As I said in my opening statement, and as I know the Deputy knows, there are no regulations currently in place but on foot of the programme for Government we are in the process of developing those. It is important to say that they will involve a public consultation element which people will be able to feed into. It is also important to mention that the planning system as a whole is subject to significant reform at the moment, particularly in the context of the Planning and Development Act and the national planning …

I thank Senator O'Donovan and congratulate him on his appointment to the House. It gives me a good opportunity to update the House on the wastewater treatment plant in Dunmanway. At the outset, I must advise the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2020 set out the arrangements that are in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann and for the scrutiny and oversight of provisions that apply in respect of these arrangements. Water and wastewater services are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has …

I reiterate that there are investigations to determine what will be possible in respect of an interim solution to bring the plant into compliance and potentially to allow for the expansion of capacity. Those investigations will be completed by the end of quarter 2. To reiterate, we want to continue to invest in Uisce Éireann to facilitate the maintenance of the network and to ensure there is facility for growth in areas such as Dunmanway. All those plans are to be submitted by Uisce Éireann to the Department and wi…

I thank the Senator very much. I know the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has spoken to him on this matter. I thank him for raising the wider issue. As he will appreciate, I cannot speak to the individual case he referred to. However, I reiterate the Government's commitment to ensuring ongoing improvements in paediatric orthopaedic services to ensure that children with scoliosis and spina bifida are treated as quickly and safely as possible. I acknowledge the Senator's work in this area. He brought forward a Pri…

I again thank the Senator for raising this matter. I take on board the points he raised. The programme for Government commits to a number of measures, including additional staffing and resources to ensure there is sufficient capacity in the system, and using private capacity both at home and abroad. The Senator's points are very well made. I understand that behind every number is a family and a child. We are working to ensure that we reduce the list, as I outlined. Progress has been made in recent years. It is impo…

I thank Senator Noonan for raising this important matter relating to Coillte's organisational structure, which I will address on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon. I welcome the opportunity to answer the questions the Senator raised and to update the House on recent developments. Coillte was set up as a commercial State body under the Forestry Act 1988 and, therefore, is independent of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of operational matters, as specified under the Act. As one of the…

I note the concerns the Senator has raised but, as stated, the Minister is committed to addressing the issues that are within his remit in accordance with the provisions set out in the Forestry Act 1988. The most important part of the response from Coillte is that the reorganisation will allow a more integrated approach to all nature and biodiversity projects. As stated, Coillte has said there will be no diminution of the focus on that area, which is, of course, very important. I studied geography myself and unders…

I want to stress that enabling students with additional educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for this Government. I taught in the education system and taught students with additional needs, so I understand the issue. It is the Government's priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper. It is important to highlight th…

I thank both Deputies for their advocacy in this area. As I stated in my opening remarks, I do understand it. I taught in the education system myself. I have met children who are similar to the children in the examples given by the Deputies. It is important to also put in context that the Department will spend €2.9 billion this year on special education, one quarter of the entire education budget - rightly so, because those students require the supports the Deputies advocate for on the floor of the Dáil. More than …

I apologise as I have a cold, but I will try to get through the reply. I thank Deputy Shane Moynihan for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport today. As the Deputy rightly points out, in 2022, the Department of Transport, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland sought to investigate the provision of pilot schemes to assess the feasibility of applying to the Irish context the experience of other countries where zebra …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I will take his points back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. It is important to say the Government is committed to further increasing the number of safe crossing locations for pedestrians and vulnerable road users. We need to provide additional options that are not reliant on those connections because of the capacity constraints and the construction time and ongoing operational costs. I hear the Deputy's point about the solar element of this. There are now two options o…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I’m answering on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. I am fully committed, as is the Department, to strengthening the bonds with all Irish communities overseas. Central to this work is the emigrant support programme, managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since its inception in 2004, the programme has provided funding of over €250 million to 900 organisations in 51 countries. Supporting the most vulnerable and marginalised Iri…

I thank the Deputy for his advocacy in this area. Any time we get a chance to talk about the diaspora in this Chamber is welcome. We can see the value of sustained investment in our communities abroad. I had the opportunity to visit Thailand and the Philippines where I saw at first hand how our diaspora engages in its local communities and the value it adds in those countries, as well as bringing our sporting, cultural and heritage traditions to those areas. The Government will continue to support those endeavours …

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his new role and I congratulate Senators on their election or appointment to the House. It is good to be back here for the second time this week. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for raising this important matter. We soldiered together on the joint committee on housing over the past five years. All things housing are important to the Senator, everyone else in the House and me. As the Senator rightly pointed out, the programme for Government commits to continuing to support rural one-o…

I thank Senator Fitzpatrick. Nationally, rural housing continues to be an important component of overall housing delivery. It is a vital element in the fabric of our society. I look forward to working with the Minster, Deputy Browne, to finalise the completion of the updated rural housing guidelines and to deliver on the programme for Government, which continues to support one-off rural housing. It is important to say that there is no cap or ban on rural housing as it currently stands. As I articulated in my openin…

I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this important issue. If anyone understands this issue it is him, given his work with Tiglin and dealing first-hand with people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. I commend him on his work in that regard. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority, I can assure Senators of that. Increasing the availability of emergency accommodation and permanent accommodation is a huge priority. The December 2024 homeless report shows there…

Homelessness is a complex matter, as the Senator knows. A whole-of-government approach is required. That is the approach of the Government and we will continue in that vein. It is important to say that €303 million has been allocated to homeless services for 2025. An additional €25 million in capital funding for the delivery of high-quality transitional emergency accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness has also been allocated. This will be kept under review in the context of the national development…

I join the Minister in thanking the Housing Commission for its work. I commend each member of the commission on their efforts by any objective measure. The commission's report is an impressive piece of work and is having the intended impact on informing the policy debate and providing innovative ideas and solutions to the challenges we collectively face in the housing space. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has set out the thrust of the report and the key areas of focus of the Government's work that are being informed …

Although it a little strange, it is fantastic to be back here in the Seanad Chamber for my first Commencement matter. I thank Senator Ahearn for raising this important matter, which I know all Members of the House will agree on. In the context of the recent revision of the security allowance made for Oireachtas Members, I have raised the issue with my officials. We want to make progress on it. I am grateful for the opportunity to go through what has been done on this matter thus far. As the Senator has rightly stat…

It is important to state that Revenue does not have an issue with the 100% element. I have to make that business case to the Department of public expenditure regarding changes in that respect. The Senator has rightly pointed out that the lower amount for councillors, relative to the rate for Oireachtas Members, is in recognition of the fact that councillors do not, by and large, have offices. We must land at a figure for that business case but I am anxious for that process to be brought to a conclusion as early as …