Before the Tánaiste comes back in, there are two more contributors.

We are way over time.

The Tánaiste will have a chance to come back in.

Before the Tánaiste replies, Deputy Durkan would like to come in.

Deputy Durkan wants to come before the Tánaiste replies.

We are almost at the end. There is not enough time for the next question.

We will jump to Deputy Ó Murchú's question. He will not have the full time.

Níl an Teachta i gcomhair na dara Saincheiste Tráthúla anseo mar sin bogaimid chuig an Teachta Ó Cathasaigh to discuss the need for affordable housing in the west Waterford coastal communities of Ardmore and An Rinn.

Deputy, I have been more than lenient. I let both sides go considerably over time.

Deputy O’Rourke raised this matter in a slightly different way, but both questions are the same really. As the Minister knows, this is an issue that I follow up on continuously. I do not know how many questions I have tabled on it. It is good that there is a community-led category – I welcome that as well as the changes – but my problem is that I do not know where the analysis is. I have asked repeatedly for details of the analysis carried out by the Department of those who rose to take up the challenge of running …

As someone who supports what the Minister is talking about, I am frustrated. The Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, was present the last time I asked about this on 28 September. He stated that he would contact my office. I received an acknowledgement but nothing with details of the analysis. Where RESS 1 is concerned, I have been told repeatedly that seven community-led projects were successful and four remained. I would like to know what happened to the other three. What were the difficulties? Where is the an…

I do not disagree with the Minister and I am delighted that community projects are out of the auction system. They should never have been in it in the first place. When we declared a climate emergency, we spoke about needing transformative change because our corporate model and other models had not worked for energy. That transformative change will come from the ground up and nowhere else. When community and other ground-up initiatives come forward, they need help, including financial assistance. The Minister menti…

Is there a document, an analysis or research-----

-----that led to the Minister’s decision?

My question specifically relates to Galway City Council and Galway County Council. What engagement if any has the Minister, his Department or any bodies under its aegis had in respect of the preparation of these plans, in particular the inclusion of decarbonisation zones? The city council did great work and designated an area on the west side as a decarbonisation zone way back in April 2021, over two and a half years ago, yet there has been no further action because of the delay by the Department.

I agree with the Minister totally, absolutely. They should show vision and they should lead. That is very difficult when staff are constantly moved, when the county council is seriously underfunded and staff are moved from department to department. As soon as they get any expertise, they are moved off under pressure. There is a serious role for the Government in properly resourcing and treasuring the staff who work for local authorities. I have a different view in respect of top management, however, which has utter…

I hope I am being constructively critical of the city and county councils in Galway, but it is not totally fair. They are under-resourced. They do not have enough staff and the county council is certainly at its wits' end. They are also competing with a model of development that has continued on, and which was there before we declared a climate emergency, with the same absolute consumerism prevalent. We have no balanced regional development. Galway is designated as one of the five cities while Carraroe, i gcroílár …

Before we proceed, I take the opportunity to mention that I understand that Deputy Howlin's extended family is almost filling the Gallery above. Céad míle fáilte romhaibh go léir. You are all very welcome.

Maybe the next candidate is up there.

I call an Teachta Bruton.