Dáil debates
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
4:55 am
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday the Taoiseach told working people and families struggling to get by to wait until next year's budget. He might help them then or he might not - wait and see. That was his message. The consequences of that indifference were exposed yesterday. While the Taoiseach downplayed the pressure on households, the regulator released startling figures. The number of households behind on their electricity bills has shot up again. Listen to this. Some 316,838 households were behind on their electricity bill in February. That is frightening. More than half of these households are in debt for over 90 days and the number is growing. More and more households find it harder to pay their electricity bill, find it harder to get back on track and the fear of disconnection is real. As a matter of fact, 197 households have already been disconnected this year. Many are forced to switch to pay-as-you-go meters where they end up paying the most expensive tariffs and bills. These are families who do everything and are desperate to keep up but they just find themselves in awful situations and the Taoiseach's Government – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – simply shrugs its shoulders.
The crisis did not fall out of the sky. The Taoiseach knows it has been getting worse, so how can he not accept the need for an emergency budget? How can he not see the need for energy credits? Last October, we told him that cancelling energy credits in his budget was a terrible decision. The regulator warned him that even more households would struggle to pay their bills as a result of his decision but the Taoiseach ignored those warnings. He withdrew the credits anyway and he left households terribly exposed. He stood idly by as big energy companies, one after the other, hiked their electricity prices up and up and now his energy Minister tells people to brace themselves for even further electricity price increases. There are households in arrears, sky-high prices, fear of disconnection and more price hikes to come.
Today’s CSO report makes clear that people cannot wait until next year’s budget. It tells them what they already knew - that the cost of living is getting worse. Food prices and energy prices are up and pressure on families has increased and the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, sits back and watches. The damage and hardship caused by withdrawing energy credits is plain to see but he does not listen. He does not recognise that he got it wrong. He does not accept that action is now needed. That is not a real or sustainable response. He needs to stop doubling down. Help is needed. Energy credits are urgent.
Ní féidir leis na céadta mílte daoine a mbillí leictreachais a íoc ach fós tá Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael ag diúltú gníomhú. Tá cabhair ag teastáil ó dhaoine láithreach. Tá cáinaisnéis éigeandála ag teastáil anois.
Families are now asking how bad things have to get before the Taoiseach wakes up. How many families have to fall behind in their electricity bills before he acts? What is the number? Is the number 400,000? Is it half a million? What number spells crisis for the Taoiseach? For every single one of these households, the crisis is now - it is today. They cannot wait until next year’s budget, so the Taoiseach must act. We need an emergency budget now. Families desperately need energy credits now.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I join the Ceann Comhairle in welcoming the Polish community in the Gallery in celebrating their constitution day. I pay tribute to Deputy Malcolm Byrne, in particular, who is the convenor of the Irish Polish parliamentary group. I welcome the ambassador to-be Mr. Artur Michalski to the House.
I fully reject the Deputy’s analysis of the situation. The first point I would make is that yet again she is ignoring that fact that we are facing a major dislocation of oil supply and disruption because of a war in the Middle East. What is her problem in acknowledging the war in the Middle East?
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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That is rhetorical and there will be no interruptions.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since the war broke out, the Deputy keeps pretending it has not happened.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is almost as if she is living in a parallel universe. We have a huge issue-----
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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What is the Taoiseach going to do about it?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----as have the world and Europe because of that war which is following on earlier shocks, in terms of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the energy crisis that happened then. We need a Government-----
John BradyMicheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and we need a political response that understands the seismic potential damage of this crisis. The Deputy is ignoring it and that is irresponsible and negligent. Anybody I meet, at European level or anywhere, is very concerned about not only the short-term impact but the medium- and long-term impacts to the world of this energy shock crisis. That is not overstating it - that is what people are saying.
We have allocated around €750 million on top of a budget last year that was substantial in terms of public expenditure, and I will deal with that in a second. We just announced one of the highest packages, so we are not ignoring anybody and we are not holding back. We have allocated one of the largest packages across the European Union to alleviate pressures that undoubtedly are on families. We decided strategically to look at the food production sector, so we can continue food production at some affordable prices and the haulage industry in terms of our export economy and also getting goods on shelves in an affordable way. Those packages are substantial by any yardstick.
Then the general reduction in excise duty of 32 cent on diesel and 27 cent on petrol is helping to alleviate pressures. However, the pressures are undoubtedly there, of that there is no doubt. What the Deputy wants to do is spend about €3 billion to €4 billion now.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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What happens in October if this crisis does not abate? What happens in January? What happens our housing investments or our investments across in education, health and childcare? The USC brings in €5 billion to €6 billion. The Deputy wants something for everyone in the audience. She wants universal energy credits. She wants to give credits to the wealthiest in society. She does not believe in targeting anymore. Her measures, if they were brought in, would bring about 2% or 2.5% to inflation. We know who suffers most when inflation goes up - it is lowest income groups. That is not politically fanciful for the Deputy. She has a by-election coming and she wants to win as many votes as she can, so she wants to say, "Let us spend €4 billion and give it out to everybody."
That is what she is doing. Let us be under no illusion that that is what is afoot here.
5:05 am
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have to think even short term to October. We should be looking at more permanent measures that help to alleviate the cost of living. Tá géarghá é sin a dhéanamh. Tá an-chuid déanta againn agus tá níos mó le déanamh againn dan dabht. It is not next year's budget but next October's budget, which is a number of months away.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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That will not take effect until January.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, not necessarily, and the Deputy knows that is not the truth either. We know that we have to help people over next winter, which will be a crucial period, but we are going to do it in a measured, sensible way, not Sinn Féin's way, which is the Liz Truss way,-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy McDonald. I thank the Taoiseach, but his time is up.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----which nearly blew the British economy apart. That is where Sinn Féin is going.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The number of households in arrears that I quoted to the Taoiseach come from February. That predates the Trump-Netanyahu attacks on Iran. That has made matters worse, which I absolutely acknowledge. What the Taoiseach cannot acknowledge is what the regulator and the CSO are telling the Government directly today, namely, that the cost-of-living crisis is getting worse, including for groceries and energy, and families are struggling. I have given the Taoiseach the figures for the level of arrears. They are terrifying. The Government has allocated diddly-squat - sweet feck all - for working families.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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That is the truth and families know it. I put it to you directly that your attitude of sitting back and watching this unfold is not acceptable. We need measures now. One of them is energy credits.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach to respond.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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That matter is absolutely clear.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Why do you refuse to act to protect workers and families-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy McDonald's time is up.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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-----in this situation? You are negligent,-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call the Taoiseach to respond.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Through the Chair, please.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Hold on a second. The budget that we announced last year-----
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Government took away the energy credits.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Please, Deputies, allow the response without interruption.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have introduced permanent measures that reduce the cost of living. In terms of healthcare, we eliminated all hospital charges. In terms of education, there are free primary schoolbooks.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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That is why arrears are up.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Sorry, but if I have to interrupt-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of primary schools, there are free hot school meals. These are measures that matter. We have expanded the back to school allowance and so on.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputies are speaking out of both sides of their mouths now.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of the fuel allowance, we expanded that.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputies have to keep interrupting because they do not like the truth, but 450,000 working families benefit from the fuel allowance. We brought in the working family payment within that. We have done very effective, targeted measures, including free contraception, HRT, and going right through the health services.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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These all reduce the cost of living for working families. Sinn Féin chooses to ignore that.
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Get out of your bubble. Get out of your bubble.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome at long last that Sinn Féin has acknowledged that there is a war in the Middle East. That is progress from its perspective-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Enough. Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----but I do not accept Sinn Féin's approach to how to resolve the issues for people.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach is making a show of himself.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Before I call Deputy Bacik, I will remind Members not to come to meetings where we all speak out of both sides of our mouths about interruptions. They know the rules. Interruptions are not allowed.
Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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Is that not what that means? It is about----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Each Member is entitled to a fair hearing and each Member will get it.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I welcome our Polish community and also a group of students who are with me from Trinity and schools in Dublin and Wexford.
Far too many people in Ireland suffer the trauma of losing their home. That is a direct result of the Government's policy. It prioritises the market over people. It did it in March, incentivising landlords to evict with new rent laws, and it is doing it again now, this week telling 16,000 Ukrainian refugees to fend for themselves in an overheated rental market or return to a war zone. So much for solidarity with Ukraine. In Dublin, even if a person's budget is €1,500 per month, there are just two two-bed properties for rent on daft.ie today. The housing crisis has been normalised on the Taoiseach's watch. As a local TD, it is getting harder and harder to support people through this deepening crisis, but each year, the Government is pursuing the same policies and things are getting worse. We are now hearing from constituents who are even grappling with suicidal thoughts as they and their families face the horror of eviction.
Threshold supported more than 10,000 households in the first three months of this year alone. That was 3% of all households in the private rented sector that are struggling. People cannot cope. I know the Taoiseach would love for homeless figures to reduce but the Government is doing nothing about it. He must face up to the fact that its policies are making things worse and that there are people in Ireland who are profiting from this social disaster. Scarcity drives profits up for land hoarders and higher rents benefit price-gouging landlords, yet the Government is subsidising those who are speculating on this social disaster. When it pats itself on the back, as I know it will, for the mortgage drawdown figures today, it is missing the point. The Government needs to close the door to lobbyists and open its eyes to the solutions before it, because we know what works. The eviction ban slowed the pace of homelessness. In the 1960s, under a Fianna Fáil Government, the National Building Agency, a State construction company, built homes at scale, lifting thousands of families out of squalor, yet the Taoiseach ridicules Labour's proposal to transform the Land Development Agency into a new State construction company.
The Government's policies are failing people. The Government is failing the 5,500 children in homelessness, failing the 60% of renters unable to afford rent, and failing the 60,000 on the housing list. Yesterday, the Cabinet failed once again to agree measures to stop Airbnb and short-term letting companies from mopping up the supply of homes, and at the same time, the Government decided to throw thousands of Ukrainian refugees to the mercy of the rental market. It has passed laws unleashing a tsunami of eviction notices and its solutions are "shedsits" and tax breaks for developers. When will the Government take radical action to end the housing disaster, stop evictions of renters and refugees, and ramp up the Land Development Agency to build homes at scale?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I fundamentally disagree with the Deputy's proposition. The State is investing the majority of funding in housing right now and has been for the last three to four years.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Bacik's presentation, saying that we are favouring the private market, does not add up. There are record levels of State investment, nearly up to €10 billion this year.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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They are not tax breaks at all. Come on, the Deputy knows it. That is untrue. Let us have an honest debate about it. The only thing Labour has produced in its policy responses is a State housing development agency. That is all. Not one paragraph in it is fleshed out at all, as far as I can see.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will make this point to the Deputy. Thirty-six thousand houses were built last year. Supply is the key here. Labour keeps opposing measures that will add supply. The Deputy talks about an eviction ban. She said it would slow down homelessness. It would slow down supply, and did slow down supply. Be in no doubt that supply is the key. We need to get to 50,000 houses a year.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That needs to be balanced with public sector investment and private sector investment. "Private sector contribution" should not be seen as a dirty term, as some on the left see it.
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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It is not. It is about home ownership.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a very important contributor to getting to 50,000 or 60,000 houses per annum. The momentum is very strong now. Unfortunately, this crisis in the Middle East could be problematic in time.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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It is always somebody else's fault.
Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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You cannot blame the housing prices on that.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We need that war to end. We have built about 170,000 houses since 2020 and 50,000 apartments have been built. There were 8,000 permissions in quarter 4 of 2025, up 20%, and 20,000 houses were granted permission in 2025, which is the highest number since 2009. Commencement notices were up 184% in quarter 1 of 2026. Real dwelling investment was up by close to 20% in the first three quarters of 2025. Construction employment was at 191,000 at the end of 2025. That is up 30% since 2019 and 12% year on year. The Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI, loan book has grown by 25% to €3.2 billion. We have announced the €1 billion housing infrastructure investment fund, which is also doing very well. I can go through all of the various investments that the State is putting into this. Nearly 59,000 social houses have been added since July 2020. It is significant that 60% of all mortgages drawn down now are first-time buyers. That matters. I would not dismiss it like the Deputy tried to in her opening remarks.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I am not dismissing it. I acknowledge it.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not missing anything here. That is significant because it means the measures we have introduced are helping first-time buyers, albeit at prices that are still too high, but the only way we will deal with that price issue is by having more supply. We need a more collective approach to housing supply and not to oppose every single thing that the Government brings in.
In terms of the reforms, the Deputy knows well that some smaller landlords did not like the reforms because they gave additional protections to tenants, not the other way round. That is the impact. We did protect tenants-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Taoiseach. Deputy Bacik will now have an opportunity to respond.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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We can agree on one thing, which is that supply of homes is key, but the Government is not delivering increased supply. Unfortunately, the only momentum is with the tsunami of eviction notices that people are experiencing. The Government cannot blame the housing crisis on Trump - the Taoiseach knows I have acknowledged the impact of the global energy shock - because the Government's policies have not changed. They are failing to deliver for people.
They are failing to deliver for people like the family I met in Oranmore last week who asked me to tell their story - a couple with three small children, one with additional needs, who received a notice to quit. They will be evicted in June. They are facing homelessness and a support worker has advised the father, who is working, to give up work to improve chances of getting a home. What has the Government got to offer him? What has it got to offer my students in the Gallery? It seems there is an acceptable level of homelessness. This figure has been normalised. It is climbing every month. Deputy Sheehan is out with other Opposition spokespersons commenting on the homeless figures every month. They continue to climb - 5,500 children. Those three children I met in Oranmore will join those figures. What will the Taoiseach do for them?
5:15 am
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Housing supply is the key-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and we need to build more houses. Labour's policies would actually reduce housing supply. There is no question.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Where is the evidence of that?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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As to the other point on homelessness, the profile of homelessness has shifted dramatically. There is no question. That is the reality.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Now you are blaming homeless people for homelessness. That is outrageous, Taoiseach.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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If you look at the figures-----
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach of the country is blaming homeless people for their homelessness. He is responsible for their homelessness. What a disgrace.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Ó Broin, the last time-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not blaming anybody. Deputy Ó Broin is wrong.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Sorry, Taoiseach. Excuse me. Stop the clock, please.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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That is exactly what you are doing. You are blaming the victims of your own housing policy.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The biggest factor, if you look at the figures----
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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That is an absolute disgrace.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Ó Broin, there is nothing special about you, or is there?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Broin, you are not leader of Sinn Féin yet. By the looks of things, you will be a long time waiting.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I do not want to be leader but I want to see homelessness fall. That is not happening under you.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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What I want to say is this. If I could speak to Deputy Bacik-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Taoiseach, the clock is stopped.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Excuse me while I address the Chamber. Deputy Ó Broin, the rules apply to everybody. Interruptions are not allowed. Your leader has had Sinn Féin's question and was afforded the time, if I recall, by everybody to put the question.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am routinely interrupted.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I was provoked by the Taoiseach.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Ó Broin, if you cannot have respect for the Chair, have respect for your colleagues.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I have respect for the Chair-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, and for your colleagues.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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-----but I have no respect for a Taoiseach who misleads the House.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Enough from everybody. Taoiseach, please resume.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The fundamental change in homelessness, and it is still an issue, without question, is the fact that less than 50% are now Irish citizens. Migration has impacted hugely on homelessness.
Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Oh, the Simon Harris line.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The facts speak for themselves. If we cannot have an honest debate-----
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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On a point of order, it is unacceptable to conflate-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Look, do not be getting into high dudgeon now. That is the truth, unfortunately, whether Deputy Bacik likes it or not.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can try and make all the commentary she likes about that, and I say that-----
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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The Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, is disputing that.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Look at the Dublin figures alone.
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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We know the figures. Government policy creates homelessness.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Cairns.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is out there-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. Deputy Cairns is on her feet.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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When the Government announced plans to regulate short-term lets, nearly everyone welcomed it. The Department of tourism said the measure would lead to 12,000 homes returning to the long-term rental market. The Fáilte Ireland chief executive said the registration system was simple and user friendly. Even Airbnb and the Irish Self-Catering Federation welcomed the introduction of a register. The catch is that was back in 2022 - four years ago – when the Government first announced these plans. Four years of inaction, delay and excuses.
This week, we learned of yet another missed deadline. A plan to have the register come into force on 20 May is dead in the water, as is any prospect of homes returning to the long-term rental market any time soon. The Government is prioritising proposals that will see renters living in sheds in back gardens with no protections instead of bringing the potentially thousands of homes listed on Airbnb back into the long-term rental market. Does the Taoiseach not see that for what it is? It is an insult to thousands of renters all over the country. This Government would prefer to see them paying thousands of euro every month to live in cabins in back gardens than to regulate Airbnb.
Nearly every week, the Taoiseach tells us that housing is the Government’s number one priority. I do not think anyone believes that. Not only has it refused to introduce long-overdue regulation of an out-of-control short-term letting sector, it has gutted the regulations before they have even come into force. Initially, the Government's plan was to restrict short-term lets to towns of 10,000 or more. Then, thanks to lobbying by the Healy-Raes, it abandoned that plan, raising the bar to towns with a population of 20,000-plus. It shafted renters to keep the Healy-Raes happy only for them to walk out of government a few weeks later anyway.
Record numbers of people are now homeless, including more than 5,500 children. Meanwhile, in some areas of the country, there are 25 times more homes on Airbnb than homes to rent. A Government that took the housing crisis seriously and wanted to protect renters would do something about that.
On top of all this, there is no clarity on what will happen in towns with a population below 20,000. Will housing need even be a consideration or is the Government telling every town and village in rural Ireland and every square metre of the Gaeltacht that nothing is going to change? What is the Government's plan for short-term lets in these areas? Will housing need be a consideration for planning? Why has the Government been dragging its heels on regulation for four years? What is the Government's plan? Does the Government even know?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First of all, the short-term letting and tourism Bill will provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a register of all short-term lets in Ireland. That will be accompanied by a planning statement from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, governing that entire framework. That will broadly restrict the approval of new planning permissions for short-term lets in cities and large towns. All of this is aligned with the European directive and the European approach to this.
Bear in mind that even in Deputy Cairns's area there has been a lot of pushback, not from any particular Deputies, but generally from people who have been operating Airbnbs in west Cork, Kerry, along the western seaboard and in the south-eastern areas from a tourism point of view. There has been a reaction against it - not from any one TD, but from people on the ground. Yesterday, I was answering this question from a different perspective from the Deputy's colleague Deputy Collins, who is completely against any ending of the short-term lets and so on.
We have decided on the figure of 20,000. We think it is a reasonable balance. If we can get the short-term lets back to housing in the cities and the large towns, that will be a good day's work. It is not simple either, in terms of planning laws and the frameworks around that, to make sure that we get it right. The Government will introduce this. We will be doing it and are nearly there, to be quite frank, in terms of completing the process. It is a measure in addition to all the other measures.
The Deputy is derisive about what she calls "sheds". They are not sheds. Talk to people. She says she has spoken to people in her constituency. A lot of people in west Cork approve of the planning exemption proposal around units at the back of their houses and so on. They actually approve of it. Some people will be paying up to €80,000 for those, if they are modular units, for example. They may use them for their family members but family members will not be there forever. We have a housing supply crisis and it makes sense to free up the planning permitting situation for units of that kind. We will keep it under review.
I am in favour of anything that increases supply. I am not really interested in rhetoric. I am not interested in opposing everything that everybody proposes. The vast majority of what the Government has proposed over the last number of years on housing has been opposed by the Social Democrats and others. The Social Democrats oppose any private sector involvement. We have a lot of workers working in Ireland. There are a lot of people out there who would avail of these kinds of units and take pressure off the more conventional rental market.
It is about supply and we make no apology for it. Next week, we will look at rural planning guidelines for housing as well, which the Deputy will probably oppose, but we have to produce more supply.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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Being from west Cork, I absolutely understand the importance of tourism in the area I grew up working in local cafés and restaurants that rely on the influx of tourists in the summer. What those businesses and local schools, post offices and everything else also rely on is locals - people living in the area and workers in the area. This is about getting the balance right. The balance at the moment is not right. In Cork South-West, there are housing estates with almost nobody living in them full-time any more. The amount of short-term lets is out of control.
The Government has been dragging its heels on this legislation for four years. I asked the Taoiseach why but he did not answer that question. Do I recognise the importance of tourism? Absolutely. Does the Taoiseach recognise the importance of people needing a home? In his response previously, he spoke of all of these different measures of housing success. Does he include the number of homeless people? In Cork South-West, people are contacting me. They are being evicted and have nowhere to go. That has to be weighed up against the importance of Airbnbs, too.
5:25 am
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely, and that is what we are doing. We are legislating in terms of Airbnbs in any area above 20,000 people. That is a very significant change, and rightly so because the priority is housing. Our priority is housing and will remain housing. There is an issue of balance here in terms of the proposal and this would be a major step forward when we bring in this legislation-----
Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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It leaves out the Gaeltacht.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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What do I tell the areas with fewer than 20,000?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----in terms of anywhere over 20,000 for cities and large towns. That will be significant progress.
Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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What about the Gaeltacht areas?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We will have specific policies for the Gaeltacht areas. Tá siad tábhachtach. Tá na hAirí, na Teachtaí Calleary agus Browne, i dteagmháil maidir leis na Gaeltachtaí. Admhaím go bhfuil cás faoi leith ann ó thaobh lucht na Gaeltachta a labhraíonn an teanga go rialta agus gur cóir go mbeadh seans acu tithe a cheannach nó a thógáil ina n-áit dúchais féin.
Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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I have constantly raised the issue of side-by-side rebuilding under the defective concrete scheme through amendments, a motion in the House and parliamentary questions. This is happening in people's homes right now. For many families, side-by-side building is the only workable way to rebuild while staying within their communities in Donegal. The Government has indicated that it will be available in certain, limited circumstances but those circumstances are not clear and the provision is not yet operational. Families still do not know how it will apply to them and the uncertainty is causing real difficulty in planning and rebuilding for families to actually move forward. I am dealing with families directly and speaking to them every single day and their cases are coming through my office, where people are trying to understand how they are meant to proceed. There is a significant number of people affected and they are older homeowners and disabled homeowners. Side-by-side building is a way for them to move forward. There are consequences for the delays being put in place at the moment for the rebuilds to move forward because it is time-sensitive. It would also avoid moving disabled and older people out of their communities when they can build side-by-side if they have the land next to each other and can proceed. Families remain on site, there are no rental payments and there are no storage costs. Everything is there and it is fiscally responsible. It allows them to move on.
I am dealing with a family in Carrowkeel who have a child who is severely disabled. They are currently dealing with electrical issues with their house because it is structurally unsound and is moving. That child, who will be 18 next week, is on an air mattress and when it goes down she is prone to ulcers and back sores. Her framework cannot be bolted to the house because the house is not suitable, so the family is waiting to go. They are in their house but the house they are waiting to build is out in the garden. We are waiting for approval but we need approval and we need answers.
When will this scheme commence and when will homeowners who have the space and capacity to carry out side-by-side rebuilding be able to do so under the scheme? Will it set out clearly when this will be operational?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The entire defective concrete blocks schemes have moved on apace over the past number of years and that needs to be acknowledged as well.
Pádraig Mac LochlainnMicheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The sum of €293 million has been provided this year alone for the remediation of homes affected by defects including pyrite, apartment defects and defective concrete blocks. The pace has accelerated, in particular over the past two years. There was €155 million spent in 2025, compared with just under €60 million in 2024. As the scheme ramps up, more sufficient additional funding will be provided as required. As the Deputy knows, the overall cost is estimated at about €2.2 billion.
The scheme is designed, as per the Government's commitment, and delivered in a manner that meets the real needs of homeowners in an efficient and effective manner. Currently more than 3,000 homeowners are at various stages of the scheme. The data is clear, too, that many are availing of it and that the grant rates, which were set and increased in 2024 and are based on expert advice, are at a level to ensure homeowners will get the money they need to put their homes right. That the grant scheme follows the most up-to-date science is particularly important and changes were made to the scheme late in 2024 to take account of the most recent research.
A forthcoming Bill will make amendments to the grant scheme to allow changes to be implemented by the administrators of the grant scheme. That will allow grant rates and payments under the scheme to increase by up to 10%.
In relation to the Deputy's specific question, I will engage with the Minister regarding what is the latest position on that. I think what the Deputy is suggesting is that a house would be built adjacent while the existing house is being repaired.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In special areas or right across the board?
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy Ward can respond in a minute.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is important. The scale and pace of this is growing enormously. I will talk to the Minister and ask him to engage with the Deputy to get clarity on that specific point, particularly for families that are under pressure either with disabilities or a wider range of issues.
Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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With respect, there have been 300 homes built in the past five years. There are 3,000 people currently trying to go through the scheme who are stuck in the scheme. Families are waiting for the basics. Side-by-side building is where you go onto an acre of land that could have a house on one side that is defective and a house on the other, and then pull it down and keep the family in this house until the other house is rebuilt, and then pull the defective house it down and move them over. That is what we are waiting for. That is what people are waiting for if the capacity is there to do it. The family I am talking about in Carrowkeel have a child with a severe disability who has basically been waiting to move for three years on the scheme and cannot get side-by-side building. There is a reality going on here that this scheme is only at 2% capacity. When it starts to move and to crank up, we acknowledge the money is being spent, but only 300 homes have been built. There are 3,000 people caught in this scheme and thousands more are currently waiting. My colleagues in Donegal are all dealing with this and we know what is going on on the ground.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach will respond.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have spoken to people in Donegal and to public representatives who have said there is real momentum in this scheme-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and do not give the exact same-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not your question, Deputy Mac Lochlainn. This scheme-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Do not interrupt. Allow the Taoiseach to answer.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are new new asks all of the time in relation to the scheme. We need to get on with it and get it delivered.
Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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I agree with you that we do but we need to-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation has changed, expert advice has changed and the science has changed. The Government's commitment is absolutely 100% in terms of delivering this scheme, and 3,000 people are not trapped in the scheme.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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They are trapped.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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They are engaged in and involved with the scheme at different stages.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Works of fiction.