Parliamentary questions

Waterways Issues

Pa Daly

190. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine restoration works at the Abha Bheag-Owveg river and the Feale river near the metal bridge at Kilmaniheen West, Knocknagoshel. [22140/24]

Housing Policy

Patrick Costello

191. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide further clarification on the scope, timeline and who is responsible for the development of a national policy on rightsizing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22201/24]

Local Authorities

Neasa Hourigan

192. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will provide resourcing for local authorities to undertake participatory budgeting programmes in the next local authority mandate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22213/24]

Housing Provision

John McGuinness

193. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a complaint submitted to him (details supplied) relative to the purchase of 17 houses at Ogenty, Gowran, County Kilkenny, is being processed; and if he will confirm a timeframe for a response. [22241/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Michael Lowry

194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the timeline for the establishment of the nature advisory council, as recommended in the 2021 strategic review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22297/24]

Wildlife Conservation

Michael Lowry

195. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way he plans to ensure rural interests such as those of farmers and game clubs are fully included in discussions and consultations regarding future policy on hunting and conservation, including discussions and consultations at ministerial-level meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22298/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Paul Murphy

50. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount being paid to a company (details supplied) to remove the tents of asylum seekers; with a breakdown of the amount received per removal and the details of any other company being paid by his Department for this purpose; in tabular form. [21979/24]

Wildlife Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

51. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to initiate a national oiled wildlife response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22064/24]

Wildlife Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

52. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the support he is providing to volunteer groups to help with the effects of the recently found oiled seabirds along the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22065/24]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

53. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the outcome of a NPWS investigation into the legality or otherwise of squirrel traps that were used at the Botanic Gardens in Dublin earlier this year. [21976/24]

Wildlife Conservation

Paul Murphy

54. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently add the old Irish goat to the list of animals protected under the Wildlife Act 1976, given it is now critically endangered and is being ruthlessly targeted by trophy hunters. [21977/24]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

55. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cause of injury to a hare that was euthanised by a vet on day two of the Johnstown and Urlingford coursing meeting in December 2023; and if, in light of the stress, injury and death caused to hares in coursing, he will introduce a ban on the activity. [21978/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

56. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of publicly funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]

Septic Tanks

Niamh Smyth

57. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can review the criteria for the septic tank grant; if he will acknowledge that many people who want to avail of the grant are not eligible for same as they are not located in the so-called buffer zones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22008/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Niamh Smyth

58. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review a matter (details supplied); if there are any allowances or financial support that can be given in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22009/24]

Housing Policy

Patricia Ryan

59. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider putting a cap on the timeframe local authorities are given to carry out approved works for those who need housing adaptations; and, if so, the timeframe he considers appropriate. [22015/24]

Septic Tanks

Christopher O'Sullivan

60. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend septic tank grants to include homes that may have old and leaking septic tanks and are located close to waterways but are not located within the high-status objective catchment areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22052/24]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has any view or if any formal public policy exists in relation to the role public representatives might play in the governance or management of voluntary housing bodies in the context of the positive ongoing development of the voluntary housing sector; if it is the policy to discourage public representatives from serving on the boards of approved housing bodies or if the experience of public representatives might be considered a benefit to such boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22088/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Brendan Griffin

62. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the NPWS will liaise with a local first responders group regarding access to a location in County Kerry (details supplied) in emergency situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22133/24]

Defective Building Materials

Cian O'Callaghan

358. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out preparatory work to ensure public moneys delivered to owners’ management companies under the Government’s various defects remediation schemes will be fully tracked and accounted for if the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 is not delivered on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Brendan Griffin

359. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a sewerage scheme will be considered for a village in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21179/24]

Housing Policy

Mairéad Farrell

360. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of adjacent local authorities which allow people on their housing waiting list to select areas of choice outside of their own local authority, if he will advise on the reason tenants living outside the area of the local authority from which they receive HAP cannot have areas of choice in the adjacent local authority area, where other applicants on the housing waiting list can; if he would consider amending this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21196/24]

Housing Policy

Mairéad Farrell

361. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the instances where an AHB can purchase housing units for use as social housing; where this policy can be found; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21202/24]

Grant Payments

Michael Ring

362. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that in the case of a housing adaptation grant application for a person who has suffered catastrophic injuries, their sibling’s income should be taken in to account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21238/24]

Grant Payments

Ruairí Ó Murchú

363. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to increase the funds to local authorities this year or to provide additional funding this year for housing grants such as housing adaptation grants, housing grants for older people and mobility aid grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21249/24]

Vacant Properties

Matt Shanahan

364. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make contact with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to a vacant centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21259/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

366. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the local government staff embargo is still in place; if workforce planning has been carried out; and if so, where there are staff shortages, by local authority, and the disciplines and grades. [21288/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

367. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new staff positions have been sanctioned by local authorities since 2018; and if he will detail the specialised grades provided for in each local authority over that time period. [21289/24]

Housing Provision

James Lawless

368. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine a housing matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21334/24]

Sport and Recreational Development

Steven Matthews

369. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an application by a club (details supplied) for a licence through his Department; if this can be expedited to reflect the limited time available to the club; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/24]

Housing Policy

Violet-Anne Wynne

370. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what the process is for adding another person to a social housing application in instances where the said person is seriously ill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21365/24]

Energy Policy

Niamh Smyth

371. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out a review of fire personnel in Cavan or Monaghan in light of a number of battery storage facilities being granted planning permission in the counties; and if Ireland is equipped to deal with such facilities. [21384/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

372. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of conservation rangers recruited into the NPWS with location based in Waterford and the wider south east region; the current targets for recruitment nationwide by the end of 2024 and by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21391/24]

Departmental Staff

Sorca Clarke

373. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE qualified archaeologists by grade employed by his Department in the years 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [21411/24]

Housing Policy

Pearse Doherty

374. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Housing Agency made a decision not to purchase properties offered to it for sale (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21476/24]

Housing Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

375. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the rules regarding renting and receiving HAP where the rental property belongs to a family member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21515/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

376. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to increase the cap for the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme in line with increased building construction costs, as advised by an organisation (details supplied). [21631/24]

Departmental Funding

Thomas Gould

377. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether funding is available for the taking-in-charge of estates. [21642/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

378. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of grants he can award directly to local authorities for distribution to community groups, by heading and amount available; and if his Department provides funding to community groups for use in reducing vacant properties and dereliction in towns. [21653/24]

Electoral Process

Duncan Smith

379. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific criteria required for an appointment as a presiding officer at various electoral contests throughout the State; who determines these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21654/24]

Grant Payments

Duncan Smith

380. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take steps to widen the medical criteria for determining eligibility for the disabled persons' grant; if same grants can be increased to reflect or mirror current construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21655/24]

Septic Tanks

Duncan Smith

381. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider substantially increasing funding to local authorities in order to enable septic tank inspections to be carried out in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21656/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

382. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21695/24]

Departmental Schemes

Cathal Crowe

383. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the rules regarding the building defects scheme as they pertain to rental properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21733/24]

Protected Disclosures

Cian O'Callaghan

384. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what action he intends to take on foot of reports of alleged wrongdoing by local council CEOs and elected councillors from the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21735/24]

Housing Provision

Martin Kenny

385. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes built by the local authority in Sligo per year between 2017 and 2023, in tabular form. [21773/24]

Housing Provision

Martin Kenny

386. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes built by the local authority in Leitrim per year between 2017 and 2023, in tabular form. [21774/24]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

387. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of units delivered to date or in the delivery pipeline using the serviced sites fund; and the location of the units and the average SSF allocation per unit per scheme, in tabular form. [21781/24]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

388. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of units delivered to date or in the delivery pipeline using the affordable housing fund; the location of the units; and the average AHF allocation or allocation range per unit per scheme, in tabular form. [21782/24]

National Monuments

Matt Shanahan

389. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider forming an expert working group for national monuments (details supplied) given all structures recognised after 1888 are not considered as monuments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21800/24]