Parliamentary questions

Development Contributions

Seán Sherlock

607. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider an exemption under the temporary development contribution waiver scheme for a number of one-off housing applicants who were not aware of the scheme and who began their family homes before the start date of 25 April and who now face a contribution bill from their local authority; if such a charge can be appealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13763/24]

Departmental Reports

Maurice Quinlivan

608. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the report reviewing housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability; to provide a date by which we can expect the said report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13773/24]

Environmental Policy

Peadar Tóibín

609. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the ramifications for the Government, and Irish farmers and landowners, following the passage of the Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament; if his Department has undertaken any assessment to determine the number of hectares and landowners who will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13777/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

610. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13809/24]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

611. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties either owned or leased by his Department; the length of time the properties have been vacant; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13827/24]

Defective Building Materials

Francis Noel Duffy

612. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are targeted measures to support tenants who have to leave their rental accommodation undergoing pyrite remediation under the pyrite remediation scheme; if costs for alternative accommodation for those tenants waiting to return to the property will be recouped; the process of applying if supports exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13841/24]

Heritage Projects

Ged Nash

613. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the LGMA and the National Town Centre First office will carry out a long-awaited collaborative town centre health check for Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13847/24]

Development Contributions

Michael Healy-Rae

614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the temporary waiver on development contributions beyond April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13887/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

615. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the average cost to upgrade to a BER B2 as part of the retrofit of social housing in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13935/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

616. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on our 2030 retrofitting targets; to report on the pathway between now and 2030 to reach our 2030 targets; to provide a breakdown of projected/estimated targets for completed retrofits in social housing in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030; to provide a breakdown of projected/estimated targets for completed retrofits to a BER B2 standard or higher in social housing in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

617. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets in social housing in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; to provide a breakdown of how many retrofits were completed in social housing in the corresponding timeframe; to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets in social housing; to provide a breakdown of how many retrofits were completed to BER B2 standard or higher in social housing; to provide a breakdown of the retrofitting targets in social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13937/24]

Defective Building Materials

Martin Kenny

618. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to include homes built in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13939/24]

National Monuments

Paul Murphy

619. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason, regarding the Moore Street area, which holds the oldest surviving street market in Ireland, a 1916 battleground and a not yet officially recognised World Heritage History site, awaiting official recognition, his Department and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage at the time in February 2017 challenged the ruling made in terms of the Moore Street area as a "national historical monument"; if he agrees that the area needs to be conserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13942/24]

Legislative Process

Eoin Ó Broin

620. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to explain the delay in publishing and introducing the Marine Protected Areas Bill, and to set out the impact this delay will have on the development of offshore wind energy projects. [13950/24]

Departmental Reports

Carol Nolan

621. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider revising the maximum grant cap allowed with respect to housing adaptation grants in order to keep pace with the increases in building costs and construction inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13959/24]

Departmental Reports

Carol Nolan

622. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided by his Department for housing adaptation grants to each local authority for 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13960/24]

Electric Vehicles

Catherine Murphy

623. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any provision for a requirement for retrospective installations of electric vehicle or EV charging points in developments that have been granted planning permission; and if regulations are only applicable to new planning applications (details supplied). [13979/24]

Housing Schemes

Chris Andrews

624. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a cost-rental tenant in situ application (details supplied) was cancelled; and if the application will be reviewed with a view to proceeding with it. [13987/24]

Development Contributions

Pat Buckley

625. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the temporary development contribution waiver scheme, given it is due to expire in April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13992/24]

Housing Policy

Brendan Griffin

626. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14030/24]

Development Contributions

Niamh Smyth

627. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review matters raised in correspondence (detail supplied); if these waivers will be extended past April 2024 for this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14087/24]

Septic Tanks

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

628. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many septic tanks have been inspected in Carlow to date, in tabular form, annually since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

629. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consideration he has given to extending the retirement age for retained firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14107/24]

Housing Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

630. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to give consideration to including Part V properties under the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14115/24]

Planning Issues

Paul Murphy

631. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he intends to change the law in light of the decision in a case (details supplied) to ensure that applications for installation of masts need to go through a planning process including the notification of the public and the right to object. [14128/24]

Electoral Process

Neasa Hourigan

632. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to merge the voter registration websites checktheregister.ie and voter.ie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14155/24]

Departmental Advertising

Jackie Cahill

633. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department uses community radio for advertising and public awareness campaigns; if not, the reason, given the vital role community radio often plays in the dissemination of information to local communities; if his Department will consider using community radio for public awareness campaigns in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14168/24]

Housing Schemes

Gino Kenny

634. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if he will raise the matter with decision-making officials in Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14209/24]

Housing Schemes

Mark Ward

635. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the statutory time where a social housing application must be processed by a local authority; if this is the same for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14282/24]

Housing Schemes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

636. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the sources of, and definition of, reckonable income for the purposes of local authorities' assessment of applications under the tenant incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14283/24]

Local Authorities

Holly Cairns

637. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a timeline is set for the process to recruit a Chief Executive Officer to Cork County Council; the term of the contract for the new CEO; and, if applicable, the number of candidates who have so far expressed an interest in the role. [14288/24]

State Bodies

Jackie Cahill

638. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of concerns that Tailte Éireann has commenced the practice of not providing reasons for rejection when rejecting applications in more recent months; what is the justification for reasons for rejection not being provided when applications are rejected; what lead to the decision to commence this practice; what consultation was had with interested parties before the commencement of this practice; if Tailte Éireann will reverse this decision and recommence the practice of providing reasons for rejection with rejected applications, given the inefficiency this has created in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14294/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

639. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff working at processing HAP applications in the HAP offices in Limerick, in tabular form. [14301/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

640. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will investigate the reason for HAP applications taking from 12 to 18 weeks to be completed, leaving applicants in very difficult situations, causing huge financial distress and even in some cases causing applicants to lose the home due to the delay in completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14302/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

641. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when current HAP limits for County Kildare are due to be reviewed, in light of continually rising rent levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/24]

Electoral Process

Holly Cairns

642. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the evidence on which the decision was made to close voting at 8 pm on Whiddy Island for the recent referendum on 8 March 2024, considering the polling officer and polling clerk are residents on the island thus are not limited by bad weather or the ferry timetable, which could be altered as necessary to facilitate voting; to extend voting times for future polling days on Whiddy Island back to 10 pm in line with the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14309/24]

International Protection

Seán Haughey

643. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an exempted development regulation for the change of use of a wide repository of buildings for the accommodation of international protection applicants has been signed into law; if he plans to review the planning laws in place for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14344/24]

Fire Safety

Cian O'Callaghan

644. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details on how the interim fire safety defect scheme will work for individuals who have already paid for defects to be repaired; how refunds will be provided (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14352/24]

Housing Policy

Catherine Connolly

645. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 14 February 2024, the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14356/24]

Planning Issues

Catherine Connolly

646. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 198 of 14 February 2024, the status of the steering group which will agree and guide the implementation of the Ministerial Action Plan to respond to capacity challenges in the planning sector; the timeline for the publication of the Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14357/24]

Public Private Partnerships

Rose Conway-Walsh

647. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 708 and 709 of 20 March, the percentage of the unitary payment for social housing PPP bundles 1 and 2 that is indexed or understood to be allocated towards operational costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14369/24]

Public Private Partnerships

Rose Conway-Walsh

648. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when information on the anticipated total cost to the Exchequer of PPP bundles 3 to 7 will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14370/24]

Vacant Properties

Eoin Ó Broin

649. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department's audit of vacant and derelict homes across the State; the number of vacant and derelict homes brought back into active use in 2023, broken down by delivery stream, that is refurbishment grant, council CPO, and so on, in tabular form. [14373/24]

Departmental Data

Eoin Ó Broin

650. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department's audit of vacant and derelict homes across the State; the number of vacant and derelict homes brought back into active use in 2023, broken down by delivery stream, that is refurbishment grant, council CPO, and so on, in tabular form. [14373/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Louise O'Reilly

651. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he received correspondences from a group (details supplied); and when the group can expect a substantive response to the issues raised with his office. [14394/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

652. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason an applicant under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme cannot be paid a stage payment and rental support payment at the same time under the scheme; and if he is aware that this causes real distress to families as this will delay the remediation works if building contractors are delayed their stage payments. [14530/24]

Mayoral Election

Patrick Costello

653. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a referendum on a directly elected mayor for Dublin will take place on the same day as the 2024 local elections. [14575/24]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

654. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage to list the dates on which he or any of his advisors has met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) since May 2023; to detail the issues that were raised by the organisation; and to confirm whether issues related to Wicklow County Council’s refusal of a planning application by the organisation for 98 homes in Greystones, County Wicklow in May 2023 were discussed at any of these meetings. [14578/24]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

655. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage whether he, any of his advisors or any of the officials working on the Planning and Development Bill 2023 revised written or oral submissions from an organisation (details supplied) or its representatives on the wording of Government Amendment No. 605 to the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as discussed at Select Committee on 21 February 2024. [14579/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Thomas Gould

656. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether emergency accommodation can be refused on the basis of a previous eviction from social housing; whether there is a timeframe for this impact; and whether a local authority should take into account proven efforts by a person to resolve vulnerabilities that led to the eviction. [14581/24]