I thank the Senators for their contributions on the Bill today. We can all agree that a well-functioning rental market is key to individuals and families in all our areas and constituencies. The rental sector has grown considerably over the last few decades and we need to grow it further in light of the continuing increases in the population and the demand for housing. Through this Bill, the Government is establishing a more robust legal and policy framework to support increased investment in the rental sector to i…

The Opposition does not like the truth.

I thank all Deputies for the opportunity to speak on what is an important matter. At the outset, I acknowledge the upset that has been experienced by communities across the country, including mine, County Waterford, in recent weeks as a result of Storm Chandra. The Government will not oppose the motion because we recognise the importance of the issue. We want to ensure that we can continue to protect against the risk of flooding through flood defence measures and reducing development in areas that are prone to floo…

I cannot accept amendments Nos. 9, 31 and 38. The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for an emergency period during which a landlord is prohibited, under section 5 of the Act, from serving a notice of termination. Section 4 of the Act provided that the emergency period could only be extended from its initial three months, under very specific circumstances in the interest of public health during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government could, on the request of the Minister for Housin…

Nobody in this Chamber has a monopoly on understanding and compassion for families and individuals-----

With all due respect, I did not interrupt the Deputy. Nobody here has a monopoly on compassion when it comes to the difficulties and challenges being faced by individuals and families regarding the shortage of housing supply, whether social, affordable or rental. At my constituency offices in Waterford city and Dungarvan, I deal with constituents in the exact same way as do other Deputies. The Minister and I are not blind to the challenges facing the public. We have a difference of view on how to address those chal…

They are not listening.

Deputy Clendennen has engaged with me on this matter. He has made the point fairly and forcefully that we should not have a cliff edge with Shannonbridge. We have provided €1.7 million to Offaly County Council over the last number of years and that will be the case this year. I have asked my officials to engage with Offaly County Council and with Longford County Council. Deputy Carrigy has also been in touch on having that tapering. That will occur.

I thank Senator Scahill for raising this matter today which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O’Sullivan, in my Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am aware the Senator has discussed the Farming Rathcroghan EIP in this House in the past and I know he has a deep interest in this archaeological and biologically rich landscape. The archaeological landscape of Rathcroghan is part of the royal sites of Ireland tentative world heritage application that the relevant local authoriti…

I will relay the Senator's comments to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, and ask him to facilitate a meeting. As the Senator will appreciate, and as I said in my initial response, the heritage unit in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has to focus on national monuments, heritage and archaeological elements as opposed to the agri-environmental scheme, which accounted for a significant chunk of the funding secured through the European just transition fund and the European Innovation Par…

The Minister has outlined the broad thrust of the Bill and I am now going to focus specifically on its provisions. The Bill contains 31 sections. Sections 1, 3, 4 and 25 contain standard provisions dealing with the definitions, Short Title, commencement, collective citations and construction of the Bill. Sections 2, 9 and 23 provide for the repeal of the RPZ provisions and make consequential technical amendments. Section 5 clarifies that notices and other documents may be served or given by electronic means under t…

It is Waterford, which is very dependent on tourism.

I am not nodding.

I am sorry but, just because the Deputy is saying I am nodding, it does not mean I am. I know he is saying that for the camera but I am not nodding.

I thank Deputy Gould for raising this very important matter. I am happy to have the opportunity to discuss the regeneration on the northside of Cork city on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. The regeneration of social housing is a matter, in the first instance, as the Deputy knows, for local authorities. It is their responsibility to identify an opportunity to advance regeneration programmes in line with the circular N11/2007 policy framework for the regeneration of local authority estates in their respective …

What I said in my response was that the current programme runs until 2028 and they are the projects that the council have put forward for the regeneration, which encompasses 121 units that have been completed, 165 units that are on site, and 127 units that are in pre-construction phase. We in the Department will always assess any application that comes in from local authorities, be they turnkey housing units, regeneration projects like this or Part 8 plans that the councils put forward. We are open to applications …

We would have more if the Deputy did not object to them.

Stop objecting to them.

Stop objecting.

One of them. What about the other ten or 12?