I move amendment No. 242: In page 76, line 3, to delete “was justified” and substitute “is justified”.

I move amendment No. 244: In page 76, line 31, to delete “must” and substitute “shall”.

I move amendment No. 247: In page 78, line 7, before “an” to insert “without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a) ,”.

I will address amendments Nos. 248 to 250, inclusive, 253 and 254 tabled by Deputies Ó Broin, Gould and Ó Snodaigh. These amendments relate to the interaction of the RSES with Gaeltacht matters, such as notification of relevant Irish-language bodies. As I have discussed previously, following Committee Stage and reflective of Government's support for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht communities in general, a review of the relevant notification sections was conducted, including in this part of the Bill relating t…

I move amendment No. 111: In page 62, to delete lines 13 and 14 and substitute the following: “15. (1) This Act shall not operate to restrict or otherwise affect the functions of a Minister of the Government or the Commissioners under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 or the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. (2) The performance by a Minister of the Government of functions under this Act shall not operate to prejudice the performance by that Minister of the Government…

I can assure the Deputy that it is a straightforward amendment being introduced to provide for the recent enactment of the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Given the anticipated phased commencement of that Act, it is important that section 15 of the Bill is restructured to make references to both the historic and archaeological heritage Act and the National Monuments Acts. That is just to give assurance to the Deputy in that regard.

I move amendment No. 112: In page 62, line 28, to delete “identified and”. The majority of these amendments are minor and grammatical in nature, resultant of the ongoing process of quality assurance that has been proceeding throughout the legislative process. This Bill, one of the largest in the history of the State, has over 500 sections and, therefore, it is natural to identify improvements to syntax which do not alter in any way the legal meaning of the sentences but give improved legibility for the reader. To t…

Housing for All sets out a range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030, comprising 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, approved housing bodies, AHBs, the Land Development Agency, and through the first home scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. In 2023, more than 4,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered via our delivery partners, an output which has more than doubled since the previous year and represents an in…

Generally, when it comes to overall delivery, to the end of quarter 4 2023, more than 5,800 affordable housing solutions have been delivered through cost rental, the first home scheme, the local authority affordable purchase scheme, and the vacant property refurbishment grant. The first home scheme is assisting first-time buyers to purchase new homes. Recently published quarter 1 2024 delivery figures show more than 4,000 approvals have been issued since the scheme launched, with 75% of approvals issued in counties…

On the issues around the general delivery of affordable housing, the affordable housing fund now provides funding of up to €150,000 to support apartment delivery in urban areas. In July 2023, the Government approved additional supports for AHBs to deliver cost-rental homes by increasing funding to up to 55% of capital costs from the previous 45%. This funding comprises a mixture of favourable loan financing and State equity investment. The secure tenancy affordable rental, STAR, scheme provides investment of up to …

I will not get into a response on specific projects. The local authorities are delivering affordable homes with funding approval in place to assist with the delivery of more than 4,135 purchase and cost-rental homes across 21 local authorities with support of more than €335 million from the affordable housing fund. Again, I will not get into specifics about-----

That is what the AHF is for.

Yes.

Cuirim fáilte roimh na daltaí agus na múinteoirí ó Ghaelscoil Osraí, Contae Chill Chainnigh. I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 66 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 on 22 June 2023. It contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related regulations on 29 June 2023. The enhanced grant scheme was legislated for following extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders. At the…

On the NSAI review of IS 465, the ongoing work is autonomous. An interagency defective concrete block technical matters steering group was established to inform and guide the NSAI review of a number of relevant standards, including IS 465, and the impact, if any, on foundations and the effect, if any, on full cavity-fill insulation on homes susceptible to defective block work. This work has been detailed and the NSAI has been very strong in its focus. The NSAI is Ireland's official standards body and it is autonomo…

There is rigour and detailed scientific analysis attached to the process adopted by the NSAI. As I stated, the review mechanism was put in place within a year of the Act and the process is ongoing. There is also a process for a three-year review. Deputy Mac Lochlainn is correct that it is a grant scheme but it is very much enhanced from the previous 2020 grant scheme, with a 100% grant, subject to an overall maximum of €420,000.

That is what it is. There is a revised application process that removes the financial barrier to scheme entry. All of these are in place. There is provision for alternative accommodation costs. A Government guarantee is provided with regard to remediation works, other than the full demolition and rebuild, through eligibility for a second grant, if required, for a period of up to 40 years. It is a strong scheme and the review mechanism is in place.

I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I will address some of the points raised by Senators before my closing remarks. An overarching thing to say, which goes back to the point raised by Senators Warfield, Gavan and Boylan, about the notion that the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, dismissed the commission’s work, is that is certainly not the case. It is simply not the case. He is giving active consideration to it. As Senator Fitzpatrick said, it is an incredibly important piece of work. It is a hefty piece of …

I am not sure exactly what issue the Deputy is referring to. Certainly, he is correct regarding the role of the NPWS in the enforcement of the Wildlife Act, which is currently under review in my Department in respect of hedge cutting and other issues. If the Deputy provides the information to me, we can certainly investigate the matter for him.

My mother, as a proud Kildare woman, would probably concur with the comments of Deputy Pringle too. I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions. I will respond to some of their comments before making my closing remarks. Quite a number of Deputies have raised the issue of apprentices and direct maintenance within local authorities. I raised this with officials during the briefing today as well because it is an important point. There was a time when there were maintenance crews within all of the local authori…