Is this Second Stage or is this Committee Stage?

Yes, which is dealt with in section 496. The Senator knows that.

Section 496 is on the Planning Regulator and the Senator knows that.

It is very important. If we take commercial buildings, for example, there are different classes of such buildings. My understanding is that we are introducing the exemptions from planning for former public houses to be converted into residential units without the need to go for planning, as outlined in section 9, because there are different classes pertaining to each type of class of building in planning law. It is so the Bill is in compliance or is consistent with that premise as regards material change of use. Th…

I come from a different perspective than Senator Higgins, particularly in relation to section 9 because I have seen first hand the value of exempted development. I have seen the changes we have made to the classes of development, turning commercial development into residential development for housing. I have seen it in my city of Waterford play in conjunction with the repair and lease scheme. I have seen it in Dungarvan, where former pubs have been converted into residential units without the requirement to go for …

I will come in briefly on the short-term letting piece to which Senator McDowell referred before the break. I understand this section is exactly the same as the section in the current legislation. The background is that the Department of tourism has been trying to come up with guidance in this space and went to the European Union for an opinion. That has come back and negotiations are under way. Perhaps the Minister of State would clarify whether any rules that might be brought forward for short-term letting would …

I agree with the premise of the Minister of State's argument on the grouping. It was never intended that section 5 of the previous Act would be used as an enforcement mechanism. Rather, it was to facilitate development. This is the point I made during pre-legislative scrutiny, particularly regarding section 10(6), on the time it takes to get a declaration. The new section 10, which was section 5, sets the time at eight weeks. The point I made during pre-legislative scrutiny was that the section 5 mechanism could fa…

The Minister of State might clarify something in his response. What is being referred to is the planning enforcement process, which is entirely separate from what we are talking about here. If I own a property in Waterford city centre and works are required to the internal fabric of that building to change it from one property to three properties to provide units for housing purposes, I may apply for a section 10 notice under this to say it requires an exemption under regulations that may apply. Likewise, it could …

The expansion of cardiac services at University Hospital Waterford, UHW, is a topic on which the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and I have worked continually because we are acutely aware of the need and the impact it has on our constituents in Waterford and the wider south east region. We have worked collaboratively along with other public representatives and campaign groups on a cross-party basis to advance the provision of cardiac services at UHW. It is a touchstone issue that is at the forefront of many peopl…

That is the key issue. It seems from the Minister of State's discussions with Mr. O'Sullivan that we can get to that level of service while the recruitment is ongoing. Obviously, these are highly skilled individuals who are not waiting around for a phone call to take up a post at UHW. It is good that we will be able to move to that level of service while the recruitment proceeds at the same time. As I have said previously, there is not much grasp of the level of vested interest in play here, both in the medical spa…

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Government takes plenty of flak for many things but it certainly cannot be accused of not taking this matter very seriously. It is implementing a fix to what has become an issue. It is clear, as others have said, that asking students to pay for out-of-term accommodation is not appropriate. The Bill seeks to introduce three main measures. The first is that landlords cannot charge more than one month's rent in advance. The second is that leases cannot be for longer th…

Now.

Now.

Now.

I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

I commend Senator Boyhan on being able to speak for longer than 15 minutes. I will be sharing time with Senator Seery Kearney. As has been mentioned, this is a colossal Bill. It is 747 pages and has 22 Parts, six Schedules and 590 sections. It is the biggest overhaul of our planning legislation in a quarter of a century. Why are we doing it? We are doing it to bring clarity, consistency and certainty to our planning system for the next quarter of a century and beyond. It would therefore be remiss of me at the outse…

Next Tuesday.

At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 2 July.

I turn to funding for roads, which is a topic we are all familiar with. I seek a debate with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on this issue across the suite of areas from national projects to local projects. I have become aware of an issue with TII where funding was allocated by the Government and the Minister for specific programmes of works in the 2024 allocation. However, when a local authority is in a position to award a tender for a contract for works that have been approved, TII says it has a review of fundin…

They are saying you will get it in writing.