I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, for coming to the House to discuss the tenant in situ scheme. I spoke to some councillors around the country who said that the issue they were finding in the local authorities was that the authorities did not receive extra funding, nor did they have the staff, to administer the scheme. The tenant in situ scheme plays an important role. I welcome the fact that the scheme has been extended and that, when it was stopped for a while, it was brought back. It has worked out very successfully in a lot of local authority areas but we need to make sure it is run as efficiently as possible. Certainly, we must ensure that people who may be in their homes long term end up staying in the same homes they are used to. It has been a wonderful scheme but it needs to be implemented as soon as possible. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important issue. It is an important scheme. This is something that was introduced as a key measure to prevent homelessness. It has been a success and it needs to continue so as to ensure the State still has capacity to purchase houses where a tenant is at risk of eviction or homelessness. It is key. In my response, I will outline the fact that the key focus of this Department is to ensure that as much of our resources as possible goes towards the actual purchase of houses rather than more resources going into administration, but I accept the bona fides and the feedback the Senator is receiving from councillors that some local authorities are obviously under pressure administering the scheme. It is certainly something we will look at it. I will go into more detail in my response.

The Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, has this year allocated some €325 million to fund acquisitions under the Department's social housing second-hand acquisitions programme, an increase from the €60 million committed under Housing for All. This allocation will fund acquisitions under four categories. These four categories include: exits from homeless services; tenancy sustainment, namely, tenant in situ; persons with disabilities and older persons requiring urgent housing responses; and buy and renew actions tackling vacancy and dereliction. More recently, the Minister, Deputy Browne, has secured an additional €50 million, which has been ring-fenced for acquisitions supporting households, particularly those larger families with children and housing first clients, to exit long-term homeless accommodation. This brings the total allocation for 2025 to €375 million.

Importantly, there is no tenant in situ scheme per se . Rather, acquisitions with tenants in situ are a category of purchase under the second-hand acquisitions programme, which help prevent social housing-supported households in the private rental sector from becoming homeless. In this regard, tenant in situ acquisitions are a last resort policy tool available to local authorities once all other options and measures to prevent a household becoming homeless have been exhausted.

It remains the case that, as a first step, the relevant local authority tenancy sustainment officer must engage with the relevant landlord on whether the threatened tenancy can be maintained within the current or an alternative social housing scheme. If this is not possible, the local authority must help the tenant to secure alternative private rented accommodation. Where an existing or alternative tenancy cannot be secured, the local authority must examine if a tenancy in a local authority or approved housing body social home can be facilitated. Thereafter, where these options have proven unfeasible, the local authority may proceed to support an acquisition of the property with the tenant or tenants in situ.

So far this year, a total of 118 acquisitions have been completed to support households existing homelessness into housing. A further 438 tenant in situ acquisitions have been completed, ultimately preventing these households from becoming homeless. With more than 16,600 persons in this State without a home, including some 2,450 families and more than 5,200 children, our focus has to be on maximising the impact of funding available for those households facing the most precarious housing situations.

In this regard, and I know the Senator will consider this, we are obliged to use this funding to purchase as many homes as possible. Put simply, allocating any amount of this funding to other purposes, including administration costs, would only reduce the amount available for acquisitions and impact those households that otherwise would be supported to exit homelessness or be prevented from entering homelessness in the first place. Supporting households at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness remains a priority for the Government and support for tenant in situ is a key measure in this regard.

As I said, I appreciate the feedback on the administration. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Browne, about extra supports. The salient point is we need to put as much of our resources as possible into those purchases because they are the key tool in preventing homelessness.

I appreciate the Minister of State's response and that he will go back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, in relation to this. I received this feedback from a number of local authorities, not just one. They all had the same issue. While I understand the majority of the money needs to be spent on those purchases, as that is the key issue with regard to the scheme, perhaps the local authorities could look at this. Not all of them are under pressure in this regard, but some are. If there was a small pot available, they could appoint someone part-time to get it up and running. I am sure the Minister of State will bring the matter to the Minister. I appreciate that and thank him.

I will do so. I know the Minister works closely with the different local authorities and county CEOs and meets them regularly. I am sure that challenge will be brought to his attention. As is constantly stated, the key objective is housing delivery. The homeless figures are unacceptable. We need to tackle homelessness and the way to do so is through supply. Some key measures have been introduced already, including incentives for apartment building and this week's announcement regarding developer-led infrastructure for wastewater. On their own, these measures will not solve the housing crisis, but together we should start to see an increase in supply, which is the key objective here. Tenant in situ, even though it is not called tenant in situ and is under the acquisitions scheme, remains a key part of that. If local authorities are under pressure from an administrative point of view, we will certainly not ignore it. I reiterate that the key focus has to be on the purchase of as many houses as possible.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to the House. My Commencement matter relates to the living city initiative. The initiative is a tax instrument to stimulate regeneration and redevelopment in cities across Ireland. Budget 2026 extended the living city initiative to other regional towns, including Athlone, Sligo and Drogheda. My call is for this incentive to be expanded to all towns with a population over 10,000. One size does not fit all in trying to solve the housing crisis, as the previous Minister of State just mentioned. We need to have a full-court press and a whole-of-government approach to it.

This is one such measure which can help stimulate regeneration, especially above-the-shop living and living in historic buildings and our market towns. We have substantial buildings that are not viable to regenerate and bring back into use. They are a scourge on the high streets of all our market towns and built-up urban areas. The living city initiative also presents a huge opportunity to bring life, people and families back into the heart of our towns. That could have a positive social impact and help in a small way to move the dial on what is the most pressing social issue of the day. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

I thank Senator Duffy for raising this important issue and for his constructive suggestions in regard to the living city initiative. I think everyone in both Houses shares the same ambition about bringing more vibrancy, sustainability and revitalisation to our urban centres to meet the housing needs of the future and support social and economic needs within our towns.

The living city initiative is, as the Senator said, a targeted tax incentive that is designed to bring people and businesses back into the heart of our cities, preserving historic buildings and revitalising urban centres. It is not just about a tax relief; it is about breathing new life back into areas that have suffered decline, while also supporting housing and strengthening communities. We are making significant changes through the Finance Bill 2025. That is being amended currently, with the aim of bringing more buildings back into residential use. The Bill is currently in Committee Stage in the Dáil and it will come before the Seanad on Second Stage. That will be important with regard to having an input into that initiative.

In the Finance Bill, the principal aims are to improve the uptake and impact of the initiative. We are extending the scheme until 2030. We are reducing the building age rule from 1915 to 1975, which will dramatically increase the number of eligible properties. We are also introducing a new living-over-the-shop category that will have no age restriction and will unlock mixed use conversion. We are increasing the relief cap to €300,000 per undertaking in line with the EU state aid policy, where it allows claims for over two and up to ten years. That is giving greater flexibility to both businesses and homeowners. We are removing outdated restrictions, including the ban on property developers.

Crucially, the Minister for Finance has committed to extending the scheme to five regional centres under the national planning framework, namely, Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo. These towns have played a strategic role in balanced regional development. The Minister has made the extension very clear. It is grounded in the national planning framework, which prioritises these centres. At present, there is no plan to extend beyond these towns, but the upcoming Seanad debate will allow further debate in that regard. The Minister for Finance has also outlined his determination and commitment to use every lever and use tax, planning and investment to tackle vacancy and dereliction. The living city initiative is evolving to meet that challenge. I look forward to working with Senators to ensure it is successful.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. We need to revisit this. The reason I say that is that anyone who walks through any of our towns with a population of over 10,000 will see substantial buildings in a state of dereliction, disrepair and vacancy. In Mayo, two towns, Castlebar, where the Minister of State is from, and Ballina are examples of that. There is a housing crisis in the towns with a population of over 10,000. Even in rural areas, there are challenges across the board. We need to use every measure and instrument to move the dial on the housing crisis. This is one small measure and it needs to be revisited. I look forward to pursuing this further with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, because it has real merit.

While it might not be financially viable in the larger cities - the living city initiative might not have had the uptake that was hoped - there are lower real estate values in towns with a population of over 10,000 and market towns generally. It might just be the perfect match. I will continue to pursue this issue.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, for his time this morning. We need to reconsider this proposal and broaden it to cover towns with populations of over 10,000.

I acknowledge and compliment Senator Duffy in regard to this important debate. It will present an opportunity when the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, appears before the Seanad. We support all the ambitions to tackle the scourge of dereliction and vacancy. While I understand the call to include more towns outside the specific growth areas contained within the national planning framework, at present the scope is very much guided by the national development plan, NDP. The recent initiatives, such as removing age restrictions on converting commercial properties for residential use, and updating the qualifying age for older buildings from 1915 to 1975, will be important. Many people will understand the challenges for developers in converting over-the-shop residential units and the associated costs. Anything that can be used as a lever is important.

This initiative complements the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF. In the Senator's town, Ballina, we have seen a huge regeneration project around the old military barracks. This was opened last year. In Castlebar, we had URDF funding for the old post office, the Imperial Hotel and the military barracks. In time, we would like to see the living city initiative complement this and be expanded further. We need more initiatives under URDF calls 4 and 5 to support local authorities in bringing old buildings back into use. Again, I compliment Senator Duffy on his raising of this matter.

I thank the Minister of State for being here. I am disappointed that the Minister for Health is not present to respond to my Commencement matter, which requests an update on funding from the Department of Health for Teach an Saol in Ballymun. I do not know if the Minister of State is familiar with the facility. It was born out of what could have been a terrible human tragedy. It is the result of what is arguably one of the most inspirational stories and life experiences I have had the privilege to become aware of and support for a number of years.

Reinhard Schäler and Patricia O'Byrne are neighbours of mine. Their son Pádraig was 22 years of age when he went to the United States on a J1 visa, as I did and as many young Irish people do. He went to Cape Cod and was knocked off his bicycle in a hit-and-run incident involving a truck. It is no exaggeration to say, although it pains me to do so, that he was left for dead. The only reason Pádraig is alive today is because of the love and dedication of his parents and family and the support, expertise, medical care and rehabilitation they have secured for and provided to him. What they have achieved represents the most inspirational story. In Santry, which is not in my constituency but that of Deputy Paul McAuliffe, they established Teach an Saol. Every day, people with severe acquired brain injury are supported there to live their lives with dignity and autonomy. Generally when we talk about disabilities, we talk about enabling people to live with dignity and autonomy and to be connected to the rest of the world. That is exactly what Teach an Saol does, not just for Pádraig but also for many individuals. From their day service, they developed a wonderful proposal for a Teach an Saol rehabilitation, residential and community centre. The concept has moved from a concept to a fully fledged business case and development plan. Land has been secured. I give credit to Deputy Paul McAuliffe, the TD for Dublin North-West, including Ballymun, for securing that land with Dublin City Council. The council came on board and the HSE, to be fair to it, has also done so. Ministers have visited, which I acknowledge. I also acknowledge that €1.3 million has already been allocated for the project. I accept and believe it is excellent that there is €27 million in capital funding for disability services in 2025 alone. However, this is urgent. Every minute, hour or day that passes matters for a person with a severe acquired brain injury. It matters more than it matters for any of us, for whom minutes and hours fly by. The power of what is being, and can be, delivered at Teach an Saol is enormous. I hope the Minister of State can update the Seanad on where the HSE and Department of Health stand on delivering the purpose-built residential and rehabilitative centre for Teach an Saol in Ballymun.

I sincerely thank Senator Fitzpatrick for raising this important issue and for the opportunity to provide an update on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who is, unfortunately, abroad at the G20 forum.

The Government shares Senator Fitzpatrick's commitment to improving disability services and ensuring individuals with severe acquired brain injuries receive both the care and rehabilitation they need. In budget 2026, €43 million has been allocated for disabilities capital projects, representing a 60% increase on the figure for 2025. Under the national development plan, capital ceilings will rise to €74 million by 2030, enabling a €278 million investment over five years. The multi-annual capital strategy aligns with the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 and the new National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030.

As the Senator has outlined, Teach an Saol is a vital initiative to provide long-term intensive rehabilitation for people with severe acquired injuries, reducing their reliance on institutional care and promoting independence. The project is progressing through the HSE's capital approval process to ensure compliance with the strategic health investment framework. Phase 1, comprising therapy and social hubs, has passed through the alignment process and is with the HSE capital planning expert group for consideration. If approved, a capital submission for funding from 2026 onwards will proceed. HSE capital and estates is working closely with An Saol to advance this. It is important to note that phase 1 does not include residential respite or assisted living. These may be considered under phase 2 and will be subject to a separate approval and resources process.

The Government is committed to disability rights, as demonstrated by UNCRPD implementation through the national human rights strategy. Organisations like Teach an Saol are central to this vision. We will continue to support their work through funding, policy and strong collaboration. The Government and the Department of Health are very much committed to building an inclusive society where every person with a disability has the opportunity to live both independently and with dignity. Teach an Saol is part of that journey. We are very much working to ensure its progress.

I appreciate that this does not relate to the Minister of State's Department or area of responsibility. I accept that the Minister is out of the country but I am nonetheless very disappointed that not one of the Ministers of State from the Department of Health could make himself or herself available to respond on this very important Commencement matter. I would like that to be relayed to the Minister's office.

The update on the strategic healthcare investment framework indicated that phase 1 is progressing through that, is under consideration by the HSE capital planning expert group and, "If approved, a capital submission to secure capital funding from 2026 and onwards can be considered." That sounds to me like, "How long is a piece of string?" I will genuinely walk out of here today none the wiser. I do not think that is good enough. I just do not think it is good enough for a project of this significance and potential value, particularly as this is a model of best-in-class, world-class healthcare that is not being provided elsewhere in the country. The HSE or the Department of Health did not initiate or deliver it, but have evaluated and accepted it as world class in its standard and have no issues with the quality of care. In fact, they commend it as a model, yet they are moving at a glacial pace. All they are being asked to do is provide the funding. A project team has been put in place by Teach An Saol by people who are giving voluntarily of their own time, talents and skills. All the State is being asked to provide in this instance is the funding. I really do not think that should take as long as it is taking.

I genuinely appreciate the Minister of State attending today. I am sorry to send him back with this message, but I need him to go back with the loud and clear message to the Minister and the Department that it is not good enough. The reply is absolutely not good enough.

I will certainly take back the Senator's frustration in regard to the response to the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. As she said, it is very important to shine a light on where the phase 1 review is currently at. I will seek clarity in regard to that from the HSE capital planning expert group. We are all in agreement that we need to make more effort in regard to the promotion of community inclusion and reducing the reliance on institutional care. As she eloquently expressed and outlined, this Teach An Saol project complements many of the initiatives through Sláintecare and under the UNCRPD. While we have increased the capital budget within disability services, which has increased significantly through a multi-annual strategy, we need to look at how projects are prioritised. These types of projects that have already been initiated should be prioritised. We should be looking at investment that is aligned with the national disability policy. I again thank the Senator for raising this. I will take her message back to the Minister.

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. It is good to have him here. I thank him for coming in and taking this Commencement matter because I understand the Minister is abroad. That is just the reality for a Minister in Government.

The issue of the maternity hospital in Limerick has been on the health political agenda for some time. I am 51 years of age. I was born in Ennistymon Community Hospital. Maternity services then moved to Ennis and were then centralised in Limerick, but the building in Limerick is not fit for purpose. The most amazing professional consultants and people are working in the building but the building itself is not fit for purpose. I visited a friend of mine there a couple of years ago who had difficulty with her pregnancy. She was in a small room with two others and it was very difficult and distressing. It was during the summer and it was very warm but there was no air conditioning and, despite the heroic efforts of the nursing staff and the medical professionals who worked there, they could not make her any more comfortable.

A proposal has been on the agenda for some time now that the maternity hospital in the mid-west be relocated to a site adjacent to UHL. That is best international medical practice because UHL is a university hospital. Having the maternity hospital on site means it would be beside the emergency department, intensive care and the high-dependency unit. It would be adjacent to all of the necessary supports and interventions that are very timely at times, as the Minister of State knows.

The Minister of State and the Acting Chair will often hear about Limerick and the challenges on national radio, which are acute and serious. Sometimes, because of the media attention that is focused on the emergency department and overcrowding, the maternity hospital can get forgotten about in the narrative. A new maternity hospital is earmarked for the St. Vincent's Hospital site. That is very welcome but just because that maternity hospital has not been built yet does not mean that Limerick and the mid-west should have to wait in line and, essentially, wait their turn. The needs of mothers in Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry are equally as important as the lives of mothers in the greater Dublin area. That is why I am not satisfied that we still do not have a date to commence the move of the maternity hospital from its present site on the Ennis Road to its site in Dooradoyle. Everybody knows it is the right thing to do, everybody knows the medical reasons for the relocation and everybody knows that what is there at the moment is not fit for purpose. It is unfair on the professionals who are working there and totally unfair on the mothers in the mid-west who are giving birth there.

I hope the Minister of State will bring some clarity to this on behalf of the Minister.

On behalf of the Minister for Health, I thank Senator Conway for the opportunity to address the House on the funding of maternity services in the mid-west. I know how passionate he is about the delivery of high-quality services for the people he represents in County Clare and the wider mid-west region.

The National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 has delivered significant developments in maternity care. Central to the strategy is a service that is woman-centric, provides safe, high-quality integrated team-based care and offers increased choice for women. Co-location of maternity services with adult services ensures mothers have access to a full range of medical and support services should they need them. This is Government policy and reflects international best practice. The new national maternity hospital will be co-located with St. Vincent’s campus at Elm Park. Construction will progress now that the procurement process has concluded.

The co-location of University Maternity Hospital Limerick to the University Hospital Limerick campus at Dooradoyle is intended to be the next maternity co-location project. This is a major capital project subject to the infrastructural guidelines published in December 2023. The proposal is at an early appraisal stage with a strategic assessment report and preliminary business case now under development. This process will consider the best options for delivering the new maternity hospital and how it will integrate with ongoing investment in UHL, which continues at pace. On 13 October 2025, the Minister opened the first 96-bed block at UHL. Since 2020, 236 new beds have been delivered. Enabling works are under way for a second 96-bed block, with a third 16-bed ward planned for 2026.

While the new hospital is under appraisal, the Government is continuing to invest in University Maternity Hospital Limerick. This includes two new neonatal expansions, relocation of clinical staff and the construction of new neonatal spaces.

A maternity and newborn clinical management system, a fully electronic health record, went live in UMHL in July, 2025. That is enabling the seamless sharing of maternal and new-born information. From 2021 to 2025, development funding allowed for the addition of 39.7 full-time equivalent staff, including nursing and midwifery specialists, who have been embedded into the maternity strategy model of care.

The Minister for Health and the Government are very much focused on continuing to drive improvements in maternity care services right across the mid-west and look forward to working with the Senator in that regard.

I thank the Minister of State. With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State, who is just delivering the information, sometimes it is good to get a summation of facts we already know. My big issue here is the fact that it is next in line. Why can it not run in tandem with the one in Elm Park? That is the issue. Obviously, there is some necessary planning work taking place now that should have taken place heretofore. We are where we are, however. The maternity strategy covers the period 2016 to 2026. It is almost 2026 and this still has not happened. That is not the Minister of State's fault, but people will be somewhat disappointed with the reply. This is something that I will maybe address again when I am allowed to submit another Commencement matter in respect of this issue in six months' time. We might get some better news next March or April.

I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Government is committed to implementing the national maternity strategy and, in doing so, improving services for the mid-west region. As the Senator said, this includes the colocation of Limerick's maternity hospital with UHL. That project is at an early stage of planning and will progress through the infrastructural guidelines approval process. When the Minister engages with the Senator - which I am sure will happen on a continual basis - she will be able to provide further updates in respect of that matter.

We are focused on ensuring we continue to provide safe, high-quality maternity services, with increased choices for women. That is at the centre of the continued investment and reform to deliver on this vision.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.