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huge impact on them and their families and on their mental health and well-being. Similarly, there is no choice in housing, because much of the time, people cannot access accessible housing. It is not being built. We should have far more ambition in housing … disabled citizens, so that they have access to living independently. We should have far more little villages and community areas with housing, where people can live together, but independently and have their own space. We should be developing much more of that housing, but we are not. Employment

automatic appointment of a receiver would provide some leeway in this regard. I envisage a situation, for example, whereby a four-bedroom house, after a two-year period and following any appeals, could be transferred immediately to a family on a local authority housing list … approved housing body. Before that, however, someone who is near or at the top of the housing list and who is in receipt of the housing assistance payment could be allowed live at the property while the final adjudication is being made, with any rental income going

locations for such facilities on a stand-alone basis through the zoning of land for recreation, social and community uses. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has provided formal guidance to planning authorities on the preparation of development plans, including on the provision of accompanying amenities … relevant local authorities, Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in this instance, and they must use their wide range of functions in housing, transport, amenities development and infrastructural delivery to achieve the objectives of the plan, including in relation to the provision of amenities. The making

been following the steps set out in the reply. It is because Government was not providing a sufficient amount of social housing in other areas and a lot of housing here was then provided, which was not initially planned, and for which there were no development levies. While … area was planned to have development levies to pay for community infrastructure, due to Government policy a lot of that housing came without any development levies. The problem with that is that it still needs infrastructure. Social housing still needs infrastructure. If you are going to get social

with prepared remarks to defend the indefensible. He and this Government unfailingly refuse to reckon with the enormity of the problem in housing. The Government is tinkering around the edges of failed policies while the situation deteriorates even further, leaving in its wake a litany of shattered dreams … figure the Minister of State just cited, a success? The longer this goes on, with more and more people in these precarious housing situations, the greater the chance that the vicissitudes of life, such as a cancer diagnosis, bereavement or loss of income, will come at the same

Government is simply saying we are maintaining and increasing public investment in housing from the State, the largest actor in housing right now, while also creating the conditions to facilitate far greater private sector investment in house building and apartment building in particular, which needs to increase … fundamental way to deal with housing is to increase supply significantly over the next number of years. We have gone from a situation pre-2020 when about 20,000 houses were being built per annum, which was too low, to about 33,000 now. We need

reform, but bureaucracy dressed up as progress. The Bill does not fix our broken health system. It merely rearranges the furniture in a house that is already on fire. It tinkers with the governance structures while ignoring the real crisis, which is the daily struggle of patients … longer any issue with the nursing home. There is another one in Conna near Fermoy. I also raised the issue of Perrott House. I hate to use the word "abuse" but abuse can come in different forms. We have seen what goes on in some nursing homes. Families

made under section 44B will provide the screening procedures for EIA and AA to facilitate this provision. Given the urgent need to increase housing supply, section 44B enables a limited number of modifications to existing planning permissions to facilitate the building of much-needed apartment developments while ensuring … policy requirements contained in the recently published Planning Design Standards for Apartments, Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2025. Viability presents an ongoing challenge to housing delivery and this is particularly relevant for the delivery of apartments, where a considerable gap has emerged between the cost of delivering apartment development

being built are going to be bought by anybody. They are all going to be build-to-rent or they will be social housing, and there is a massive question about micro-social housing units where people will be forced into overcrowding. Again, is this about jacking … homes for Ireland savings scheme we could be leveraging the billions that are in savings accounts – which is private finance – into affordable housing. The Taoiseach and the Minister have said we are putting forward no solutions and the State needs private finance, so there is a source

connections between the housing crisis, homelessness and domestic violence have been shown over and over again. The state of the housing emergency is having direct impacts on women and their children being unable to flee situations of violence. Indeed, front-line domestic violence services repeatedly raise concerns that … housing crisis is forcing victims to either stay with the perpetrator or enter homelessness services because of the lack of appropriate supports. Then, these mothers decide that bringing their children into homelessness or inappropriate emergency accommodation would further traumatise the children, so they go into hidden homelessness. They

largely illegible for ordinary people. That is a more general point. I make two other points on the issues at the heart of housing. The first is about water and I make this comment specifically in the context of my own area of Dún Laoghaire. Generally, south Dublin … something we need to address as a matter of urgency. There are a number of solutions, which I have set out in this House before, to deal with not just reforming that system but the separation of water and the reuse of water in a domestic context

worked out in the future. Another example is from Ashbourne, County Meath, where councillors voted against the total provision of social housing. There is a huge need for affordable housing in that area but, again, the purchase price will never deliver affordable social or, indeed, affordable private purchase … great potential there, similar to what the Danes do with their andelsbolig model and, closer to us, Leeds has the LILAC co-operative housing model. As the Minister said at the committee meeting, the infrastructure is there and the price of land may be lower in some cases

Ireland's best interests to opt in, this is best done under Article 4 of Protocol 21 when we can examine in these Houses the final contents of the regulation and are in a position as an Oireachtas to satisfy ourselves that this is the case. The majority … requests for effective protection in that country. Irish law, of course, could just be changed to reflect some of these changes - if this House were to decide that is what is required - where they make sense and are in line with Irish interests and values. The option

sites on which we wanted to build homes. We wanted to do that in a way that provided mixed communities. In recent years, Housing for All has given Dublin City Council the ability to build those mixed communities on those public sites through cost-rental, affordable and social … housing. Across my constituency, many sites are proceeding on that basis, Oscar Traynor Road being the largest. People are delighted to see construction taking place and homes being built. It was with some disappointment that we saw the Minister decide not to proceed with bundle 3. That bundle

very clearly that this was, in essence, the only provision of the legislation that prevented unanimity on its passing through the House. With a bit of humility on the part of the Government by accepting that it had got this wrong, we could have had the Bill passed … through the House unanimously. Virtually every other amendment apart from this one is technical in nature on Report Stage. We would have been here for a short number of minutes and got the Bill passed, and the Minister could have said that he had addressed many

thank both Deputies. Increasing housing supply in all parts of the country is critical. The variation process in terms of the county development plans is a very important part of this. That is why such extensive work has been done in the Department to ensure that the housing … they also allow for additional headroom in terms of zoning requirements for local authorities. We want additional land to be brought forward for housing across the country. On Deputy Timmins's point, the Minister met the CEOs and directors of services for housing and planners very recently

last week relating to security of tenure are welcome, they were undermined completely by allowing landlords to reset rents to market rate. The Housing Commission was clear that social and affordable housing should form 20% of our housing stock. It currently forms less than 10% of all housing … deal with child homelessness, but also include our homeless families Bill that is sitting in the ether for eight years in the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill 2025. Words are not enough. The Government has the authority to act, pass legislation and as the Tánaiste said last year when

from the town centre and has all the necessary services, including water, wastewater, telecommunications, footpaths, etc. There is a huge demand for housing in Ballina. The board cited preserving agricultural land and housing targets in its decision. The board has chosen bureaucratic rigidity over people. It has chosen … preferring cows to couples in search of a home. It is incredible that this development was refused on the basis of potentially exceeding housing targets when housing delivery is on the floor in Ballina and across Mayo. The rhetoric of the Government in terms of urgency and delivery

problem is that we keep coming in here and having these debates. We talk about the whole issue of high rents, high house prices and the lack of affordable housing. However, nothing that has been presented by Government is anywhere close to a solution. I welcome what … operation. I brought this issue up multiple times last week and I will put it back on the table. With regard to disability housing, I have been contacted, as I am sure have many others, by the likes of St. John of God's about its approved housing

being treated - by some. I do not want to tar everybody with the same brush. When we hear what is said in this House sometimes, and rightly so, in defence of innocent, elderly people who are being abused, it can seem as if staff in every nursing home … stand for, but it has not stopped. We all know the crisis that is out there at the moment. I raised Perrott House in Skibbereen in the House with the Tánaiste last week. Families, who had people inside in Perrott House in Skibbereen, were told six or seven

round, all of the measures we are taking are to try to get a bit of momentum back into private investment in our housing market to increase supply. We saw during the lifetime of the last Government that the number of houses very significantly increased from approximately … making more developments exempt from planning, particularly in gardens, attics and the like. It is why we published, and got through this House, a new national planning framework to provide more zoned land. It is why we are establishing a housing activation office - to break down silos

Central Bank housing figures, out today, show with terrifying clarity the housing disaster that the Government’s policies have created. Not only did the Government mislead the public in the election by stating 40,000 homes would be built last year but it will not reach anywhere near … homes this year or next year. It is also pulling the plug on social housing projects due to commence on site in the coming weeks. These figures show that the biggest blockage to solving the housing crisis is this Government’s policies. The Government is delusional in thinking

moving fast because renters need protection. From the day after the passing of this Bill, with the co-operation of both Houses of the Oireachtas and enactment by President Higgins, the current RPZ rent increase restriction will apply throughout the country. No rent increase can exceed … give effect to the new measures announced for March. The impending changes to rent controls have been informed by the findings of the Housing Agency review of RPZs, and potential policy options, and its preferred recommendation to modify the operation of the existing RPZ rent controls

again that housing is the number one issue affecting my generation. It was the biggest issue by far and away for me on the doors, whether I was speaking to people my own age; getting messages from people on social media saying they would love to be able … drafting of the legislation to extend and expand the operation of the rent pressure zones, we are now bringing this Bill to the House today. While the rental measures announced have been necessarily complex for what is a very complex issue to respond to the different situations

market. Meanwhile, a new investment fund can come in from abroad. The Minister is saying we need to have outside investment to build houses, but these funds set the rents at the top end of the market. They are the ones who push it up. The Government … could set up a scheme whereby it would be in charge and would have a strategic plan. In terms of targeting housing and putting certainty into the market, every housing development should be part of a strategic development zone. This would give certainty as to what communities

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the National Planning Statement for planning for rural housing will be published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67543/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Mayo County Council has delivered only 3% of its 2025 social housing target to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67927/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which Mayo County Council will meet its cumulative Housing for All target of 730 units by 2026, given that only 3% of this year's target has been delivered to date and only

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will direct Mayo County Council to publish a quarterly dashboard of housing delivery progress, including commencements, completions, and pipeline projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67929/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households on the social housing waiting list and transfer list in County Mayo for 2025 and the past five years; the way these compared to the 1,311 households recorded in April

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has identified staffing shortages and internal bottlenecks in Mayo County Council's planning office as a cause of the 43% fall in new housing completions; and if he will make a statement

number of residents in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres in Mayo; the number who have received status and require transition to community housing or other alternative types of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67934/25

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is engaging with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that local authority funding pressures do not unduly increase costs for small businesses through higher commercial rates; and if he will

Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has undertaken, or will undertake, a whole-of-Government review of local authority funding pressures, including roads, housing, climate adaptation and other statutory functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of compulsory purchase orders of derelict or vacant houses made by each of the 31 local authorities, for each year 2020 to 2024 and so far in 2025; and if he will make

Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the number of unfinished housing estates in counties Roscommon and Galway; the current taking-in-charge applications processed and underway in both counties; if he would consider putting in place

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to monitor and improve statutory decision-making timelines in An Coimisiún Pleanála, including for strategic housing developments, large-scale residential developments and planning appeals; the current performance data held

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline any involvement his Department will have with the special purpose vehicle established to implement the recommendations of the Dublin City Taskforce Roadmap for Delivery, as discussed in the recently published housing plan

Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on any recent tripartite engagements between his Department, Dublin City Council and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress the delivery of affordable housing; if the number

November 2025, if public office holders where their income is solely derived from their role as a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas and they cease to be a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the way in which they are expected to be eligible

Central Statistics Office (or other measurement body) includes children who are living in emergency accommodation (including family homelessness or temporary emergency housing); if not, the number of such children; and whether there are plans to incorporate them into the measure to ensure the target covers all children … vulnerable housing situations. [61985/25

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline details of new affordable housing schemes being supported by his Department; to provide details of submissions received from Laois County Council for the development of such schemes; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out any assessment of the staffing, technical and financial resources required by local authorities to meet the 12,000 social homes annual target; and if he will outline any planned … increases in housing, engineering, procurement or planning capacity for those authorities. [66581/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to ensure that zoning, servicing, water capacity and planning permissions are aligned with the 12,000-unit annual social housing target; and if he will provide any internal reports

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of long-term vacant social housing units in Cork city and Cork county; the average turnaround time for void units in both authorities; and the planned targets for reducing long-term voids

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer arising from long-term voids in local authority housing stock since 2020; and if he will provide the method used for calculating this estimate. [66584/25

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the concerns regarding the exclusion of a Kildare housing estate from the interim remediation scheme following a serious fire, which was raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations of the approved housing bodies strategic forum report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65673/25

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures to increase social housing availability under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65487/25

Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated to local authorities to bring vacant properties back into public use for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65437/25