He knew what he was doing.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue. There is a comprehensive network of CCTV cameras in Limerick. It was established as a direct response to a number of public order challenges in the city. The CCTV is a key pillar in the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan, LRFIP, which followed on from the Fitzgerald report. This was the flagship Government programme to deal with the significant issues that existed, and still exist, in Limerick's regeneration communities. In essence, it wa…

I thank the Minister of State. It might seem like it takes a lot of money to run the Limerick scheme compared with community CCTV schemes, particularly in more compact areas. However, Limerick is a unique place and not just because I am saying it is. It is unique because, unfortunately, we have eight of the top ten most deprived areas in the State. We have some of the best but poorest communities in the entire country. Those communities need extra support. They got that extra support through regeneration, which is …

I wish to talk about the CAST pilot project in Limerick, which is ten months operational. Much credit goes to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for this. To date, this project has recorded 80 diversions from Mental Health Act detentions as well as incidents of criminal diversion for minor offences. It ensures that people get the right care at the right time in the community. The CAST support forum has 14 partner agencies working together on a periodic basis to help frequent users of unscheduled emergency servic…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Collins - To discuss flooding in the Bantry, Ballinascarthy and Ballylickey areas. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss use of the Pretty Polly site in Killarney, County Kerry, as a centre for training and education. Deputy Joe Cooney - To discuss the HIQA report into urgent and emergency healthcare in the mid-west. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil - To d…

There are five Deputies named on this Topical Issues matter. They have 48 seconds each so I encourage them to rattle it off, please.

I would like to thank Deputy Ward for all his work on this motion. It is very technical and I was proud to cosign it on behalf of Labour. I heard the response from the Minister for Housing, Deputy Browne, earlier and to be honest, I was shocked - even by my standards - at how bland and unresponsive his response was to the substantive issues raised in the motion. The Government has designed a scheme that is so rigid it cannot respond in real time. This is not a grants scheme; this is redress. There is no acknowledge…

They would be targeted.

We did say "targeted".

She is not playing to the Gallery.

It is amazing what the Government can find time for when it wants to. The Government could not set aside time for the Tánaiste to take questions on children on waiting lists for spina bifida, yet it can find time for this motion. It is a complete waste of time designed to shield a clapped out Government from political accountability in the lead-up to a presidential election. I spoke to Gillian Sherratt-----

----- in August of this year. I was struck by her strength and her determination to get the answers she needs in order for her and her poor husband to have closure. We need accountability. The public inquiry into this must be wide enough. It must be statutory. It must get the parents the answers and the children the treatment they need. Accountability starts with political accountability and it starts here. I have no confidence in this Government. It is a hollow husk of a Government that offers the people of Irelan…

The Government must be worried.

That is not what the Housing Commission said.

It is to rent shoeboxes.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus leis an Rialtas as ucht an Bille seo a chur faoi bhráid na Dála. Aontaím agus aontaíonn Páirtí an Lucht Oibre leis an mBille seo. This is not a complicated Bill. It makes a simple change to ensure that the Housing Finance Agency can continue to fulfil its mandate in the months ahead. This is something that we in Labour are broadly supportive of. We all know the importance that the Housing Finance Agency plays as a pillar of Ireland's housing policy. By raising the agency's statuto…

How does the Minister intend to ensure the LDA meets its housing targets with a sustainable source of funding, especially in light of a recent report from the Department of Finance into sustainable future funding options for the LDA?

We know the LDA has delivered 2,054 homes between 2018 and 2024. The biggest issue is that, of that figure, only 281 homes were delivered through direct delivery, with the majority delivered through Project Tosaigh. How does the Minister intend to ensure the LDA is adequately capitalised? What is his view of the current financing model of the LDA? I believe the LDA cost rental model is broken. Rents are way beyond the reach of those for whom cost rental was intended and the financing model is completely different f…

Further to that, given that the LDA lacks active land-management powers and has no strong CPO powers, is this something the Minister plans to address? The LDA has to negotiate bilaterally with all these State bodies. There was also something very concerning in the report about the possibility of the LDA selling off its assets. I want to know the Minister’s view on that. Given that direct delivery is expected to deliver 6,000 homes and amount to 43% of the LDA’s delivery channel, how does the Minister intend to scal…

Hear, hear.