Parliamentary questions

Housing Policy

David Stanton

213. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 323 of 1 February and 341 of 8 February 2022, if it is now possible for tenants in unsold affordable properties which have not been added to the local authority housing stock to purchase these properties following the deliberations of the working group which convened in September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35419/22]

Maritime Jurisdiction

Eoin Ó Broin

214. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the establishment of the maritime area regulatory authority; and when he hopes it will be established. [35424/22]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

215. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of PhD positions funded by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35434/22]

Maternity Leave

Mary Lou McDonald

216. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amendments to the Local Government Acts he intends to progress to provide for maternity leave for councillors. [35452/22]

Housing Policy

Carol Nolan

217. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the work of the humanitarian crisis housing task force, which is chaired by his Department; the consideration that has been given to the development of medium- and long-term accommodation solutions; the name of the relevant stakeholders the task force has engaged with to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35453/22]

Quarrying Sector

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

218. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the audit of quarries in County Donegal that he requested has been completed; if so, when he will publish the audit and take the necessary follow-up actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35468/22]

Housing Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

219. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have received any advice or guidance from his Department in recent years on the length of time a person should be living in a local authority area to meet the eligibility conditions for social housing support; the details of this advice; and the basis of the five-year rule in many allocation schemes. [35476/22]

Rental Sector

Seán Canney

220. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that people are experiencing difficulties with the Residential Tenancies Board paying their renewal registrations online; if he will investigate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35498/22]

Building Regulations

James Lawless

221. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the recourse that a consumer has in cases of shoddy building work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35542/22]

Housing Policy

Cian O'Callaghan

222. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for not allowing displaced Ukrainians resident in Ireland under the temporary protection directive to access the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35558/22]

Housing Schemes

Thomas Gould

223. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the first home scheme will only be available for new builds. [35569/22]

Housing Schemes

Thomas Gould

224. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person may avail of the first home scheme to purchase a house sold under a local authority-led affordable housing scheme. [35570/22]

Housing Schemes

Thomas Gould

225. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person’s deposit must be 10% before or after the equity share in the first home scheme. [35571/22]

Housing Schemes

Thomas Gould

226. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the sale limit for homes under the first home scheme, by county. [35572/22]

Housing Schemes

Thomas Gould

227. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protection that is in place under the first home scheme to ensure it is aimed at those who need assistance most, given the reports that the help-to-buy scheme has assisted a large number of people to purchase a home who did not need assistance. [35573/22]

Election Management System

Cian O'Callaghan

228. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when voter.ie will be expanded to cover areas outside of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35663/22]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

229. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a three-month derogation extension until the end of July 2022 was granted for the shooting of wild birds, including wood pigeon; the scientific evidence of serious crop damage that is being used to justify the derogation; and, if no such scientific evidence exists, if he will cancel the derogation. [35716/22]

Electoral Process

Catherine Murphy

230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of the recent publication of the Central Statistics Office preliminary census data, the date on which he will move to evaluate and amend the electoral boundaries for local, national and European elections. [35728/22]

Maternity Leave

Denise Mitchell

231. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the legislation regulating maternity leave for councillors is expected to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35758/22]

Local Government Reform

Denise Mitchell

232. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progress of the local government (directly elected mayor with executive functions in limerick city and county) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35759/22]

Housing Provision

Thomas Gould

233. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the 515 social houses to be built by Cork City Council in 2022 that will be built directly by the local authority. [35800/22]

Housing Policy

Cian O'Callaghan

234. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the upcoming changes that will allow the provision whereby single housing assistance payment tenants can access the couples rate will also apply for single persons in receipt of homeless HAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35812/22]

Local Authorities

Michael Ring

235. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to whom chief executives of local authorities are answerable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35818/22]

Departmental Bodies

Darren O'Rourke

236. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 368 of 10 May 2022, the number of the eight staff sanctioned by his Department for An Bord Pleanála’s new marine climate unit who have been recruited and are in place; to name the posts that have been recruited and are in place; the number of these roles that have been advertised but not yet filled, and to name those posts; the number of these roles that have not yet been advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35819/22]

Budget 2022

Matt Carthy

237. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation provided in budget 2022 to each division and unit within his Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35843/22]

Departmental Bodies

Matt Carthy

238. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the bodies under his aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each, where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35855/22]

Wildlife Regulations

Matt Carthy

239. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a deer stalking course was introduced as a prerequisite for deer hunting licences; the basis upon which the course is required; the frequency with which one must be completed; if those formerly in possession of a licence must complete the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35879/22]

Departmental Policies

Pauline Tully

240. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if community crèches are exempt from the payment of rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35887/22]

Housing Policy

Pádraig O'Sullivan

241. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that are in place to increase the income threshold to qualify for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35938/22]

Planning Issues

Michael Healy-Rae

242. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address the issue of dezoning land (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36004/22]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

243. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any research carried out by his Department into the repeal of specific planning policy requirements under section 28 (1)(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36058/22]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

244. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a response will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the shared equity scheme and the significant price cap difference between counties Louth and Meath, which adversely affects applications in Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36061/22]

Housing Provision

Duncan Smith

245. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of units purchased by, and sold to, investment funds over the past three years, by each local authority in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36066/22]

Housing Provision

Duncan Smith

246. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses constructed by local authorities under part V and by housing associations in the past three years, by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36067/22]

Housing Provision

Duncan Smith

247. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number on the social housing list in the Dublin region, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36068/22]

Planning Issues

Steven Matthews

248. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding any research carried out by his Department into the revoking of build-to-rent planning standards for apartments and instead introducing a single build-to-sell standard across all apartment developments; the impact this would have on investment levels and the delivery of homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36076/22]

Legislative Measures

Matt Carthy

249. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review parts of metal detecting restrictions placed on private lands when full permission is given by the landowner, public and State-owned lands, urban green belt areas and public beaches proposed under the monuments and archaeological heritage Bill 2021; if he will consult with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36100/22]

Housing Schemes

James O'Connor

250. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of acceptance and refusal rates for a scheme (details supplied) for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36149/22]

Legislative Process

Joe McHugh

251. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the legislative sequencing through both Houses of the Oireachtas for the defective blocks scheme; when the President will sign off on the scheme; when the scheme will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36268/22]

Appointments to State Boards

Michael Ring

252. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under his remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33853/22]

Passport Services

David Cullinane

253. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the applicant'ss travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35247/22]

Passport Services

Niamh Smyth

254. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review a passport application for a child (details supplied); if he will escalate same given that it has passed its due date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35250/22]

Passport Services

David Cullinane

255. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the applicant's travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35256/22]

Passport Services

David Cullinane

256. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and the applicant's travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35261/22]

Passport Services

Paul McAuliffe

257. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the request for a refund for a passport application by a person (details supplied), which has been cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35278/22]

Passport Services

James Lawless

258. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35281/22]

Passport Services

James Lawless

259. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to examine and expedite the passport application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35373/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Howlin

260. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application of a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35411/22]

Passport Services

Joe Flaherty

261. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied). [35422/22]

Departmental Funding

Rose Conway-Walsh

262. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of PhD positions funded by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35433/22]