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back today but now it is saying that it will be next Sunday before it will be back for the five or six houses around me. This is the case for hundreds and thousands of people across my constituency and the whole north west who are left without … people. We are healthy and we are fine but there are hundreds of people out there who have children with disabilities in the house, who have very elderly parents in the house, and who simply cannot cope. They feel very much left alone and left aside

great work they did. The Minister of State said there are no regulations preventing stoves being put in to new houses. To get a loan and to achieve the BER rating that the banks demand, whatever business of the banks that is, people cannot have a stove … hard fact. Why will the Department not give the money to the local authority - in our case, Kerry County Council - to retrofit houses? They will not qualify for the retrofit grant if they do not take out the chimney. I am asking the Minister of State to deal

office, the Social Democrats will not be supporting any of the nominations today. As a country, we face huge challenges, most acutely in housing, healthcare, the cost of living, childcare, disability services and climate change. We cannot face these challenges and increase investment in public services … devoid of new ideas or radical measures. The transformation that we need is nowhere to be seen. This is particularly stark for housing. During the election campaign, I met family after family who were personally affected by the housing crisis. We all did. Every day, I met adults

arrangement and this whole sordid arrangement has more than a whiff off it. As we meet here today, I am conscious that homelessness, house prices and rents in this country have never been as high, with the number of new homes built last year falling by 7%. Fianna … Gael and their coalition colleagues have shown, through deed, that they will not and cannot deal with this crisis. The Government's own Housing Commission report has called for a radical reset of housing policy and the Government's response to this has been to effectively pretend that

until 5 February. We now have a programme for Government which, on the big issues facing workers and families, fails. For example, on housing where is the rent freeze that hundreds of thousands of people across the State need so badly? There are not even effective rent controls … going to have a rent register instead. Where is the massively expanded affordable housing scheme for those middle-income families that desperately need it? Where is the commitment to drive on with cost-rental schemes to provide homes for those low-paid workers who are just above

side that is in now. We have some work to do. I wish the Tánaiste the best in that regard. On housing, it was sickening to see the report two weeks ago that 60,000 houses have been started. A child would know that was because there … rebate. Today, we see that we have fallen back by 7% in terms of housing. More people came into this country than we have houses to accommodate. Those are facts. That is also the case in respect of the people we have here. I wish the new Minister

functioning democracy. Having succeeded in being elected, we are now the voice of our communities in this forum. We come into the House to make known the fears, concerns and aspirations of our constituents and to legislate accordingly. We communicate on their behalf the policies they want addressed … constituents, we make known the needs of the people to those who govern. In order to ensure that every Member is heard, this House must function smoothly and efficiently. Every Member is equal, irrespective of their political persuasion, political party or grouping. Every Member has a mandate

From the outset, I state my firm belief that we can make Ireland a Republic of equals, where everyone has access to affordable housing, quality healthcare, a good education, a decent job and a sustainable future. The Social Democrats believe that there must be a social floor below … which no one is allowed to fall. To achieve this, we must move in a new direction and take a different approach. The housing plans and policies that have been pursued over the last number of decades have utterly failed. They have left us with record levels

just the people of Cork North-Central but also my campaign manager, former Deputy Noel O’Flynn, who served in this House from 1997 to 2011. I thank him most sincerely for everything he has done for me as my father and of course as a Deputy … city and taking it seriously. I wish everybody a happy, holy and peaceful Christmas. I look forward to working with everybody in this House. I have to point out that I am a little disappointed to hear people in this House already saying they want to represent only

those lands at St. Catherine's Park and for the implementation of the wider Liffey Valley park passed to the local authorities. Lucan House and the demesne were bought into public ownership by South Dublin County Council in 2024 for use as a public amenity. The OPW continued … support the strategy. In 2024, the OPW purchased Donaghcumper House and the 18.6 acres of land adjacent to Castletown House. In 2025, an additional 235 acres and access road from the N4 into Castletown were acquired by the OPW. In relation to the future of the strategy

acknowledge the Minister of State's hard work on acquiring lands around Castletown House. There has also been the acquisition of Lucan House over the years. In some cases, the pathway has not been smooth and there have been missed opportunities over the years. That is what … opportunities. We need to protect, preserve and secure the future of the Liffey Valley. Dublin is expanding, as it should, with development and housing and we need to ensure we have the amenities and biodiversity there to support

today can undo that. However, it is important we recognise what happened and the need to address it. That is the minimum this House owes to the people impacted. I acknowledge the groups who have fought and the parents who have been the force behind them. Everyone … input. I urge all to engage, as we have today, because all the voices from this side and the other side of the House, as well as outside it, must be put to this to shape those terms of reference. I understand parents wanted every hearing

thank the Deputy. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration's report on civil legal aid. I acknowledge the significant work undertaken by the committee in examining this important issue and bringing forward its detailed report containing … recommendations. As the House is aware, in June 2022, a civil legal aid review group, under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice Frank Clarke SC, was established to review the current operation of the scheme. The review's report was published in July 2025 and contained a range

favour of the principle of recognising non-binary and intersex persons or it is not. It is a well-established principle in this House that even if there are difficulties with the technical aspects of a particular Bill, if the Government is in favour of the principle … equality referendum, and of course the groundbreaking Gender Recognition Act in 2015. I am not convinced such a Bill would go through these Houses if it were brought forward now, 11 years later. It is a testament to the commitment of the Labour Party in government at that

whom are children. We have 1 million people on hospital waiting lists. However, the left has brought this Bill before the House. It is not concerned about a family living in a hotel room or a pensioner on a trolley but about the X on a birth certificate … birth certificate records facts. It records when and where people were born and what sex they are. The Bill before the House seeks to stop this. The Deputy admits there are no exact figures for non-binary people in Ireland. According to a clinical definition of intersex

actually, particularly in terms of the achievements in social housing, which the Deputy ignored. I mean, 60,000 social houses in the past five years is no mean thing. It is a significant, dramatic change from what we were doing previously. Close to 60,000 social houses have

Government cannot be intervening in every local authority and there has to be sustainability in social housing so that we can provide for the long-term and so that people on the lists and so on have some opportunity on a continuing basis to access social housing … rent schemes should reflect incomes, they should be fair, and they should also enable some degree of sustainability in terms of social housing well into the future

take this opportunity to welcome Sheila Stack, and her sons, Austin, Oliver and Kieran, to the House today. I welcome the Government's decision to issue a formal apology to the family of the late Brian for the serious shortcomings in the Garda investigation into his shooting … respect. The Garda Commissioner apologised to the family in 2019, and the Government's decision to make a formal apology in this House today is an important acknowledgement of the failings that occurred. It demonstrates that the State is prepared to recognise where it fell short

failings and defects. In 2019, the former Garda Commissioner apologised for his organisation's failures on that front. It is important for this House to apologise today too. Labour is a party in opposition today but my party has served in government. We recognise and acknowledge the State … must be people who know who Brian Stack's killer or killers are. Indeed, it has been alleged that former Members of this House either knew who the killer was or possessed information that would have been material to an investigation into the killer. In this context

hands to contribute to reconciliation and to address the legacy of the conflict on these islands. I have spoken before in this House about the need for contrition as we seek collectively to do so. As Austin Stack has set out, he and his family have faced many … unlawful organisation responsible has only made partial admissions to its role in Brian Stack's murder and the perverse reasoning behind this. The House will already be aware of this Government's commitment to addressing the legacy of the Troubles and the implementation of the joint framework

triple lock is an affront to the democratically expressed wish of the people, and to do so would bring shame to this House. Yet the Taoiseach continues to hurl insult after insult at the intelligence of the Irish people as he suggests that we simply do not understand … question to bed. Yet here we are today, as the Taoiseach poses as judge, jury and executioner, forcing a political stroke on this House that will have ramifications on my constituents and around this island for years to come. The Taoiseach may view this Bill as a political

issues were raised by Deputy Ward, and Deputy Kelly also raised concerns about the speed with which these motions have come before the House. I will try in future to see if there is a mechanism whereby I will be able to provide more time to colleagues … they are supportive of a proscribed organisation. We discussed this when the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2026 was going through this House. I specifically ensured the legislation would not replicate or imitate the legislation enacted in the UK, which I believe goes too far. The legislation

also expands rent-a-room relief to qualifying auxiliary dwellings, giving homeowners greater flexibility and helping them to make better use of existing housing. Alongside these measures, the Bill introduces further changes to the residential zoned land tax, improving how the tax operates and helping to bring more … land forward for housing development. A particularly important measure is the introduction of a new derelict property tax. Dereliction is a scourge on towns and communities across this country. Properties lying empty and falling into disrepair serve neither the people who need homes nor the communities around them

away our excess corporation tax and also put excess corporation tax into capital expenditure. It was a record budget for roads and housing. I am somewhat amazed at some of the contributions by Deputies over the course of the debate here this evening. Some Deputies criticised people … moving it from the local authorities to Revenue is that it is being done through negotiation with Revenue, with the Department of housing and with local government to ensure they will have a proper list compiled by the time it is handed over to Revenue. When

meet with individuals and families all the time who are facing serious dangerous intimidation in their homes and local authorities and approved housing bodies have been dragging their feet in arranging housing transfers for these people. Tackling drugs and drug-related intimidation is not confined to one Department … agency or one body. Every Government Department, from housing to health to justice and beyond, has a role to play here. The heart of this motion is simple. Communities deserve to feel safe, protected and free from intimidation. This is the very bedrock of our society

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the amount allocated to Galway County Council for social housing acquisitions for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24030/25

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider how funding is being provided for social housing acquisitions, given the small amount of funding provided to Donegal and the significant need in the county; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the means by which he plans to prioritise water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver the capacity to facilitate housing development in our towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department collates data on the total number of persons on local authority housing waiting lists across the country, and, if so, to furnish that figure. [24059/25

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the allocation of €1 billion in additional capital investment to Uisce Éireann announced as part of budget 2025 on 1 October is additional funding or part of its existing funding requirements; his understanding … this funding is being allocated to non-domestic capital investment as outlined in the budget announcement for remedial action lists, connections for new housing and addressing urban wastewater pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16242/25

Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for funding from each local authority under the social housing investment programme in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; the date on which each application was submitted; whether

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to increase the qualifying income limits for eligibility for social housing supports; and when the last change to these limits was implemented. [24773/25

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to offer any additional supports for those leaving domestic abuse in terms of finding new housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24864/25

Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding being allocated for housing adaptation grants in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24598/25

Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the Oscar Traynor Road housing development, and on the timeline for delivery. [24568/25

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation for building and acquiring social housing in County Monaghan, by category; the number of such homes built and acquired, in total, by year from 2019 to date in 2025; and if he will make

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation he has made to Dublin City Council for social housing in 2025; the amount of that which is for refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24742/25

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the tenant in situ social housing acquisition programme for Fingal West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23726/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the process for the establishment of the strategic housing activation office; to detail how the office will sit within the structures of his Department and whether the office will be underpinned by legislation

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce additional housing supports to single-income households trying to purchase a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24732/25

Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether each county's house-building targets will be monitored monthly by the Minister; if he will meet with all county council chief executives and directors of planning on a quarterly basis; and if he will

Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost-rental housing units delivered in County Meath in 2024 and to date in 2025; how that compares to targets; the ambition he has in terms of cost rental for County Meath

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for a new, comprehensive starter home programme across the public, private and approved housing body sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific steps being taken to fast-track the delivery of affordable housing in commuter belt areas like Kildare north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24731/25

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the establishment of the Housing Activation Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23495/25

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department are more carefully vetting the potential applicants for the proposed Housing 'Tsar', in light of the issues surrounding a former candidate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant council houses, broken down by local electoral area, for 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/25

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to introduce a housing community living scheme for senior citizens who have indicated a wish to relocate from rural areas in County Kerry into towns and villages around the county where they can access services (details

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the social housing waiting lists for Kerry in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25053/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the average duration spent on a social housing waiting list in Kerry in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement