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urge people to keep talking about Palestine and to keep protesting about it, including on the streets and in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I express my solidarity with Sophie Ní Choimín, who is currently on hunger strike for the people of Palestine. I urge people to keep … have received thousands of emails from concerned people. I do not believe the Government is listening to the people of Ireland. In this House, the time for talking is over. It is now time for action. We need to enact the occupied territories Bill in its entirety

answer to everything, cause ruckuses and disturbances like that, it should have to pay the price, otherwise we would have bedlam in this House. If I bring in visitors, I am responsible for them, but Sinn Féin Members seem to have their own law. They decided after they … lost the election to sulk, obstruct this House and not do any business here for months. Nothing was done, as you know, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, in the interests of so-called I do not know what. The legislation is needed, but we must have some kind

survivors. They do not want talks about talks. This directly bears to the amendments and the legislation going through the House. It was very good the Government put the advocate in place but what does she tell us? She says there should be inclusion of all survivors … much to ask. I would be asking for more but that is what is being asked for. Then we go on to housing needs. The special advocate proposes a novel, innovative and cost-neutral initiative. I do not know whether she is being ironic. Imagine, to reassure

courage and determination of your actions over the past 14 years. As is obvious from previous statements made by many Members of this House, the motions that have been passed here and in the Seanad and from the statements that will be made here today, these Houses … united in support, empathy and compassion for the O’Farrell family and what they have gone through. Yet, nothing we do in this House will change what occurred on 2 August 2011 despite the overwhelming support witnessed here today. We can, however, try to ensure we learn from

thank Sinn Féin for bringing this Bill to the House. I refer to the legal opinion the party received. The Minister might have looked at it. It said there was a strong argument for putting forward this Private Members' Bill based on public policy. They see no difficulty … uncomfortable with the word "apartheid" and that it did not really like that word. It failed to have a discussion in this House on Israel operating an apartheid regime. We stood by when five human rights organisations were labelled as terrorists and their offices ransacked. We stood idly

sense of the national planning framework now as local authorities are being invited to submit new proposals for housing in terms of rezoning land. I would also point to the vacant property refurbishment grant, which has opened up houses. The Deputy is a rural TD as well … that houses that were closed for generations have been opened up. In Waterford City and County Council alone this year, 319 applications have been received to date, with 184 having been approved. That is people moving back into homes in areas that were closed

working with her. I assure her that there is no tribal division here between the Opposition and the Government. Everybody in this House wants to make progress on children's disability services, assessments of need and access to therapies. My colleagues the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton … Street, 4 acres of open space and a massive increase in theatre capacity. It involves many of the things we discuss in this House with a view to making more progress on children's waiting times. It will have 22 operating theatres and procedure rooms and will provide

Deputy is right to highlight housing, which is the biggest domestic challenge we face. There are many young people, both here in Ireland and Irish young people abroad, who want to see and need to see more progress made on housing. I would point out some progress … headline price. However, let me be clear, we have to do a lot more. Between now and July we will deliver a new housing action plan. I say the word "action" because we do not need to big, long, wishy-washy document. We need clear actions outlining

this is my first time speaking in the House, I want to start by thanking the Minister of State and the many Members of the House from all parties and none who have been so welcoming to me since the start of the Dáil term. While friendships … multinational intellectual property exceeds the entire net wealth of Irish households, most recently estimated at approximately €1.23 trillion, including approximately €900 billion in housing assets. The authors of the report called it a paper-based prosperity which was fundamentally distortive to the Irish economy. I do not think

While the clear focus of the Government must remain on increasing the supply of new-build social and affordable homes, a targeted social housing acquisition programme has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the policy response. The social housing acquisitions circular that issued … local authorities recently sets out the revised arrangements for second-hand social housing acquisitions in 2025. Under the revised arrangements for second-hand acquisitions in 2025 local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for the following priority categories: the tenant in situ

proposing it today. The reassignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ is something that has broad support across the House. It was one of the key recommendations made in the review of governance and culture in RTÉ prepared by the expert advisory committee chaired … Auditor General, is currently before the Oireachtas committee, I propose that this Private Members' Bill be declined a Second Reading by the House. I do not see the merit in bringing forward separate elements of the reforms contained in the general scheme in stand-alone Bills. Were this

however, lies something far more human - a person, a family, a home. Today, this motion brought by Independent Ireland is asking that this House do more than just debate figures. We are asking the Government to confront a crisis of care, a silent systemic failure unfolding daily … family farm. This is not just bureaucratic cruelty but a direct threat to the generations of family farming. I therefore ask this House to act with urgency. This motion calls for clear responsibility and implementation of reform. We in Independent Ireland propose the abolition of the means test

public purse, the Exchequer, we will need a significant increase in private sector investment. We need to be in line with the Housing Commission and we will see what the review brings forward but we most certainly need to create a secure investment landscape for investment in housing … into the future on the private side to supplement the record levels of public sector investment in housing that we currently have in this country. The first quarter of this year alone in terms of housing supply is the highest since 2004 - bar 2008 - bar the Covid bounce

villages across the country, which is the need to free up capacity, for example to local builders if they are developing a housing estate of 20 houses or 50 houses so that they would be able to develop their own treatment facility according to the specifications … engaged with its representatives, or others, as a Dáil Deputy. I note that the most favoured words among Independent groupings in this House are "common sense

Palestinian territory, which we will now bring forward. While I will speak in more detail on these actions later, I can inform the House today that work on this legislation is well progressed within my Department. It is my intention to bring a memorandum to Government on this … called for a meaningful interpretation of Israel’s human rights obligations under the agreement. We welcome this initiative from the Netherlands. As this House will recall, Ireland and Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission in February 2024 requesting this urgent review. In all my engagements

atrocities unfold directly before our eyes, that the people of Gaza are being led to forced starvation. I have said before in this House that the memory of famine lives large in the Irish people. The idea that any state would be deliberately using starvation as a weapon … This would obviously go far further than the occupied territories Bill, which I and many other people hope to see passed in this House and in respect of which the Government proposes to bring legislation. Suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement would prevent trade between Israel

most important, act to protect and restore Ireland's precious natural heritage. Throughout my time in public life, particularly during my work in housing, local government and community development, I have seen how deeply biodiversity is connected to people's lives. From how we plan and build … Minister. We are all making the effort through all the different sectors co-operating to meet goals. Biodiversity must be considered in housing, agriculture, transport and education and we must listen closely to those already doing this work on the ground. The Minister of State spoke about farmers

Minister for housing was in the House twice last week answering questions about housing. If anybody looks at the agenda, they can see that he has been in the House almost every week since the Dáil formed 16 weeks

Regarding real investment in dwellings, the Irish economy registered the fourth largest increase across the 27 EU countries between 2020 and 2024. The House may be interested to know that a recent Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, publication in 2024 comparing housing supply across Ireland, Northern Ireland … Northern Ireland had the highest rate of housebuilding per capita and that Ireland and Scotland had the highest rate of publicly built housing. There is significant investment but it simply is not enough. That is why we need the private sector investment. I know the Deputy is against

terms of voids. The Deputy has sat on a council. I think all of us have complained over the years where a house, which has been vacated due to tenants leaving for whatever reason, has remained unoccupied for an inordinate length of time. That system has to change … That house should be very quickly reallocated to other tenants on the housing list. In the housing crisis we are in, there is no excuse for not doing that. That is my view. Second, local authorities have powers under the Derelict Sites Act and I often

tells us it cannot provide the figures on how much longer than six months families have been waiting. All of us in this House know that it goes on for years. Not alone does it go on for years and years but then afterwards when one gets … public system, there are complications there. I have a situation where somebody who is well known to many of us in this House has verified something which I have always thought, where when one's child seeks to be dealt with by CAMHS, it often looks

wants to see Cara Darmody outside of this House. I join with Deputy Alan Kelly when he said that the last thing we would expect in a democracy like ours, with an economy that is doing well, is a 14-year-old outside Leinster House campaigning not just … family's problem but to the overall issues. I believe in the goodwill of the Minister. I know everyone in this House wants to do the right thing by those who are disabled, marginalised or in this system looking for an assessment of need for their child

know as constituency TDs, families have to fight for everything. We are talking about assessments of need in the House this evening. The same debate could be had about supports and services following assessments, school places and, of course, school transport and so on. It is a broken … will no longer be required to access the domiciliary care allowance and so on. That is positive. We need to look at social housing and the interaction between assessments and social housing. There are families out there whose social housing application is stalled while they are waiting

Will the Minister update the House on the ongoing delay in approvals of social and affordable housing projects for local authorities and approved housing bodies? In particular, how many of the 3,000 units that got Cabinet funding approval on 18 February still have not been formally approved … notified to the local authorities and approved housing bodies? How many projects beyond the 3,000 are also delayed and awaiting approval in his Department

thank Deputy Ó Broin for raising this important question about the tenant in situ scheme and housing first. Tenant in situ acquisitions have been an important measure in the prevention of homelessness since their introduction in 2023. The Government has therefore agreed to continue such acquisitions … increased the funding available for second-hand social acquisitions from the €60 million allocated under Housing for All to €325 million through the allocation of an additional €265 million a couple of months ago. In budget 2025, €60 million was allocated. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, significantly increased this

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being considered to ensure that utility infrastructure capacity does not become a long-term barrier to rural housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36138/25

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures taken to implement a State savings scheme such as the Social Democrats-proposed ‘Homes for Ireland’ State savings scheme, submitted to him and the Taoiseach on 19 May 2025, which would leverage … billion in deposits to fund affordable housing delivery. [36247/25

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when setting the weekly rent for social housing, the incomes sources (wages, gross or net, private pension, maintenance payments, social welfare payments, children’s allowance, carer’s support grants, fuel allowance, living alone allowance

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage why County Kerry is not included in the affordable housing scheme; if it will be included, and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35414/25

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider establishing a dedicated scheme as part of budget 2026 for local authorities to access funding for the retrofitting or replacement of substandard historical housing stock, perhaps with a trial in Dún Laoghaire

Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine the cases of persons (details supplied) regarding their application for housing aid for older people grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35496/25

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the tenant in situ scheme for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; the number of houses purchased under this scheme to date; if any future funding is proposed to be allocated to this local

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on social housing PPP bundles 4, 5, 6 & 7 in the context of the decision by the Minister to not proceed with bundle 3. [35715/25

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to review the current tenant purchase scheme to allow council-owned housing secured under the Part V agreements and or AHB properties to be sold as part of any future tenant

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timelines for the publication of the Gaeltacht planning guidelines; if each Gaeltacht language planning area will be supported to develop its own local housing strategy aligned with these guidelines; and if he will make

Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his proposals for the Land Development Agency (LDA) to develop its land bank to engage in active land management policies and for the LDA to deliver private housing in appropriate locations; and if he will

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the maximum house value limits for the first home scheme for Cork; if the city values to the metropolitan area of County Cork will be extended and particularly the city Dáil constituencies in order

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant council houses in Kerry; how soon they will be available for new tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36119/25

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to reduce the rate of vacancy among social houses across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36232/25

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby school teachers are forced to give up jobs due to being unable to afford accommodation in Dublin; if he has considered supporting the provision of dedicated housing

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the rural housing guidelines; and whether any changes to them are expected. [35069/25

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that local authorities (details supplied) would not deem an application for the housing adaptation grant as incomplete, where outstanding supporting documentation is required, and return it by post along with supporting documentation

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his Department’s efforts to establish a unit in the Housing Agency to regulate owners’ management companies to ensure effective governance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35099/25

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration can be given to increasing the property price ceiling for houses in Galway city for which support can be sought from the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will put in place guidelines to local authorities for the reletting of casual vacancies setting a maximum timeframe within which a house must be relet; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he agrees that it is totally unacceptable in a housing crisis for a local authority to take up to one year to relet a residential property; if he will engage with local authorities

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding his Department provided for the housing adaptation grants for older people and people with disabilities in the years of 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [34734/25

they were first vacated; the breakdown of the average cost to bring a vacant property owned by the OPW into use for social housing in each of the years since they were first vacate; the breakdown of the overall cost to bring vacant properties owned … back into use for social housing in each of the years since they were first vacate; the breakdown of the overall cost to maintain former Garda stations owned by the OPW that are now vacant in each of the years since they were first vacated; and the breakdown

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the housing aid for older people grant, specifically whether boiler replacements remain eligible under the scheme; and if they are no longer included, the alternative supports that are available to cover

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 752 of 10 June 2025, if homeowners were prepared to pay the €15,000 contribution per house, whether the group water scheme (details supplied) could then be considered