I thank Deputy Ó Broin for bringing forward this Bill. I agree with Deputy Michael Healy-Rae that Deputy Ó Broin consistently brings forward legislation that at least sparks a debate and is very much trying to contribute positively towards this very important issue. For this reason, the Government will not be opposing this Bill. I might try to just address some of the points raised by Members before I sum up. I refer to that last point raised by Deputies Healy-Rae. What the Government is proposing around the legisl…

I thought I had written a reply to the Deputy. We will endeavour to get the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill back on the Order Paper. It fell with the last Dáil but it is ready to go and we would like to get it through the Houses.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak today on my strategic action plan for the renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and to hear the contributions of Deputies from across the House on this vital subject. In 2019, Ireland became one of the first countries to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency. Many countries have since taken similar steps to acknowledge the systematic environmental, social and economic threats that humanity faces. Ireland is one of the only countries in the world to…

Tá sé agam.

Yes.

We will make it available.

I thank the Senator for her Commencement matter. I also thank her for the positive interactions and work that she has done on this issue over many years. I say that because not all of the contributions towards Moore Street have been entirely positive. We want to progress this project and I appreciate the leadership that she has consistently shown concerning a national monument at Moore Street. Shortly after I was appointed I visited the monument at 14 to 17 Moore Street. Having been allowed entry into the buildings…

I would certainly take the Senator up on that invitation. It is an area of the city that is, as she said, hugely important not only historically but also culturally, given the new communities that are part of inner city Dublin now. It is critical to traders and everybody else involved to have that certainty. I can say with certainty from our perspective in respect of the national monument and the work on which we are engaging with the OPW that we will be in a position to move very soon on that. I cannot give a spec…

I am pleased to address the Seanad on the Regulation of Display of Electoral and Polling Posters and Other Advertisements Bill 2022. I thank Senator Pauline O'Reilly for bringing the Bill forward. It has been a useful debate. It has been good to have such a debate outside the context of an electoral event. Usually we have these discussions when an electoral event comes up. It is very important to have a discussion now. At the outset, I will give feedback on some of the contributions that Senators have made. Senator…

I welcome the pupils to the Visitors Gallery. It is always fantastic when students come to the Houses and see how our democracy works, so they are very welcome. A key priority for the Government is that everybody should have access to sustainable, good-quality housing for purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard, located close to essential services and offering a high quality of life. The Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 units per year over the next…

I thank the Senator and commend him on consistently raising this issue in the House, which has been important. There was a debate last night in the Dáil on housing affordability, at which one side of the House argued we were subsidising too much for the construction sector while others maintained we were not doing enough. The Government is trying to strike a balance and that is what we have done here. We have acted swiftly given global events that have been outside our control, with construction costs increasing ev…

I support all the Senator's comments on the historic regeneration of Castlebar town under our town centre first policy. It is critical that we support projects like this and it is what the funding is doing. It is a similar case with Castlebar Military Barracks. The Senator had a military career in those barracks. I was born in James Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny and I grew up on the campus there. I am aware of the immense cultural and heritage value of these barracks and what they mean to local communities in parti…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator's final comment. It is critical for the Department to engage in such a way. I will revert to the Senator with a response on that. Appropriate cost control is important, given the inflationary pressures, which were mentioned in the previous Commencement matter as well. We are in exceptional times and it requires a high level of engagement between our Department, the local authority and other local authorities on this. We commit to that engagement. The Senator made a point on t…

Regarding the point raised by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan concerning carbon budgets, all developments are now covered by building regulations and energy standards. We had two contributions that said we are giving too much to developers, while others said we are not giving enough. The LIHAF scheme is important in frontloading infrastructure. Deputy Verona Murphy made disgraceful comments regarding wasting energy pursuing a climate agenda. This is a reminder that this issue is about our common home as well. In closing, I…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. The increase in homelessness seen in recent months is of serious concern to the Government and we are acting to address it. While significant work has been done, there is still considerably more work to be done. There are a myriad of reasons for the increase, including landlords leaving the market, which I think the Minister referred to, and HAP availability decreasing. There are a significant number of challenges that we are attempting to address. Contrary to what is …

I have researched the operation of the policy in Cork City Council and Cork County Council. They have advised that if persons present with a notice to quit, they will engage immediately. The notice to quit will be sent to Threshold for verification. Once that is validated, Cork City Council or Cork County Council will support the tenant with services such as HAP place finder. If a tenant is in arrears, Cork local authorities may refer to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, and explore if a hardship clause…

There should be a standardised approach. Our Department funds Threshold, so if the Deputy and clients are not finding this to be the case on the ground, it should be the case. They should have that support immediately, and in advance if they are at risk of homelessness or find themselves with a notice to quit. It is critical that all local authorities have that standardised approach.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is leading the initial humanitarian response, including providing immediate and short-term accommodation for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, my Department is focusing on the longer-term accommodation challenges and is leading cross-Government efforts through a housing task force established by the Government for this purpose. All accommodation and housing options are being examined by the task force. These i…

The Deputy makes valid and useful points. The task force that the Government has set up, which will meet next week, and the response immediately is being led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth but all Departments are playing a significant role in that regard. The issue of holiday homes is being considered and the subcommittee will look at that as well. I suppose what we are in is a unique situation unprecedented in our time. We have always had issues with refugees in this cou…

Specifically in relation to State land, "No" is the answer. We will be using the emergency provisions of section 181(2) of the Planning and Development Act to deliver that because this is a crisis situation. We are exploring other potential planning regulations which may allow for a range of developments to provide accommodation for Ukrainian refugees without the need for planning permission where they are required to meet the State's obligation under the EU Council Directive 2001/55 relating to the provision of te…