I thank the Senator for his positive comments. The schemes we are discussing have been transformative. The 4,000 approvals under the first home scheme and the upping of the targets for the vacant property refurbishment grant from 2,000 to 4,000 show the scale of demand for those schemes. We want to see our ambition realised. We have been losing the vernacular buildings dotted all over the country, which form part of the heritage of our towns and villages, at a rate of knots up to now. These grants mean families can…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí go léir. I thank all the Deputies. I will try to skim over some of the issues raised before I go to the closing speech. Deputy Bacik made a point as I came into the Chamber about the Labour Party's Bill. A number of aspects of the Bill have been addressed, including the model tenancy agreement, the non-registration of tenancies, tenancies of limited duration, and the rent increases in RPZs following substantial refurbishment. The RTB has a significant role in terms of monitoring un…

I welcome Dan Brennan, Francie Gorman, Denis Drennan and representatives of the farm organisations to the House. I am sure Dan's family are watching at home as well. This is an important day for Dan and his family. I know Dan. He is a responsible and good farmer. I visited his farm with former Deputies Mary White and John Gormley during the depths of that crisis and saw at first hand what was going on. It was seriously untoward and wrong. I know Dan to be a good farmer and I know this is as much about pride and vin…

Again, I want to acknowledge how important and timely this motion is and to commend the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on her leadership throughout this term of Government. In the past few weeks, we have seen not only one, but two, incredibly courageous survivors of gender-based and sexual violence step up to very bravely go public about their own experiences and once again put a spotlight on this issue in a selfless demonstration of their support of and solidarity with other victims. I simply cannot express my admirati…

I thank the Senator for tabling this important Commencement matter. It is open to anyone to apply for social housing support. The qualification criteria are set out in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the social housing assessment regulations, as amended, and are applied by all local authorities in assessing individual households for support. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its funct…

Again, I agree with the points the Senator makes. If this recommendation has come from the housing committee, it needs to be given serious consideration. I absolutely agree with that. I refer as well to the points made by Wayne Stanley about broad support for an appeals body. I know from my constituency office that not everybody feels there has been transparency about the decisions made on their allocations. I refer in particular to the issue of Traveller accommodation. We see inconsistency across the country. Our …

I thank Deputies Farrell and Ó Broin for proposing this Bill and giving us the opportunity to discuss this important issue. The main intention behind the Bill is to provide greater security of tenure to lodgers, including students. The Government agrees that everybody should have a sense of security and protection in their home. The Government will not be opposing this Bill on Second Stage. While there are a number of technical flaws in the Bill, and detailed legal advice would be required, I believe it would benef…

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We have had two debates, previously and now, where there has been a poor turnout of Deputies. I thank the Deputies who were here for their contributions on this Bill. I will reflect on some of the comments made, taking on board the points made about the challenges facing students. I again thank representatives of the various student organisations in the Gallery for their work on this Bill. As I stated in my opening speech, the Government is not opposing the Bill. We see…

I am, yes.

The Minister of State, Deputy Collins was due to close, but because the debate concluded early-----

I appreciate that.

I thank Deputy Murphy for her question. My Department is committed to consultation with relevant interested parties in relation to ongoing policy decisions on hunting and conservation. As a member of the European Union, Ireland is obliged to comply with various directives and regulations that relate to conservation and game hunting. The EU has played a very significant role in developing minimum standards of protection for certain wildlife species and their habitats, and in the first instance, policy on conservatio…

Absolutely. As I said, my door has always been open to all organisations. We are in the depths of a biodiversity crisis and it is critically important that all stakeholders play a role. I fully recognise the important work the NARGC and its members do, particularly with regard to grey partridge and other species across the country. On the four species, the scientific evidence is there on the red- and amber-listed species to warrant their removal. I will say no more on that, but we must act in respect of those. As M…

I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health. The Minister recognises the central role that primary care therapy services, including dieticians, play in providing care and treatment to both children and adults in the community. He is also aware that the demand for a dietetic service in the CHO 7 area has grown over recent years, and that this increase in demand has been coupled with an increasing complexity of service-user needs. Additionally, the recruitment of …

I thank the Deputy for his response. Certainly, the Minister fully acknowledges the frustration of those who are impacted by the restrictions in diatetic services in CHO, 7, and that of their families. He agrees that much more needs to be done to address the gaps in staffing and the waiting list for dieticians, in addition to other key primary care services. As the Deputy said, the new development posts are welcome news but the translation of that into those posts being filled, in a country of full employment where…

Again, I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this really important Topical Issue for discussion. The Crann Centre was established in 2014 and is a registered charity based in Ovens, County Cork. It supports children, adults and families living with a neuro-physical disability. It commenced service provision in 2019 and supports people with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, childhood stroke…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy on the section 39 providers right across the country. They provide invaluable services which are not always met by the State but the State supports them to do that. They are really valuable partners to the State on that. I reiterate the commitment of the Department and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to working with the Crann Centre to continue to aid it in providing valuable support to the community, families and children. I think her commitment was given at the meeti…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste seo. I also recognise the important work that youth organisations and ETBs do for our young people across the country. It is vital. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, is committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people throughout the country. In 2024, the Government is investing €78 million in this sector, which represents a 26% increase in the budget since 2020. A total of over €800,000 is being allocated t…

There is a disparity between the €160 for every young person in Dublin city and then €15.50 in Louth and Meath. The average works out at approximately €51.60 per young person, but I do not think putting a price on every young person is the issue. It is being able to provide as wide a range of services. Deprivation is deprivation be it in inner-city Dublin or in rural parts of the country in Laois and Offaly. The issues might be different, but many are the same in terms of child poverty and access to services and ed…

I thank the Deputies who contributed. I apologise on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. He had to go to another event. I will try to sum up the contributions I have listened to, if that is okay, before I give a closing statement. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett raised the issue of tax breaks for forestry as I came into the Chamber. These are issues in respect of which corporates want to play their part in nature restoration and biodiversity. There is a business for biodiversity platform, something the NP…