Parliamentary questions

Vacant Properties

Bríd Smith

177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a potential gap in the criteria in relation to the vacant/derelict property grant (details supplied); if he will investigate a case involving the protection and incorporation of a deteriorating 160 year old protected structure into a new dwelling with a view to the overturning a refusal of a vacant property grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19991/24]

Regeneration Projects

Catherine Murphy

178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a note on the outcome of his Department's consideration of a project (details supplied); and if he has communicated same to the local authority; if he will confirm whether the plan has passed with approval Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code. [20029/24]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Canney

179. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding available to the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; when the next call for funding will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20055/24]

Departmental Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

180. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to accommodate those who will be undertaking remediation of their properties under the defective block scheme in Clare; if he is considering side-by-side building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20059/24]

Housing Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

181. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the reckonable income directions under Section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 sent to local authorities in December 2023; the reason persons in receipt of carer's allowance would be disregarded for the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20061/24]

Homeless Persons Supports

Violet-Anne Wynne

182. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the direction his Department has given local authorities in respect of providing homeless services to persons who may be in arrears with their local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20065/24]

Housing Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

183. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if carer's allowance is considered an eligible form of income for the tenant incremental purchase scheme. [20067/24]

Housing Policy

Brendan Griffin

184. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered expanding the €800 scheme for pledged accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to become available for social housing applicants; if the rate of payment would be increased in such a scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20097/24]

Housing Policy

Thomas Gould

167. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for households that do not qualify for social housing, cannot access a mortgage and live in an area with no proposed cost rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19540/24]

Derelict Sites

Michael Ring

168. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if progress has been made in relation to an acquisition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19548/24]

Housing Schemes

Willie O'Dea

169. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give consideration to increasing the property price ceiling of €400,000 for purchasing houses in Limerick under the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19566/24]

Housing Provision

Cormac Devlin

170. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the locations of the 30 sites identified in Housing for All for accelerated builds; if he will outline the plans for the provision of modular homes in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area; the sites under consideration there for the provision of modular homes; the status of such considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19569/24]

Defective Building Materials

Bríd Smith

171. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm where the legislation for the establishment of defects scheme for apartments and duplexes is currently at and to confirm when the draft legislation will be published; when he believes that OMCs will be able to apply for and receive funding for permanent remediation of defects; if he will commit to passing the legislation before the budget and if so, if he will clarify what financial allocation will be required for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19589/24]

Economic and Social Research Institute

Cian O'Callaghan

172. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the terms of reference of the ESRI study that he committed to share with Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage during the Committee stage of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, will be shared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19603/24]

Rights of Way

Steven Matthews

173. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to concerns of local authorities regarding the establishment of rights of way in county development plans (details supplied); if his Department has considered establishing a judicial-led arbitration process to resolve complex disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19702/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

174. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the length of time it is taking to complete new social housing applications in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19853/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

175. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the extraordinarily long time that it is taking to complete and award HAP applications, following approval for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19854/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Catherine Murphy

176. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with Tailte Éireann in respect of valuation reforms for start-ups and established small to medium independent traders in the context of rate setting in the early years of their enterprises when they utilise physical shop spaces in the context of reducing commercial space dereliction in towns and villages across the State. [19888/24]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Ged Nash

384. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to update and modernise wind turbine setback guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19295/24]

Postal Voting

Denise Mitchell

385. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if those seeking to avail of a postal vote due to illness must pay for a certificate stating they are not fit to vote in person from a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18734/24]

Local Authorities

Violet-Anne Wynne

386. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a road safety officer in each of the 31 local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18774/24]

Local Authorities

Violet-Anne Wynne

387. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that a road safety officer vacancy will be filled in Clare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18775/24]

Housing Policy

Violet-Anne Wynne

388. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if carer's allowance can be considered a form of income in the purchase of a council house for a person (details supplied). [18777/24]

Housing Provision

Holly Cairns

389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of social homes in Cork south west; and the number of vacant social homes in Cork south west.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18788/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the time spent to carry out the four-stage approval process for publicly funded capital projects for each social housing, cost rental, affordable purchase, and mixed tenure development completed in 2023, broken down by tenure type and county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/24]

Housing Schemes

Ivana Bacik

391. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received by each local authority area under the croí cónaithe town fund scheme, standard grant and top-up grant, respectively since the launch of the vacant property refurbishment grant; the number of approvals by each local authority area for the standard grant and the top-up grant, respectively; the average processing time through to completion for both grants, respectively; if the same qualifying criteria is applied across all local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18825/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

392. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18840/24]

Water Services

Michael Ring

393. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider applications for projects of a small scale under Measure A7 of the multi-annual rural water programme for connections of less than 25 households in certain circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18854/24]

Regeneration Projects

Thomas Gould

394. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an updated timeline for completion of the NWQR in Cork. [18916/24]

Regeneration Projects

Thomas Gould

395. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is aware that construction work at Phase 2C of the NWQR remains stalled; whether he has received any request for additional funding to resolve this from Cork City Council; and if so, the timeline for resolution of same. [18917/24]

Legislative Measures

Thomas Gould

396. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on legislation committed to on the renaming of streets. [18918/24]

Septic Tanks

Brendan Smith

397. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the grant scheme including additional designated areas to assist more householders to upgrade and-or replace septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/24]

Water Supply

Peadar Tóibín

398. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has consulted with Uisce Éireann, An Bord Pleanála and local authorities with regard to sufficient water capacity throughout the national water supply system to meet both current demand and new connections for future housing development construction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18976/24]

Departmental Advertising

Thomas Gould

399. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to advertise the lead mains replacement scheme in each of the past five years respectively, in tabular form. [19034/24]

Departmental Advertising

Thomas Gould

400. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether consideration has been given to a targeted advertising campaign for the lead mains replacement scheme. [19035/24]

Housing Provision

Michael Ring

401. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant homes a local authority (details supplied) has repaired in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19047/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Neasa Hourigan

402. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in ensuring the protection of the old Irish goat, which, according to reports (details supplied), is being hunted for sport and on the verge of extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19082/24]

Foreshore Issues

Frankie Feighan

403. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update in relation to an application for a foreshore licence for the pontoon in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. [19087/24]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

404. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the caravan loan scheme will re-open again for applications in view of the fact that many Travellers are still living in poor caravans that have passed their useful life, whether it is intended to revise the conditions of future schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19112/24]

Heritage Projects

Carol Nolan

405. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to intervene with the OPW and Tailte Éireann in order to obtain clarity on their plans for the preservation of old ordnance survey maps and artefacts of historical importance which are currently stored in the former Ordnance Survey office in the Phoenix Park which is now occupied by Tailte Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19117/24]

Heritage Projects

Carol Nolan

406. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Tailte Éireann the person or body that occupies the former Ordnance Survey office in the Phoenix Park have considered moving the vast collection of old ordnance survey maps and artefacts of historical importance to the museum at Collins Barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19118/24]

Development Contributions

Matt Carthy

407. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the local authority development levies waiver does not include group water scheme connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19126/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

408. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19169/24]

Housing Schemes

Niall Collins

409. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will review the case of a person (details supplied) and issue the full grant payment, given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19177/24]

Defective Building Materials

Marian Harkin

410. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the inclusion of County Sligo in the defective concrete blocks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19207/24]

Septic Tanks

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

411. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of septic tanks that have been inspected in Carlow annually since 2000 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19239/24]

Pensions Reform

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

412. 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; if those already approaching retirement will be issued with a stay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19240/24]

Election Management System

Seán Sherlock

413. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that is had by officials in his Department with local authorities tasked with maintaining the electoral register in cases where someone passes away. [19272/24]

Development Contributions

Darren O'Rourke

414. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to extend the development contribution waiver; how far must building works be progressed by the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19277/24]

Planning Issues

Patrick Costello

415. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the Mulcahy report into planning irregularities in Donegal. [19284/24]