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wanted to allow it to take place on the floor of this Dáil, which means that every Member of this House is entitled to come in and speak to whatever amendment they wish to speak to. The Minister does not get to pick and choose and decide what … cause of some of the challenges that arise. Nobody, certainly nobody in Sinn Féin, would contend for a second that the housing crisis in this State is as a result of somebody from outside Ireland coming here in search of a better life. The only foreigners you could

must be careful not to undermine the very framework that has allowed this support to scale so rapidly. I also assure the House that there has been no change in how the circular has been interpreted or implemented. However, we recognise the landscape of education has changed … importance of it. I want to talk about the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and I know many Deputies across the House work and engage with the NCSE and its teams individually on behalf of their constituents on an ongoing basis. I have always had huge respect

Cabinet colleague, the Minister, Deputy Browne, on this matter. Additionally, officials in the Department are engaging with their colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Tailte Éireann. I am committed to furnishing the Deputy with an update once the Department has clarity on this … sole and full responsibility of Tailte Éireann, formerly the Commissioner of Valuation. Tailte Éireann falls under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Further to this, as I stated previously, I believe childminders should not have their homes assessed for commercial rates. My understanding

That is up 20% on the previous year, and indeed represents the highest number of homes completed since 2011. We saw very positive housing commencement figures in December, with 3,065 homes commenced, which was more than the previous month. We will continue to see positive commencement figures … seeing more people every week being able to buy their first home. In the CSO figures yesterday, we are seeing more housing transactions last year than the year before and first-time buyers making up a greater proportion of that. I agree with the Deputy that this

impacted areas myself. I have spoken to residents and business owners and understand their fear and frustration. I assure them and the House that the Government is fully committed to reducing flood risk and supporting those who need help. I look forward to working with them to deliver … removing flood risk such as by stopping construction in flood-prone areas. The Office of the Planning Regulator and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage play key roles in this. The second is protection, which involves reducing the likelihood or severity of floods. This includes major

figures and told me how many places relate to that constituency, if any. The question that was put was about community-based housing. It was not necessarily about residential care. There is a looming crisis, whether the Government acknowledges it or not, that relates to people … That is also a good thing, but their parents are concerned about what will happen to them. The Minister of State said dedicated housing co-ordinators have been appointed. In his response, he might explain exactly where they are based. A name and phone number would be brilliant

acquisition of 112 homes in Hollystown, Dublin 15, by an investment fund rightly caused anger across the State. These houses - the ones the Minister talks about all the time as being essential to help young families to get a family home - were bought up in bulk … portray that the Government is doing something to end this practice. What chance have workers and first-time buyers got to buy a house for themselves and their families? It is as clear as day that the Government's policies have failed and the repeated promises to stop

thank my colleague, Deputy Doherty, for tabling the motion. The housing crisis continues to deepen for ordinary workers, families and children. We have children growing up in emergency accommodation and in overcrowded homes while their parents are being outbid for homes by vulture funds. Despite repeated promises … struggling to buy a home have their hopes of owning a home taken away by vulture funds that can buy up to ten houses at a time without even having to pay the higher stamp duty rate and face no restrictions on the purchase of apartments. They

Bill relating to the RTB that is going to mean further hikes in rents which are already unaffordable, worsening an already dire housing crisis. The Government rejected amendments which proposed that rents be kept at affordable levels and that no-fault evictions should not continue. In the context … with glee because they are set to be able to ratchet up rents and make even more profits off the back of the housing misery huge numbers of working people, young people and students in this country are experiencing. The human cost of all of this is going

thank Deputy Boyd Barrett. I say to Michael and Shannon and to all people across the country in need of housing that every action we take is to increase the number of homes that are available to rent or buy. That is not just one type of home … relating to the HAP limits. I know Deputy Boyd Barrett has been a strong advocate for this. There is a commitment in the housing plan that will be concluded in the first half of this year. I would push back, as the Deputy would expect me to, around

work on this legislation. It is very much required simply because of the length of time that families are left on social housing waiting lists. In my area, it is 14 years. That is hard to believe, is it not? They are left for so long that they … safety. Her ex nearly killed her. He is now out of prison and living in the area where she was originally on the housing list. Some 12 years later, she is faced with an impossible choice. She should not have to make that impossible choice. She should

retreat from certain areas. We have to say to people, "We are going to pay for you to have a brand-new insulated house but a little further back." Then we have to focus on the areas we can actually protect rather than trying to fight the indefensible … When you look at the likes of Dublin, from a housing perspective, as I have said before, but equally from a flood perspective, we need to start to go up and we need to start building houses on stilts. We should look at what is happening

grateful for the opportunity to come before the House today. Members have already heard about the important work being undertaken across government to address the issues raised in this debate. I welcome the opportunity to engage further with Members, particularly on the role of the Office of Public … Local authorities act as the lead agency for flood events within their administrative areas. At national level, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, through the national directorate for fire and emergency management, is designated as the lead Government Department for co-ordinating the response to weather

should not allow the British Government to introduce legislation that enables X, Y or Z. Obviously, neither I nor anyone else in this House can control the legislation that is enacted in the British Parliament, just as the British cannot control the legislation that is enacted here. However … tell the House that the opportunity that exists at present for a real and thorough legacy inquiry is much better now than it was with the previous British Government and we need to avail of this opportunity. We also need to recognise that when it comes to investigating

There is no absolute clarity on whether a house would be deemed unsuitable because there might be, say, an extra child or a boy and girl and then all of a sudden there is overcrowding. The landlord can tick a box and they have an excuse … landlords trying to find a way. They might think, “Sure I have a family member. We’ll try to get them into the house for a couple of months and that will cover the family need.” I also raised the issue, which was not answered, around enforcement

freeze the situation as the Opposition wants to do, that is the situation. We are delivering record affordable housing. In 2024 we delivered the largest amount of social housing since the 1970s and we will have the 2025 social housing numbers quite soon as well. That is what … doing here. We want to solve the housing crisis. That is what we are working towards. I get what the Opposition is doing. It is playing on the fears and emotions of those people who are in a rental situation. We do not have that luxury

stand up. The Minister will not do that just like the Government will not have a referendum to hold a right to housing to make housing a human right because it does not believe that it is a human right. As I said earlier, it is willingly accepting … countries, such as Belgium. Why will the Minister not do that? It is because he will not step up and state, "We believe housing is a human right. This is an emergency. We will take these measures." The Government is introducing a Bill that still very much does

they should engage with the local authority regarding emergency accommodation? Given where they are on the list, they will be languishing in emergency housing for years. Let us be under absolutely no illusion that already vulnerable children with special needs will be damaged by that experience, possibly forever … accommodation but the councils cannot give them a two-bedroom home because that is deemed to be overcrowding and not to meet their housing need. There is a dilemma here for local authorities and it will be even more so the case if this Bill is enacted, because

thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is an extremely important issue. The ultimate priority, of course, is housing. All of us in this House agreed a long time ago that housing is a priority. Short-term lets, particularly in cities and large towns, have replaced … rental properties for housing. That is the ultimate priority. Cities and large towns provide the best opportunity for short-term letting properties to be returned to the long-term rental market. We had a meeting last evening of party leaders and the Ministers responsible, Deputy James Brown

higher stamp duty rate was introduced with the aim of disincentivising investment funds from buying up large numbers of completed houses, usually with the intention of placing them on the rental market. The rate that initially applied was 10% but this was subsequently increased to 15% in budget … higher stamp duty rate is charged on the acquisition of individual houses, where a person acquires at least ten such properties during any 12-month period. Complementing the higher stamp duty since 2021 are section 28 guidelines for planning authorities, which aim to prevent multiple units being sold

option for them to purchase their own home which is something they want to do. We have included in the new housing plan that local authorities not only must have commitments to social housing and social housing action plans for their own county but must also now have … affordable housing plans as well. I do not have the specifics in respect of Cherrywood with me but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Browne, to consider the issues the Deputy raised and revert to him directly

dreadful accident in the city centre today that many Deputies have mentioned. I know everyone's thoughts and prayers in the House are with those affected, their families and indeed the emergency services that have responded. I welcome the series of decisive actions taken by the Minister, Deputy … posed by scramblers is an issue that I and my Dublin colleagues, Deputies McAuliffe and Lahart, have raised on numerous occasions in this House. We welcome Grace's law and we want to see it implemented as soon as possible. The Minister recently visited Dún Laoghaire, where

cost-of-living crisis for them and there are no worries about increases for those people. That is the problem. Yesterday, this House went through the disaster the Government is going to impose on an absolutely dysfunctional housing market and housing crisis. In my constituency the average cost … three-bedroom house rental in County Louth is around €1,966. People would probably struggle to get that price if they go onto daft.ie at the minute. I did it yesterday and I do not intend to go through it again. In Dundalk there were only about

that the HSE was sitting on a massive portfolio of vacant properties. Over 200 HSE-owned buildings and sites lay idle while the housing crisis tightened its grip on families. Back then, nearly 4,000 children were homeless and average rents for new tenancies stood … reforms come in. In the two years since the HSE was caught sitting on sites that could be turned into homes, Ireland's housing crisis has become ever more dire. What did we learn just two days ago? In Monday's edition of the Irish Independent

provide for related matters. Colleagues may recall that a couple of weeks ago, my colleague Deputy Mark Wall proposed a motion in this House regarding flexibility and flexible work. The irony was that the Deputy left Athy, County Kildare, at 6.30 a.m. and was late to propose … motion in this House when he arrived at 10.05 a.m, such was the level of gridlock and traffic congestion on the M7. This is a campaign that he has carried on for many months. As it stands, workers only have the right to request remote working

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approved housing bodies owning and-or managing fewer than 50 residential units in the years 2010, 2020 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Afghani families who have been allowed to enter the state as part of “Community Support Programme” and who are in receipt of full social welfare benefits can be considered for standard local authority housing

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with local authorities as to the concerns in new housing estates being connected for both water supply and sewage connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of transitional applications that remain to be processed by the Housing Agency arising from the transfer of applications from the original defective concrete blocks grant scheme to the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme

Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the defective concrete blocks social homes scheme intended to provide remediation for local authority and approved housing body-owned dwellings; if he will clarify when this scheme has been formally implemented in Donegal

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the strategic review of the approved housing body sector. [53703/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on when the scheduled five-year review of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority will commence. [53704/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline when the social and affordable housing delivery data for Q2 and Q3 2025 will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53880/25

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will widen the scope of financial thresholds of the Housing Adaptation Grants to allow more persons to access the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52281/25

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of residential housing units that have been built in Dublin bay south (or nearest geographical area available) per year, from 2000 (or earliest available year) to date in 2025 by social unit; affordable units

Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of social housing units that currently exist in Dublin city, by electoral district (or most granular data available), those that are occupied, unoccupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if holders of refugee, subsidiary protection and programme refugee statuses who are applying to access social housing supports are required to show proof of income for the previous 12 months if some of that period

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further funding will be available for local authorities to help with the backlog for housing adaptation grants for older people and disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51145/25

Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in the Wicklow-Wexford constituency currently priority one on the Local Authority list for the housing adaptation grant for older people and disabilities, in tabular form; and if he will make

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to address delays in local authority housing transfers, particularly in Cork city and county, and the average waiting time for approved transfers in 2024-2025. [51150/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will review the current local authority housing transfer system, with particular reference to waiting times for approved transfers in Cork city. [51166/25

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Housing for All commitment to introduce a minimum BER for private rental accommodation; the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51726/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a housing project in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51745/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a housing project in County Kildare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51746/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses purchased and in the process of completing purchase under the tenant-in-situ scheme, by local authority, over the past three years, by quantity, by total cost, in tabular form

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes completed by each approved housing body in the State, and the additional social homes provided directly by local authorities, in each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the circumstances under which a tenant in a home provided by an approved housing body can buy that home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51795/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new social housing units completed in Cork City in each of the past three years, with a breakdown by municipal district. [51977/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Part V housing units delivered in Cork city since 2020; and the number located in Cork north central. [51978/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average waiting time for households on the social housing list in Cork city; the number of households waiting more than five years and more than ten years; and the measures being taken to reduce