principles, jurisprudence and their constitutional obligations do not matter. That this House, the primary

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current income limits that apply for social housing applicants in counties Cavan and Monaghan; whether he will amend those limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5186/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be made available to Carlow County Council in 2026 for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5286/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be made available to Kilkenny County Council in 2026 for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5287/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives being taken to support affordable housing in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5291/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives being taken to support affordable housing in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5292/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties in Carlow County Council housing stock at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5296/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when income eligibility limits for local authority housing in Carlow and Kilkenny will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5302/26

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals and associated targets to deliver age-friendly housing in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5303/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the drafting of the regulations and statutory instruments required to implement the Government’s revised rent control and rental sector reforms due to commence on 1 March 2026; the number … Department; the remaining steps necessary before publication; and the timeline by which he expects all required regulations to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [5313/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the eligibility criteria for the vacant property refurbishment grant, in light of concerns that limiting eligibility to individuals, is impeding town-centre housing delivery; his views on whether the exclusion of companies

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail his plans to develop and support a co-operative housing sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5098/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to a referendum on the right to housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5099/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail his plans to build public construction capacity to ensure Ireland has the workers needed to deliver a housing savings scheme in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5102/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the way in which affordable housing will be prioritised under Ireland’s EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5104/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any review of the qualifying income thresholds for cost rental housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3326/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the research and analysis that informed the decision regarding the qualifying income thresholds for cost rental housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3327/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby an individual cannot qualify for cost rental housing due to being below the income threshold but if they apply with their partner, they are over the income

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional funding that was provided to the Housing Agency in Budget 2026; if this will allow the agency to commence regulation of the owners' management company sector; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social rental housing units being provided in 2022, 2023, and 2024 under payment and availability agreement arrangements (P&A); the total cost of these agreements in these years; and the average

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the 3,504 non-EEA persons referenced in his Department's homelessness statistics for November 2025 qualify for emergency accommodation; the legal duty the State owes to non-EEA nationals to provide … them with housing; the criteria which non-EEA nationals must meet in order to qualify for emergency accommodation; and the statutory basis for these criteria. [3705/26

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the house price ceilings under the local authority home loan. [3745/26

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assistance available for a family who have received a notice of termination from their landlord and are over the income threshold for social housing support and who cannot avail of the cost rental tenant

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the 'owner occupier guarantee', as set out in the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021, and on the number of houses and duplexes that have been

Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason his Department transferred a question (details supplied) to the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage for reply given his Department is engaging with the issue under discussion as noted in the response from the Minister … Housing; Local Government and Heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4415/26

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the priority being given to native Irish speakers in application for planning permission and the purchase of houses in Gaeltacht areas. [2980/26