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nothing for renters. There is nothing to alleviate the cost of living. There is not a thing in this budget for that. On housing, there is no increase in the delivery of affordable or cost-rental housing. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, knows, and everybody in this … Chamber knows, that the people who are just above the limit for social housing but not able to get on the ladder to get a mortgage or a loan to buy a house are the people who are caught here. Some of them are now passing middle

Those issues could be addressed. Give them planning. There was a mention of legalising granny flats or building onto the back of houses. Where is that? To see these working people go out early in the morning and work at nights, and continue to pay all the costs … will know what the cost is. I welcome the VAT reduction relating to apartments. We certainly need to build more apartments and more houses. People have also been asking about the first-time buyers grant they get to buy or build a new house. People are still first

conscious of the discussion we have just had. I want to put on the record of the House my support, the same as the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste today, for the fact that there was an attempted focus on humanitarian aid that is necessary for Gaza, and thank … broader international attention to what is happening in those waters at present. As well as that, I put on the record of the House my condemnation of the absolute horror that has unfolded in the Manchester synagogue this morning and the loss of life there. As has been

disappointed to see that the senior Minister has left the House. Nobody ever gets rich from social welfare. Nobody ever makes a profit from social welfare. We can put that idea to rest in this House and put it on the record. When it comes to carer … type of intrusive information that people in the Department of Social Protection are looking for. It has been stated well in this House what happens when you become a carer. Many times, when it is dementia-related, not only does the world become very small for the person

want to compliment all of the people who contributed here today. We in this House have to remember that whether we are in opposition or the people in government, we all have the one aim and ambition. We never thought that in our lifetimes we would witness what … about fathers carrying their dead or severely injured children. It is shocking and upsetting. It should not be the case in this House that it is us on one side and the Opposition on the other on this issue. We all want the same thing. All we want

home. The Land Development Agency chairperson has estimated that as many as 70% of workers in Ireland are effectively priced out of the housing market, both for renting and for purchase. In next week's budget, the Government must make a meaningful dent in the national response … housing emergency. We must see a real plan to increase the supply of housing. Our concern is that the budget will simply set more fictitious goals, as fictitious as the numbers that Fianna Fáil gave us on housing delivery in the general election campaign last year

House prices are very high, and too high for many young people. That said, since 2020, notwithstanding Covid, about 148,000 new houses have been delivered in this country. The percentage of first-time buyers has been steadily increasing from about 25% of all purchases … national development plan outlines the enormous Government expenditure that will ensue in the coming years. The budget will be supportive of housing but we need more private sector investment in housing as well

representatives of their loved ones, but also for their own advocacy. In closing today’s session, I echo the sentiments expressed throughout the House in conveying my deep concern over reports of attacks on the flotilla and take this opportunity to reiterate that no unlawful or violent acts … Barry Heneghan when we spoke this morning. He is on the Thousand Madleens to Gaza flotilla. He asked me to convey to the House, because he could not be here to do so himself, that this is first and foremost a humanitarian exercise. We heard in Deputy Smith

different quote again? How can it be possible to have different car insurance quotes for different counties? In the case of housing insurance, inflation means that the value of your property will have jumped over the past four years. A 1,000 sq. ft house that … valuation of €120,000 and rebuild costs of €140,000, is now on €240,000 rebuild costs. It is the same house that was there ten years ago but the rebuild costs mean you pay a higher premium. It is the same house, but the premium is higher

passed in the Dáil does not mean the Government was bound to implement every element of it. The Deputy knows that. Regarding Housing for All, the Government, with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne at the heart of this, is preparing the next phase … housing strategy. In relation to the action that is being taken, we know in recent weeks and months that due to the efforts of Government and local authorities, 8,000 families have either been prevented from going into homelessness or have been exited from temporary accommodation. However

thank the Members of the House for participating in these wonderful statements on our national social enterprise policy. I pay tribute to those involved in social enterprises across our country. As Minister of State at the Department of community development, I am very conscious of the work that … broad range of services in areas such as home care, childcare, employment activation, retail, hospitality and catering, environmental services and social housing. They are innovative, entrepreneurial and are increasingly utilising new technologies and creative approaches to address social, societal or environmental challenges. Members of the House

overstaying or living in cramped accommodation with their families, which can only last for so long. The Minister, as the Minister for housing, has done nothing. If anything, he has actually made things worse. He has stopped the tenant in situ and housing first schemes. He has also … stopped downsizing or rightsizing so that three- or four-bedroom houses could come back into use because he has cut the capital budgets. These are facts. I have one straight question for the Minister, man to man. How many children must become homeless before he finally admits that

costs now. A lot of people know it on the basis of the absolutely extortionate levels of rent they pay due to the housing crisis. We have not been able to deal with and put a decent framework in place in relation to energy provision in this State … this money so it can invest in those capital projects that actually pay off in a really big way. We are talking about housing and the absolute mess that is the housing crisis. People have to live with unaffordable houses and unaffordable rents every day of the week

support this investment under PR6, the investments in vital infrastructure are necessary to transform our electricity system to support a growing population, new housing and expanding businesses; — the Programme for Government reaffirms Ireland's ambitious targets of 9 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind capacity, 8 GW of solar … month or circa €24 in the year; — the Programme for Government sets out a clear policy direction that balances energy, housing, climate and economic development, recognising that increased and unprecedented investment in our electricity grid and generation capacity is essential to meet future demand, not just for data

born overseas. Is that not miraculous when compared with a country that, 40 years ago, was the sick man of Europe? Unfortunately, the housing crisis, which the Government has perpetuated, is fuelling misdirected resentment towards immigrants and asylum seekers. We need to be better at tackling this … based on ethnic, religious and cultural background. It is for us, as politicians, to show leadership on this. Every individual elected to the House has a responsibility to not perpetuate the spread of hate. Particularly in a position as privileged as the one we are in, we should

Government has failed to deliver the necessary infrastructure to sustain that level of development. Over the past five years, just over 100,000 houses were built, with a net migration figure of almost 400,000. This is basic arithmetic that the Government fails to understand. It is very … capacity of the economy is simply unable to cope with this huge increase. A Savills report recently outlined that the ratio of housing delivery to population growth was 1:4, which represents one of the worst ratios in the western world. Yet, the Government and many in this

looked after better. The healthcare that was provided to me was very good. We must also put this into the context of the housing capacity and the capacity of public services. The reason we have capacity problems in housing, health and public services falls squarely on the shoulders … lets them off the hook. Let me be clear: it is not migrants who cause the problems that we face today in housing, health and in other services; it is successive Governments. While the problems remain in housing and public services, migration must be managed in that context

raibh míle maith ag Deputy Gogarty for bringing the motion to the House. It concerns something we all see across this Chamber in emails we constantly get about antisocial behaviour. The people of Dublin Bay North are raising it with me every single week. Just this week … told by different representatives that nothing can and will be done. The sense of powerlessness this parent had when I called to their house was not acceptable. On another occasion, across the constituency, we saw vigilante gangs of people. I do not blame these young people. They have

ongoing for years – it has been going on too long - significant progress has been made towards concluding the review process. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in conjunction with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters … advance guidance on the noise aspect of the guidelines. This work, which is highly technical in nature, is substantially complete. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will ensure that the final guidelines, once published, are fit for purpose to provide guidance in line with renewable energy

relates to fixed costs. The Minister has a statutory role in relation to that, although I acknowledge it is the Minister for housing who has to discuss it with him. I wonder when we are going to make an actual decision on this and send a very clear … going to seek the advice of the Attorney General. However, will we be able to do that with long-standing precedent of these Houses legislating as it relates to cases that are before the courts? The public wants this to happen. They want us to do something

much for the Government to do. It must build homes. It must address the suffering of all of those locked out of secure housing. It must provide basic and effective healthcare, in particular to end the agony of children waiting for vital spinal surgeries. We have seen … seeing prices rising faster than wages, price gouging, which has taken root, and greedflation, with soaring food prices in particular. Energy and housing bills are among the highest in Europe. The impact on children is immense. One fifth of children now live in poverty. That

example of that, I raise the case of Alan and Denise. They are just over the limit for social housing and they have children. He is a retained firefighter. They have been in private rented accommodation for nine years. Four months ago, the landlord told them the rent … less than €40,000 a year. They have no way forward. Alan is 49 years of age. They have no access to social housing because they are over the limit for social housing. They have no access to cost rentals because they do not yet exist in Laois

wanted to add my voice to condolences here, and I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I thank the Taoiseach for his update on the housing subcommittee and the housing plan. Downsizing options for people are a critical issue and come up quite a lot on the doorsteps. I hope … rightsizing scheme such as that run by Cork City Council being rolled out further across the country or suitable retirement-type, single-storey housing being provided for people. Obviously, downsizing needs to be on a voluntary basis and entirely up to the individual, but many people whose incomes

really have to give consideration to housing adaptation grants and to look at them properly. We know they have been reviewed. Both the thresholds and the amounts paid have been increased but this does not cover the cost of building. I am talking in particular about those … situation in relation to CAS funding as regards disabilities. I have spoken to the Taoiseach previously about St. John of God approved housing body not being able to draw down the money it could previously. While there have been solutions to some of the issues, we need that

Earlier this month, the ESRI published a report that one in every five children - more than 225,000 - are now in poverty when housing costs are taken into account. The Taoiseach said earlier that he is committed to employment and economically sustainable finances but what good is employment … deputy Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection rightly said: "If a family does not have access to secure and affordable housing, it is almost impossible to provide the services required to lift them out of poverty." Will the Taoiseach and his sub-committee outline the targeted

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the anticipated delivery timeline for housing on the Oscar Traynor Road site; the unit breakdown, by tenure type and expected completion phases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43966/25

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing starts and completions, by delivery stream; and the cost per unit in the Dublin north-west area. [43967/25

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing waiting list numbers, average time on list, and percentage waiting over three years, nationally and per county, in tabular form. [43976/25

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress on the delivery of future housing in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44057/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding for Traveller accommodation that was applied for by each housing authority in each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the total spend on retrofitting of housing units by local authority, in tabular form. [44258/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of reports that high rents are impeding single people from saving for a deposit for a one bedroom house in their price range, if his Department has explored a path to removing

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of reports regarding the lack of transparency and culture of bidding wars that has emerged in the Irish housing market (details supplied), if he is concerned by these trends

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the on the number of affordable houses, cost rental and cost purchase, homes planned for Cork City and County Council and on the targets he has set for same. [44282/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will launch and oversee an audit of damp in social housing and in accommodation leased by the State or paid for through rent allowance or HAP; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the most up-to-date capital cost ceilings for each local authority under the auspice of the Social Housing Investment Programme, Part V, turnkey and acquisitions, in tabular form; and if these ceilings have been reviewed

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the total number of social housing units retrofitted, by local authority area, for each of the past five years including to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated one-year cost of removing all income thresholds for social housing eligibility. [44343/25

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the potential for revenue raising through the application of differential rents to individuals on high incomes were the income thresholds for social housing eligibility removed. [44344/25

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated one-year cost of adding all social welfare payments to the income disregards for social housing eligibility. [44345/25

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether it is consistent with national policy that a local authority in Dublin has voted to reduce the density of zoned housing on a vacant parcel of land (details supplied). [44352/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of Housing For All, including a target for rented accommodation to be inspected every four years, the number of properties that were inspected in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to strengthen and reform the powers available to local authorities to tackle the housing crisis at local levels, for example, expanding the use of compulsory purchase orders or strengthening the ability

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the progress of affordable housing schemes across the country; and if figures on their delivery can be provided, by county, between 2019-2025, in tabular form. [44395/25

Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of the respite houses available to young adults with disabilities in the town of Clonmel; the location; who operates each house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42319/25

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he met with protesters who marched in Dublin over the issue of housing in the Gaeltacht; and his solutions to provide affordable housing to young Irish speakers in Irish speaking areas. [40796/25

Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a housing project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40282/25

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current funding levels of the housing adaptation grant, the disabled persons grant and the improvements works in lieu schemes for 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025. [40287/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State’s biennial land audit, conducted via the LDA’s 'Report on Relevant Public Land', is being leveraged to deliver affordable housing and community infrastructure and the steps his department is taking to accelerate land

Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the development of 106 social houses in Blessington will commence, having been halted earlier in June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39937/25