I welcome the comments by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, on this important legislation and note his remarks on the need to put citizens at the heart of the process and ensure we meet our climate action goals, in a way that does not undermine our environmental protection obligations. That is exactly what the Government is doing. I strongly disagree with the narrative being put forward that the requirements of the offshore renewable sector are somehow being put ahead of marine biodiversity protect…

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 fully take on board the points regarding the fiscal opportunity. This will be the largest investment in the history of the State in terms of capital spend on housing and it is a significant move by the Minister and the Department. I note the points about outgoing and new development plans and the fiscal opportunities. Those opportunities for local authorities will still exist through their annual capital programmes and departmental funding, and that is important. The Senator raised significant points regarding th…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist seo a ardú. The Government published a policy paper, Irish Water - Towards a National Publicly-Owned Regulated Water Services Utility, in February which sets out its views and expectations on the next phase of transformation in the water sector. This will involve the integration of the public water system within the organisational structure of Irish Water. This will complete the broad policy and legislative reforms that have seen public water services embark on a jour…

I wish to reassure the Senator on the matter. I wholeheartedly concur with his comments in respect of water services staff and local authorities. They provide an exceptional level of service to communities. They are constantly on call winter and summer, as well as during emergencies throughout the year. We must and do give due regard to that wonderful level of service. We want to achieve a transition towards Irish Water with which they will be happy and such that they will be satisfied that they are being taken car…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. The Department of Social Protection, through its Intreo service, provides a range of employment supports to assist individuals, including women returning to work, to gain and sustain employment. Intreo's teams of case officers and job coaches across the country provide a one-to-one career advice service and tailored employment supports for all jobseekers, including those who wish to return to work. These s…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator. I know from experience that many women who started off in community employment schemes in family resource centres, FRCs, or community development projects, were able to move on through additional training or returning to education to fantastic careers and could offer something valuable back to their communities. It is vitally important that we offer those supports through the Pathways to Work strategy, for women in particular, to ensure they have a viable path forward. The c…

I thank all Deputies for their contributions. I am grateful for the opportunity to close the debate for the Government on Sinn Féin's Ban on Rent Increases Bill 2021. I have listened intently to the contributions of Deputies since my arrival in the Chamber. As the Minister outlined, the Government is submitting a timed amendment to this Bill and we will consider it again on Second Stage in 12 months' time when the impact of the new RPZ rent increase restriction provided in the Government's Residential Tenancies (No…

I was here for the first Seanad Commencement matter this morning on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I am here in the Dáil for the last matter this evening on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, as well. I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this issue. I certainly recall that, during my time on Kilkenny County Council, the local improvement scheme was a hugely popular scheme and was always oversubscribed. There is no doubt it is a challenge to try to clear that list, as the Deputy said. The local i…

The points about access for services and especially ambulances are important. There has been a 5% increase in the allocation for this year. Approximately 350 projects are expected to be completed this year. That is a significant step forward and we need to ramp that up significantly. I appreciate the points. I will be happy to take the matter to my colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, especially the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, and to discuss the matter with the Minister, Depu…

I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this issue. I share his concerns and his interest in the Aarhus Convention and public participation in general. I am glad of the opportunity to update Senators on the reform of the judicial review provisions in the Planning and Development Act and the related matter of the proposed establishment of the environmental and planning court, both of which are important commitments in Programme for Government: Our Shared Future. The general scheme of the Housing and Planning and Developm…

I have just been handed a copy of the article in question. In the early stages of the Aarhus Convention being brought into effect in Irish law, I was one of several people who took a case seeking a not prohibitively expensive order to protect us from legal costs given that we were community activists at the time. It is important that communities, individuals and environmental organisations have the right to take legal proceedings without being unduly affected. That is what the Aarhus Convention is about. It is abou…

I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for giving me the opportunity to discuss this. I am familiar with Tramore. We go there for our weekly supplies of Dooly's chips. As Members will be aware, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding related to public transport. However, the Minister is not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services as this falls under the remit of the National Transport Authority in conjunction with the relevant public transport operators, which is …

The Deputy is correct that I cannot answer the question because it is not my Department and it is not my remit, so I am relaying a scripted response on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I am more than happy to take the issues back to the Department of Transport. There is a commitment in the notes that the CEO of Bus Éireann, Stephen Kent, is happy to discuss the matter directly with the Deputy and with other Deputies who have raised this. The issue of the delivery of some Waterford services was raised by a numb…

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. I did not see the report but I am shocked at what I have heard. These are certainly unacceptable conditions for people to be living in. At the very least, people should expect a basic minimum decent standard of living and a decent standard of quality housing in 21st century Ireland. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. Our Department is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid d…

I apologise to the Deputy for not having read the report. I was at meetings all afternoon when I received this question. I apologise for that but I will read the report. I give the Deputy my commitment that I will work with our Department, and with the Minister, to try to advance the regeneration of Oliver Bond House. I give my commitment on that and I will try to expedite matters with Dublin City Council. On the legislation on the EU charter on the rights of tenants, again, I will get a response for the Deputy on …

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir. I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue. I am pleased to announce that after three years of negotiation, a final political agreement on the main elements of the next Common Agricultural Policy was agreed by the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg yesterday. This has been a long and challenging negotiation. The overall agreement will provide member states with flexibility to take account of national circumstances as they implement the new Common Agricultural Poli…

I confirm to Senator Kyne that the discussions that have been ongoing between our agri-ecology unit in the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been positive in designing a CAP strategic plan that is fit for purpose for nature and for people, because this is ultimately about the needs of people and of farming communities. I have had positive engagement with the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, most recently during a visit to Connemara. There is ac…

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for the opportunity to provide an update on the midlands retrofit pilot programme, which is a Government initiative under the just transition programme. The midlands retrofit pilot project is an important part of the just transition programme, which needs to be facilitated in the context of Bord na Móna's exit from peat and the direct impact that is having on the midlands. The counties that were most affected by reductions in peat harvesting were included in the progra…

As I stated, all the decisions relating to the selection of homes and for the programme of works to be completed are a matter for the local authority, in this case, Kildare County Council. I have stated that the replacement of windows and doors, airtightness and the taping of sealant to windows is part of the programme. The issue needs to be resolved between my Department and Kildare County Council. It is our objective to achieve the maximum level of participation possible if we are to meet our climate targets and …