I thank the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on progress with on the Plean-IT project in An Bord Pleanála, now An Coimisiún Pleanála. The Senator's question is interesting, based on the response I have, and he will hear it now. An Bord Pleanála commenced an ICT strategy in 2013. The purpose of the strategy was to address the organisation’s reliance on legacy systems. The Plean-IT programme was initiated in 2014 to implement this strategy. An external consulting firm was appointed following a public p…

Everyone is entitled to bring whatever they wish into the Chamber. I hope I have provided Senator Boyhan with a clear update of the timelines and the progress that has been made. Of course, An Coimisiún Pleanála wants to continue to improve its digital services in order that all customers can interact with it in an appropriate manner. I want to put on record my thanks to An Coimisiún Pleanála for the significant progress it has made in turning matters around since its establishment. We now have a situation where al…

How did that go in Berlin?

Deputy Ó Broin has no respect for the Chair or this House.

I thank Deputy Gogarty. The Government, as he said, recently published its new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. Under pillar 1, it says that to increase the supply of additional housing, action 4.8 commits to increasing the number of development types that are exempt from planning, in order to ensure we have the flexibility for local authorities to be able to do the work they require to do. Planning permission will be exempt to allow f…

I welcome the Deputy's comments in relation to this proposal, which is being advanced by Government. I expect to have these domestic exemption regulations before the joint Oireachtas committee around Easter time and enacted and enforced thereafter. I have never once said that this is a solution to the housing crisis. This is about providing options for people where they feel it appropriate. There will be restrictions and limitations across a number of areas and they are obviously being worked through. The positive …

I note the Deputy's comments but, for the avoidance of doubt, unless there are explicit exemptions, the rules are the rules around planning. We have indicated our intention to bring forward this proposal. We have not set out the exact parameters of that. The current rules in regard to planning are the current rules until they are exempt. I indicated that to the joint Oireachtas committee when I was there before Christmas. As I said, this is a proactive and sensible proposal about providing options for people where …

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 is Ireland’s new housing plan. It is a wide-ranging action plan, focused on housing supply and targeting homelessness. The plan is centred on eight priorities, one of which includes increasing skills and supporting the adoption of modern methods of construction, MMC, in the residential construction sector, which will help facilitate delivery at optimal levels of speed, quality, sustainability and cost effectiveness. My Depa…

I thank the Deputy. I note the comments from the Minister, Deputy Browne, about the developer-provided infrastructure element and the commitment Deputy Cahill has shown in raising constructed wetlands consistently in this House. There is a very good example of it in my constituency in Dunhill, County Waterford. In relation to the modular systems, we are going to provide planning exemptions to allow for modular units to the rear of the dwelling as I referred to earlier in response to questions from Deputy Gogarty. T…

I have been consistent on exempted development regulations and the provision of modular units. I never once said this is the solution to the housing crisis. This is about providing options for people. Who is it for anybody in this Chamber to try to dictate to people who may wish to put in a modular home if they believe that is appropriate for them? Everything we are trying to do in terms of planning within government is to simplify the process and remove things from the planning system that are not required to be i…

I thank the Minister for bringing us through the progress that has been made on water service delivery, including the record levels of investment in the water sector. I welcome the opportunity to speak on water again this week. I will focus on water quality and policies. Water is our most valuable resource. It is vital to our health, our economy and our environment. Securing a safe and reliable water supply is a top priority for the Government. Access to healthy rivers and lakes, groundwater and bathing waters is e…

I will have my office circulate them.

This is promised legislation.

Of course I have read it.

It is some stretch.

As it is my first time speaking after the Christmas break, I wish all Deputies a happy new year and a productive year. I thank everyone who has contributed today to what is a very important debate on water services. Our water infrastructure is part of our shared fabric as a society and it is rightly the subject of extensive democratic scrutiny both from the Oireachtas and our regulatory bodies. Since the establishment of Uisce Éireann, significant improvements have been made in the delivery of water services. Hundr…

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th December, 2025, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 103(5), which, not later than 16th December, 2025, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 110, and Standing…

Exactly.

They do not like it, do they?

Shout, shout, shout.