Parliamentary questions

Horticulture Sector

Carol Nolan

310. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will direct his Minister of State to reconvene the Working Group on Horticultural Peat to in order to provide those who contributed to the Working Group consultation process an opportunity to understand the reason that the recommendations of the report have been set aside in favour of a series of ten actions outlined by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3526/22]

Housing Schemes

Cathal Crowe

311. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage when a scheme (details supplied) to help persons who buy derelict properties to renovate and live in is expected to be launched. [3528/22]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Christopher O'Sullivan

312. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the management measures that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is putting in place to prevent further deterioration of the biodiversity at Lough Hyne, Skibbereen, west County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3530/22]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new housing scheme currently in hand or proposed in 2022 by each local authority by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3540/22]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses built by each local authority in 2021; the number proposed for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3541/22]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for local authority housing by county; the plans to meet their requirements in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3542/22]

Housing Schemes

Bernard Durkan

316. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing applicants currently in receipt of HAP or rent support; the extent to which progress is being made to meet their housing needs directly rather than through various support schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3543/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

317. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an audit has been carried out to determine the best value for money to his Department of direct build local authority houses compared with housing assistance payment, HAP, or rent support given that neither of the latter schemes present a permanent resolution to the applicants' housing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3544/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which his Department continues to assess the extent to which the Housing for All programme continues to make serious inroads on the local authority housing shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3545/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a review will be undertaken of the thresholds for qualification for local authority housing or Rebuilding Ireland housing loans with particular reference to the urgent need to remove the most regularly identified obstacles in the path of those seeking rehousing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3546/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which it remains possible to accelerate the local authority house building programme and the use of Rebuilding Ireland housing loans or local authority-led loans in the short term with particular reference to the need to achieve a more rapid turnover of the applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3547/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

321. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he contemplates easing the housing loan deposit required by local authority housing loan applicants who are currently in private rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3548/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

322. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he continues to liaise with the various local authorities throughout the country with a view to the elimination of obstacles that tend to slow down funding towards housing by the various local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3549/22]

Departmental Funding

Bernard Durkan

323. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he can draw down extra funding for house building purposes in the remainder of 2021 and in 2022 to boost output in the public and affordable housing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3550/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

324. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing projects currently available and ready to go in respect of private or public sectors by county; the specific or particular obstacles to enabling such projects to proceed immediately in the event of there being a common problem; if the issue can be addressed at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3551/22]

Housing Policy

Bernard Durkan

325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he has considered additional measures to address the housing crisis with particular reference to the rapidly escalating house prices, the increasing number of persons seeking to purchase an affordable house and the number of applicants on local authority housing waiting lists; his plans to introduce radical measures to address the situation which is for many persons an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3552/22]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average price of a house deemed to be in the affordable category; the number built, acquired or under construction at present throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3553/22]

Departmental Staff

Darren O'Rourke

327. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of staff employed by grade in the offshore licensing unit in his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3559/22]

Local Authorities

Sorca Clarke

328. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority units to be completed by Westmeath County Council by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3580/22]

Local Authorities

Sorca Clarke

329. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority units to be completed by Longford County Council by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3581/22]

Rental Sector

Sorca Clarke

330. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being considered by his Department to assist renters in the current housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3582/22]

Homeless Persons Supports

Sorca Clarke

331. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of his work to tackle homelessness in counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3583/22]

Rental Sector

Seán Sherlock

332. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of private rented accommodation inspections carried out by local authorities in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of inspections in which further enforcement action was taken in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3585/22]

Water Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

333. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new sewerage scheme grant for towns and villages which are not served by Irish Water infrastructure will be rolled out to the various local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3620/22]

Vacant Properties

Michael Fitzmaurice

334. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the grant to aid persons in purchasing and renovating derelict homes will be made available; the parameters or eligibility criteria for the scheme that have been determined to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3621/22]

Ministerial Staff

Catherine Murphy

335. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of civilian and Garda ministerial drivers in his current corps of drivers; the breakdown of the civilian versus Garda drivers; and the total costs including salaries, maintenance, fuel and so on incurred by the driver corps in 2020 and 2021. [3982/22]

Departmental Communications

Joan Collins

215. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department sent a memo to Dublin City Council in November 2021 informing the Council to cease the acquisition housing programme given that a family (details supplied) has received a tenancy termination notice and is in danger of being made homeless. [2737/22]

Regulatory Bodies

Brendan Griffin

216. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a decision has been made by the Central Bank on the shared equity scheme given that a decision was due in November 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2748/22]

Pension Provisions

John Lahart

217. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage when a person (details supplied) will receive their full pension entitlements from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2753/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

218. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of mobile homes or caravans funded in 2020 and 2021 respectively by local authority, the Traveller accommodation unit of his Department through the special response to issues faced by the Traveller community due to the Covid-19 pandemic and poor living conditions on Traveller specific sites; the percentage of funding available in 2020 and 2021 to local authorities for these caravans; if in view of the ongoing and rapid spread of the omicron variant it is intended to provide the scheme again in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2776/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the grounds under which replacement mobile homes or caravans were funded by the Traveller accommodation unit of his Department as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022; if it is intended to have a similar scheme in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2777/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the standards that were laid down to local authorities in relation to mobile homes or caravans funded by the Traveller accommodation unit in his Department as a response to Covid-19; the person or body that verified that all caravans or mobile homes bought for Travellers were of adequate standard; if all these units were new or whether local authorities could purchase second-hand ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2778/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the reason funding for local authority owned replacement and new caravan and mobile homes for Travellers are only funded to local authorities at a rate of 50%; his views on whether this is inhibiting local authorities from replacing substandard caravans and mobile home in good time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2783/22]

Traveller Accommodation

Éamon Ó Cuív

222. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is intended to roll-out the caravan loan scheme for Travellers nationwide in view of the high number of substandard units around the country which causes particular hardship at this time of year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2784/22]

National Parks

Éamon Ó Cuív

223. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when correspondence sent by a person (details supplied) to the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform in relation to alleged damage to archaeological remains caused in a National Park will be replied to in detail; the investigations carried out following these reports into this damage; if the investigations were carried out by an archaeological expert; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2786/22]

Archaeological Sites

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

224. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any archaeological licence under section 26 under the National Monuments Act 1930 were issued in 2021; and the purpose for same. [2791/22]

Archaeological Sites

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

225. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an archaeological licence under section 26 under National Monuments Act 1930 was issued to Dublin City Council to allow it to commence enabling works on the historic Iveagh Market on Francis Street in the Liberties of Dublin; the date application was made and granted; and if conditions were attached. [2792/22]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Michael Ring

226. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Parks and Wildlife Service will ensure that works are carried out at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2794/22]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

227. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the funding levels of 2020 and 2021 for the voids programme are continued in 2022 in view of the need to make further progress in bringing back to habitable use vacant council housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2833/22]

Housing Schemes

Brendan Smith

228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for social housing in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2834/22]

Housing Schemes

Alan Dillon

229. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will issue a circular to local authorities that have no affordable housing schemes in place which details the requirements for those applying to affordable housing schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2841/22]

Housing Schemes

Alan Dillon

230. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way local authorities such as Mayo County Council will implement important objectives of housing policy outlined with Housing for All to deliver an affordable housing scheme in towns such as Castlebar, Ballina and Westport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2842/22]

Housing Provision

Rose Conway-Walsh

445. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the location of all built social housing provided in County Mayo in 2021; the location of the targeted 90 social homes by built in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62935/21]

Local Authorities

Mattie McGrath

446. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the legislation was introduced for the appointment of chief executives in county councils throughout Ireland; if it was binding on all counties; if there was subsequent legislation for the same purpose which was only applicable to separate county councils such as Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford; if a special case was made for any or all three counties; and if so, the details of same. [62986/21]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

447. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will remove hares from the open season order and stop all shooting, hunting and coursing of hares given the threatened nature of the Irish hare species and the pressure it is under (details supplied). [62995/21]

Heritage Sites

Neale Richmond

448. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria for a national heritage area, Natura 2000, a statutory nature reserve and refuge for fauna; the protections that each includes; the process for designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63004/21]

National Parks

Neale Richmond

449. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the definition of a national park and a regional park; the statutory protection each covers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63005/21]

Urban Development

Jackie Cahill

450. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding will be made available for a group (details supplied) to source administrative staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63006/21]

Waterways Issues

Jennifer Whitmore

451. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the national river barriers programme; the rivers and barriers that are being considered under this programme; the funding allocated for barrier removal and remediation; the timeline for completion of individual projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63074/21]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Jennifer Whitmore

452. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the active management plans operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63077/21]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Jennifer Whitmore

453. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the National Parks and Wildlife Service review; when he envisages it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63078/21]

Forestry Sector

Jennifer Whitmore

454. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the re-fencing of Uragh Wood Nature Reserve will be completed; if funding has been allocated to this project; the measures that will be put in place in terms of the additional grazing pressures on the site by both domestic stock, feral goats and deer at the site; the timeline for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63079/21]

Wildlife Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

455. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of enforcement actions taken under section 40 of the Wildlife Acts over the past ten years, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63080/21]

Wildlife Protection

Jennifer Whitmore

456. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the hen harrier threat response plan will be published; the process it will then undergo; the full timeline for the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63081/21]

Wildlife Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

457. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the curlew task force recommendations; the funding being made available in 2022 to address the concerning decline of the species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63082/21]

Wildlife Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

458. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made with the establishment of the National Parks and Wildlife Service's working to examine the hunting of birds of conservation concern; the actions that will be considered as part of the working group; the timeline for work to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63083/21]

Wildlife Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

459. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the precautionary measures he will put in place as an interim management tool to ensure that sufficient protections are offered to bird species of conservation concern that are currently listed on the National Parks and Wildlife Service's open season order, and in advance of the finalisation of the working group on the hunting of birds of conservation. [63084/21]

Wildlife Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

460. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are in place to ensure that sites of high maritime biodiversity potential are protected from overdevelopment and impact under the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63085/21]

Wastewater Treatment

Cathal Crowe

461. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the proposed Cooraclare sewerage scheme did not proceed in 2006, as promised (details supplied); the way that this funding was re-allocated; if there are current plans to advance the scheme at Cooraclare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63102/21]

Homeless Accommodation

John Lahart

462. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the positions of an organisation (details supplied) with regard to homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63113/21]

Commercial Rates

Jim O'Callaghan

463. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level or percentage of funding that local authorities get from commercial rates; if he will provide the breakdown of commercial rates payments, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63145/21]

Commercial Rates

Jim O'Callaghan

464. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans his Department has for the reform of business or commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63146/21]

Commercial Rates

Jim O'Callaghan

465. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department can provide both pre and post Covid-19 analysis of the yield to the local authorities from commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63147/21]

Local Authorities

Jim O'Callaghan

466. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has plans to harmonise the conduct of revaluation efforts of the local authorities in order that they occur at regular intervals and during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63148/21]

Housing Schemes

Jackie Cahill

467. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a person who has acquired the necessary funds through alternative means such as inheritance is deemed ineligible to participate in the tenant purchase scheme on the grounds that his or her sole income is from social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63158/21]

Housing Schemes

Seán Canney

468. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide additional funding under the housing aid for older people scheme to reflect the unprecedented increase in the costs of materials and labour; if this funding will be 100% grant funded by his Department to the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63175/21]

Heritage Projects

Seán Canney

469. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department support the master plan for Moore Street as developed by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63176/21]

Housing Policy

Patricia Ryan

470. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue a circular to local authorities updating housing policy as set out under section 63 of the Housing Act 1966 on the age of siblings sharing a bedroom to bring it into the 21st century; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63197/21]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

471. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to allow tenants living in homes provided under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to purchase their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63198/21]

Climate Action Plan

Patricia Ryan

472. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Kildare County Council is concerned at the large overspend on retrofitting under the Midlands Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, which must be met from its own resources; if his Department will make up the shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63199/21]

Commemorative Events

Patricia Ryan

473. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will assist Kildare County Council with funding to commemorate the sesqui millennial of the death of St. Brigid in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63200/21]

Departmental Reports

Duncan Smith

474. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the response by his Department to the findings of the Cost of Disability in Ireland research report; the plans that will be made in quarter one of 2022 in response to these findings; if he will implement an all-Department response that will be timescaled and measured to ensure everyday costs are reduced for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63221/21]

Housing Provision

Paul Murphy

475. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local councils carry out means testing and calculation for social housing eligibility based on net or gross income; if the maximum household income will be increased to reflect the rising cost of living; and if local councils remove persons from the social housing list who are over the HAP limit. [63226/21]

Commercial Rates

Cathal Crowe

476. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person (details supplied) and other persons in similar circumstances will be given leeway with their new commercial rates given the seasonal nature of their businesses. [63229/21]

Greenways Provision

Gerald Nash

477. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Department of Rural and Community Development has sought his Department's views on plans by Louth County Council to use funding approved by that Department to develop the Boyne greenway on the northside of the River Boyne at Mell, Drogheda, County Louth; if his Department has reservations on the proposed project in view of the fact that part of the subject area for the greenway plan involves a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63237/21]

Energy Conservation

Thomas Gould

478. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an application was submitted for retrofitting on Noonan's Road; the details of the application received; and the additional information now required. [63245/21]

Foreshore Issues

Michael Healy-Rae

479. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a foreshore licence for a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63282/21]

Hare Coursing

Paul Murphy

480. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 14 December 2021, the person or body that gives approval for the location of hare coursing. [63295/21]

Housing Provision

Paul Donnelly

481. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a flexible approach will be considered in terms of the threshold limits for social housing in cases in which a family who have been on the housing list for a number of years goes over the threshold due to a child becoming employed full-time. [63308/21]

Commercial Rates

Sorca Clarke

482. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration is being given by his Department to continue the local authority commercial rates waiver (details supplied). [63411/21]

Housing Provision

Richard Boyd Barrett

483. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person who is in full-time education with an allowance from a relative of €160 per week but has a housing need is entitled to housing assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63424/21]

Defective Building Materials

Pearse Doherty

484. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the defective concrete block scheme 2021 will include redress for second homes impacted by MICA which are semi-detached to a primary residence that is also impacted by MICA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63444/21]

Commercial Rates

Emer Higgins

485. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that event companies are not included in the quarter 4 2021 commercial rates waiver administered by local authorities given the significant curtailment to events, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has directly impacted event companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63447/21]

Office of Public Works

Rose Conway-Walsh

486. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to move forward accessibility issues for the public to OPW-run Moyne Abbey, Ballina, County Mayo given that the OPW can only advise on access for OPW staff and not on public access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63465/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

487. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 30 November 2021, the number of properties put aside for this reason; the number that have been used for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63470/21]

Septic Tanks

Seán Canney

488. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will alter the regulations on the registration of septic tanks to allow persons who purchase a property in which the septic tank has not been previously registered to register same in order to be eligible for grant aid to upgrade for environmental reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63471/21]

Rental Sector

Cian O'Callaghan

489. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is an offence to offer reduced rent in exchange for sex, as reported by a newspaper (details supplied); if not, the steps he will take to stop this from occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63492/21]

Wastewater Treatment

Ivana Bacik

490. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is planned to undertake a review of pollution at the Elm Park stream to measure the water quality from wastewater treatment plant overflows in the locality. [63505/21]

Wastewater Treatment

Ivana Bacik

491. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the effect the release of raw sewage into Dublin Bay; if it is considered that sewage releases in the Sandymount area contributes to the increase of Ectocarpus deposits on Sandymount strand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63506/21]

Housing Schemes

Jackie Cahill

492. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the grants that are currently available to a first-time buyer who purchases a house for major refurbishment, renovation and retrofitting works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63520/21]

Housing Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

493. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by each local authority on the mortgage-to-rent scheme since its introduction in 2015; the number of properties those payments relate to by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63543/21]

Housing Schemes

Cian O'Callaghan

494. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by each approved housing body on the mortgage-to-rent scheme since its introduction in 2015; the number of properties those payments relate to by approved housing body in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63544/21]

Local Authorities

Cian O'Callaghan

495. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of technical and administrative staff, respectively in the housing department of each local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63545/21]

Housing Policy

Paul Murphy

496. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses covered by thermal upgrade contract number 123 (details supplied); the number of those houses that have had asbestos identified; and the number in which the asbestos is being removed. [63554/21]

Housing Policy

Paul Murphy

497. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the asbestos identified at a location (details supplied) will not be removed as part of works given that it has previously been suggested by contractors that it should be removed. [63555/21]

Housing Policy

Paul Murphy

498. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that a thermal upgrade (details supplied) is only targeting a C grade building energy rating when all national targets now are for ratings of B or higher; if the fact that it is not reaching a B rating will affect the ability of the local authority to receive grant support for this work; and if these houses will need another retrofitting in the future to bring them up to a B rating. [63556/21]

Housing Policy

Paul Murphy

499. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the circumstances in which a local authority will fit stoves as part of thermal upgrades (details supplied); and the factors that are used to determine whether a house receives a stove or not. [63557/21]

Traveller Accommodation

Eoin Ó Broin

500. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Travellers in Cork city and in counties Cork and Kerry experiencing homelessness and in emergency accommodation, respectively; and the number of the Traveller families accommodated in those areas by accommodation type from 2017 to date in tabular form. [63561/21]

Emergency Accommodation

Cian O'Callaghan

501. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish details of the quality standards that are being applied to privately-run emergency accommodation; the way these standards differ to the National Quality Standards Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63574/21]

Defective Building Materials

Eoin Ó Broin

502. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding has been made available for research into the issue of defective blocks by his Department or by the Housing Agency; if so, the amount; the persons or bodies this funding has been awarded to; the nature of the research; when it will be published; and if it will be available to the public. [63611/21]