I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this matter. Amendment No. 2 proposes to amend section 3(2) by substituting "An Coimisiún Toghcháin" for "the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage". Section 3(2) is a standard provision that has been inserted into the constituency revisions Acts dating back to 1923. It provides a means of resolving disputes over which constituencies contain particular townlands or electoral divisions. The proposed legislation is framed in such a way as to preclude any such doubt but, …

Again, I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this particular issue. Amendment No. 3 proposes to insert a new subsection (3) into the section 3 of the Bill to require An Coimisiún Toghcháin to undertake detailed research within a period of 18 months from the enactment of the Bill on an appropriate reconstitution of electoral divisions in the State, and on the discontinuance of using former rural districts in the description of our Dáil constituencies for the purposes of providing a more up-to-date and objective approach …

I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, after line 30, to insert the following: “Amendment of European Parliament Elections Act 1997 5. The European Parliament Elections Act 1997 is amended— (a) in section 15, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3): “(3) An area specified in the Third Schedule shall be taken to be that area as constituted on 1 October 2023.”, (b) in rule 88 of Part XI of the Second Schedule, by the deletion of paragraphs (5) and (6), and (c) by the substitution of the followi…

Again I agree with the points raised by the Deputy and I thank her for the constructive engagement. The research programme, as I have said, will be very broad and is as broad as the input which comes in from members of the public and from political parties. We would most certainly welcome any proposals around the size of Dáil constituencies, the fixed number of constituencies and there is limitless potential here for research with the commission. Earlier today I gave a commitment that we would send a note back out …

I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, line 7, to delete “this Act” and substitute “this Act (other than section 5 )”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, after line 8, to insert the following: “(3) The European Parliament Elections Acts 1992 to 2022 and section 5 may be cited together as the European Parliament Elections Acts 1992 to 2023 and shall be construed together as one.”.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 7, to delete lines 4 and 5 and substitute the following: " ". Amendment No. 9 is intended to correct a typographical error in the specification of the constituency of Cork South-Central in a Schedule to the Bill. An Coimisiún Toghcháin has confirmed there was a typographical error in the specification of that constituency in appendix 1 to its Constituency Review Report 2023 published on 30 August 2023. The Schedule to the Bill is taken from appendix 1 of an coimisiún's Constituency R…

I concur with the Deputy. He made a valid point. I ask him and his party to make a submission regarding the research in question. It is a very important point, and it is something to which the commission could give consideration in its research programme next year.

Our response to the events last Thursday will define us as a nation. My thoughts and prayers, like those of all others, are with the victims of the attack on Parnell Street, the three children and the care worker. We express our appreciation to all who intervened, to the gardaí, emergency services and others. Some commentators are saying that this is not us but it is time we had a difficult conversation about these issues. I know many friends from African countries who have felt and experienced racist incidents ove…

There are currently no plans to extend the burning season. There are other proposals around the harvesting of green waste for use in composting materials, etc. While there are no plans at present, we will take on board the Deputy's points.

My Department currently supports a programme of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Dublin and Cork and smaller projects in Tralee, Sligo and Dundalk. These regeneration projects target the country's most disadvantaged communities and seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through an holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. As the Senator is keenly aware, the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan, LRFIP, was adopted by the then Limerick City…

Those are questions we can come back to the Senator on. Certainly, all parties were aware of the end date of 2023. It was critical for future planning that Limerick City and County Council would begin the process of engagement and consultation around the continuum of support for the very valuable initiatives the Senator has spoken about, notwithstanding the fact there are staff affected by this. Our Department has allocated €50 million from the 2024 Vote to fund the national regeneration programme, which includes t…

I thank the Senator. As the Senator may be aware, updated rural housing guidance are currently being prepared by my Department. He speaks very well about the challenges but there are fantastic opportunities out there now. The updated guidelines once issued will expand on the high-level spatial planning policy of the national planning framework, NPF, and in particular on the national policy objective 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban in…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator. I was instrumental in bringing the town centre first policy into the programme for Government. Critically, as I look across the country and travel, I see many fantastic premises such as 19th and early 20th century buildings that could be brought back into productive use. This is why the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage introduced an easing of planning restrictions regarding above-shop premises and the renovation of pubs for living. A lot is happening. You …

Do I have ten minutes?

I hope I will not need it. I will try not to bore the House. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na Teachtaí go léir. The was a valuable debate yesterday and today. Before I conclude, I will take some time to respond to some of the issues raised by Deputies. More immediately, I will respond to comments made today, starting with Deputy Howlin, a politician for whom I have huge respect. The Dáil will be the poorer for his absence after the next election. He raised the issue of the division of Wexford. An Coimisiú…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.

I have.

Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and the vacant homes action plan contains a suite of measures which actively address vacancy. We see huge potential in existing housing and building stock in our villages, towns and cities to meet the objectives of Housing for All. To give some examples, full-time vacant housing officers are now in place across all local authorities. A compulsory purchase order, CPO, activation programme was launched in April which supports a proactive and systematic approach b…

I refute the claim that the Government is taking a hands-off approach. Quite the opposite is the case. We are taking a very much hands-on approach. A vacant homes unit has been set up within the Department and the schemes I outlined are delivering the reuse and the repurposing of a lot of housing stock across the country. To clarify the position, we received a submission from Dublin City Council on the voids programme only last week and we will be making additional funding available for that programme. Critically, …