I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Obviously, regarding the retention or otherwise of rent pressure zones options are being provided to the Minister. Those options are under consideration. The Government is committed to the delivery of more affordable homes. Cost rental has a key part to play in that regard. We have seen a significant ramp-up in activity on the part of the Land Development Agency and the approved housing bodies through the cost rental equity loan scheme. We want to see the activa…

I thank the Deputy. Allocations have been made to local authorities in the last week in relation to housing adaptation grants. There has been significant change in grants following a review last year. The mobility aid grant has gone from €6,000 to €8,000, the housing aid for older persons grant has increased from €8,000 to €10,700 and the housing adaptation grant has gone from €30,000 to €40,000. I do not have the exact figure, but, from memory, I think that approximately €2.7 million in Exchequer funding was alloc…

I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad to mark the launch of National Biodiversity Week 2025 and to speak on an issue that is vital to all of us and our future, namely, the preservation of our biodiversity. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, would have liked to have been here but sends his apologies. Unfortunately, he had a bereavement in his family and I am sure all here join with me in expressing our condolences to the Minister of State's family. We are thinking of them at this difficult time. As …

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important matter. Pearse House, as he rightly pointed out, is a flat complex of some 345 homes which was designed by the city housing architect, Mr. George Herbert Simms, and built between 1936 and 1938 for Dublin Corporation under the housing Act 1932. The project plan for the regeneration of Pearse House is a matter for the local authority concerned. However, Dublin City Council has advised the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that it is further developi…

Again, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I wish to state unequivocally that the Department is absolutely committed to this regeneration and the regeneration of many other flat complexes across the country but we have to get it right. That is why we are awaiting proposals from Dublin City Council in that regard. We provide funding through a number of channels: the social housing investment programme, the affordable housing fund, the capital advance leasing facility, the cost rental equity loan and regener…

I thank Senator Scahill for raising this important matter. He also spoke to me about the issue in Castlerea, separate to this Commencement matter. It is a very important issue and I thank him for raising it. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and a provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act 1981. Keeping Communities Safe wa…

I again thank Senator Scahill. I too want to put on record my thanks to all the fire service personnel in the country who, when we often go in the opposite direction, run into danger in order to try to protect lives. I confirm that a second external validation group review - No. 2 - has been commissioned by the management board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. That process is scheduled to begin in quarter 3 of this year, with the external validation group conducting in-person evaluatio…

I thank Senator Duffy for his kind words, which I appreciate, and for giving me an opportunity to update the House on planning legislation and particularly applications by Uisce Éireann. While the Planning and Development Act 2024 was signed into law in October 2024, its provisions have not yet been commenced. Until all of it is in place, the 2000 Act will remain in force. All development requires development permission unless it is specifically exempted. As such, Uisce Éireann is required to adhere to planning leg…

It is about that. It is about unlocking development in our smaller towns and villages. Anything that can speed up the process is being considered. That is not to ignore requirements. As regards EIAs and those towns above 10,000 in population, I have set out that there is limited scope because it goes to the board and goes through that statutory process, whether it is through the local authority or through Uisce Éireann. Where there may be scope to be able to improve in terms of timelines in partnership with local a…

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "acknowledges that: — population growth in recent years has been higher than anticipated, bringing a requirement for enhanced infrastructure and services, and the annual increase in population of 1.3 per cent, between Census 2016 and 2022, has exceeded the forecast increase of 0.8 per cent that underpinned the National Planning Framework in 2018; — high population growth has been a driver of strong economic growth, and th…

I thank Senator Boyhan for submitting his Commencement matter. It gives me an opportunity to address an important matter in the House. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2024 regulate tenancies in the residential rental sector covering private renters, cost renters and social renters with approved housing bodies and also regulate tenancies and licences in student-specific accommodation. The Residential Tenancies Acts set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board, R…

I again thank Senator Boyhan for raising this matter. I take the points he has made on board. Obviously, the Housing Commission made recommendations in this space. These are being considered by the Department. There are obvious issues with sequencing, cost implications and so on involved. As a result, the Senator will appreciate that there is a significant body of work to be done. There is no point introducing something if it cannot be implemented. The last thing we want to see is a system being implemented that is…

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this question, which gives me the opportunity to discuss the commercial rates position regarding registered charities and charity shops. As the Senator will be aware, Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, a valuation service and a national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Tailte Éireann is independent in the exercis…

I thank the Senator again. His points are very well made. As I said, the issue of charities in and of themselves is not in question here. It is about the activity carried out within the commercial premises. The long-held position has been that retailing does not exempt a charity from rates. I appreciate the point the Senator has made and will engage with officials on this.

I thank the Deputy for raising this. It gives me the opportunity to address Members on this important issue. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority of mine and this Government. To address this, a number of structures have been established, including a dedicated vacant homes unit in my Department, a full-time vacant homes officer in each local authority, and the publication of a vacant homes action plan to draw together a number of vacancy-related measures across rele…

I thank Deputy Brennan. I addressed the URDF, CPO and the derelict sites register in my opening remarks. The other strand is obviously the vacant property refurbishment grant, which has been a hugely successful scheme. Towards the end of Q1 of 2025, more than 12,400 applications have been received under the scheme, with more than 8,600 approvals and 2,000 grants paid out to date, giving the owners of properties up to €70,000 in support to bring a derelict property back into productive use. I referenced the repair a…

I thank the Acting Chairperson.

I welcome the opportunity to come before the House to discuss and seek approval for the final draft revised national planning framework, which was approved by Government on 8 April 2025. As already outlined by my colleague the Minister, the approval process for the finalisation of the revised national planning framework plays a key role in delivering on our broader objectives across Government and will allow the significant policy changes that have taken place and other factors that have come into play since 2018 t…

It is great to be in the Seanad this evening. I spent four and half good years here as a Member, so it is always a pleasure to be back in the Seanad. I welcome the opportunity to discuss and seek approval for the final draft revised national planning framework, which was approved by Government on 8 April 2025. The finalisation of the approval process for the revised framework plays a key role in delivering on our broader objectives across Government. It will allow the significant policy changes and other factors th…

I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising this important issue, as I know he has done on many occasions in this Chamber. It gives me the opportunity to update Members on the development of solar farms on agricultural lands in Cork and across the country. I highlight first that the recently published Programme for Government 2025: Securing Ireland's Future reaffirms Ireland's ambitious target of having 8 GW of solar capacity connected to the grid by 2030 to meet the requirement of 80% of electricity demand supplied by ren…