I am nearly there.

No.

Amendment No. 53 introduces a definition for "transport infrastructure" to section 17 and broadens the term "public transport" to include a reference to infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. Amendments Nos. 54 to 56, inclusive, amend section 18. The section currently provides that where Part 3 requires publication of a notice stating that a matter will be made available for public inspection, it shall be made available for inspection for the stated period or where no period is stated a reasonable period. Sec…

I will address amendments Nos. 57 to 69, inclusive, and amendments Nos. 71, 72 and 74, as tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn; and amendment No. 70, tabled by Senators Boyhan and McDowell. This group of amendments relate to Chapter 2 of Part 3 and the national planning framework. As the Senators will be aware, the Bill provides that the NPF will continue to spearhead the planning agenda in Ireland and sets out a plan-led system where all tiers of planning from a regional level to a local level align …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 , 66 and 110 together. Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government. The vacant homes action plan, which was published in January 2023, built on pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. Earlier this year, the Minister published an update on the action plan, which shows the significant progress that is being made. Data regarding vacant properties is available from a number of …

The GeoDirectory database for quarter 2 2024 classifies 82,031 dwellings as vacant on a national vacancy rate of 3.9%. This remains a record low. The report showed that vacancy rates had decreased in 19 counties. The database published worrying figures for commercial vacancy. There are crisis levels of vacancy in many towns and villages across the country. In County Sligo, it is 20.5%; County Donegal, 19.4%; County Galway, 18.5%; County Limerick, 17.5%; and County Leitrim 17.5%. This is of real concern and this is …

I note the comments made by Deputy Wynne. On the figures I have for Cork city and county, Cork county has 747 applications received for the vacant property refurbishment grant, with 478 approved and 76 rejected, and 26 grants have been paid out on completion of works. The figures for Clare are 401 received, 234 approved, 31 rejected and 16 paid out on completion of works. Again, I wish to highlight the local authority purchase and renovation loan, which gives a bridging loan to make up the difference of the grant t…

As an island nation, our seas and our ocean are crucial for Ireland, supporting our economy, international trade, our energy supply and communications systems, as well as our climate, environment, cultural traditions, heritage, health and wellbeing. The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 sets the underpinning process for planning, consenting and regulation of certain maritime activities and ensures that all projects are carefully considered and subject to appropriate environmental assessment. To complement this, it is…

The Deputy is correct in saying that we have moved from 2.4% at the outset of this Government to 10% of waters under strict protection as special protection areas, SPAs, for marine birds, including the east coast and the seas off Wexford, which is the largest SPA in the history of the State. I have established a marine advisory group, which is a high-level scientific group, which has overseen the ecological sensitivity analysis of the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea. Both of those were published in 2022 and 2024. In each …

I assure the Deputies that there is no lack of political will. It is our utmost priority. I appreciate the support from the committee and across the House. That is not to say there is any conflict between offshore renewables and marine biodiversity. As I said, the ecological sensitivity analyses have been conducted for the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea. They will continue to inform processes around designation and areas fit for offshore renewables. Separately, I mentioned the two SPAs, in particular the largest in t…

The conservation advice grant scheme funds two thirds of the cost of hiring an expert conservation professional, up to a maximum of €5,000 to advise on the repairs necessary to bring vacant traditional buildings back into residential use. It is expected that many grant recipients will go on to avail of the vacant property refurbishment grant to help pay for the costs of the works. The scheme targets an important and historically neglected part of our building stock in towns and rural areas - one that is really impo…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. It covers two thirds of the cost of hiring the conservation professional, but that advice could be critical in saving a building and ensuring that the right approach is taken. Certainly, over the longer term, it will ultimately save the owner money. There is a huge amount of traditional conservation expertise out there. We have a lack of conservation officers in our local authorities. Their recognition within the local government system needs to be looked at and that is somet…

Again, I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy in relation to this. There is no doubt the opportunities that lie out there are immense. A couple I know in Kilkenny was going to put a bulldozer to one these buildings until the grant scheme came into place and they are now delighted that they have renovated it. I want to see more families doing that. I want to see more people doing that, particularly in our towns and villages where there is an immense amount of 19th century stock that could be brought back into use. T…

No.

I again note the concerns raised by the Senators. As Senator Fitzpatrick said, I was not here for the debate last night but I am taking on board the genuine concerns raised. Again, to keep proceedings flowing, I ask that we move on. I will ask the Attorney General to double-check and look at the issues that have been referred to. Genuine concerns were raised by a number of Senators last night and again this morning.

Before I read my note on the amendments, I accept the points raised by all Senators. It is something about which we all have concerns and about which our constituents bring us their concerns, for example, issues around the visual impacts and perceived health implications. Senator Fitzpatrick mentioned that such infrastructure was largely planned by engineers. The element of public participation is important. Senator Boyhan discussed strategic mapping. There are open source systems like OpenStreetMap where people ca…

I thank Senator Currie for withdrawing her amendment. I give a commitment that we will look at those elements of public participation. I will make a general point on the comments made by Senators Black, Flynn and Higgins. They are correct that this is the third largest Bill in the history of the State. We have spent close to 130 hours on Committee Stage, where a large number of Opposition amendments were accepted that have significantly improved the Bill. We appreciate the democratic process and the work that is pu…

I will address amendment No. 57, tabled by Senators Garvey and O’Reilly; amendments Nos. 58, 60, 61, 63 to 70, inclusive, 72, 73, 75 to 77, inclusive, 79, 80 and 82, tabled by Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn; amendments Nos. 59, 62 and 74, tabled by Senators Warfield, Boylan and Gavan; amendments Nos. 71 and 83, tabled by Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall; and amendments Nos. 78, 81 and 84, tabled by Senators Boyhan and McDowell. This group of amendments primarily relate to Chapter 2 of Part 3 and…

I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I agree with what Senator Pauline O'Reilly and Senator Higgins have said in relation to the transport aspect. It is something we will give consideration to over the summer. I take on board the points made. In my opening statement, I said that there is a specific reference to mobility separately. Would that cover a broader area? If it is okay with the Senators, we will go back and look at this point. To Senator Higgins on the general point, the Minister, all the Mini…

I will speak to Government amendment No. 85 and section 17. Following a review by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, this amendment is being introduced to redraft section 24 for the purpose of providing clarity and to aid comprehension. The substance of section 24 has not changed in comparison with the previous versions of the Bill.