I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for providing me with the opportunity to update the House on the matter. I reassure the Deputy and the House that the Government fully acknowledges the stress caused to homeowners due to defects that have arisen in their homes. I will deal with the last question first. In regard to the number of houses in an individual estate in his constituency, if he would like us in the Department to follow up on his behalf with HomeBond, we will do that. That might be some…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important matter. With regard to the individual builder, the likelihood is that a builder of that size is a member of the CIF. I would have thought making contact with the Deputy might ensure our lines of communication with the builders themselves. It is all about the homeowners. I reassure him and the House that the Government is committed to drive compliance and standards through regulating in accordance with the commitments of Housing for All. Work is at an advanced …

I convey my apologies on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Justice, who cannot be here due to another commitment. I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on some of the issues he raised. I acknowledge this is an issue on which he has campaigned. As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the Judiciary and the Courts Service, which are independent in exercising the…

On behalf of Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. I will take the specific point raised by Deputy Durkan back to the Minister. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, published the first family justice strategy in November 2022, which sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future. This will be a system that focuses on the needs and rights of children, a system that assists their parents in making decisions that affect all of…

No offence taken.

I thank Deputies Collins and Pringle for raising this important issue. As the Deputies have stated, I will take the matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin. The deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus is gravely concerning. Reports of the continued use of torture and ill-treatment against those in custody and the especially harsh detention conditions for political prisoners is deeply alarming. The Government and the EU have been working intensively to …

It shows the significance of the issue that the Ceann Comhairle gave comment on it. It lends great gravity to the particular issue in Belarus. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for that. I thank Deputies Joan Collins and Pringle for their responses which were constructive and in a spirit of partnership. It is evident that there is support across this House for the protection of human rights in Belarus, from the Ceann Comhairle down. I would like to reassure all Deputies that Ireland and the EU will continue to give this …

I thank Deputy Costello for raising this important matter. I am pleased to have the opportunity to describe how the Department of Education plans for new schools and increasing diversity of provision. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley. The Deputy raises specific issues on behalf of his constituents in Dublin 8. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. It…

I again thank Deputy Costello for raising this important matter on behalf of his constituency in Dublin 8 and, more particularly, the children currently in primary school and moving into secondary school. The Department's position is that new schools are established on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand. The process for the establishment of a new school gives interested patrons the opportun…

I wish everyone a good break. This is the final session of a very busy term. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Government on this Private Members' Bill. Dereliction is an area which falls under my remit as Minister of State in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Bill is entitled the Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill, which has been brought forward by Deputy Steven Matthews, who is also the Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee…

Once again, I thank the Deputies who made contributions. I will take them in turn. Deputy Ivana Bacik made reference to the general level of vacancy. We have commissioned all local authorities to come up with surveys of vacant units and to appoint the vacant homes officers do this. We expect to have that major body of work towards the end of the year. Second, in keeping with the contributions of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, and Deputies Costello and Leddin, we are currently reviewing the Derelict Sites Act.…

I join my colleagues in thanking the Oireachtas staff. I thank Mr. Terry Sheridan from the Department for being present. It is very late. I also thank the ushers and everyone else who is involved for the phenomenal work they do. I wish them all what I hope will be a good summer.

The decision on the timing of the referendum is one for Cabinet. The issues the Deputy raises in respect of Irish Water would cause us concern. We will take up those matters directly with Irish Water. We want it to provide a service that is efficient and timely for the public. If Deputy Cahill has specific instances, he might bring them to my attention and I will take them up directly with Irish Water.

A memo for Government and the legislation is going for the Cabinet's consideration this week. It will have to consider both. The timing of the election is entirely a decision for the Cabinet. We are honouring our commitment to the people of Limerick. A plebiscite was held. The legislation and the amendment has gone to Cabinet this week.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 30th June, 2023.

No. I will move the first two motions and I will make a comment on the third motion.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. XX) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 23rd June, 2023.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 30th June, 2023. The Deputies who are members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage have already made comments. At the committee meeting a proposal was tabled by Deputy Ó Broin that there would be engagement between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Herita…

I thank Senator Cummins for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to address it. As he will be aware, the Department provides funding for water services in areas of rural Ireland where no Uisce Éireann water services are available. The Department's rural water programme uses Exchequer funding to deliver improvements to water services throughout the rural water network. As part of the funding being provided, grants are available to households with domestic water treatment systems, commonly know…

I again thank Senator Cummins for raising this important matter. The Department is very conscious of all the issues he raises, including the level of the grant and the exclusion of certain categories on the basis of data registration. We want to have a comprehensive review. I accept that timing is of the essence. The EPA report more particularly puts it further in context. I assure Senator Cummins that the Department is actively examining ways to improve the availability of grant assistance to households to fix fau…