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long time. People come to me, particularly when a loved one dies, and there is a lot of medication in the house. It is one of those awful parts of having to deal with the situation when somebody passes away - getting rid of the stuff from the house … They feel very much abused and disrespected in the roles they have played. I will take it up with the Minister outside the House. It is important to recognise that the pharmacists we are talking about here today are not just on our main streets, although they

expertise in this area. I thank her for her commitment and the work she does. I thank the Members of the House for their contributions. I also thank our hospital and community pharmacists for their work in delivering the significant reforms we have seen across Irish pharmacy over … service that is more accessible, integrated and centred on the needs of patients. We have listened carefully to the issues raised in the House today and I thank Members for their thoughtful contributions. To every pharmacist, pharmacy technician, pharmacy team member, educator, researcher and leader working across

always comes back to me. That is a sign of his commitment to the families that I and everybody in this House represent. The problem I have is that I have been told by the KWETB that, particularly in the 12 to 13 age bracket, these families could … school place because the demand is so high. As I have said, this is a demand that I have highlighted in the Upper House and in this House for the past six years. That is why we were so enraged when the first school was put in Craddockstown

centres. As a result, we are not getting any closer to moving to 100% renewables. I refer to the cost in terms of housing, the opportunity cost of 50,000 homes and the construction jobs that I will get onto maybe later. Instead of building data centres - most … public, which was originally in the terms of reference. The Department asked the consultants not to include any reference to opportunity costs in housing or public transport. The email from the Department to KPMG could not have been clearer. It said: ... the exec summary needs to present

refining it to ensure that it would not have any adverse effects like Deputy Cronin mentioned. It could happen to apply to a housing estate. That is obviously not the intention of the Bill and that is something that could quite easily be solved on Committee Stage … University, UCD and the University of Barcelona that looks at the broader economics around data centres. It was said previously that 50,000 houses could have been built with the resources that have been directed towards data centres over the past number of years. I am afraid

mental disorder within the meaning of the Act. Even though I passed the Mental Health Act earlier this year through the Houses and the President signed it into law, it has not been enacted because there will be a lead-in time of approximately two years … admission. We need services that are more responsive, more flexible and better able to meet people where they are, particularly those whose illnesses, housing circumstances and complex needs make it difficult to access or engage with traditional services. Our focus must be on reaching and engaging people earlier

frustration is that the Department of housing and the Department of justice seem to be operating in silos in relation to this. They do not seem to talk to one another. We are talking about €600,000 per year to plug the gap and ensure the continuation … happened. I do not want the people of Limerick to become collateral damage in a game of ping-pong between the Department of housing and the Department of justice. The Department of housing constantly states its position is that ESIF funding is gone, regeneration has concluded and, because

option but to drive vehicles that run on those fuels. There are not enough incentives to drive EVs. In all the new housing estates, for example, the current policy is to put in a few EV chargers, which is great, but residents are paying a commercial rate … business. They are not being charged at the domestic tariff. I am lucky enough to live in a house that was built in the 1960s. I have a driveway and can charge my EV using a cable, for which I pay a very cheap overnight rate. People

thank the Deputies from Independent Ireland for bringing this motion forward today. Everyone in this House knows and agrees that we are going through a severe and extended cost-of-living crisis. We all want to do everything in our power to protect people most at risk from … energy poverty. Many people in the country are struggling now. However, the vast majority of us in this House, in opposition at least, agree on the reasons for the cost-of-energy crisis and the long-term solutions. The climate crisis is not mentioned once in this motion

people, not the people installing the systems. We need to use infrastructure much more effectively, which is why I introduced to this House the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026. I look forward to people on all sides of the House supporting that. I have introduced … look forward to debating it in this House. With the private wire system, if we have a large-scale energy user, it should be easier for them to create on-site renewable energy and reduce costs

That is the box ticked. Let no one cod themselves about what has been done. Second, if someone has a dormer house, the engineer will run away. They will not do insulation on dormer houses. Those things need to be made very clear. We in the Dáil need … this room, flick a switch and go into a new world of wind, solar and whatever. Solar is very good in houses - there is no problem with it – but have a look at the TAMS grants. The system is now done on a points basis and farmers

vital therapies, with 27% of occupational therapies and 44% of clinical psychologists unfilled. Will the Minister provide an update to the House today on the actions her Department is taking to address the workforce challenges we are all seeing right across the State in every area. As well … Government's continued breach of children's rights. I hope that today the Minister will acknowledge this and provide an update to the House on the publication of the report. In the Labour Party's alternative budget of 2026 we set out how we would urgently invest

know the reason he has not introduced a fully funded scheme, as he would have with any other local authority or approved housing body project, is because of the failings of the original scheme. The Minister knows that if he publicly announced a fully funded scheme … with this, the matched funding could potentially be €100 million. This is the reality because of the gap multiplied by the number of houses. The Minister is doing this at a time when we have a new standard. He is telling the local authorities not to test

guarantee that rent-paying council and AHB tenants will not be trapped for the medium to longer term in crumbling, unsafe housing schemes. Additionally, when we are talking about this motion here tonight, we need to be aware and cognisant of the lessons learned from the experience … need, and it is an indictment of where the scheme is going wrong. I also have concerns about whether councils and approved housing bodies will have the funding and the staffing required, as well as the capacity and expertise to administer the workload that they will be required

very much welcome the extension of this support to affected tenants of social housing. I have spoken to constituents in Mayo whose houses are in a shockingly bad state. Having engaged with the council, there really was nothing that could be done because they fell outside the previous … proposal but I urge him to prioritise the rehousing of tenants and ensuring they are looked after during this time. I understand the Housing Agency will not be involved in the scheme. There may be some advantages to that in terms of efficiencies

calculating local property tax; yet when it comes to the remediation scheme, the parameters are not always factored in for the whole house or the true, comprehensive cost of returning a family to a complete home. We need a joined up approach. If the State looks … whole value of the house for calculating tax, the remediation scheme should protect the integrity of the whole house as well. We must look at ultimate financial accountability. In many Dáil debates in the past, it was said the State would take a landmark legal action against

with digital accommodation platforms; to amend the Local Government Act 2001; and to provide for related matters. In my time in this House, I have noticed two things. First, those of us who are not Ministers are often slower to identify how we raise revenue but perhaps quicker … identify how we might spend it and I include myself in that category. Second, in this House when we are trying to solve a local or regional issue, we often do so with a centralised or national solution. I believe this legislation challenges both of those conventions. Today

provided significant costed budgetary proposals that would help people in the here and now. I do not think any of us in this House can justify raising taxes or increasing the price of petrol, diesel or home heating oil on ordinary working people any further in the midst … paying their taxes and trying to provide for their families, but they are still falling behind as costs of fuel, groceries, energy and housing continue to put pressure on household budgets. That is where our focus must be. We also need to consider what these policies mean

retrofitting when a person has to pay €18,000 for panels and gets €1,800 back from the Government. Some people in this House say that retrofitting is fantastic, but many people in the constituency I represent, which stretches from Ballincollig to Glanmire and Ballyvolane to Mayfield, cannot … overused - about choosing between heating and eating. Many of my constituents in Cork are choosing just that, namely heating or eating. Ministers House tell us that we have a surplus of €9 billion and that we have never been as wealthy. My constituents and the people I meet

issues raised in the debate on the Bill put forward by Sinn Féin regarding the taxation of home heating oil. As this House understands, Ireland, as a small, open, successful economy with a reliance on fossil fuels, is especially vulnerable to global energy price shocks. No government anywhere … comment about carbon tax. Carbon tax is based on the “polluter pays” principle. That is something I am sure everyone in this House agrees with. It is an important part of Ireland's overall commitment to tackling climate change and lowering our dependence on fossil fuels

have had no proposal from County Kildare. As the Minister is aware, I have discussed with her on multiple occasions in the House the deserts that exist in County Kildare, particularly around towns such as Kilcullen and Newbridge, where parents come to me and say they cannot find … parents who are contacting me and it is parents who are facing these problems. I have previously given examples in the House of people who have made a life in Kilcullen having to move back to counties such as Kilkenny because they do not have childcare facilities

with HSE staff at all levels. They can talk to Garda officers at local and national level. In fact, every TD in this House can speak directly to any organisation that deals with the public. Why is Irish Water different? Why does Irish Water refuse to deal directly … with elected public representatives? That is the case. There is no way Irish Water will speak directly with Members of this House or members of local authorities. Why is Irish Water the only organisation that does this? We are elected democratically and Irish Water should be available

capital city. I am pleased to bring the National Vehicle and Driver File, Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2026 before the House. This is a practical Bill but its purpose is significant. It is about making sure that the law that supports road safety, vehicle compliance, enforcement … towards Vision Zero by 2050. Strategies must be matched by practical action and this Bill is one such action. The Bill asks the House to support measures that are reasonable, targeted and necessary. It allows data to be used lawfully and responsibly where it can improve road safety

cost-of-living crisis impacting huge numbers of people is on everybody's lips. This is, of course, added to the housing crisis blighting the lives of so many. People are asking if the Government is going to help those who are struggling. There are many aspects … cost-of-living crisis. There is the cost of accommodation and housing, the cost of childcare, the cost of public transport and the cost of groceries and food but a critical issue for hundreds of thousands of people, and for everybody really, is the cost of energy. Thanks

data centres. We are therefore also paying for it in terms of climate. We are also paying for it in terms of housing. It was the Minister's own senior civil servant who said that we need to make a choice about our energy use and asked whether … energy was going to go to data centres or to housing. Of course, the Minister dismissed that. Why? It was because he had made his choice. It is going to go to data centres. This has actually happened. It happened in west Dublin. A new substation was designed

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the unit cost ceiling for housing has been updated since it was issued by his Department in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/25

Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to review and reform the capital assistance scheme the improvement works in lieu of social housing scheme (H15 rule) for people with a disability; if so, when; and if he will make

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the processing times for medical priority applications for social housing, which are currently taking upwards of 12 months in some local authorities; and if he will

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to review or increase the income limits for social housing in the Louth and Meath local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21820/25

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person (details supplied), who has submitted an appeal to the housing agency regarding the amount she was awarded under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, will still be eligible for the 10% grant increase

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the progress of the mixed affordable purchase, cost rental and social housing scheme at Fairlane, Dungarvan, County Waterford, including current status, projected timelines and breakdown of tenures proposed. [21917/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of extant housing assistance payment tenancies at the end of each of the past ten years in Waterford, by local electoral area. [21922/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total expenditure on housing assistance payment tenancies in Waterford in each of the past ten years, by local electoral area. [21923/25

Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of social housing transfer applications on file at Waterford City and County Council as of the most recent date available, by local electoral area, and by the length of time the transfer

Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the list of all houses and gardens that are available to the public for viewing as a condition of their exemption from capital acquisitions tax; the list of all property other than houses or gardens that are available

Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocation given to Wicklow County Council for re-letting works of social housing stock from the years from the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Housing Agency plans to increase the thresholds in terms of the value of homes that can be considered for inclusion in the mortgage-to-rent scheme; and if he will make a statement

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement she has had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Department with regard to the housing adaptation grants for persons with a disability; and if she will make

Environment, Climate and Communications if the new climate action plan will include a commitment to provide additional supports for the retrofitting of approved housing body social housing. [19878/25

Consolidation Act 1997 would impose Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) on a developer who is proceeding with developing his site for an approved housing body, where the developer is required by the approved housing body to transfer the site to it while the construction work is undertaken

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the delivery of the Conservation Management Plan for Doneraile House and Court, Doneraile, County Cork and in particular the construction of an orangery at the house which would greatly enhance the historical authenticity

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the planned social and affordable housing developments throughout Dublin Bay north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/25

Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the immediate measures being implemented to address the critical shortage of rental properties available under the housing assistance payment scheme, given that only 41 such properties were available nationwide in March 2025, representing just

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his reasoning for introducing new restrictions on the tenant in-situ-scheme; if he will remove the need to be in receipt of the housing assistance payment or rental accommodation scheme for two years

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will release the necessary funding to local authorities in Donegal and other affected counties to remediate their housing stock that are the homes of hundreds of families affected by defective concrete blocks. [18529/25

Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the forms of proof of ownership, apart from the deeds of a house, that are acceptable for accessing the derelict home grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18535/25

Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider continuing to advance new methods of construction, in particular modular home builds, as a means to meet national housing targets. [18537/25

Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the duties he intends to delegate to the Strategic Housing Activation Office within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/25

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the temporary waiver in respect of local authority development contributions, given that it would greatly support annual housing targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18626/25

Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider setting up a roving workforce to assist local authorities bring vacant housing stock back into use; if he will consider a local authority (details supplied) as a pilot for same; and if he will