Jack Chambers
Dublin West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We have been clear about the absolute necessity to protect the huge ecosystem of digital and infrastructure investment in Ireland over the past ten to 20 years. Part of that has been the wider and ongoing discussion on the security of subsea cables.”
“Progress in achieving balanced regional development and detailing the delivery of the NDP is monitored through regular updates on the capital investment tracker and the MyProjectIreland interactive map viewer.”
“The tax strategy group examines the different options that are available to the Government during the summer. That informs the respective tax package that will advance. We have to honest about the measures we take in terms of taxation. They have to be sustainable and affordable in the long term. USC brings in about €5.5 billion per year.”
“I am not privy to the interaction the Deputy had with the Minister for housing on this, but the Local Government Fund distributes the respective funding across different local authorities, and Galway County Council and Galway City Council would receive allocations through that. I was clear in my initial response to Deputy O'Hara.”
“My Department has taken a proactive and co-ordinated approach to supporting the responsible and effective adoption of AI across the public service.”
“More broadly, the achievement of balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040, which includes the national planning framework, which sets out the wider spatial strategy for the next 20 years, along with the national development plan, NDP.”
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“I thank Deputy Bacik. As has been previously stated, the Policing Authority advised the then Minister for Justice and Equality in 2017, in advance of the recruitment of a Garda Commissioner, of the terms and conditions that should apply to such an appointment. This advice included a recommendation that in the case of an external successful candidate it may be appropriate to provide for accommodation or an accommodation allowance, given the requirement that the Garda Commissioner reside in Dublin. The recommendation at that time was accepted and the Department initially engaged with the Office of Public Works to explore support that it could provide if it turned out an external candidate was successful. Further to the appointment of former Commissioner Harris in June 2018, suitable accommodation was identified for the Commissioner.”
“As I said in response to Deputy Cairns, this was a budget where we absolutely took the provision of disability services very seriously. That is why there is a 20% increase following the negotiation and settlement with the Minister, Deputy Foley, which will make a real difference in strengthening and enhancing service provision. That is being complemented with a series of targeted social protection supports in terms of core welfare increases, the fuel allowance and other payments. Of course, we will continue to engage with stakeholders in the disability sector and people with disabilities in advance of budget 2027 on the priorities for next year's budget. That is the context in which we agreed budget 2026.”
“If any changes are required to the operation of the appeals, that can be considered in the context of the three-year review which is set out under the current legislation.”
“I have set out the legislative provisions underpinning the appeals process. It is clear that neither the Minister nor the Department has any influence on the operation of the appeals that exist. Any involvement is purely on an administrative basis. All public bodies hold records and have a duty to provide information as appropriate. Maybe it is withheld because of particular matters relating to the privacy of an individual. I do not know the facts behind every FOI or release of information which has been requested. It depends on each particular case connected to the Housing Agency's involvement. We have an independent statutory function set up to oversee appeals. That is, as I said, done with independent people appointed by the Public Appointments Service.”
“If changes are required they may be made then, and not through the current amendment Bill which is focused on other matters at this time, particularly increasing the amount of money paid to homeowners. We have a clear and transparent process that is set out and reflected in the legislation. If you take the procedures that are set out and the nomination process that is guided through that, it is important that that is allowed to do its work in the context of appeals that are made.”
“[they will be] given an opportunity to make submissions in relation to that information. The appeal board has been writing to the Housing Agency seeking clarification in some instances in an effort to assist homeowners in their cases. We have clear statutory provisions. It is independent, which is important to keep the fairness and integrity in the appeals mechanism within the scheme. The programme for Government also commits to undertaking a planned review of the legislation underpinning the scheme. This refers to the fact that the legislation mandates the Minister to review the scheme within three years of the Act's commencement, so that is by July 2026. All aspects of the Act will be kept under review, including the appeals process.”
“Appeals are covered by a statutory process under the appeals panel, led by a senior counsel and with experts from the legal and engineering professions appointed by the Minister under a clear and transparent process managed by the Public Appointments Service. The appeals system is an independent statutory function under the 2022 legislation and it has now begun to issue the terminations to appellants and has accelerated its work in recent weeks. Section 39 of the Act states that: Where it is considers it necessary for the purpose of ensuring fair procedures in the consideration of an appeal, the Appeal Board may require a party of the appeal to provide the Appeal Board ... such further information in writing as the Appeal Board considers necessary, and ...”
“I thank the Deputy. The current Government and the previous one stepped up to support many households affected by defective concrete blocks. That is reflected in the increased allocation in recent years. Over 2025 funding increased by over 50% and following the Revised Estimates process, the budget for homes damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks increased by a further €60 million, bringing the revised allocation to €130 million. As the scheme ramps up, additional funding will be provided to support the households who are progressing through the scheme. The Government is also making sure the scheme is designed and delivered in a manner that meets the real needs of homeowners in an efficient and fair manner. I know the Deputy asked about the appeals process.”
“Of course, we will engage with all the stakeholders involved around budget 2027, and that will be considered as part of next year's budget. The payments referenced by the Deputy were one-off measures taken in previous years. We were clear in how we developed budget 2026 that the measures we would take had to be permanent, sustainable and affordable. We have made a significant intervention in the social protection package.”
“I reject the assertion that we have had committees and no action has been taken. That is actually untrue. The 20% increase in funding for the Department of disability and the work the Minister, Deputy Foley, is now doing with the HSE on a new service plan will provide a significant improvement in the State's response to improve disability services in 2026. There is a record level of funding to support people with disabilities. When it comes to the Department of Social Protection, as I said, we introduced a series of measures around the fuel allowance, improving core welfare rates and increasing the domiciliary care allowance and back to work family dividend. We have been clear that the budget we have agreed for 2026 is the settled allocation for next year.”
“Central to that has been the funding secured by the Minister, Deputy Foley, specifically for her budget to ramp up the level of intervention that we make for service provision. That was reflected in the work programme and the work that will happen next year in terms of the overall level of support and service provision for people with disabilities. Obviously, the work is ongoing on the budgetary provision for next year for the social protection package. We will consider, with engagement with everyone in the disability sector, further requests around different support payments. You have to take the social protection package in the round, and we did increase the core welfare rates significantly this year.”
“As I said, we have taken a number of measures to improve the fuel allowance. In the education system, €3 billion is being allocated to special education for children with additional needs. There are measures across the education system, social protection and the transport system, where the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has advanced measures. Some €25 million is being allocated for accessibility improvements, the disabled drivers and passengers scheme is being increased, and a co-designed new scheme from next year will make more people eligible. We have taken a number of steps across multiple Departments to try to improve the day-to-day experience for people living with disabilities.”
“The Deputy asked about social protection in particular. That is why, as part of the overall budgetary allocation, a €10 increase in weekly social welfare rates was progressed in budget 2026. We have also progressed the highest ever increases to the child support payment, a €20 increase in the domiciliary care allowance and a €5 increase in the fuel allowance. People moving from disability allowance or blind pension into work will also retain their fuel allowance for five years and, where relevant, will now qualify for the back to work family dividend. The earnings disregard for carer’s allowance will rise in July 2026. We have taken a number of measures in the social protection package to support people with disabilities. We will also expand the wage subsidy scheme from April 2026.”
“I thank Deputy Cairns. The Taoiseach chaired the first meeting of the delivery and monitoring committee for the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, where we are trying to work on a serious of actions to make sure we have a step-change in the provision of disability services over the lifetime of this Government. Budget 2026 was the first opportunity to show our commitment to this strategy and if we look at the funding achieved by the Minister, Deputy Foley, in the context of the disability budget, a 20% increase in funding was secured, which will deliver stronger mainstream services and also targeted social protection supports for households with disabilities. The strategy is our roadmap to 2030 and sets out a series of measures that will be led from the Department of the Taoiseach.”
“-----a viable housing market. There are many thousands of young couples who want to buy and own their own homes. The State plays a certain role in terms of the enabling provisions around infrastructural development in the economy and also supporting it through help to buy and other affordability schemes, but we also need to ensure that the market can deliver the other element of housing supply in addition to what we are doing on social and affordable homes. We welcome the fact the Labour Party supports the Land Development Agency, LDA. We further capitalised the LDA in recent weeks. We have set out the most ambitious, radical step-change in the State's intervention in housing in the national development plan, which will result in a significant ramping up of the supply of social and affordable homes.”
“That is reflected in terms of the provision of social housing and in the role of the LDA. This Government brought in cost rental and has expanded cost rental to help affordability of rents for young people. We have extended the help-to-buy scheme. We have the first home scheme. The Deputy did not respond with what she would do to take practical steps to ensure we have-----”
“Housing supply would fall under her proposals because she rejects every measure that has been taken in terms of narrowing the viability gap.”
“-----so that many of the uncommenced planning permissions for apartments are commenced in order that young people can buy and live in them. I have not heard from the Deputy any measure that she would take to enable the market to increase overall housing supply. We know from the Department of Finance that about €20 billion of capital is required to reach 50,000 homes per year. The State is stepping up on its side of social and affordable housing provision. However, to bridge the gap, we need a viable housing market where people can buy and own their own homes. One of the central issues is that we have had a significant viability gap in recent years. This Government has taken practical steps under the Minister, Deputy James Browne, to address that gap but the Deputy would make it worse.”
“What we do not hear from Members on the opposite side is measures needed to ensure we have a viable market for housing. The State is stepping up when it comes to its role, as I said, in social and affordable housing but we have to narrow the viability gap. The Deputy correctly referenced the report's findings in terms of the high cost of apartment construction. We have sought to narrow that gap with the measure on VAT from 13.5% to 9%, for example, and to increase viability with the apartment guidelines. We have enhanced the corporate tax deduction to reduce the cost of delivery of an apartment for cost rental. We have taken a number of measures to try to narrow that viability gap-----”
“She has attacked the apartment guidelines and attacks anything that relates to having a functioning market. Many young people living in this State want to own and buy their own homes. They want to have private development happen along with the social and affordable provision we are providing throughout the country. We are making significant progress on the provision of social homes. Over recent years we have seen the highest level of social housing delivery in decades, delivered by this Government and by the last one. We continued and extended the help-to-buy scheme - something the Deputy continually questions - an intervention on affordability in housing. She criticises such things as the first home scheme as a policy, which is another intervention to support affordability in housing supply.”
“I thank the Deputy. First of all, I will state the facts around what we are doing to invest in housing throughout our country. On the capital side, approximately €7.2 billion is being provided in the recently-published national development plan for 2025 with an additional €4 billion around current expenditure. That is more than €11 billion of State investment for the provision of housing, supporting the Department of housing in that work. What the Deputy failed to mention in her commentary and her analysis is that complementing the need to ramp up social and affordable homes is that we have to have a viable housing market. Everything she says is about a State construction company and is attacking any measure that we make in terms of viability on the VAT side.”
“-----and with more social and affordable homes built right across our country. I want to do that by managing the economy in a way that ensures they have a future here into the long term, something the Deputy just takes for granted every time he gets up and down when it comes to finance issues. My message is absolutely clear. We want them to build a future here and our commitment is there in the national development plan, with nearly €50 billion, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer funds, across all the enabling infrastructure and subsidy for housing support. This is a central priority that we made in the new national development plan so people can build a future in this country. This is why we want to ramp up housing supply with the other interventions that we have made.”
“It was made by SpunOut, a youth organisation in the State and I just want to be clear on that. I am absolutely clear that I want to ensure young people build a future here and have a future with well paid jobs-----”
“Sinn Féin’s policies on housing would undermine housing supply and, again, the viability gap is something it continuously ignores. Sinn Féin rejected the reduction of VAT on apartments which is critical to improve the supply of apartments, particularly in our cities. This Government will continue to do everything in terms of our policy response to ensure we build more social and affordable homes-----”
“-----which will improve the supply of social and affordable homes. We want to do more across our country with the local authorities to zone more land to ensure that housing supply increases. That is the number one issue for the Government. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has taken a number of interventions over the last number of months with regard to the rental market, taxation decisions and the new housing plan, all to deliver increased housing supply so that people can own and buy their own home here. In respect of Sinn Féin's policies, it rejects the help to buy scheme which has helped thousands of young couples. It has some made-up policy on affordable homes where the people do not actually own the land underneath the homes they want to own.”
“That will strengthen the viability of housing supply across the country. Everyone on this side of the House is absolutely fully aware of the need to do more when it comes to the delivery of social and affordable homes. That is reflected fully in our national development plan. It is reflected in the extension of many of the schemes, subsidies and supports-----”
“I accept that for many young people, rents are still too expensive in our cities and towns and across the country. That is why the intervention from the State is centrally important. Similarly, when it comes to housing supply, we have stood up to the needs in terms of the provision of social housing in our economy. We have extended the first home scheme and the help to buy scheme to help the affordability when it comes to the provision of homes across our country. We want to do everything possible, in terms of the State's role, to support that increased supply of homes right across our country. That is why in the budget we took tax measures to improve the viability of apartments and other interventions when it came to the reduction of VAT on apartments from 13.5% to 9%.”
“To look at the delivery the Minister, Deputy Browne, has advanced, completions for the first three quarters of 2025 are the highest since 2008. Housing supply has increased significantly over the last five years, with over 158,000 new homes delivered since the beginning of 2020. Rent pressure zones have been extended nationwide, capping increases at 2%. Cost-rental tenancies have been introduced, offering secure rents at least 25% below the market rent. We have extended the rent tax credit to 2028. We have increased the provision of social housing, with nearly 16,000 new homes delivered in 2023-2024, the highest number since the 1970s. As a Government, we are stepping up when it comes to State intervention on the provision of housing across the economy.”
“In the first instance, this video and the information campaign are not a direct Department of housing campaign. As the Deputy said himself, it is something that has been developed by SpunOut, Ireland's youth information and support platform, and the Housing Agency, who ran this campaign. It was developed by young people and it is based on their experiences. Like all of us in this House, I recognise the need to do everything we can to improve the availability and delivery of social and affordable homes right across our country. It has been the single biggest issue in our review of the national development plan. It has been our focus in terms of infrastructure. We are enabling infrastructure in energy, water and transport to ramp up the delivery of social and affordable homes.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Scheme in draft: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) (Revocation) Scheme 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 2nd December, 2025.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Scheme in draft: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) (Revocation) Scheme 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 2nd December, 2025.”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €91,312,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for certain services administered by that Office, and for payments of certain grants.”
“Vote 42 — Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht including certain services administered by that Office and for the payment of grants. Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €302,097,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025 for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Health and certain other services administered by that Office, including grants to the Health Service Executive and miscellaneous grants. Vote 40 — Children, Disability and Equality (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €213,706,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, for certain services administered by that Office and for the payment of grants.”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €261,412,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Social Protection, for certain services administered by that Office, for payments to the Social Insurance Fund, for certain grants and including payments under cash-limited schemes administered by that Office. Vote 38 — Health (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €19,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Defence, including certain services administered by that Office; for the pay and expenses of the Defence Forces; and for payment of certain grants. Vote 37 — Social Protection (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €298,987,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025,for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage including grants to Local Authorities, grants and other expenses in connection with housing, water services, miscellaneous schemes, subsidies, grants and payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes. Vote 36 — Defence (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €42,658,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain subsidies and grants. Vote 34 — Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, including certain services administered by that Office, for the payment of certain subsidies and grants and for the payment of certain grants under cashlimited schemes. Vote 33 — Culture, Communications and Sport (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €208,900,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Transport, including certain services administered by that Office, for payment of certain grants and certain other services. Vote 32 — Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Supplementary Estimate).”
“Vote 30 — Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €98,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including certain services administered by that Office, and for payment of certain grants and subsidies and for the payment of certain grants under cash-limited schemes. Vote 31 — Transport (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €567,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Education and Youth, for certain services administered by that Office, and for the payments of certain grants. Vote 28 — Foreign Affairs and Trade (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €145,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and for certain services administered by that Office, including grants and contributions to International Organisations.”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Public Appointments Service. Vote 18 — National Shared Services Office (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the National Shared Services Office. Vote 26 — Education and Youth (Supplementary Estimate).”
“Vote 13 — Office of Public Works (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €34,553,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of Public Works; for services administered by that Office and for payment of certain grants and for the recoupment of certain expenditure. Vote 14 — State Laboratory (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,172,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the State Laboratory. Vote 17 — Public Appointments Service (Supplementary Estimate).”
“That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, including certain other services administered by that Office. Vote 11 — Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €800,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and for payment of certain grants.”
“I move the following Supplementary Estimates: Vote 7 — Office of the Minister for Finance (Supplementary Estimate). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Finance, including the Paymaster General’s Office, for certain services administered by the Office of the Minister and for payment of certain grants. Vote 9 — Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Supplementary Estimate).”
“We will reform some of the infrastructure guidelines. Some of that is intended to try to remove some of the excessive time that projects take as they move through the infrastructure life cycle. Also central to wider expenditure control will be a reform of public financial procedures and ensuring for certain Departments that we need to have better fiscal discipline in terms of overall expenditure management. Accountability is central there when it comes to Departments or agencies under their remit. We have commenced a review of the public financial procedures. We will be able to set out further direction on the infrastructure guidelines when we publish the task force report. All of that is intended to deliver more, but also to ensure that we have accountability and oversight around overall spending of public funds.”
“Each Accounting Officer is personally responsible for the safeguarding of public funds and property under his or her control, for the regularity of all the transactions in each appropriation account and for the efficiency and economy of administration in his or her Department. I know I am running out of time, but I will set out further details.”
“Any proposed expenditure that does not fall within the scope of the capital sanction must be submitted to my Department for review and sanction must be sought before any expenditure can occur. Failure to seek and obtain the sanction of my Department may result in a line Department becoming liable to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General and subject to examination by the Committee of Public Accounts. It is also important to highlight, as also set out in the public financial procedures, the role of the Accounting Officer for each Department, which is central in terms of accountability, delivery, propriety and ensuring value for money.”
“My Department is responsible, as the Deputy mentioned, for the infrastructure guidelines, which replaced the public spending code for capital appraisal since the end of 2023. These set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and within the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister. Capital spend is monitored, valued and reviewed each month. Actual spend is compared to the budgeted voted allocation and any variances require an explanation to be submitted to the relevant Vote section in my Department. Capital sanction is provided to Departments in line with the public financial procedures.”