Rory Hearne

In terms of the planning applications, we have seen a significant fall in applications. The figures are down over 21% annually, and apartments even further. What are the Minister's plans to address this? In particular, does it not show that the Minister's housing policy and Housing for All as a policy has not worked, that new measures are required and, in fact, that the reliance on institutional i…

I do not see the radical reset in the Minister's response that the Housing Commission called for and the Minister himself agreed was needed. We know the definition of insanity is continuing the same policy or same approach and expecting a different outcome. On the question about the planning and apartments, there is over-reliance on institutional investors. Institutional investors invest on the b…

The Minister is repeating the same tropes that the Taoiseach repeats that we have had no alternatives. If the Minister looked at our election manifesto, he is correct that we talked about using private investment but it is the particular type of private investment. The Taoiseach is also spinning this by saying we are against private investment. We are not against private investment in housing. Wha…

18. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reverse the decision to restrict eligibility and funding for the tenant in situ scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/25]

This question relates to the tenant in situ scheme, which we discussed last night. Will the Minister reconsider the framing and limitations he is putting on the scheme? While it is welcome that he is committing to continuing with the scheme, this will not actually involve a continuation of the scheme that has been in place because the new limitations will change the nature of it.

While I appreciate that the Minister is committing to continuing the scheme, will he provide the evidence to back up why he is targeting it? Why is it not being provided on a general basis in order to give local authorities the flexibility and funding to respond to whatever household is facing eviction or homelessness? Why does it have to be only families? Why is the Minister saying-----

I know, but prioritisation means local authorities will have to decide. Local authorities will have a certain budget and will be able to purchase properties and keep some people in their homes, but not others. We are in this system of prioritisation rather than a general ability to apply the scheme. That means restricting some local authorities in their ability to do it.

It is not true that the tenant in situ scheme is being continued as it was. There has been a change to it. In the context of the removal of the funding for refurbishment, will the Minister reconsider this and, in the context of the circular that is to be issued, allocate local authorities funding for refurbishment under the scheme?

It is my daughter's sixth birthday today. I think about the world and the Europe we are creating for her and all the children, living and those to come. It is incredible that the project of the European Union, which was supposed to be about peace and improving quality of life for the people living there, now appears to be about to become a project of war. This will not make Europe safer or improve…

I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this timely and vital motion. It is deeply disappointing to see that the Government is not supporting it and has put forward an amendment that will take away from the point of the motion. I am deeply annoyed and frustrated by this Government's failure to act on homelessness and to treat it like an emergency. A home is one of the most fundamental needs that p…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an group for bringing forward this motion. It is very important we focus on this issue. Similarly to my colleague, I also have differences with some of this motion. We need to understand why there is such frustration among the public regarding the issue of waste in public expenditure. It is because people are lacking basic access to services, especially access to appropriate …

Tá grúpaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta fud fad na tíre buartha faoi staid reatha na teanga. Is cinnte go bhfuil rudaí maithe ar nós Kneecap, "An Cailín Ciúin" agus eile ann ach níl ag éirí go maith leis an nGaeilge sa chóras oideachais. Tá crúachas ann i maoiniú na Gaeilge sa phobal agus tá fadhbanna an-mhór le tithíocht sa Ghaeltacht. There is a welcome flourishing of the Irish language in communities…

Thousands of children with disabilities up and down this country are waiting for vital services, therapies and school places. We have been raising their cases in the Dáil. I raised the case of Noah who is autistic and non-verbal, and of Jack who is six. Is it acceptable to the Tánaiste that children are left without services and school places? We know early intervention is key. Will the Tánaiste m…

Can you guarantee every child will have a place?

I wish the Minister and Minister of State the best of luck. It is going to be a tough job. All of us here know it is the most serious issue facing the country. I have described it as a social disaster and a social catastrophe. The Minister and Minister of State know it is too. I often speak very passionately and very emotionally and bring forward the cases and human reality of the crisis and I wil…

This issue relates to access to services for children with disabilities. The Government is utterly failing a generation of children with disabilities and their families. We can see this clearly in Dublin North-West, the area I represent. The children’s disability network teams, CDNTs, are under-resourced and there are unacceptable delays in assessments, with multi-year waiting lists for therapies.…

The response, while welcome, is inadequate. If we look at the situation facing these families, particularly the children, they cannot wait. They cannot be left waiting for months and years for access to basic services and assessments of need. Early intervention is absolutely key in this regard. These families are struggling. I have spoken to them and they have contacted me. I have met them during …

I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: - the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and former Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, repeatedly promised to deliver 40,000 homes last year but spectacularly failed, with just 30,330 homes delivered; - housing delivery is not just slowing down, it is reducing, with a drop in housing delivery of nearly 7 per cent between 2024 and 20…

Where were you this morning?

No, you were not here for the debate.

You came in at the very end.

I appreciate the Minister coming in for the last ten minutes of the debate. I look forward to hearing from him the reason he was not here earlier. I believe, in all fairness, that it is disrespectful for the Minister to claim he was present for a debate when he arrived in at the very end. It is indicative of a Government that is unwilling to listen to new ideas. When this country was dirt poor, t…

Ballymun has a strong proud community that I am honoured to represent but it faces major challenges resulting from decades of State underinvestment and persistent inequalities. Despite national economic growth, between 2016 and 2022, the number of areas in extreme disadvantage in Ballymun actually increased. The Taoiseach visited the area. The State promised to support the Ballymun Implementation …

Yes. Where is the €2 million that was promised? Will the Minister for Justice meet the board? Will recommendations for a multidisciplinary team in Ballymun and for additional gardaí be rolled out?

I thank the Labour Party for tabling this motion. The empty Government benches are indicative of the Government's lack of seriousness in dealing with the housing issue and its lack of willingness to listen to new ideas. This Friday is St. Valentine's Day, and we all know who will be getting the flowers and chocolates from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The Valentine's card has gone to the investor fun…