The decision by Government to return the Part V obligation to 20% was the right decision. It ensures that we will have a good mix of tenure in our housing stock, which is absolutely critical. The second critical thing is the near-term delivery of housing supply. In that regard, we have done the right thing. On affordable housing delivery in Limerick, funding of €1.875 million was recently approved for 25 affordable purchase homes at Brú Na Gruadán, Castletroy, with Limerick City and County Council advising that it …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 18, 24, 30, 59, 61 and 71 together. I am aware that some of the Deputies are not here. Housing For All was published in September 2021 and, as part of a broad suite of social housing reforms, committed to reviewing income eligibility for social housing. The review, which examined inter alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, has been completed. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, recently approved implementation of its recomme…

We are hearing the Deputies loud and clear. All of the Deputies made their points very well. Some Deputies were not here earlier when the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, was responding to Deputy Naughten. We will do our level best to have that report ready before the year's end. The Minister has stated he is not happy and that he wants to resolve this. He is of the view that the Housing Agency is best placed to deliver this report. He has given a commitment that changes will be brought to Cabinet to resolve this once and…

I am honoured today to announce programme funding of €147.5 million for the heritage sector for 2023, plus €7.5 million through the share island fund, giving a total of €155 million. This figure represents a doubling of the 2020 allocation, with overall capital funding increased by more than 80% and current funding increased by 75%. Such significant investment speaks strongly and eloquently to the commitment of the Government, including the Minister and me, to the built and natural heritage sector. While maintainin…

I thank both Senators for raising this issue. Both are correct in the sense that the initiative has been very transformative and positive. It has been very well received. The numbers speak for themselves in terms of both climate action and reducing costs for students. I understand that the Senators' questions concern plans that the Minister may have to expand the young adult card and student Leap card fare initiative to include all students attending third level education so they can avail of the 50% fare discount …

It is a day of good news all around Leinster House today. It is a welcome development that the eligibility requirements for the scheme are being expanded to allow 16-, 17- and 18-year-old students in third level education to apply for the student Leap card so they can also avail of the 50% discount. I am pleased to be able to reassure Senators Gallagher and Wall that the NTA has already commenced the technical work on expanding the scheme. I am advised that this work is scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks…

I agree wholeheartedly with all Senator Boylan has said in the sense that we know the divisiveness of advertising in general by companies that are environmentally destructive. As for attempts to compare advertising of tobacco, fast food, gambling and alcohol, they are distinctly different but similar in many ways. I will not name companies but we have seen that one company was able to rebrand itself as Beyond Petroleum for many years. I have seen the videos the Senator spoke about and they are excellent. I welcome …

As a positive way forward, I support the thrust of the Senator's proposal. One way forward might be to bring the matter before the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment for discussion as well as before the Joint Committee on Climate Action. It would be worthwhile to discuss the impact of such advertising and how we could meet that challenge in an Irish context. Good work has been done in recent years on restricting gambling advertising and advertising in respect of alcohol, and the harm that is doing.…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am happy to have the opportunity to outline before the Dáil the Tailte Éireann Bill 2022. The purpose of this Bill is to provide for the merger of the Valuation Office, the Property Registration Authority, PRA, and Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, through the establishment of a new body, to be called Tailte Éireann. Tailte Éireann will be a body corporate with perpetual suc…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions and their support for the Bill. I will go through some of the contributions and respond to them before I make some concluding remarks. Deputy Gould raised the issue of staffing levels. I will not go into any details on that but I believe the staffing levels will be maintained. On increasing staffing, resources and the money-saving element, the Bill is not intended to do that. It is intended rather to achieve efficiency and a more streamlined approach. I believe all Membe…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I am happy to provide an update on the working group. I acknowledge the considerable challenges and stress this has placed on families. I acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in their buildings. The Deputy will be aware that there have been many incidents of failures and non-compliance concerns coming to light in apartment buildings built during the building boom. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, …

Like the Deputy, I welcome the proposal from the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on the levy. In reference to defective concrete blocks, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, referred to the responsibility of industry regarding the costs of these remediation schemes. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, I thank the members of the working group for the work they undertook in preparing such a comprehensive report in a tight timeframe. I assure the House of the Minister's commitment to resolve these issues. Th…

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2022, and Planning and Development (Solar Safeguarding Zone) Regulations 2022, copies of which were laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 19th September, 2022, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not later than 4th October, 2022, shall send a message to the Dá…

I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I am aware that she has consistently raised it with my colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The Senator has described the trauma experienced by the residents. It is critically important that they have certainty. That is what we are attempting to provide. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and I acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners an…

I thank the Senator again for raising this important issue. The content of this report confirms what we already know, namely, that there is a significant and widespread issue with defects in a large number of apartments and duplexes built during the Celtic tiger years. On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I assure the Seanad of this Government's commitment to deal with the issue of defects in housing and to assist homeowners who may find themselves in difficult financi…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am happy to have the opportunity to outline the Bill before the Dáil. The purpose of the Bill is to separate Irish Water, also known as Uisce Éireann, from its parent company, Ervia, and establish it as a stand-alone national authority for water services. The Bill delivers on the programme for Government commitment to retain Irish Water in public ownership as a national …

I thank all the Members for their contributions. I feel like I have been managing the Irish Water hotline for the past three hours but I will try to respond to some of the issues. I will say specifically on operational issues and issues that have been raised by Deputies here this evening that those are matters for Irish Water. Members will be pleased to know that Irish Water has been invited to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 4 October to discuss issues arou…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

Before I read the reply, it is with regret that we are here again this evening. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his intervention in trying to get this forward. Like you, I want this matter resolved once and for all to give clarity to those landowners the Deputies talk about and to get this important Bill over the line. As the Deputies will be aware, the Bill was originally presented to the Oireachtas in 2016. The debate on the Bill in both Houses was very engaging, with a good discussion on extending its scope to p…