Parliamentary questions

An Teanga Gaeilge

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

213. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta an bhfuil sé ar an eolas maidir le comharthaíocht a cuireadh in airde chun bothanna vótála a fhógairt le linn an reifrinn ar 8 Márta i mbliana, comharthaíocht a bhí i mBéarla amháin nó a raibh an Béarla i bhfad níos mó agus níos feiceálaí ná an Ghaeilge uirthi; an bhfuil sé chun a chinntiú go mbeidh aon chomharthaíocht oifigiúil maidir le toghcháin nó reifrinn amach anseo chomh mór agus chomh feiceálach i nGaeilge ar a laghad agus atá i mBéarla de réir Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [18601/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Brendan Griffin

214. 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. [18508/24]

Regeneration Projects

Peadar Tóibín

215. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the regeneration projects for flat complexes within Dublin City Council's jurisdiction, in tabular form; the current stage of progress for these projects, including the movement of tenants out of their accommodation; to indicate any delays encountered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18528/24]

Derelict Sites

Michael Ring

216. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict sites that a local authority (details supplied) has taken into its possession in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18567/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

217. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the NPWS branch of his Department applies for and receives any annual grants or Common Agricultural Payments on State owned land from the Department of Agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18636/24]

Derelict Sites

Martin Browne

218. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide an update on the extension of the local authority home loan to include derelict properties. [18656/24]

Legislative Measures

Neasa Hourigan

81. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progression of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024; a timeline for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/24]

Vacant Properties

Patricia Ryan

82. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority houses currently boarded up in County Kildare; and the timeline for those houses being ready for allocation. [18219/24]

Water Services

Frankie Feighan

83. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason his Department has consistently refused funding for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Leitrim on a number of occasions since 2018; the reason such a successful and healthy scheme is forced into being taken over by Uisce Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18254/24]

Housing Policy

Mark Ward

84. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a social housing passport will be introduced that will allow persons on social housing waiting lists to change local authority without losing time on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18283/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

85. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new buy and renew homes delivered in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18313/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

86. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the new-build social homes delivered in 2023, by delivery scheme, including SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Part V and PPP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18314/24]

Housing Provision

Cian O'Callaghan

87. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing first tenancies delivered and sustained in 2023; the target number of housing first tenancies for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18315/24]

Housing Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

88. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of croí cónaithe town grants drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18316/24]

Housing Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

89. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation to croí cónaithe towns refurbishment grant scheme for 2024; the target for delivery under this scheme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18317/24]

Development Contributions

Ged Nash

90. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the value of the development levies waived to date under the terms of the development contributions waiver scheme since the scheme’s inception in relation to Louth County Council and Meath County Council; if he will provide the figures separately for those local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18350/24]

Development Contributions

Ged Nash

91. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the terms of the development contributions waiver scheme permits contributions due from a developer relating to a condition attached to a planning grant to fund a piece of infrastructure on public roads outside of the precise subject site/location of the development to be waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18351/24]

Housing Schemes

Pádraig O'Sullivan

92. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the number of croí cónaithe applications have been made and processed in each local authority for 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18379/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

93. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18395/24]

Property Registration

Brendan Smith

94. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that will be implemented to reduce considerable delays in processing applications through Tailte Éireann such as dealings in the former Property Registration Authority which may at times delay the provision of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18415/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

95. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Minister if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18447/24]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

345. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applications received for the community monument fund 2024, by county, in tabular form; if there is an appeals process a local authority can enact whereby a project that is of an urgent nature can be reassessed or placed on stand-by if any other funding is returned to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17309/24]

Housing Policy

Patrick Costello

346. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to ensure older people who wish to downsize or right-size are able to do so; the assistance provided in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/24]

Housing Policy

Cian O'Callaghan

347. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how rural and urban swelling will be defined in the new updated rural housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17330/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

348. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the total amount requested by each local authority in Ireland in respect of reimbursement, following the introduction of the development levy waiver in May 2023, in tabular form. [17356/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

349. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a parallel breakdown of the total amount paid to each local authority in Ireland following request for reimbursement since the introduction of the development levy waiver in May 2023. [17357/24]

Housing Schemes

Holly Cairns

350. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people in receipt of the housing assistance payment in Cork, by local area, in tabular form. [17365/24]

Housing Provision

Marian Harkin

351. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 11 April 2024, to provide a breakdown of the number of houses each local authority area has delivered through Project Tosaigh; to provide a breakdown of the number of homes each individual local authority area is contracted or recommended to proceed to procurement under this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/24]

Housing Provision

Marian Harkin

352. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 11 April 2024, of the 12 local authority areas that have been provided funding under the cost rental equity loan scheme, to provide details of which specific local authority areas have been provided with funding; how many houses have been built through this scheme in each of the relevant local authority areas to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17425/24]

Housing Provision

Marian Harkin

353. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 11 April 2024, to provide details of which specific local authorities the thirteen projects of 1,437 cost rental homes are spread over; how many cost rental homes each of the projects will deliver for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17426/24]

Planning Issues

Paul Murphy

354. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he agrees that planning applications for sites within industrial estates should be required to prominently display planning notices at the entrance to the industrial estate rather than within the estate itself. [17442/24]

Departmental Schemes

Cathal Crowe

355. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a scheme (details supplied); and when he expects it to be open for applicants with water ingress issues to be repaired. [17476/24]

Grant Payments

Richard Bruton

356. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the number of grants issued by local authorities under each of the grants for older people, housing aid, mobility aid and adaptation grant in each of the past five years; and whether he has information on the extent of a waiting list for these schemes. [17477/24]

Departmental Funding

Matt Carthy

357. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider making an increased allocation to Castleblayney care group through the capital assistance scheme in order to provide a community centre or facility in conjunction with the housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17496/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Bruton

358. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of councils that offer a contribution scheme under which persons in homes too big for their needs can sell or offer the home to the council and, in return for a contribution from the proceeds of a sale, secure a council tenancy in a secure complex; and the number of homes that have been processed under this scheme in the past three years. [17499/24]

Derelict Sites

Neasa Hourigan

359. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the work of the Derelict Sites Act working group; the engagements it has had and plans to have with local authorities; the timeline for when the group will present recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17542/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Ivana Bacik

360. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the European Commission's announcement of 7 February 2024 that it was sending Ireland a letter of formal notice (INFR(2023) 2178) for failing to fully comply with its obligations under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC), the eight towns with a population of more than 2,000 where wastewater is not properly treated before being discharged and the three towns of more than 10,000 in which wastewater is being discharged into sensitive areas without the more stringent treatment required by the directive; if he has responded to the Commission's letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17548/24]

Research and Development

Catherine Murphy

361. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update in respect of research his Department is funding regarding activities by Met Éireann; if he will detail the recommendations Met Éireann has made to him in respect of pluvial flooding (details supplied); and the amount he has funded to Met Éireann for this research from 2020 to date in 2024. [17555/24]

Housing Policy

Niamh Smyth

362. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the terms and conditions for purchasing your own home from Westmeath County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17576/24]

Grant Payments

Cathal Crowe

363. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the rules surrounding the housing adaptation grant (details supplied) will be amended so that an invalidity pension is not included in the means test for adapting a home for disabled access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17585/24]

Planning Issues

Ged Nash

364. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 30 May 2023, if he plans to provide city status for the town of Drogheda; if he has reviewed his position on the matter since his reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17603/24]

Local Authorities

John McGuinness

365. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process in place to check the standard of work carried out where a grant from a local authority is being paid; if he is satisfied all regulatory requirements are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17630/24]

Vacant Properties

John Lahart

366. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to consider allocating grants based on energy ratings for vacant houses, particularly in cases where the property was not vacant for the required duration to meet the requirements for the vacant home grant due to recent purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17677/24]

Housing Policy

Richard Boyd Barrett

367. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policies and supports in place for individuals who previously met the threshold for a cost-rental property and who are permanently housed in a cost-rental unit, if the person’s income falls significantly due to illness or injury; the procedures in place to convert a cost-rental property into a social home where this is necessary due to a change in the ability of the occupant to pay for cost-rental tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17693/24]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Michael Ring

368. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when payment will issue to a person in County Mayo (details supplied) for work this person carried out in view of the length of time the person is waiting for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17733/24]

Vacant Properties

Willie O'Dea

369. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amending the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant scheme to allow it to be paid in stage payments when certain works are completed, as this would require much less funds to be put in place up front as access to finance is a significant impediment to many people who wish to take on the renovation of a vacant or derelict property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17763/24]

Planning Issues

Ivana Bacik

370. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of strategic housing developments still undecided by An Bord Pleanála; his plans to ensure the backlog of cases is cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17826/24]

Wastewater Treatment

Paul Kehoe

371. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update (details supplied) on the scheme targeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements without access to public wastewater services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17830/24]

Defective Building Materials

Kathleen Funchion

372. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Carlow County Council has applied for inclusion in the enhanced defective block remediation scheme; when the scheme will be up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17853/24]

Commercial Rates

Danny Healy-Rae

373. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter in relation to rates appeals (details supplied). [17870/24]