I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 154 together. In July 2022 we launched the vacant property refurbishment grant under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund. This supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. In May 2023 we announced a revised grant rate of up to a maximum of €50,000 available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties that may be available for rent, including the conversion of a property that had not previou…

I thank the Deputies. Yes, we have given directions and guidelines to the local authorities. However, in the interests of absolute clarity, we will write to the local authorities again on this specific area of discretion. On a couple of points, if an application was approved prior to 1 May 2022, the Deputy will probably be aware that applicants have 18 months. We have now extended the scheme from 1 May to rental properties as well. We want this scheme to be a very successful one. By way of providing information to …

We in government would very much welcome any change of mind on Sinn Féin's part on particular policy dimensions.

I think that Deputy Ó Broin, in his interpretation of Croí Cónaithe, is trying to do a twist of faith. He is basically changing the scheme. Our scheme works.

Sinn Féin has a different scheme. Nevertheless, if Deputy Ó Broin wants to adopt our policies, we would be delighted.

Maybe he has seen the light. In the interests of clarity, Deputy Tully asked about people being able to build in rural areas. I very much support that. We increased the grant from €30,000 to €50,000 and from €50,000 to €70,000 in terms of the costs involved. We extended it to rental properties. We brought the period of time back two years from pre-1993. We have made significant changes to the scheme. We will do a review of the scheme, as we are doing. We have overcome the issue of the second charge. The scheme is t…

It is coming.

In Carlow.

The Deputy has a long way to go.

The Deputy needs a full preamble.

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. We are supporting households to exit homelessness by increasing the supply of housing. The Department has prioritised measures that focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new builds, targeted acquisitions and leasing. A record €4.5 billion was available this year to support the largest State investment ever, including 9,100 direct-build social homes and 5,000 affordable homes. We have t…

-----to examine and make recommendations and develop proposals relating to early intervention services for children and their families.

In the past quarter, as the Deputy is aware, 1,279 people, including children, have been prevented from going into homelessness or have exited homelessness. Those numbers are increasing. The measures are working. We appreciate that the numbers are very high.

They relate to preventing people from going into and exiting homelessness. The NHAC subgroup put forward 15 recommendations and the Department reports progress regarding the recommendations of NHAC members. There are fine Government policies on homelessness, including among children.

I will bring Deputy Nash's concerns to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Deputy Nash is fully aware that reviews are ongoing in terms of the Peter McVerry Trust, so it would be inappropriate to comment publicly on the issue, but the matters he raises are very serious and I will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.

I visited Dublin City Council on Tuesday and we discussed matters in a range of areas, among those dereliction and vacancy. It has put together a collaborative team within the local authority in that area. I note the point the Deputy raised on voids. We want to see voids coming back into use as quickly as possible. The target is 2,300 overall this year and we have €31 million set aside. I will bring the matter the Deputy raised to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I will personally take it …

I thank Deputy Murphy. In the current year, we have provided additional funding to any local authorities that came forward looking for it because we want to keep the applications being processed. If there are individual applications that are not being processed, the Deputy might bring them to my attention. A review was completed. I came in as Minister for State and went through the review in great depth with my officials. We are currently in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National D…

I thank Deputy Duffy, the Ceann Comhairle and the officials in the Houses for facilitating the deferral of the original debate on this Bill until today. I also thank Deputy Duffy for tabling his Defective Dwellings Bill for detailed scrutiny. It will not be opposed by the Government. From his opening contribution, I can see how committed Deputy Duffy is to this. We will respect that. The Bill makes provision for the law relating to the liability of builders, developers and others involved in the carrying out of res…

I was acknowledging advice from the officials.

It is good to see so many people contributing to a debate late on a Thursday evening. It shows how important it is. I again commend Deputy Duffy on bringing forward this Bill. As I have outlined already, the Government does not oppose this Bill. However, we must again highlight that, as currently drafted, the Bill has a number of technical and practical shortcomings which need further detailed consideration. We say that in a positive light rather than a negative one. I accept that this Bill has been put forward in …