Search the record

finally here. It is only a few short weeks into the term of this Government and already it appears that the Government's housing plan has failed. We have a continuation of the previous Government of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and their catastrophic handling of the housing … scale of homelessness across the State; it excludes those couch surfing, those sleeping rough and many others. The failures of the Government on housing are evident in every constituency in this State. TDs such as myself were inundated with calls from people desperate for accommodation

proposed changes to this scheme are greatly concerning. I believe they will cause havoc. This is a scheme broadly welcomed across the House. It is one that has seemed to be working. Does it need to be improved? Everything, of course, can be improved and I would have … flexibility for the local authority to do that, it will not help their case. The two-year rule - in other words, that the house needs to be within the social housing net for two years with the tenant getting a rent subsidy, housing assistance payment or rental assistance

asking the Minister to do what was done in the 1970s. I certainly will not apologise because we need social housing to be built on a massive scale. There is no other solution to end this housing crisis. I was in the Dáil over ten years ago. Housing … inconsequential to the Government now. I thought it was bad then but now it is unbelievable, in comparison. The Taoiseach said housing was not a central issue in the election campaign. That was his excuse for the Government basically telling lies to the population about the housing figures

thank the Labour Party for tabling this important Private Members' motion. Housing is the number one issue that we all deal with every day. Any of us who has a constituency office knows the stress, trauma and disaster that has been forced on the people of our country … been an absolute nightmare. When I was first elected in 2016, along with University Hospital Limerick, housing was the number one issue that was raised. People constantly raised the lack of affordable housing, the cost of housing, the cost of renting, the state of local authority houses

Party for bringing forward this motion. As a young person in my mid-20s, I know all too well the impact of the housing crisis and Government inaction and the suffering it has caused for those who are homeless or in insecure housing situations. When I look … little wonder we are in this situation. Not one affordable home has been delivered in Galway East. We are told that affordable housing is not viable or needed in most parts of county Galway at a time of record and unaffordable house prices. We need genuinely affordable housing

This Labour motion offered the first opportunity in the Thirty-fourth Dáil to address and debate the question of housing. The motion set out a constructive and ambitious set of proposals and a pathway to reform housing policy and ensure Government could provide a resolution to undoubtedly … generation. We set out a credible pathway. We heard seven first-time Labour TDs speak with energy, passion and ideas about tackling the housing emergency and ramping up the supply of homes. Contrast the energy, ambition and constructive proposals from the Labour benches with the tumbleweed blowing across

built last year. The truth is that this Government was elected on a false claim, that it had turned the corner on housing and that it was fixing the housing crisis. The question is why it ignored the truth that was presented by independent experts, the State agencies … German bank and Cairn Homes, one of the biggest developers in this country, the figures that were used to claim how many houses were being built instead of those of the independent and State agencies? It is important to say that the Central Bank stated in the third

time today. This is a moment none of us ever forgets - the moment we for the first time take our seats in this House. I know it is a source of immense pride for you and your families. It is the greatest honour to serve as a representative … your community. I genuinely wish each and every one of you the most fulfilling experience here in Leinster House. If I can offer any advice, it is for all of us to remember that we are but temporary custodians of our positions. We are here to serve

This should have been a budget of hope for housing and hope for our young people that they can have a future here, that they can buy a home and that they can rent securely and affordably. However, the budget, just like the Government's housing plan … coherent strategy and no vision that can solve the housing catastrophe. The budget will just deliver higher house prices, higher rents and higher homelessness. It continues what the Government has always done, which is what the developers and the investor funds lobby it to do. Who will

thank Deputy Hearne and all the Deputies who spoke so genuinely and eloquently about housing and the challenges that are facing us. I reaffirm the Government's commitment to tackling the housing crisis. We know that these challenges are having a real impact on people's lives … remain focused on increasing delivery. Enshrining a right to housing in the Constitution is not necessary to solve this crisis. To hold a referendum on this now would simply create a distraction from the real work of scaling up the supply of new housing. It is simply unrealistic

accept they are fighting tirelessly to highlight the need for us to ensure their loved ones are cared for and provided with appropriate housing, as and when it is needed. For far too many families, placements are made at the last minute, causing distress to individuals and their … been referenced, have done likewise. Along with many other disability advocates, they have collectively spurred on the Government and all in this House to drive on with this important work. I must also acknowledge this focus on disability has not been limited to the Department of Children, Disability

move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to allow the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a social housing passport in order to allow households on social housing waiting lists, or in receipt of social housing support, to transfer their … social housing file, or their social housing support, to another local authority based on criteria set out in regulations laid down by the Minister. The Government is not delivering a sufficient volume of good quality social homes. This is why people are waiting so long for the social

Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, but I am very disappointed there is no Minister or Minister of State from the Department of housing present. There is a housing crisis and we have a proposal to knock 52 almost-complete houses in Cashel, County Tipperary. Tipperary County Council plans … demolish 52 partially-completed houses under Part 8 development. The decision defies logic in the middle of a national housing emergency. These units are not mere shells. They were all finished. Many of the windows and doors have been vandalised, through no fault of the developer. I compliment

this Bill. The Government is going to ram this Bill through. It will guillotine it and shut down the debate in this House tonight and the consequences are that people's rents are going to rise. What does that look like? It is a massive further transfer … down economics. The Government for the past ten years has been implementing all the policies that are supposedly great and will resolve the housing crisis but that have resulted in the housing crisis getting worse, but by a happy coincidence, there is a big transfer of wealth from

listened to some of the other speakers, I thought about some of the comments the Minister made at the housing committee and in this Chamber. I just do not get it. The Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, are intelligent people. We have seen … housing crisis go from a crisis to an emergency. We know that homelessness is off the charts and homelessness is only recorded as people living in emergency accommodation. It does not include the people who are living with three or four generations in the same home. It does

Portarlington, Mountrath, Rathdowney, Graiguecullen, Stradbally and so on. I am meeting people regularly, daily sometimes, who are struggling because of the situation with housing and the high rents they are paying. The Government is bringing in a measure. We have heard the RTB projections in the debate … bill - Joe and Mary Public. I want to represent those people who are paying that. I have been a Member of this House for 15 years, like Deputy Boyd Barrett. This week or last week we were here 15 years. This is one of the worst pieces

been outlined already, will not fix all of the problems the Government has created and the disaster it has made of housing, but will make a contribution. In truth, if the Minister was interested in solving the problem of dereliction, he would be listening to Deputy Gould … rest of it - for ten years. In those ten years, we have seen so many lives destroyed by the Government's housing crisis. The housing crisis has been created by Government policy. It has not been solved by Government policy and I am sure not even the Minister

funds myself on a year-to-year basis for building costs. In 2021, the average cost of building a 2,000 sq. ft house was €120 per sq. ft on a greenfield site with a builder's finish. It cost €240,000 in 2021 with … that. In 2023, it was €180 per sq. ft. The same house went from €240,000 to €360,000 and the VAT was €48,600. In 2024, it was up to €200 per sq. ft - the same house with nothing extra. It cost

welcome the publication of the action plan on housing and the target to deliver 300,000 homes through a whole-of-government approach. It is ambitious but appropriate. We need ambition. Housing affects everyone in society, whether someone waiting on a local authority housing list, a young person … hoping to buy or older people looking for more suitable housing. This issue is urgent. In my area of Carlow-Kilkenny, I meet constituents every week. Single people are finding it very hard to get one-bed houses or one-bed apartments. I know that is a priority

limited time available to me, I want to call again for the declaration in law of a housing emergency. Housing is a human right enshrined in Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A housing emergency exists in this State. The Government … Housing Commission asserts that "Only a radical ... reset of housing policy will work". It further asserts that "It is critical that this housing deficit is addressed through emergency action." Successive Governments have failed to solve this housing emergency. Housing plan after rebaked housing plan has failed dismally

important that State agencies engage respectfully, regardless of where people are on the political spectrum, and respect the mandate of people in this House and at local level. Uisce Éireann should meet with the Deputy and the other representatives in relation to that issue. I thank the Deputy … itself is just a measure. It needs to be seen alongside a range of measures that we are taking regarding housing. Deputy Boyd Barrett had to head off, but he made the point around if there was no policy change. There has been a policy change

Deputy Bacik did say that. She said that we had no social housing plans. The housing plan states that we will deliver 12,000 new social homes every year over the lifetime of the plan. We have significantly transformed the scale and pace of social housing delivery over … past five years. That has to be acknowledged. I have looked at the Labour Party's manifesto on housing. It is so vague as to be unbelievable. It is bereft of any depth or substance. The Labour Party has put no flesh on the bone

very disappointing to hear that. We are in a housing crisis and housing emergency now for well over a decade. One could argue in some respects that we have been in a housing crisis since the 1990s. House prices have been on the rise, then … crash, and now we are back into rising and unsustainable house prices. There is still something fundamentally wrong with our housing system, our housing market, the way we treat housing and the way we understand housing. Other countries, for example, Spain, have a right to housing in their

equity and fund releases is being provided for megaprojects in water, energy and transport. Crucially, a significant element of Government policy in the housing market is to "crowd in" investment from the private sector. The State cannot, on its own, afford to build all the homes the country … needs. A successful partnership between the public and private sectors is essential in meeting the housing needs of our citizens. Funding on its own is, of course, not enough to get us to where we need to be. We have to make sure our systems and processes

best behaviour, although I had better not speak too soon. I appreciate that this is his first time introducing legislation in the House. It is an important day for him in that regard. I welcome everyone who is in the Gallery. I thank all Members for their contributions … Housing is a cross-sectoral societal challenge that has a real impact on people's lives. Solving this challenge is one of the Government's top priorities. Within that, we are placing a special emphasis on supporting home ownership and affordability for those seeking to buy or rent

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the detailed spending breakdown for 2024 and 2025 on the Supported Housing for Youth programme; the breakdown of cost for each element of crisis intervention, aftercare, and Housing First for Youth, in tabular form

Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to the Housing Delivery Action Plan, the proportion of social housing delivery targets required to be met through the use of ‘Modern Methods of Construction’; and if he will make a statement

adults with intellectual disabilities over the age of 18 and for ringfenced funding with dedicated capital for small-scale, community based supported housing; to establish a joint taskforce of the HSE and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with statutory timelines for delivery; and to ensure … commitment to transparency including the annual publication of data regarding unmet housing needs versus new units delivered; and a legislative review of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the Congregated Settings policy. [25886/26

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of filled and unfilled places in supported housing units in Mayo for adults living with intellectual disabilities; the number of these spaces currently unfilled; the number of adults with an intellectual disability … Mayo that are on a waiting list for a space in a supported housing unit; if there are any plans to increase the capacity of supported housing units in Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26098/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on the social housing waiting list in County Clare, by municipal district; and the average waiting time for housing in each district; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in County Clare registered or operating as short-term lets; the proportion of housing stock this represents in towns such as Kilkee; whether additional restrictions are being considered in areas experiencing housing

Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the social housing list for Arklow, County Wicklow remains so long; the reason a shortage of new social housing continues to exist; the measures planned to address this; and if he will make

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when housing assistance payments were last reviewed; if he has considered reviewing and increasing the rate of housing assistance payments to reflect market rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22731/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of funding applications submitted by Laois County Council under the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) for the proposed roundabout at the junction of Dublin Road and Collier's Lane, Portlaoise, and the Borris … funding will be approved and construction can commence, given that these projects have been identified as critical infrastructure to enable the delivery of housing in Portlaoise and have been approved since 2009. [22997/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions a family can take when the family's income is higher than the limit for social housing, but not enough to buy or build a home with a mortgage, as house prices

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average waiting time for social housing in Roscommon-Galway and the number of applicants currently on the housing list, broken down by need category, in tabular form. [22321/26

Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the number of households currently on the social housing waiting list in Galway City and County Galway; the average waiting time for allocation of a social housing unit in each; and if he will make

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of all approved housing bodies (AHBs) in County Mayo, the levels of funding provided to each, either from central or local government, for each of the last three years; the number … these AHBs provided housing during the last three years for older persons and the quantum of such for each; and the level of funding, if any, provided to each AHB in respect of support services for older people resident in the AHB, in tabular form. [19177/26

Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority housing units delivered for wheelchair accessible housing in the years 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19280/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can confirm that short- or long-term leases properties where the tenant qualifies for social housing, the property meets their housing need, and they have received a notice to quit are suitable for consideration

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of funding provided to Galway City Council and Galway County Council in 2024 and 2025 for the delivery of affordable housing under the local authority affordable housing scheme; and if he will make

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the unfair housing allocation caps for families who may be ten years plus on a housing list, being deemed over the threshold due to family members becoming working age or promotion or social

Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when Part V will be amended to include housing for people with disabilities on local authority housing lists and private home buyers. [18184/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to allow for more one-off houses to be built to increase housing supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17486/26

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications for housing delivery office infrastructure which were received by close of deadline on 27 February 2026; the breakdown of those applications by local authority area, amount of funding requested … each application, and total number of housing units that would be activated by each application. [17921/26

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific rules (details supplied) in applying for the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People for people who wish to replace their windows and doors in the house; and if he will make

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail underspend or funds returned to his Department by each local authority under Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and Disability Adaptation to Housing Stock In each year from

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail waiting times in each local authority under Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and Disability Adaptation to Housing Stock In each year from 2015-2025 and for 2026, in tabular form

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department permits local authorities to pool allocations received under Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and Disability Adaptation to Housing Stock in order to provide a level of equity between waiting

Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the local authorities now operating the choice-based letting system for the advertising of available social housing units within local authorities and approved housing bodies; and if he will make