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What I am hearing from the Taoiseach is that Housing for All was a success, yet we have over 16,000 people registered as homeless. By any measure, the Government's housing policies have been an abject failure. There are unprecedented amounts going into housing, but where … respect of turnkey acquisitions as opposed to building directly. In the context of ideas, we have said many things with regard to housing. We have talked about expanding the Land Development Agency's powers in order that it would not have to go agency by agency but could

about 45,000 since 2019, so there has been huge work done in terms of the human resources requirement for house construction. I was on a housing site last week in Ballyvolane in Cork. They are now building the houses within a nine-week timeframe because … infrastructure work that went in there about two years ago. Up to 800 houses will be delivered on that site, through timber frame and modern methods of construction, utilising the Enterprise Ireland framework and programme. There is huge progress being made, but it is not enough. The population

this is housing supply. Our initiatives since the beginning of the year have been designed to get more houses built more quickly. The rate of increase is in decline, but that is not enough. We need far more supply to deal with the rental issue. Some positive news … this year. We want to continue that momentum. If we look at the situation internationally, right across Europe and the globe, there are housing crises more generally. That is the case in any of the major cities across Europe. We would probably rank in the top three European

through and made amendments to four county development plans. We need to do more to support people from rural areas to build a house in their local area. This is a contribution to the housing challenge. Unlike new houses elsewhere, there is no requirement for Government infrastructure … cost to the State. The person pays for everything. A house in a rural area is not a blot on the landscape. It is part of the fabric of rural Ireland and adds to the social fabric of the area. We need national guidelines that reduce red tape

failure to address the cost of disability in this legislation. There is a disconnect between the Departments of Social Protection and housing. The Minister will know that many of our constituents in Mayo - I refer to those who are tenants - got letters in the past number of weeks … people's pockets and at the same time take it back out. That is something which needs to be addressed. In relation to housing, the eligibility thresholds have not moved. This means that on the back of very small increases, people have been knocked off the housing waiting

thank the Deputy for the question, which is important and timely. It was an issue many of us in this House as constituency TDs were grappling with in trying to support our communities in the run-up to and the aftermath of the horrific Storm Éowyn, which … devastating effect on many parts of the country, most particularly perhaps the west and north-west. As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, and his Department are the lead Department for preparing and responding to severe weather events but the Office

thank the Tánaiste. It is unusual we are 100% agreed on both sides of the House that this needs to happen. This is a health emergency and under Covid guidelines we were led to do an awful lot of things under health emergencies. We had John Wall with … have an emergency. Why can we not use emergency powers and legislate that this happen now? We have the commitment of the House that it needs to happen now. The people of the mid-west need this now. The biggest thing here is we have gone almost

need to complement the State investment in housing with a market that is viable and can work. The Labour Party has attacked builders and developers in relation to the VAT cut. That is all about having viability in the market. If we are serious about delivering housing … deliver more homes. We have fronted up to the question of spending when it comes to the national development plan on infrastructure and housing, but we also need to reset a wider policy when it comes to regulation in our economy by examining rules, regulations and structures

comes to the national development plan - over €100 billion of spending in the next five years. The strategic focus is on infrastructure, housing, water infrastructure and energy infrastructure, all to enable more homes to be built across our economy. What the Deputy refuses … have viability gaps in terms of delivery of apartments. That is why guidelines should change. We have viability gaps in other areas of housing supply. That is why the reforms the Minister, Deputy Browne, has introduced to enable the market to function to complement the State's role

obstacle to implementing contributions to accommodation costs for international protection applicants in asylum and trying to blame EU law for housing delays, it is bizarre that it has yet to realise that tying us into an EU framework that will not only tie the Minister's hands … decisions that affect them. We also need to be clear that this dysfunctional system is not working for those fleeing war or persecution. Housing people in communities that are already under pressure does not serve them well. Placing people in accommodation that is often substandard, without fire certificates

about international protection, we need to wrap it up in the subject matter of migration. That is getting lost, not just in these Houses but in the country, and it is deeply concerning. Everybody in here has family members who have gone all over the world, mine included … Drogheda. Can the Ceann Comhairle imagine what would have happened if that had turned into a tragedy? What would have happened in this House then? Where would we have been going? What would the people have demanded then? What would the narrative have been? Dare I bloody

things that he has done. I want to talk about Simon Harris. Let us be clear, he had a disastrous presidential election. The housing crisis is increasing at pace. Fianna Fáil's own backbenchers are rare and savage over it. The Taoiseach has disappeared to a conference … running for a debate on racism when the Indian community was under assault all over the summer. There was no debate in this House. In the minute I have left, it has to be mentioned that it is not just Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Other parties

others, to hear these sentiments by the Government now. We have been abused, heckled and shouted down by all sides of this House, called racist and far right and accused of creating division or undermining social cohesion. Yet, here we are now. The Government has caught up with … Tipperary right down to Rathcabbin. What happened in Roscrea was appalling. It is appalling what is still going on in Dundrum House Hotel . Hearns Hotel in Clonmel and many other buildings were taken over. These were hotels that the economy depended on for tourism. Many local people were

stamp out racist violence and the second is the way in which Government policy and rhetoric emanating from Members of this House can stoke anti-immigrant sentiments that form the thin end of what is a wicked, violent wedge. More than 300 IPAS and Ukraine accommodation centres operate … volunteers who are dealing with knife attacks on men who are forced to sleep in tents due to the Government's failure to house them. The State must step in. The Government must now undertake an urgent security review of all centres where refugees or people seeking asylum

move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill will provide the legal mechanism for the payment of €1.5 billion of equity investment in ESB, as committed … support Ireland through this period of change in terms of our use and demand for electricity. It will support key priorities in infrastructure, housing, competitiveness, investment, growth and climate action. It is a critical period for Ireland in terms of improving security of supply, realising targets and ambition

Ireland's electricity grid is not fit for purpose. It is holding back housing delivery across the State. It is stalling renewable energy projects and limiting development in towns, villages and rural areas. It did not just happen by accident and it did not happen overnight … plan and invest properly has become a brake on the entire economy and especially on our ability as a society to tackle the housing crisis. The Bill before us provides for €1.5 billion in investment in ESB Networks between 2026 and 2030. While that level of investment

directed at the Minister of State; it is directed at the entire system I have been facing ever since being elected to this House. I welcome the Bill and the opportunity it provides. The billions of euro in investment in ESB Networks are badly needed … over the next four years we are in government. This is essential infrastructure. It underpins huge issues we face across Departments, from the housing crisis to economic growth gridlocks and the renewable energy transition. I love how we call it a transition; it is not a transition

These small local issues will be the things that help. At the moment, it is not only that there is a housing crisis. Where somebody is waiting for a connection to build houses, if someone else can easily build a solar farm and have a direct line link … those houses, it will speed up everything. Germany, the UK and Denmark are doing it. I understand the Government is bringing forward a policy and I welcome the fact the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, announced that, but it needs to be fast-tracked. When I knock on doors

said, in modernising, building that resilience and reinforcing our electricity network infrastructure. It will also support the Government's key priorities in infrastructure, housing, competitiveness, investment growth and climate action. Within that, there will be a robust accountability and oversight mechanism for the expenditure by ESB Networks. Indeed … piece of legislation that demonstrates the Government's commitment in meeting our critical infrastructure needs as a State and balancing the needs around housing, economic growth and employment in our economy in delivering the key infrastructure we require. I will respond to some of the key themes

latest figures from the Department of housing show that, again, the Government will miss its targets for building social and affordable homes this year. It promised 10,000 new social homes and completed fewer than 2,000 in the first half of this year. The Minister for housing … rent, so little to buy, and the tenant in situ scheme so ineffective for so many. When will we hear about the housing plan and the reality of the likely figure for the construction of social and affordable housing

opportunity to examine the Finance Bill, which gives effect to the budget’s targeted tax measures and supports for businesses, jobs and housing while modernising many parts of the tax code. It is important to note that this is the first of five budgets expected in this Dáil … billion for capital investment. Three pillars dominate that spend - social protection at €28.9 billion, health at about €27.4 billion and €11.2 billion for housing to drive supply and regeneration. This is a record budget in terms of spending but at the same time, we must be cautious. International

Government can meet its commitments is contingent on a successful economy, and that should be obvious to everybody on all sides of this House. The Government decided to strengthen the economy and make sure the economy was in good shape despite the headwinds, volatility and uncertainty we face … secretary, garda, nurse or teacher, half of anything they earn over €44,000 will go in income tax. There are parties in this House who actually want to increase income tax, particularly for higher earners. The reality is that 10% of the top income earners in this country

There is a lot of property stock there that could be regenerated. I said earlier in the year that if those on a housing list in any of the four local authorities in Dublin go down the country, they lose their place on the list. If a person … earners are in Dublin and it is pushing up the prices for the people who grew up there and those on the affordable housing scheme. In areas like software localisation, in particular, we need to tell companies that if they want to bring in people from outside

focus on infrastructure and on those in society who are hard pressed is welcome. There is a regular emphasis in this Chamber on housing, energy and water, but we cannot forget about civic society in terms of the wraparound services in education, healthcare, recreational amenities … very important in any conversation we frame that we talk about the billions of euro around housing, wastewater, the energy grid and so on, but we need to ensure that we are also having a conversation about increasing the pace of delivery around all those other services

else. We were Lundys. We were Free Staters. We were Fenian scum. That was the language too many of us know in this House. I fear it is creeping back in. We need to take the responsibility, all of us who believe in a truly united Ireland … indications of how the Secretary of State might arrive at this assessment, be it election results, demographic change or polling. I reassure the House that the Government is not blind to these things or to the growing debate on these issues across our island. The opposite is true

Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the allocation of European Union and European Investment Bank funds available for the construction and refurbishment of social housing in the four Dublin counties within the last five years; and if he will

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the implementation of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 to earmark certain cost-rental units for local key workers, including teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43908/25

Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of submissions received from Clare County Council for the development of new affordable housing schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40731/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the issues identified with the serviced sites scheme, considering only four local authorities have provided for the scheme and no houses have been sold; and his plans to make the scheme a success. [40797/25

Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the updated planning guidelines for rural houses will be issued; the reason for the ongoing delay in publishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40830/25

Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be made available to local authorities to assist in the purchase of additional four to five-bed larger family homes needed, that are not currently in the housing stock

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently sanction additional funding to Sligo County Council for the housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability schemes to bring its allocation to €2,450,000, which would equate

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any circumstances whereby a social housing applicant can transfer his or her application to another local authority and retain their original date of application. [41167/25

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any circumstances whereby a social housing tenant can transfer to a property in another local authority in another county i.e. in cases where there are extenuating family and personal reasons and there should

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is considering amending the housing adaptation grant scheme to allow funding for the installation of sensory rooms or sensory areas in private homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of amending the housing adaptation grant scheme to allow funding for the installation of sensory rooms or sensory areas in private homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41320/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual affordable housing delivery targets for each county and local authority in Ireland for each of the years 2025 to 2028, in tabular form; the rationale behind the allocation of these targets

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the number of affordable homes delivered in each county and local authority since the introduction of the affordable housing scheme; the details of the types of schemes used (details supplied). [41342/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual funding allocated to each local authority for affordable housing delivery since the scheme began; and the projected funding for each of the years 2025 to 2028. [41344/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the mechanisms that are in place to monitor the progress of affordable housing delivery at local authority level; and the way performance is evaluated and reported. [41345/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if demand assessments have been conducted to determine the need for affordable housing in each county and local authority; and if these assessments have influenced target setting. [41346/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the main challenges or barriers faced by local authorities in delivering affordable housing; and the steps being taken to address these issues. [41347/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the income eligibility thresholds for social housing have been increased nationally in the past 20 years; the years those increases occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41438/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the years in which the social housing income bands were changed; and to outline each change. [41439/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the social housing income bands in County Mayo have been increased since 2010; the dates those changes took effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41440/25

Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently reconsider the significant reduction in funding to the tenant in situ scheme allocated to Fingal County Council, reported to have been cut by more than 50%, and funding already allocated, given … effective mechanisms currently preventing families from falling into homelessness, particularly in the absence of sufficient stock of social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41482/25

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the number of public and private houses and apartments actually built per annum since 2015, broken down by number of bedrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41647/25

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify that houses located in Enfield, County Meath, and properties with an address of Enfield, County Westmeath, can qualify for the pyrite remediation scheme; and if new applications are still being accepted

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 16 July 2025, the reason that solar PV is limited to the installation of 1kWp solar PV for small social housing with a floor area less than

Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average waiting time for a housing adaptation grant to be approved; the average amount awarded, per local authority area, in tabular form. [41830/25