Adult children living with their parents can apply for and be deemed to qualify for social housing support, subject to meeting the eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated social housing assessment regulations. Once qualified, such applicants are automatically placed on the relevant local authority waiting list. They do not need to move into the private rented sector to be placed on the list, so it is important to clarify that. Indeed, the summary …

I thank the Deputy. Again just to state, it is down to the constituent local authorities to deem the priorities for eligibility for social housing. They do that very effectively throughout the country, and that is critically important. The fact is adult children can be and are deemed to qualify for social housing support in the Deputy's county, County Louth. Some 355 households or 27% of those on the housing waiting list are adult children living with parents, so it is not an insignificant number. It is the priorit…

The issue is certainly not coming from a want in our Department. In terms of the schemes and capital acquisitions, I believe there will be 1,500 this year, and the Minister has given a commitment to pushing that forward if the demand exists. Regarding the prioritisation of applicants in accordance with the local authority's allocation scheme, it is the reserved function of the elected members of a local authority to make those priorities in accordance with the Housing Act. That is critically important.

I appreciate the point the Deputy makes but the critical point is that the responsibility lies with individual local authorities. The schemes, supports and certainly the funding are in place but local authorities need to be proactive in this regard.

My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 wind energy development guidelines, which the Deputy referenced. The review is addressing a number of key aspects, including noise, set-back distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. I am aware there are a great many applications throughout the country. Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communica…

I stress that, whatever the project, be it a wind energy project or any development, it is critically important and there is a need for the proposers of a project to engage in a meaningful way. There is an obligation to do so under the public participation directive in the Aarhaus Convention. It is important to stress that it is no longer good enough just to drop leaflets in letterboxes. It is important to engage through public meetings and public events at the preplanning stage. Certainly, to my understanding, the…

While I will not go into the specifics of any application, the three Ministers here are in full agreement that it is unacceptable that there is this lack of engagement. It is critically important, and I will stress this again, that engagement is meaningful, timely, done at preplanning stage and in a way that is participative and inclusive. Any proposer of any project needs to adhere to this. I will say as a general point that proposers on any project need to ensure they are in full compliance with the Aarhaus Conve…

Housing for All is the Government's housing plan to 2030. The aim is to deliver an average of 33,000 new homes a year over the lifetime of this plan. Objective 26.1 is to "Establish a working group to consider opportunities for transport-led development in major urban centres" comprising membership from my Department, the Department of Transport, the National Transport Authority and the Land Development Agency, LDA. In December 2021, my Department and the Department of Transport established a working group to consi…

I agree wholeheartedly. In preparation for today’s questions, I looked at the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, report into transport-orientated development and the need, throughout central and local government, to align it through the sustainable development goals, in particular those relating to sustainable cities and communities, the national planning framework and, as the Deputy noted, the role of the LDA in the Colbert Quarter. It is critical that we progress work relating to the other major urban ce…

Again, I agree wholeheartedly. The Department has invested significant moneys from the URDF in the Opera site in Limerick. This is not just about the large urban centres; it is also about smaller urban centres. Road projects and, perhaps, unsustainable projects in some locations will need to be reconsidered. The NESC research is clear. It states that we must build on the vision set out in Project Ireland 2040 in order to maximise the number of homes, jobs, services and amenities close to nodes at which frequent and…

I also start with best wishes for International Women's Day. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I know from my own county that this is a hugely beneficial grant scheme. I recognise the challenges raised by the Senator, particularly as construction costs continue to rise. My Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for thei…

Cuirim fáilte rompu; it is great to have them here. Listening carefully to the points the Senator made, I know from my local authority that these grants are transformative. They improve the quality of life of older people and the critical thing is to keep people living in their homes for longer and in an independent way. That is why the grants have been hugely impactful in the ten years since this grant was brought in. Given the benefits this scheme provides to people who rely on them to continue to live their live…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist seo a ardú. First, planning authorities are required to have a policy on taking in charge within their respective functional areas in accordance with planning circular PD 1/08, which was issued by my Department on 26 February 2008. Second, the legislative process for the taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities is set out in section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The prescribed process in this regard applies to residential de…

I am taking the question on behalf of my Department so I am the appropriate Minister of State. The question specifically related to taking in charge and the taking in charge process. I am not sure whether Senator Gallagher mentioned issues with Uisce Éireann in a supplementary to that. In that regard and by way of reassurance, I will meet with Uisce Éireann representatives in a few weeks, when I can bring this issue up. Our Department can also raise the matter. Uisce Éireann's operational matters are its own priori…

I join with the Deputy in praising the MAB service. We cannot do that enough. The work that organisation does across the country is critically important for families in challenging financial situations. Abhaile is the national State-funded mortgage arrears resolution service that provides expert financial and legal advice and assistance to borrowers in home mortgage arrears, with the aim to identify, and put into place, solutions to those arrears that will, wherever possible, enable the borrower to remain in their …

The Ministers for Social Protection and Justice were pleased to announce in November 2022 that the Government agreed to an extension of the Abhaile service for one year until 31 December 2023, having regard to emerging findings from the strategic review of Abhaile, which is expected to be completed shortly. This extension allows, in accordance with the commitment in the programme for Government, continued access to the important Abhaile services for households in long-term serious mortgage arrears. The findings of …

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue today and giving me an opportunity to outline the position in respect to Uisce Éireann’s responsibility on this issue. The Water Services Acts 2007-20 set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann and for the scrutiny and oversight provisions that apply in respect of these arrangements. As the Deputy will understand, the provision of wastewater services in County Kerry is a matter for Uisce Éireann in the first instance.…

I remind the Deputy that the progression of individual wastewater infrastructure is a matter for Uisce Éireann. There are dedicated lines for us to make those representations. The scope of the Kilcummin sewerage scheme included the installation of a sewer network and the construction of a pumping station. The scope did not include the provision of wastewater connections to residents in the area along the route of the wastewater network. As Uisce Éireann is a regulated utility under the Commission for Regulation of …

It is a fair point.

I thank the Deputy. I will outline the general issues around invasive species. What the Deputy has highlighted is a serious imbalance in nature in general across the country because of habitats, invasive species and other challenges. It is an important issue. Our Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. In addi…