The Government understands the major challenges facing the construction sector from high inflation, pressures on supplies, labour shortages and rising interest rates. Under Housing for All, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, supported by our Department, has established a modern methods of construction, MMC, leadership and integration group to support the development of MMC. The group also co-ordinates across the various entities that support MMC and innovation adoption, particularly in residential …

The residential construction cost study report to which the Deputy referred, which was a Housing for All action, considered a comparative analysis between a number of European comparator countries, including Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. It focused on specific cities: Copenhagen, Berlin, Utrecht and Birmingham. As the Deputy rightly stated, the analysis provided useful information on cost disparities. In Birmingham, for example, the cost is 21% to 29% lower than that of a typical house b…

The Deputy makes valid points. The report provided a set of recommendations that could help in developing standardised approaches to the design of housing for wider application, informing policy and encouraging simplified layouts and delivering training awareness programmes relating to the cost impact of materials and finishes commonly used in the residential construction sector. It addressed the development of standardised design specifications for student accommodation and part of the commitment from Housing for …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 94 together. The housing assistance payment is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector, which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. Maximum rent limits for the HAP scheme are set out for each housing authority area by th…

I acknowledge the contributions of both Deputies for their respective areas. On the discretion levels, if including Dublin Region Homeless Executive area, the households in receipt of the discretionary HAP comes in at approximately 62%, and the average rate of discretion is at 25.5%. Excluding the Dublin Region Homeless Executive area, the average household in receipt of the discretionary rate is 56%, with an average rate of discretion of 19.4%. The increases in the discretionary HAP have been effective. It is impo…

Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to his constituency in Dún Laoghaire. It is one of the local authorities, across all the local authorities, with the highest use of the discretionary HAP. We are still approving 680 HAP tenancies per month. We have committed to reducing reliance on HAP, as we have stated, and that relates to delivery of supply of social, affordable and cost-rental housing. Given the points made earlier by my colleague, the Minister, we are buying out 1,800 HAP tenancies with the use of the tenant in sit…

I attended the same meeting with representatives of the IFA, and I met representatives of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association yesterday as well. Farming here will not thrive without nature being restored, and we cannot restore nature without farmers. The Government is negotiating a position in the EU to develop a stance on the nature restoration regulation that will work for Irish farming. This aspect is only one small part of what is a significant regulation. We want to do our best for Irish farming. We …

The Deputy and I discussed the matter previously. I appreciate the challenges the new scheme is creating but it is a great opportunity. There was a meeting with Uisce Éireann and Killarney municipal district council on 24 April. There were discussions ongoing with Uisce Éireann on the matter. The Deputy has raised this Topical Issue matter in light of the Government decision last week. The Water Services Acts 2007-2020 set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éire…

I reiterate that the progress of individual wastewater treatment infrastructure such as that relating to Kilcummin is a matter for Uisce Éireann. Charging arrangements for customers is also a matter for Uisce Éireann.

For clarity, the temporary development contribution levy waiver was announced by the Government last week. It will apply for one year to permitted residential developments that commence from 25 April 2023. As I understand it, there have been a number of public consultation meetings in the area. There was a meeting with MDC members on 24 April. Uisce Éireann has set out the scheme with the local community.

We have been clear. I have spoken to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage about this matter. This scheme we are talking about is separate from the waiver scheme that was announced last week. The Kilcummin scheme is most welcome, as the Deputy said, for protecting the lakes of Killarney and providing adequate infrastructure for the community there. The meeting with the MDC members took place, and there have been public communication meetings with Uisce Éireann. We cannot do more than that at this …

I thank Senators Higgins, Ruane, Black and Flynn for bringing the Bill to the Seanad and to all of the Senators for their contributions. Before I speak specifically through my notes, I will respond to some of the points raised by Senators during the debate this evening. It is useful that we have had this debate. I would say at the outset that I value this Chamber. I am here often, as the Senators will be aware.

I find the level of debate and contributions to be consistently of a high standard here. My own experience of that important scrutiny element of the Seanad has been through the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023, to which Senator Higgins brought forward quite a number of amendments, and many of which we have accepted. They have strengthened that Bill. I stress that is tangible proof of the value of this House in terms of its oversight and scrutiny roles, and being the Upper House. We have established th…

A small number of housing estates nationally rely on developer-provided water services infrastructure, commonly referred to as DPI, for their water services. The infrastructure concerned mainly consists of wastewater treatment facilities, with a small number providing drinking water services for the estate. The majority of estates with DPI are legacy issues from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. The infrastructure was generally provided by the developer of the estate and is not connected to the public water network o…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo. The household benefits package comprises the electricity or gas allowance and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €285 million this year on the household benefits package for more than 510,000 customers and their households. The household benefits package is available to those aged 70 or over, regardless of means and household composition and subject to one package per household. It is also available as a supple…

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, and his Department have not been made aware of any deterioration in the situation regarding abandoned vehicles. However, the Minister and I are of the view that it is important that the enforcement bodies stay on top of this matter. The Senator highlighted a significant issue. We have seen considerable improvements in this area since the transposition of the end-of-life vehicle directive into Irish legislation in 2014 and the subsequent adoption …

If there are specific issues in relation to vehicles such as the number plate having been removed, there are other identifying factors on the vehicle, including the chassis numbers and so on. I believe, however, that 97% is a high level of compliance. It is way beyond the minimum requirement at EU level. The Department is very much on top of it and continues to monitor it. If there are issues specifically, the local authority also has a role. It is critically important they fulfil that role with regard to their dut…

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue. I understand that the Senator’s question concerns the new national fares strategy, as she has outlined, and particularly as it affects and pertains to her area of Newbridge in Kildare. I reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing a cost-efficient public transport sector, including affordable and accessible public transport services. The Senator mentioned affordable, accessible and transparent fares. That is exactly what we w…

Again, the Senator's efforts in highlighting this have been commendable. To support the objective of ensuring this equity, under budget 2023 some €563 million of funding has been secured for the PSO and Local Link services to provide State operators under contract by the NTA. This has been seen and felt right across the country. Funding was also provided for continuation of the 20% average fare reduction on PSO services and the young adult card on PSO and participating commercial services. As the Senator is aware, …

We were talking about this outside the Chamber earlier. I have family members who have classic cars - Renaults and Ford Anglias. It is something that I have great affection for. The move to E10 this year is one of several transport measures that will achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. Details of the move were set out in the Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement November 2021. The latter outlines the pathway to the achieve climate action plan targets and European obligations concerning …