I have listened to the entire debate, though I was not here physically for it all. Many constructive points were made. I may not agree with them all but they had merit. Before I go through the script, I will deal with a number of points raised. Deputy Bacik and Labour referred to HAP. “Tenant in situ ” is a term used by Dublin City Council. In layman’s terms, it is for an acquisition of a property where there is a notice of termination to quit. The local authorities have been given deferred sanction. They have flex…

When was the letter sent?

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this important issue. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. They also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the regulations and focus on tenants’ safety. They specify the exact …

On the specific issue raised by the Deputy, Dublin City Council has received State funding. In respect of the energy efficiency schemes in phase 1, with funding from my Department, it saw 8,057 housing units upgraded with cavity walls and attic insulation. In phase 2, a further 1,110 units had their facades wrapped and windows upgraded. Some 80% of the council housing had been upgraded by the end of 2022. This is a matter that we will take up with Dublin City Council but these are the facts. If there are particular…

I thank the members of the Independent Group for bringing forward the motion. We have heard from Deputies Collins and Connolly and no doubt we will hear from others. It is clear from this motion it is in everyone's interest that proper planning and development ensures community services and infrastructure are funded, if and when such new developments arise. We all agree on that.

We will arrange for that. The Government shares that interest and, therefore, will not oppose the motion. I will share with Deputies an outline of the existing measures in place in addition to those further proposed measures that are in line with the spirit of the motion, namely, that the uplift in funding derived from new developments benefits those affected communities. The Government recognises the need for services, amenities and facilities benefiting communities to be developed and enhanced in connection with …

This is my second visit.

This visit is just as important.

I thank the Acting Chairperson for his words of welcome. As a former Member of this House I am always glad to come back here for its excellent debates on various topics. I thank Senator Davitt for raising this matter. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to come before the House today to speak about the important issue of councillors' security. Local government plays an important role in the life of the nation and is responsible for the delivery of a wide range of services. The activities of local authori…

Just directions.

To give clarity to the Senator, under the current directions, statutory instruments and guidance issued last September, councillors are entitled to get the full cost of an installation of a CCTV camera system in their home. They are entitled to 20% of the annual running cost thereafter. I take on board the Senator’s point. They will be issued with revised directions for expenses of elected members of local authorities. My Department officials are now working on that. I will ask them to take on board the points that…

I thank Senator Boyhan very much for raising this matter. The urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040 and was established to support more compact and sustainable development through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland's five cities and other large towns. The Senator noted that is based on populations exceeding 10,000. The fund also caters for towns with fewer than 10,000 people but where there are 2,500 or more jobs. It very much feeds into compact growt…

As I said, many of these projects are now coming to fruition. The Senator will see much more of that €1.5 billion in funding being drawn down. As I outlined earlier, a key action in supporting the Government's vacant homes action plan is the third round of URDF support, which will be specifically designed to address long-term vacancy and dereliction across our URDF cities and towns and the acceleration of the provision of residential accommodation. This initiative is also in support of objectives under the revised …

I thank the Deputy. I have not received the report referred to in my reply to Question No. 89 of 30 November 2022. I understand it is in preparation but the public housing delivery outputs for 2022 are currently being validated for all local authorities, including for both Galway councils. This information will be important for the report's completion. I anticipate this report will cover the activity of the task force over 2021 and 2022. I will make it available to the Deputy when it is received by me. The Galway h…

It would have been expected that we would have received the report for 2021 in 2022. That has not happened. We are where we are. I will follow up with the task force on the matter of the report being with us. We are now in the first month of 2023. The report will be received by me by the first quarter but I will certainly follow up to make certain it is expedited. We are looking to deliver housing nationwide, but the Deputy's case of Galway city and county is a particular priority for the Government. The starting b…

I reiterate that that report is imminent. The report for 2021 should have been delivered in 2022. Both respective managers of Galway City Council and Galway County Council will give an update to their members at the next local authority meeting. More particularly, we will follow up to make sure this report is finalised with immediate effect - at the very latest by the end of the first quarter, although I think we can get it quicker - and that we can implement its recommendations. They must be practical in orientati…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 96, 108, 132, 157 and 159 together. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. Housing for All, the Government's housing strategy, sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe towns fund is a key initiative wh…

Yes. That five Deputies contributed shows how relevant and important the Croí Cónaithe scheme is. I will take them in order. Starting with Deputy O'Sullivan, Croí Cónaithe has no income threshold, so people can-----

We are keeping the Croí Cónaithe scheme under constant review. There has been a significant uptake so far, with 716 applications nationwide. In Cork county, 84 people had applied to the end of December. In Cork city, four had applied. The scheme is immensely successful. We want to get it bedded down and to encourage people to apply for it. Even if there is considerable interest, there will not be an issue with capital. The Minister will be able to go to the Cabinet and get extra capital funding. Deputy Stanton's po…

I think that covers the range of issues that were brought up. This is a great scheme. We want this scheme to work. We want to work in tandem with local authorities. The Deputies, as public representatives on the ground, are a key element of this. If there are any tweaks that are required to the scheme, funding is not an issue here. We want take-up. The town centre first policy is all about that, namely, bringing properties back into use. Returning to the key point, the easiest property to bring back into use is an …