And basking sharks.

I do, indeed, in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Heritage forms part of the direction on this.

I acknowledge all the work that Deputy Whitmore has done in this area. The Government will not oppose this Bill. The Deputy’s passion and concern for protecting basking sharks is very clear and indeed is shared by the Government. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, shares the Deputy’s desire for greater protections. He and the Department are supportive of measures to support and enhance that. The basking shark is the largest fish species in the north Atlantic with some exceptional specimens reaching…

As I stated, the work is at an advanced stage. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is recruiting an additional 120 rangers, which is double what was there in 2020. Therefore, there is a lot of good work ongoing in this space.

I apologise for being delayed. We were voting in the Dáil. I thank the Senator. This is a very important issue. It is a very distressing position for those she represents to be in, as she has quite rightly articulated. I have met a number of homeowners in my own constituency who are unfortunately faced with similar problems because of defects in properties delivered to them, defects that were no fault of their own. It is very frustrating. There are a number of such cases right around the country. In recognition of …

I take the Senator's point very seriously. In the first instance, we must capture exactly the extent of this issue right across the country and also in terms of the budget that will underpin what will be a significant remediation scheme. I would point to the many legacy issues with which we are still grappling post the previous decade and more, including that we are trying to establish the professional register for building contractors, which will assure people into the future of a standard of quality assurance in …

I thank the Deputy for his question. Applications for housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with the eligibility and needs criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated social housing assessment regulations. The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority in differing bands according to each area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy. Th…

I hear the points made by the Deputy. That is why the Department and Minister have initiated a review under Housing for All. It also includes the context of the wider global interventions we are making in housing from the record level of social housing construction to the affordability measures from direct purchase and shared equity and our new cost-rental model, which will be a game changer in terms of giving people secure tenure below market rental rates. All of those interventions have to be judged with this rev…

Housing for All is a very appropriate name because, in the context of a comprehensive societal approach, it is important that we have streams to have a record level of social, affordable and private housing. Many people in our society are unable to reach the threshold to get a mortgage. That is why we have a record level of affordable housing investment to meet that need. Housing for All is the most appropriate name for a document to capture society and respond to the needs of the demographic change in society I ca…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 87 together. Housing for All provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030, with an overall objective that citizens in the State should have access to good-quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations with economic, social and environmental sustainability built right into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives, together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion…

As Deputy Matthews rightly outlined, the Croí Cónaithe towns fund will be a game changer in terms of bringing derelict properties back into use, along with the other interventions in the system. There will be two strings to it. One string will involve looking at a reduced cost of self-build in terms of serviced sites, which is very important for the system, while the second will relate to the refurbishment of vacant properties. There is evidence to be seen around the country in respect of how many vacant properties…

I thank Deputy Cairns for her question. The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and here referred to as the Act, and the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2018 set out the statutory provisions relating to the taking in charge of housing estates by planning authorities and Irish Water where it is appropriate to do so. Section 180 of the Act sets out the process to be followed in relation to the taking in charge of housing estates where a development is considered to have been satisfactorily completed, as well a…

There is provision in the Act for housing estates that have not been taken in charge in terms of what action the residents can take to compel the local authority to commence the process. It is up to the local authority then to judge the development in terms of the completion to the prescribed planning permission. Over the past decade we had to respond to in excess of 3,000 ghost estates and put in key public infrastructure to underwrite them on foot of a significant recession in this country where the economy crash…

There are very robust mechanisms in place now to ensure the legacy of a decade ago-----

I would appreciate it if the Deputy would let me finish. I did not interrupt her. I said there are a number of mechanisms in place now to ensure this does not happen again. I mentioned that we had almost 3,000 ghost estates in this country, and we have changed the law to ensure that this does not happen again. There are mechanisms to ensure that developers have bonds in place that guarantee that planning permissions will be completed as prescribed. The local authority has the independence to hold them to account on…

The objective of the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas of high housing demand, adding to supply, a crucial factor in terms of moderating house prices. LIHAF projects often involve complex, large-scale public infrastructure developments which pave the way for associated housing developments. This requires extensive desig…

As I referenced, the Minister has engaged with Deputy Stanton and will continue to do so. The arms of the State have to work together to deliver key infrastructural projects such as this. It is not good enough in a housing crisis when we see the level of value for money that a project such as this can deliver to society. It has to progress. I have full confidence that negotiations will continue at pace.

I thank Senator Carrigy for raising this very important matter. I join him in acknowledging the great work our firefighters do. He has articulated how they are first responders and keep our communities safe. They do exceptional work. Last year I asked departmental officials to liaise with Longford County Council on this matter. The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station pr…

Along with the Senator, we will work hard to ensure the fire station is present on the capital plan because Ballymahon is a growing town. The Senator has cited its growing population and services such as the nursing home as well as the other businesses that have opened recently. We look forward to working to ensure the project is kept under review. I wish to be associated with and agree with the comments of the Senator about the leadership team of Longford County Council, which does excellent work.

I thank Deputies for contributing to this debate and the discussion of the rental sector. I look forward to the real changes that Housing for All will make for landlords and tenants alike. However, the motion generally addresses the RTB-ESRI rent index as published last week and calls for a number of actions from Government which have been debated numerous times in both Houses. The Government's countermotion outlines achievements to date and the plans that are in train through Housing for All. The Government's hous…