I thank Senators Garvey and Byrne for raising this important issue and doing it so well and speaking so eloquently on behalf of the communities they represent. I am very familiar with some of the places listed, as someone from as a neighbouring county in a beautiful part of the country. From the programme for Government point of view, it is vitally important that this is a core element of our town centres first policy. If we are serious about balanced regional development and our smaller towns and villages, water a…

That is a very constructive proposal. We are certainly more than happy to have a wider debate on this issue. It would be very useful. What I have outlined this morning are the overarching objectives of Irish Water and the Government as regards front-loading funding. It might be useful to go into more detail about specific programmes and plans for smaller towns and villages, and as Senator Garvey said, particularly in relation to rural group water schemes and the management and treatment of septic tanks. I am more t…

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It concerns a part of the country that I am familiar with, having holidayed there again this year. My family and I love that part of Ireland and once the restrictions were lifted, we were lucky enough to get to that beautiful part of county Cork. I want to offer our sympathies to all of the families and businesses that were affected by the flooding in county Cork. It is something that I experienced in Kilkenny, when it used to flood before the flood scheme was implemented…

I take on board the concerns of the Deputy and will take the points he raised back to the Department and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, who has responsibility for local government. It is important that the Government is securing a package for local government that specifically relates to Covid and the non-rates element. We are attempting to ensure that local government is secure and viable into the future. These are specific items relating to the roads programme and an additional emergency…

I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the Second Stage debate on the Electoral (Civil Society Freedom) (Amendment) Bill 2019. I thank Senator Ruane for bringing the Bill forward which enables us to debate and consider the relevant issues around the definition of "political purposes" as set out in electoral law. I would also like to commend the Civil Engagement Group on its work on the matter, as well as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, with which I have engaged in recent weeks. Like many Memb…

The Government is focused on ensuring that affordable and high quality housing solutions are available to everyone in society. This is clearly reflected in the programme for Government, Our Shared Future, which confirms our view that home ownership should be a realistic aspiration for people. Everyone should have access to good-quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price in connected and sustainable communities. I reiterate that the priority of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is to bring forwar…

I assure the Deputy that we are looking at a total of 875 units between social and affordable housing. We have reiterated our commitment to progress this site and we are ready to work with all key stakeholders towards social and affordable housing delivery objectives so I share the Deputy's aspirations in that regard. As a Government, we will, in parallel with these impact measures, drive structural reform and supply side measures in the way we deliver housing. Over the medium term, this will result in a far greate…

I thank Deputy Ó Broin and Sinn Féin for bringing forward this Bill. It is important. We have had a good debate. It is useful and the Government fully recognises the sentiment and intent of the Bill, albeit that there are unintended consequences which is why the Government will not be supporting it. Before I sum up, I will refer to a number of points that have been raised. We need a more robust means of resolving the valid issues that have been raised. A broader debate at the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local …

I believe we have completed that. Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. A consistent regulatory approach through the country is essential to provide clarity to both public and private investment and to progress construction and development projects through the planning system. The Bill also seeks to repeal by deletion, specified sections on the build-to-rent and shared accommodation sections of the apartment guidelines for planning authorities and is in direct conflict with the statutory role of a Minister to …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is one of serious local concern, as he quite rightly pointed out. Certainly it needs resolution. The Deputy appreciates that the operation of the Galtee regional water supply scheme is a matter for Irish Water, which, since 1 January 2014, has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. In turn, the Environmental Protection Agency, as environmental regulator, is responsible for set…

The Deputy certainly has my commitment in that regard. He is absolutely correct that it is frustrating, particularly in the depths of a pandemic, that people would have to accept what he outlined. One of the basic components of the sustainable development goals relates to clean water and sanitation, and it is a basic necessity that we provide that. Irish Water's primary functions are to provide clean and safe drinking water for customers, to treat wastewater and to return water safely to the environment. In providi…

Today's announcement of almost €96 million, an overall increase of 51%, recognises the vital role played by our natural and built heritage in supporting the physical and mental well-being of the nation and in realising many of the commitments set out in the programme for Government. The €95.95 million announced today will support an accelerated programme of conservation health and safety visitor and infrastructure projects across the 87,000 ha national parks and reserves network and leverage support for rural emplo…

I thank Deputy Carthy for bringing this matter up today. He is correct in saying that this issue was discussed as a Topical Issue matter on 16 July, when Deputies Carthy and Clarke raised this subject. It is good for us to be able to discuss it again today. I will update the House on the background to this issue. As I indicated in July, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, AEWA, was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Ireland signed up to the agreement in 2…

As the Deputy said, I met representatives of the NARGC. It was after the vote on 3 September. I had a constructive meeting with them. There were difficulties but it was constructive. I recognise the conservation efforts and work that council members do around the country, including on grey partridge and other projects. They do fantastic work in that regard. As a general principle, I am fully supportive of the proposals that led to the ban on the use of lead shot in and around wetlands, given the threats posed by le…

It is a great privilege to make my first address to Seanad Éireann in reply to Senator Boyhan. He and I go back a long way in politics. I congratulate Senator Mark Daly on his election as Cathaoirleach. It is a great honour for the Senator and his family and recognises his long and dedicated work in Seanad Éireann. I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue, on which he and I have engaged on numerous occasions. This morning I was chairing the inter-agency group on the Drumkeeran landslide, which addres…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for presenting such a poignant case in relation to Sophia and her family. As the matter stands, new buildings and extensions of material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the building regulations of 1997 to 2019. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010 and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M - Access and Use 2010, which came into effect on 1 January 2012,…

The Deputy has our commitment that we will look at setting up a departmental working group for this matter, which I think is the next logical step. I agree with the Deputy. There are 187 such facilities in Scotland, as far as I am aware, and 1,300 across the UK. As the Deputy mentioned, there are more mandatory guidelines in place in those jurisdictions. The accompanying technical guidance document to Part M of the building regulations, dealing with its access and use, came into effect on 1 January 2012. It sets ou…

I thank Deputy Andrews for raising this question and speaking so eloquently on it. The regular management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each relevant local authority and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to its housing stock from within its own resources. However, my Department also supports local authorities in improving their social housing stock through a range of programmes, including energy retrofitting, regeneration and refurbishment works t…

I agree with the Deputy wholeheartedly. The community development and regeneration aspects have to go hand in hand with redevelopment projects. The Department is working closely with all local authorities on increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports. It is fully committed to working with Dublin City Council on progressing the regeneration proposals in the inner city. The Department has worked consistently with the council in support of the latter's efforts to adva…

I thank Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan for raising this matter and the issue of Belgooly. It certainly is a concern locally but a concern to us all nationally also. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation of Carrigrennan wastewater treatment plant is a matter for Irish Water. In turn, the Environmental Protection Agency,EPA, as the environmental regulator, is responsible for setting quality standards and enforcing compliance with EU directives and national regulations for wastewater discharges. Since 1 January 201…