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payments above the prescribed maximum rent limit; and why we recently met as a Government with Dublin City Council, its director of housing and its chief executive – that is myself, the Taoiseach, the Minister for housing and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing - to see what … more can be done in relation to faster delivery of social housing. I accept it is an area in which we have a huge amount more work to do but both pieces of work are important. Driving implementation of the Dublin city centre task force is key while

side of Cork city. It has many retired people but the population in the area is growing as well, with over 1,500 houses being built within a 1 mile radius of the library. It also caters for residents in Dillon's Cross, St. Luke's and upper … growing population of the area. It is an essential facility for the north-east side of Cork city, but also for the new housing that is being built in the immediate area. The housing is being built at a very fast pace. Over a three-year period

committed to delivering on the targets across all pillars of the plan. The strategy delivers on the programme for Government commitment to increase housing supply and tackle homelessness with an ambitious target to deliver 15,000 starter homes annually to 2033 via local authorities, approved housing bodies … Agency, the first home scheme, the vacant properties refurbishment grant and the help to buy scheme. The next iteration of the local authority housing delivery action plan will shortly commence outlining local authorities plans to deliver in their areas over the next five years. The LDA has also

criteria are to get the expanded D-Doc services, and I am getting no answers back about the criteria. There has been major housing growth and we are continuing to see major housing growth. The reality is that Fingal is the growth engine for housing in Dublin … have not had the increase in health services, education, public transport, roads or other services that need to go with the delivery of houses. I find it concerning that the HSE service planning is relying on historical data or telling me that what was established

Action Ireland, it has given me a fantastic briefing note and some very important pieces of information I want to lay before the House. An estimated 160,000 people, 1% to 2% of adults and 5% to 6% of children, live with food allergies. A 2024 study from … schools we have in the country. That statistic is quite stark and at the end of the day, all of us in this House, party politics aside, every single one of us wants to ensure children feel safe in their school environment. A parent and nurse in Dublin

thank Deputies from across the House for their contributions to this debate. Obviously, as we have heard, the strength of feeling on this issue is evident. Having sat through this debate, a range of views have been expressed. The Government welcomes the engagement. There are serious issues that … consecutive year. Furthermore, Ireland now has the lowest level of GHG emissions in 35 years. That progress has been achieved while the population, housing stock and economy continue to grow. It has been suggested that the Government is failing to protect vulnerable households from recent fuel price pressure

thank the Aire Stáit. I commend him on staying in the House for the debate. It is important that Ministers who represent the country abroad hear the differing voices in the House. Statements on the European Council are always a very valuable exercise to allow … referring to the idea of an elected President using her powers, as outlined in the Constitution, to consider a Bill passed in this House, along with representatives appointed by her and representatives of both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Constitution dates back to 1937. Sometimes we take

Time." I am delighted to be here today to introduce the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill to the House. The purpose of the Bill is to reduce the appeal and accessibility of e-cigarettes, vapes and other nicotine products such as pouches … also reviewing our national tobacco control policy to determine the best pathway to a truly tobacco-free Ireland. Before I take the House through the sections of the Bill, I would like to take this opportunity to remind us all of Ireland's obligations under the Framework Convention

They opposed the project in Ballymastone as well. People are now living in those houses. The Social Democrats cannot just keep opposing everything and claim they are serious about housing. That is the point I am making. Choices have to be made. As regards the planning in terms … major package of exempted development regulations to reduce planning bureaucracy. Planning bureaucracy has slowed us down in terms of housing provision. This will speed up delivery of additional units and maximise existing housing stock. It frees local authority resources for large-scale projects, introduces clear national standards, allows

poverty target. This captures the multidimensional nature of child poverty and well-being, as alongside income supports, we are also advancing actions in housing, employment, childcare and public services. The Government’s new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social … homelessness. This funding will be used specifically to acquire suitable units to exit families who are the longest in emergency accommodation and for Housing First units for individuals with complex needs who are experiencing homelessness. Given the importance of this issue for child well-being, the Department

Construction Industry Federation has said housing delivery is being held back by significant delays in electricity connections. Last year, while 60,000 homes were commenced, completions remained far below what is needed. The Minister is saying housing is a national priority but the energy policy allowed massive developments … Minister says, anti-tech or anti-business. It is about sequencing, fairness and priorities. The data centres can wait for their connections; housing and families cannot. Homes must come before hyper-scale electricity demand from the large energy users. The bottom line is this. Housing is not failing

Deputy’s green credentials, in fairness. The Deputy makes a fair point. All of this is always a balance. We are in a housing emergency but the point is that we want people to move into those houses and for them to become homes. Practical requirements about where … reflected in terms of some of the specific challenges there might be in areas like Adamstown and Clonburris where particularly high densities of housing are going in. On foot of the Deputy raising the matter, I will discuss it with the Minister for housing

pollution or on broader questions of climate and emissions. The consequences of failing to meet them are something we have discussed in this House many times. Just as we need to reduce our carbon emissions to meet those binding EU targets, it is vital that we tackle … deaths every year. I did not grow up in a PD household - far from it - but Mary Harney was always respected in our house because of the stand she took on smoky coal in Dublin back in 1990. Thousands of lives have been saved. It was our Labour

that is a lot cheaper than the installation of a permanent system on their roof and allow them to plug it into their house. The Germans did it. There are examples. There is no complex planning and no major installation. We could even get a demonstration … exactly the kind of policy we should be working for - low cost, high impact and quick. Regarding everything else, we are talking about housing, healthcare and the cost of living, and rightfully so, but the quiet thing that we have not been discussing but will be going into

thank Deputy Gould for raising this important matter. Heather House Community Nursing Unit, CNU, provides important and valued services for the people of the northside of Cork city and surrounding areas. There is a typo in the reply. I understand the significant role the CNU plays … community and the importance of the facility. Heather House Community Nursing Unit was opened in 2011, and a 60-bed extension was added in 2023. The CNU is currently registered with HIQA to accommodate a maximum of 60 residents in two units, namely, Poppy and Lily, which

Community nursing units such as Heather House form an integral part of local communities and provide invaluable service to the people who live in those communities as they age. I have already outlined that there are currently 60 beds open in Heather House CNU. I will once again … year. I want to see if that can be expedited. When complete, this will bring the total capacity of the Heather House CNU to 102 beds. I am committed to maximising the number of beds for older people. As already mentioned, older persons' services in Cork will soon

beyond its capacity. This is not just a technical issue; it has real and tangible consequences for the town. It is restricting housing development, limiting business expansion and placing unnecessary pressure on local planning decisions. Quite simply, without adequate water infrastructure, Kanturk cannot grow … needs to. At a time when we are facing a national housing crisis, it is deeply frustrating that towns like Kanturk, which are willing and able to accommodate growth, are being constrained by outdated infrastructure. We cannot continue to speak about balanced regional development while allowing bottlenecks like

very much welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening on matters relating to football, the most popular team sport in Ireland. Football can take us from the absolute peaks of delight, such as when Troy Parrott's toe-poke delivered the miracle of Budapest … play-off semi-final against the Czech Republic in Prague ended in defeat, I am sure I speak for all in the House in congratulating Heimir Hallgrímsson and his troops on those performances. They have lifted the nation and breathed new life into Irish football, reconnecting with supporters

upward pressure on key costs, especially energy costs. I welcome an honest debate about getting electricity prices permanently down in international terms. The House will note a report published this morning which explicitly states that since 2022, Government measures have shielded consumers considerably. However, today I will focus … further than other governments and combine both general and targeted assistance. As I have said, I am happy to return to the House to discuss prices in general and action on affordability. A combination of immediate and long-term actions is required but any politician here who pretends

climate action commitments. It has arrogantly dismissed and consistently voted down constructive proposals from Labour and others in opposition on taking action on housing, workers’ rights and on the cost of living. The Government stopped sick pay increases and rowed back on a living wage. It voted down … Labour Party Bill on the right to remote working. It sneered at calls for stronger State action on housing or the development of a State construction company. The budget last October provided no relief for working people. It failed to index income taxes, removed vital once-off supports

Finally the Minister for housing says something about housing at the end of his speech. There was nothing to say about housing by the Minister for housing

serious wasters of public funding. Never has so much been spent to deliver so little. Much of our infrastructure is crumbling. Our housing crisis continues with 17,000 people in emergency accommodation and we have a broken planning process. A total of 22,200 children are waiting … there for a number of years but there is actually no local bus service on it. We have built hundreds of local authority houses and affordable houses through approved housing bodies in the area but there is no bus connection. Rail services, where they exist, are very slow

that I am all for speeding up any infrastructure in the line of what Government needs to do, be that roads, rail or housing. There are a few issues. I am trying to get my head around parts of this Bill. Is this Bill solely for Government … amber light on our electricity situation at the time. The legislation was put through here one night. For a Government seeking to build housing projects, and for the likes of Irish Water if it needs sewers and water, if we do not have sewers, water and roads

mother and baby home in Cork by the head of the Cork Board of Guardians. The congregation decided to purchase Bessborough House, a large Georgian house on 210 acres, and opened Bessborough mother and baby home in 1922. While it was owned and run by the congregation … Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. On foot of the action plan, in November 2022, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage wrote to local authorities, including Cork City Council, requesting that development plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures

also talk about the entire system of mother and baby homes, industrial schools and county homes. We have had many apologies in this House, and rightly so; they are welcome. Too often, however, the State has failed to truly get to grips with what was actually in place … Which of them was right? The point of this, and what has stayed with me since then, is that this was no ordinary housing application. This was a housing application talking about whether or not children had been buried there. That was the fundamental point

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approved housing body applications currently awaiting approval for cost rental in his Department; the length of time each application is waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53938/25

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider the way in which greater downsizing options for those in private housing, who wish, to downsize their home can be provided. [53567/25

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that Roscommon County Council is currently missing its housing targets by approximately 50 percent; the specific measures his Department will take to support Roscommon County Council in meeting the targets

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the stalled PPP housing bundles; to provide an updated delivery time frame for the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53898/25

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to expand the provision of modular housing; the number of modular units which have been built since 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53633/25

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to revise the first home scheme house value limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53577/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to increase the number of long-term private rental houses across the country. [53286/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to implement a State savings scheme, similar to the Social Democrats' homes for Ireland State savings scheme, to fund the delivery of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review social housing income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53574/25

Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether national guidance exists for social housing tenants and applicants fleeing domestic, sexual, and gender violence to another local jurisdiction; whether he is aware that local authority councils are instructing those abuse survivor transfer applicants

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the report recently published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission which warned that the Government is unlikely to meet its targets to retrofit more than 36,000 houses; the measures

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals to roll out more affordable housing schemes in 2025 and 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53741/25

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation provided to each local authority in 2024 to complete change of tenancy works on local authority social housing stock, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53176/25

Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the rural housing guidelines; the timeline for publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53905/25

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the methodology through which local authorities are funded to support the purchase of land and meet the development costs of providing affordable housing schemes within their administrative area; and if he will make

Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding being provided for affordable housing under Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53738/25

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the progress being made to update and publish the rural housing planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53881/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the work of the Strategic Housing Activation Office; when the permanent head of the office will be announced; the powers of the office; if he intends to underpin the office with legislation

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to urgently amend the national planning framework and the sustainable rural housing guidelines as county development plans are aligned with these national policies which prohibits many applicants building a family home on their own land

Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the significantly increased housing targets for local authorities, if his Department will ensure that the local authorities are adequately resourced to deal with the expected increased volumes of planning applications. [53892/25

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is evaluating to promote the conversion of older buildings for housing delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53283/25

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the discussion he has had with local authorities regarding the vacant housing turnaround times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53576/25

Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department intends to exercise its powers to directly rezone land where local authorities fail to do so in line with national housing and planning objectives; the legislative basis for such intervention

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the work of the multistakeholder group under his Department in respect of developer provided wastewater treatment plants, commonly called DPI, in housing estates that are not in the charge

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which he is prioritising and targeting the recently announced additional €50 million for housing acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53746/25