I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 67 together. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste seo. Increasing housing supply and addressing homelessness is a priority for the Government and we will continue to support all local authorities, including Galway City Council and Galway County Council, to deliver on this agenda. Housing For All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures up to 2030. In September 2021, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, issued social housing targets…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú inniu. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan. The Senator has raised a number of questions. I wholeheartedly agree with him regarding the value of Gaelscoileanna. My children are being educated in Gaelscoil Osraí in Kilkenny, which started off in a prefabricated building and now has more than 500 pupils. It is a hugely successful school and does a fantastic job of passing on our langu…

I assure the Senator that the thrust of the response the Minister of State has provided is that she wants to ensure the provision of additional resources to students with special educational needs extends to Gaelscoileanna in an equitable way. I will discuss with her the additional resources he is requesting, as I am sure he also will do. The Senator also raised the issue of capital expenditure and the new campus to which he referred, which is critically important. As I said, looking at the expansion of Gaelscoil O…

Gabhaim buíochas leis on Seanadóir as ucht an cheist seo a ardú. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Senator made a good case for small enterprises in County Monaghan. Such SMEs are just as critical to our economy as the multinationals. They provide employment for small numbers of people - five to ten employees - and this has a positive knock-on effect on families, employability and rural development in their areas. The Senator also rais…

I will speak to the Minister about that. It would be useful for him to see the situation at first hand. The LIS is a useful scheme but, as I have seen across the country, including in my own county, it is virtually impossible to clear the backlog. It is huge. However, the point is well made that it is supporting many small enterprises in rural areas that are critically important to the rural economy. It is important that solutions are found at a local level. Again, the responsibility is down to the local authority.…

It is good to get a question relating to my Department. I will set out the vision of Ireland's national peatlands strategy, which is "to provide a long-term framework within which all of the peatlands within the State can be managed responsibly in order to optimise their social, environmental and economic contribution to the well-being of this and future generations". The strategy sets out a cross-governmental approach to managing issues that relate to peatlands, including compliance with relevant national and inte…

I reassure the Senator that any proposed development on peatlands would be subject to a planning process and environmental assessment, as I noted in my opening statement. This is a matter for Bord na Móna, which is a semi-State company. Our involvement is through the national peatlands strategy. The ultimate goal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is to achieve the maximum value of biodiversity for Ireland. We have major objectives as regards nature under the next national biodiversity action plan. The spec…

I join the Acting Chairman in welcoming our guests from St. Joseph's College, Lucan. It is important that young people get to see our democracy in action. I thank them for being with us. The RTB was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2021 to operate a national tenancy registration system and facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. The RTB is quasi-judicial and its mediators, adjudicators and tribunal members have independent decisio…

The figures the Senator is seeking would be useful. I can go back to the Department and look for them. I am sure all those data and figures are available and that they would be useful to Members. I will ask the Department to provide them via the RTB, which might be useful. The additional resources that have been provided, given the enhanced functions of the RTB, are substantial. It may take considerable time to see the impact of those resources, given the complexity of the issues between tenants and landlords and t…

Like the Senator, I was in the Phoenix Park for the visit of the Pope in 1979 and still have fond memories of it. The Senator has outlined the challenges facing this hugely popular resource for the people of Dublin. It is one of the largest public parks in Europe, as far as I am aware. It is important that the park should be a living, breathing space for everyone, and for all other species, including exotic species, that occupy the park. It is critical that we get this right. I am responding on behalf of my colleag…

I again welcome the visitors in the Public Gallery. I did not respond to the issue the Senator raised around the shuttle bus. We have implemented similar schemes in Glenveagh National Park, and we are looking at this because there are increased visitor numbers across our parks. The National Transport Authority is reviewing bus options for a pilot bus route linking the Phoenix Park to Heuston and Broombridge stations. That might be an option. The Minister and the Office of Public Works are deeply committed to ensuri…

No.

She is. I think we have the Minister of State with responsibility for this matter in the Chamber.

I have a lot to learn too. It is certainly appropriate that Deputy Durkan made the last contribution of the very important contributions this afternoon and in the last session. I will address a number of the points made and will then make a closing speech. Deputy Connolly referred to the importance of data protection and acknowledged that data protection must be given the highest priority in our work in respect of electoral registration. A data protection impact assessment has been carried out and consultation with…

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 offer the Acting Chairman best wishes with her chairmanship. Well done. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for raising this issue. I acknowledge the difficulties the residents of the Metropolitan apartment complex are facing and the stress that is caused when fire safety issues arise in regard to their buildings. Local authorities have powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. They work with management companies and othe…

I assure the Deputy and the House of this Government's commitment in respect of the important policy area of building defects, which is reflected both in the programme for Government and in Housing for All. This Government is committed to dealing with the issue of defects in housing. In this regard, we will continue to drive regulation in the construction sector and more sustainable methods of construction to ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated. I am of the view that the issues in addressing defects in…

On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. It is agreed that it is a key priority for the Minister and the Department and a vital sector for the Irish economy. Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but the Minister is acutely aware of the unprecedented set of challenges, as outlined by the Deputy, they are facing at present. The Minister has been in regular and close engagement with all stakeholders on this matter over recent weeks. The Department is …

To address the specific issue of the IFA's proposal for a pig stability fund, this is being considered by the Department in conjunction with key stakeholders. It is being requested that a €100 million fund be made available to pig farmers by the Department, with €50 million to be repaid over a 14-year term through a statutory levy on pigs slaughtered or exported live. This proposal would have significant Exchequer implications as well as State aid implications regarding the Exchequer funding element and at a statut…

It is a very important issue and probably reflective of the many skills that are coming into Ireland with the Ukrainian families who have arrived here in recent weeks. It is important that we support them in finding employment. It is critically important, particularly when there are deficits in our health services around recruitment. Officials from the Department of Health are working closely with colleagues in the Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI, to examine ways to support Ukra…