Search the record

absolutely disgusting. It is so upsetting for the nation and I think it is right that this is all debated here in the House tonight. We must finally shatter the comfortable illusion that casual drug use is a victimless lifestyle choice. It is not harmless. Every single line … drug dealer. A few days after returning home, his door was beaten down, he was held down in the hallway of his house and he was injected with heroin because by injecting the heroin, the lucrative customer was back again. That is absolutely disgusting

carrying out acts of intimidation. There have also been cases where families are targeted in a case of mistaken identity. Recently, a house in Meakstown was petrol bombed and the family, who had no connection with drugs or the drug trade, barely escaped with their lives, having … make their escape by climbing out the windows of the house. Even after the tragedy in Waterford, a house was targeted in Finglas and firebombed. Areas like Finglas and Ballymun suffer from a lack of visible, dedicated policing. This has a real impact in areas where drug dealing

close vote, 14 to 12. It was only 2,000 people coming out in a referendum that stopped the lands being rezoned for housing back then. Years later, a delegation from South Dublin County Council came to the then Minister for the environment, John Gormley, seeking so-called … affordable housing on the land. I was with the Minister at the time. The representatives of the council were suggesting this would be a great place to put housing. It was not quite affordable. They were well over the market rates. We have seen continuous efforts since then

draft sustainable rural and Gaeltacht housing national planning statement, which we spoke about earlier, still leaves many young people locked out of building on family land. While we expect movement in the document, there is no mention of affordable housing. If the new document does not include … deal with affordable housing, one of the biggest single obstacles to securing a rural future will remain. The last document lacked any concrete timetables and goals on infrastructural deficits in rural Ireland. The Minister has set out that the new document will have those, which we welcome. Hopefully

Gaeltacht piece, which we will do in the coming weeks. The success of the croí cónaithe grants, introduced by the then Minister for housing, Deputy O'Brien, and of the vacant house grants, introduced by the current Minister, Deputy Browne, means I am seeing houses being opened

correspondence regarding Mr. Barrett, the disciplinary complaint made against Mr. Barrett never existed in the first place. Let that sink in in this House. The complaint never existed in the first place. That information was kept from the investigation and from the courts. On 17 September, the Minister … told this House that she had adhered to the law and had followed the legislation. I ask her now to correct the record because, to my mind, she has not adhered to the legislation. Every Minister who has received a letter from me and decided to stay silent

straight questions I asked her, which were to name the law under which she dismissed Mr. John Barrett and to give this House the date of the approval by the Cabinet. The Minister cannot name that law because the law does not exist. There is none. I will … memo and no decision. The Minister breached both. Whether she did that deliberately or through ignorance, or for some other reason that this House has yet to discover, the results are the same: a whistleblower's life destroyed, John Barrett's life destroyed, a constitutional breach

fees. For me, this goes deeper than a pay rise above inflation, which is extremely important. At the root of this is the housing crisis. Does the Minister feel a deep sense of shame that for the first time in the history of this country, a public servant … never mind two public servants, cannot afford to buy a house? So many young workers told all of us they are planning to go to Australia or Canada because they cannot see any future for themselves in this country. Should they be looking to Spain and France, where

huge pressure and strain on our public service given the increase in population and the demand on services. The second point is on housing. There is more money being invested in housing than in the history of the State. Because of decisions taken by the Government, which were … been to get people around the table to make sure we can increase people's wages, and make sure during the budget that housing, public services and tax measures can be changed or introduced to support workers every

alongside Madeleine ffrench-Mullen, she established St. Ultan's Hospital for Infants in Dublin. This was at a time when poverty, poor housing, disease and inadequate childcare devastated working-class communities. Dr. Lynn worked tirelessly to improve the lives of mothers and children. She was a doctor … helping rewrite, update and reimagine our history. She is a powerful example of courage, compassion and, dare I say in this House, public service. What we are primarily talking about today is recognising a deserving Irish woman and reflecting the values our health service should represent. The Government

First of all, I would like to take a moment on the evolving situation in Waterford. I know that Deputies from across the House will have been united in shock, and indeed horror, as the news emerged this morning of the early morning fire at a house … first responders, on whom we have to take a moment to reflect because the trauma that they encountered when they went to that house this morning cannot be comprehended and will leave an impact, and with the staff in the hospital in terms of the emergency situation they

welcome the Minister to the House today. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Employment Equality and Institutional Burials (Amendment) Bill 2026. The Bill before the House today deals with two separate issues, both of which are very welcome steps. The first issue I will deal with … protected. We cannot and should never forget Bessborough. I look forward to working with the Minister to progress the Bill through the House. We have some amendments that we look forward to discussing with

completely out of touch with the reality that people are facing. What this Government has not addressed are fundamental issues like why houses are cold, why they are damp and why the heating is not covering the costs. It is, of course, because the Government has failed … area for which the Government is responsible, only 2,671 local authority homes were retrofitted in 2025, an increase of just 37 houses on 2024. The Local Authority Performance Indicator Report 2025 unsurprisingly found that the Government's target of retrofitting 36,500 homes by 2030 is unlikely

each week holding advice clinics. Of course, granny's hip operation comes up and people talk about their long-standing application for social housing, but time and again, they talk about the cost of running their household. It is very sad when I call into older people … houses in places like Tuamgraney, Corofin and Kilkee and find they are colder than the street I have come in from. These people have pensions. There could be money in the bank, but they do not want to have the heating on because they are worried about

union leader a call? Why does the Government not engage to avert industrial action? The Taoiseach spoke about the Government's interventions on housing, but in this budget, its signature housing intervention will simply add €5,000 to the cost of a house. It is an inflationary measure

issues where the Government has clearly failed, and has failed in this budget in particular. These are the climate and energy crisis, the housing crisis and the poverty gripping childhoods across Ireland. On climate and energy, the Minister of State will know, as we all do, that … rural electrification programme of old. That is the level of ambition needed on climate and on energy. This Government’s many failings on housing go far beyond a lack of ambition on retrofits, and the failing is most glaring in homelessness. A further 1,500 people have been

ignored by those in the political class who are paid a big salary to represent them. We are in the jaws of a housing crisis, yet €50,000 in VAT is charged on every single home being built in this country. That charge makes it unaffordable for most … people. It also results in a viability issue. Significant numbers of builders are unable to build houses in this country because it is not viable to do so but the Government's response is to add €50,000 in VAT to the cost of each home. Builders

nothing, zilch, yet. I am worried they will not get anything at all. In case the Government does not know, the building of houses is going to slow down next year because there is less planning on the way. The other thing that we all have been crying … places like Kerry is that people cannot build a house for themselves. There are two reasons for this. The first is they cannot get planning. The second is they cannot afford it. Then there is the cost of rent. Normal going for rents now is €1,600. People

people sleeping rough. For those of us with a constituency office it is the main issue for people coming in; it is housing, housing, housing. We are not fixing this. Another issue for people is that their children get a good education. If children have special needs

Yesterday's budget demonstrates this Government's continuing commitment to delivering increased housing supply and ensuring that the benefits of our economic progress are felt in every part of the country. As Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning, I particularly welcome the significant investments … these areas secured in budget 2027. These investments will strengthen local government, build capacity across the planning system and support housing and infrastructure delivery. We are providing €755 million through the local government fund to ensure our local authorities have the resources they need to support communities, maintain

with families of residents of Sarsfield Court dementia unit, which is being closed down under the watch of the Minister of State. Heather House dementia unit is not open yet. We have a crisis in dementia beds in the country. We have a crisis in nursing homes … women who fought to free this country. I turn now to the Minister and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and local government, respectively. I never wanted to be an actor. During yesterday’s proceedings in this Chamber, I was fairly sure I woke up like

each child attending college. There is an extraordinary number of vacant and derelict buildings in Ireland. In the midst of a housing crisis, this is like hiding food in a famine. The Government's announcement yesterday does not go far enough in addressing the crisis of vacancy … lens of cost rather than rights. Families and carers are expected to shoulder enormous responsibilities while disabled people face long waits for appropriate housing and residential supports. The Green Party believes that disabled people should have access to housing and residential places within their communities

gone from €44,000 to €46,500. That not an extraordinary salary in this day and age, with the cost of inflation, housing and so on. The Tánaiste's own example of a PAYE worker earning €50,000, who is €700 better off, is gaining €13.50 a week … there will be more carbon increases in May and October. This has been a tone-deaf Government and a tone-deaf budget. On housing, the Minister, Deputy Chambers announced in the Dáil that there would be money for schemes like starter home, help to buy and money

increase of the succession farm tax credit for farmers from €5,000 to €10,000. All of these measures are badly needed. In housing I warmly welcome the increase in the help-to-buy scheme. It is a good scheme. There is an increase in the maximum refund … from €30,000 to €35,000. It helps young couples especially and single people who want to buy their own house. They are out there and willing to do it. I am disappointed there was no reduction in VAT on construction. We need

children on a medium wage and a medium income would be better off not working as they would qualify for a social house and perhaps buy it out afterwards. They cannot even get on the list because the threshold is €38,000. We all know that incomes have … gone up that bit so many more people are being denied getting on the housing list. It is very unfair that this cohort of people is not being rewarded because these people are working. There is nothing for the green diesel. I have been raising this since

Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to each local authority for housing acquisitions in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25067/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 245 and 247 of 3 April 2025, if Leitrim County Councils social housing acquisition budget for 2025 is €2 or €3 million. [24517/25

Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan will be increased to a realistic level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24805/25

County Waterford, and the adjoining State-owned lands; and to confirm whether the OPW will engage with the local authority or an approved housing body regarding the disposal of this site for the development of social and affordable housing to meet local need. [23418/25

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an occupational therapist will be assigned to Kerry County Council to accelerate housing adaptation grant application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23531/25

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on changes to planning regulations for modular housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24870/25

Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to relax planning restrictions in respect of modular and ‘cabin-style’ homes in an effort to provide more housing; to provide a timeline in relation to these restrictions being relaxed

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if changes would be required to the Land Development Agency Act 2021 for the agency to deliver private houses on publican land or if this is already provided for in the current legislation. [23167/25

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a complete list of all affordable housing schemes in Louth including the number of units under construction; when they will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23229/25

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a complete list of all affordable housing schemes in Kildare; the number of units under construction; when they will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/25

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a complete list of all affordable housing schemes in Meath; the number of units under construction; when they will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23231/25

Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a complete list of all affordable housing schemes in Dublin; the number of units under construction; when they will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23232/25

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for cost of public service

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for infrastructure costs

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for the local environment, including

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for public health

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for carbon emissions

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for carbon emissions

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for biodiversity as a consequence

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for natural disaster resilience given

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 1221 of 29 April 2025, for details of analysis undertaken by his Department with respect to the implications of expansion of rural one-off housing for unanticipated household costs, considering

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to support rural communities like Bonmahon, County Waterford, where the absence of wastewater infrastructure is preventing new housing development, business investment, and tourism growth. [23295/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact of child homelessness on education access and well-being, and what cross-departmental supports are in place between the Department of Housing and Children’s portfolios. [23333/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the original and revised delivery targets under “Housing for All” for social, affordable purchase, affordable rental, and cost-rental units for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, alongside actual delivery statistics. [23339/25

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing developments or regeneration projects approved by the Department that have not proceeded due to cost overruns, planning redesigns, legal challenges, or local authority bottlenecks. [23341/25