I agree with the sentiment of the matter the Deputy raised tonight. Certainly, the Department is committed to working with all core funding partner services concerned about their viability and to ensure we have oversight around case management processes. In this instance, it is between the provider, the local city and county childcare committee, and Pobal working together to assess and provide support to the early years and care services because we know how vital they are and we must ensure they are put on a more s…

There are two parts to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024. The first relates to the amendments to the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 and the second relates to the amendments to the Affordable Housing Act 2021. A Seanad Committee Stage amendment was brought by the Government and passed in the Seanad on 16 October 2024. The Bill has now been recommitted to the Dáil for approval of this amendment. The amendment being brought before the Dáil today will amend section 42B(3A) of th…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I am glad there is no dissent or opposition to the amendments being brought forward. The additional funds will secure the delivery of the LDA's 2024-28 business plan, under which there is projected delivery of up to 12,900 homes by 2028. A large pipeline of further direct delivery homes is being developed for completion in the period from now until 2028-29, with major projects at various stages from design to planning and pre-construction. This pipeline currently includ…

I clarified that. It has access.

I thank the Deputy for his response. I do not have the information to hand but I will provide it to him after this session. The purpose of today’s discussion on the amendment is to increase, from €1.25 to €2.25 billion, the amount the Minister for Finance may direct the National Treasury Management Agency to pay to the Land Development Agency for the proceeds of the disposal of direct investment. Again, we want to ensure the LDA is sufficiently capitalised to deliver its ambitious programme on delivering affordable…

If we were doing nothing, we would be criticised for not investing in the LDA, which is a crucial vehicle for direct delivery of homes. It is important we continue to invest in its pipeline of projects. I mentioned some of its achievements to date. We are finalising the national planning framework and there will be revised structural housing targets. We are looking at new revision under Housing for All and they will all be associated with how we best deliver affordable, cost-rental and social homes. The expectation…

I thank Deputy Durkan. Modern methods of construction have been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in the Housing for All plan. MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, including modular construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector. …

I thank Deputy Durkan. To reinforce the significance of the accelerated social housing delivery programme, as I said previously we will see up to 1,500 new social homes commence during 2023 and 2024 utilising existing MMC design and build systems. Indeed, the 26 sites which received funding as part of the accelerated social housing delivery programme will see the delivery by 13 local authorities of at least 1,500 social homes and this is being led through our Department. That includes a site in Maynooth in the Depu…

Again, I thank the Deputy. We are making every effort possible to continue the momentum in boosting supply, not just in social but in the affordable housing space. We are supporting local authorities in how they can further deliver on their housing targets. We are increasing capacity within local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. That is key on the ground, not just with local authorities but through approved housing bodies, though the LDA and with many other levers at our d…

On the tenant in situ scheme, as the Minister outlined earlier, it is a demand-led scheme. We have asked local authorities to bring forward potential properties under the scheme and also under the Department's social housing investment programme. We are making available to all local authorities and approved housing bodies funds to deliver new social housing in direct construction and in partnership with turnkey developments. More than 25,000 new-build social housing units are currently at design-tender stage. These…

As with the vast majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar energy development. Proposals for individual solar energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála on appeal. Within the wider national and local planning context, planning author…

We have made the existing and evolving planning system sufficiently robust with regard to large-scale solar developments. Through the revised national planning framework, the Government and the Oireachtas are allocating and integrating the regional spacial and economic strategies. That in turn will inform city and county development plans and lead to the identification of large-scale solar energy development, which will be directed towards the most appropriate areas. On the Deputy's more general point regarding the…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí. We have made recent changes to planning legislation to facilitate solar energy development. The Deputies might remember in October 2022 there was a significant enhancement of the existing provisions regarding planning exemptions for rooftop solar installations. That allowed the erection of solar panels on apartments and certain other buildings, including hospitals, libraries and workplaces, with certain conditions and limitations. I will take the Deputies' points on board regardin…

I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe who has responsibility for public expenditure and I will bring back the Senator’s concerns. Defined-benefit public service pension schemes for fully-insured employees paying class A PRSI are integrated with their social welfare entitlements which means that the overall pension package within these schemes has both an occupational pension benefit and a social welfare benefit component. On retirement, t…

The Senator’s arguments which she presented here are fully valid about those who feel less well-off about any budgetary measures around the State pension. It is not directly linked to their level of income after retirement and they do feel aggrieved about that. However, as part of the public service wage indexation, they do benefit from any additional public pay sector deals which may have a positive impact on their pensions. The integration of defined-benefit public service pension schemes with social welfare enti…

I thank Senator Carrigy for raising this important matter. He has been to the forefront in bringing this to my attention on numerous occasions in the context of his local area of Longford and Westmeath. I am aware he is determined to see the allocation for the voids programme increased. Certainly, it is a very worthy call in the context of how we manage vacancies and how they arise on a daily basis throughout the 150,000 social housing stock that is in the ownership of local authorities across the country. It is cr…

I thank Senator Carrigy. I recognise and acknowledge the tremendous work undertaken by Longford County Council in respect of its reletting and voids programme. It is crucially important that the Department supports that. I will certainly take back the issue that the Senator has raised here today about the current scheme and the allocation of €11,000 per home. I think the matter needs to be revisited on the basis of the information he has presented this morning. We also need to look at a long-term sustainable plan. …

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Section 11) Order 2024, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 8th October, 2024.

The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, will publish the conditions next week.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Sligo County Council) Order 2024, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 7th October, 2024.