I will ask Uisce Éireann to investigate that. The tankering of sewage is unacceptable in this day and age. We have a way forward here in terms of the longer-term plan. I mentioned the 2025-29 investment cycle in my response to Deputy Cairns. That will be critically important. We took questions from Deputy Connolly last night on housing development in Galway. This issue will hinder housing development unless we have the adequate infrastructure that is future-proofed and meets the requirements of what will be a recas…

I have outlined the significant progress that has been made by Uisce Éireann in dealing with the deficits in Galway city and the wider area. I was not aware there were two siphons, as Deputy Connolly has said. My understanding from the response I gave the Deputy last week was that one had been addressed. We will ask Uisce Éireann.

We will ask Uisce Éireann to come back with a more comprehensive reply on that, if that is of assistance to the Deputy. The opportunity that is there in terms of the public consultation on future needs is really important. It is important that the 2025-29 capital investment cycle identifies the needs for the growth of the greater Galway area and ensures they are included in the capital investment programme. Whatever Government is here after the next election, it is critically important that the investment cycle we …

We will request that.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024 before the House. There are three main components in the Bill. First, it proposes a significant extension of the franchise for electing the six “University” members of Seanad Éireann to graduates of designated institutions of higher education in Ireland who are Irish citizens, who have received a degree from a designated institution and who are aged 18 or over. Second, it amends t…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. There is very little I can disagree with in anything they have said.

I will say the point critically here. We are at the end of a political cycle and we can see the quietness around Leinster House today. This is a three-party coalition. There is no commitment in the programme for Government on Seanad reform. It is not there. Critically from all of our perspectives, it is important as we look towards our manifestos for the upcoming general election to include provisions for meaningful Seanad reform. On the point that Deputy Howlin made about ongoing engagement around meaningful polit…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. As the Deputy is aware, the defective concrete blocks, DBC, grant scheme is neither a redress nor a compensation scheme, rather a grant scheme of last resort to enable affected homeowners to remediate homes. The scheme facilitates the remediation of existing houses that have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks. The construction of new separate additional houses is not grant funded. The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 202…

I see what the Deputy is saying. There have been a number of cases like this. Those cases are not uniform and every homeowner has different issues. As I said in the original response, the replication of the house is a like-for-like dwelling. However, given there are significant issues involving a young disabled child, I ask that the Deputy would bring the issues forward to the Department and we can look at what way it might be addressed. I understood from the question that the disabled adaptation already existed in…

As I said, there is flexibility in terms of the footprint.

If the Deputy will furnish the details to the Department, we will look at it. That is the best way I can respond at this stage. As the Deputy said, there are serious considerations. No two cases are alike. Again, we would appreciate it if the Deputy could provide the details and we can then give consideration to it.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an cheist seo. I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 , 67 and 69 together. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through build, acquisition and leasing, including 8,110 new-build homes, the highest level of new-build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social hous…

The Deputy has raised the issue in Galway city on many occasions in the Dáil in recent years. Galway City Council is the housing authority and, through the ambition of the housing strategy, will be met with funding from Government. That has been the consistent approach we have taken with all local authorities. Considerable progress is being made in addressing homelessness, particularly the work since 2022 giving us the capability to record preventions and exits separately. Quarter 4 2023 prevention figures represen…

The intention and work of the Government is to end the dependency on HAP. A total of 16,000 families have transferred from HAP to permanent accommodation solutions. That is to be noted. The Government has built more social houses in the past four and a half years than in the past 50 years. I was a member of a local authority for 16 years. I remember distinctly during that time when a decision was made to move away from the construction of local authority housing and into reliance on the private market. I believe it…

On behalf of the Minister for Justice, I give assurance to the Senator that the Minister and the whole of Government are committed to the principle that everybody should feel safe and be safe in their community. I note the issues the Senator has raised, in particular about community safety in very remote rural locations in Longford and Roscommon. The safety of people living and working in rural Ireland, including Roscommon, is a major priority for the Minister. The Government is committed, through the national deve…

I reiterate that the reopening of Garda stations or the deployment of gardaí is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. I reiterate also that community safety is of the highest priority for the Minister. Recently, she was pleased to announce a €62 million investment in the Garda estate across the country as part of budget 2025. Under the NDP the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital funding into An Garda Síochána to deliver a Garda station modernisation and refurbishment progr…

I thank Senator Seery Kearney. Having worked in youth services previously, I am aware of the work they do. My own children have greatly benefited from youth work and youth services, including LGBTQI services, and they now volunteer with them. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. During his time as Minister, there have been significant increases in the level of investment for youth organisations and services. Arising from budget 20…

I acknowledge the Senator's passion in respect of this matter. Having been involved in youth work, I know the invaluable work that youth organisations do. I met some of the organisations prior to the budget. The youth strategy the Minister launched and has led on was developed with broad stakeholder engagement involving youth work organisations. Opportunities still exist. Officials are examining the options available for the distribution of youth funding in 2025. All of what I have outlined shows that there has bee…

I agree. Clare hurling is doing well - I say that as a Kilkenny man - without a centre of excellence. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Ministers, Deputies Catherine Martin and Byrne. I take on board the points the Senator made. The establishment of the LSSIF was provided for under the national sports policy 2018 to 2027. The aim of the fund is to provide support to sports facilities where the Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the sports capital and equipment programme, …

I will take these points back to Ministers. This sounds like a hugely exciting prospect for Clare. I am a big fan of Clare hurling, notwithstanding the fact that I am a Kilkenny man. I love the hurling from the county. The assessment of applications under the LSSIF is well advanced. I hope the announcement of allocations under the latest round of funding will come in the coming weeks and not before the election – we will see when that arrives. The point the Senator raises about the opportunity that this funding pro…