I move amendment No. 8: In page 12, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Construction within a specified timeframe 16 . In line with a use it or lose it principle, development must begin construction within a specified timeframe after receiving planning permission. Penalties for non-compliance will include the withdrawal of permission for the development.” This relates to the proposal in the Bill to extend planning permission for an additional three years. This is problematic because it could lead to a …

I am very conscious of time. I want to support this amendment and reiterate the deep concern we have been highlighting around the speculative development that is happening. It is very clear to anyone who studies the real estate and property market that there are actors in it who are not just about building homes. A part of real estate development is accumulating sites and planning permission in order to sell that on. That is a part of the real estate market internationally and it is very problematic because it does…

In terms of the 18-month period, how will local authorities enforce that?

Hear, hear.

Child poverty has doubled.

Where is the evidence-----

Under Standing Order 35(3), I propose an amendment to the Order of Business for Thursday afternoon. The Minister for housing needs to come into the Dáil to answer questions-----

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for housing come into the Dáil for a debate and questions on apartment standards and future homes. They are going to have profoundly negative implications for generations to come, condemning generations to living in dark shoe boxes-----

It is going to lead to further delays. This is an absolute disaster; it is going to heap disaster upon disaster.

What?

We want to build affordable homes. The Government just wants to buy and build expensive apartments that no one can afford.

It said 40,000 homes. Is that what the Government is going to build - 40,000 homes?

Where are they?

There is so much out in-----

What is the smallest apartment the Minister of State has ever lived in? What was it like when he was living there? The idea that young people can slum it for a while in a dark small shoebox and build up to something better is deeply disturbing in many ways. The expectation is that young people and not-so-young people, people in their 20s, 30s, 40s or increasingly their 50s, will live in dark cramped shoeboxes. Those who are making this decision are not living in small apartments. They are likely to be living in hou…

The figures released by the HSE this week to my colleague, Deputy Quaide, reveal a truly shocking level of waiting times for essential primary care services for children. My constituency of Dublin North-West has recorded the longest waiting time in the country for psychology services for a child, with one waiting 706 weeks, or 13 and a half years, for psychological care. I cannot understand how a child whose parent probably contacted the HSE and was probably referred by a GP in need of psychological supports, be th…

I thank the Minister of State for that. I appreciate the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is responding by saying she will address this and take action. I am disappointed there was not a specific response to the constituency of Dublin North-West or the rationale for why that area in particular has such high lists. The Minister of State might take that back to the Minister to ask what specific interventions will be addressed for this in my constituency. Again, that length of time is truly shocking when …

I echo my colleagues' sentiments and statements on this. The people of Gaza do not have time left for this Government's dithering and delaying on the implementation of the occupied territories Bill. Seventeen thousand children have been murdered in Gaza by the Israeli genocidal regime. Right now, millions of people in Gaza are being starved to death. They are being shot and murdered while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families. Each day that passes while Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael drag their feet on…

The failure to implement key parts of the EPSEN Act shows that, while we remain a republic that has a proclamation that sets out to cherish all children equally, we are a republic of inequality when it comes to children with additional needs and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are not getting the education they have a constitutional right to and all the broad elements that requires. I am contacted by schools in my constituency that are facing severe difficulties with endless SET reviews, SNA reviews a…

The Minister will be well aware that he and his Department decided to withdraw funding for up to 500 social homes that were due to be delivered through public-private partnerships. Will he set out the rationale that underpins that decision and give detail on it? How many value for money assessments were undertaken before the final decision was made? Will he outline the measures to ensure the 3,000 social homes set to be delivered as PPPs will be delivered as social housing in the original timeframes?