Micheál Martin

They are getting a lot more than one teacher now in DEIS plus.

Is this the house itself?

It has been providing accommodation under contract to the Department of justice since 2022 for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and people applying for international protection. A new contract commenced in April 2025 at this property to provide accommodation to people and families seeking international protection in Ireland. Then, a proper template must be completed and sent to the Department of …

Both towns are rapidly growing and we do, at all levels and in a co-ordinated way, have to deal with antisocial behaviour. A lot of investment has gone into sporting organisations. A lot of investment is going into community-based organisations with a view to providing alternative activities, services and opportunities for people and young people, in particular. Then, along with that, we are getti…

I thank the Deputy and pay tribute to him for the role he played in advancing this issue and the work he has done with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. This is an issue the Deputy has championed for quite some time, with Jason Poole and others. The Government approved the Domestic Violence (Judgments) Register Bill 2026 today. The Minister brought it to Cabinet. It will provid…

I will talk to the Minister for justice. Obviously, there is a capital programme for the refurbishment of courts. The Deputy is saying this is a derelict building and I presume it is still owned by the Department. Therefore, it, along with the local authority, should work to get this resolved.

The allocation of 20 new gardaí to the area is very good news and a manifestation of the progress we are making in recruiting more and more gardaí. The numbers applying to go into Templemore are in or around 200 now per term, so that is good news. I will engage with the Minister. It is primarily an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner but I will seek clarity on the background to what is h…

I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue for the people of Tipperary town and the surrounding district. I will again engage with Irish Water on the question. There has to be clarity of information for the people. At least if people know what is happening, there is some solace. Even if it means it is going to take some time to install a particular well or whatever is required, at least…

This is a very important issue to many people. People individually have to behave responsibly as well but this is the role of the CCPC. We have funded the organisation so this is something it needs to pursue to protect the consumer. We create bodies and authorities to regulate and to make sure things are done properly and the consumer is protected. The Deputy is raising this again with me. I will …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Thursday, 14 May. The committee will next meet on Monday, 29 June. The committee works to ensure a cross-government approach to the implementation of our commitments regarding housing policy. Housing supply has increased significantly over the past number of years and home completions data…

Did the Deputy say An Taisce?

I thank all the Deputies who raised numerous issues. Deputy McGrath raised qualifying limits and thresholds for social housing. I agree with what he said and a lot of working people, because of their income being just a bit above the income threshold, are not in a position to buy or get a mortgage or get a social house. I have spoken to the Minister for housing on this. He is actively considering …

Okay. It is good to see. He outlined that close to 1,000 houses have been built and now there is a further proposal for 600 houses. There is a lot happening on the housing front. We just need more and more of it and to keep the momentum going. Deputy O'Meara asked about one-off rural housing. I accept the basic principle that on your own land or in your own community we need people to have the ca…

I do not know. I do not know the background to this. I do not run every council or every subsidiary of every council, nor should I.

We delegate authority to local councils that are elected by the people in the given locality to get things done, but the Oireachtas pays lip service to that idea and notion.

They decide the subsidiary, I imagine.

Maybe things will get done there because, in regard to the councils on the other side, Dublin City Council had land for a long time - O'Devaney Gardens and you name it. Nothing happed there for a decade. We need people to get things moving and maybe the other side of this story, which I have not heard, is that people are anxious to get things moving here and that we could have 1,000 houses much fa…

Not for everybody, I presume.

I will have to examine that and see what the position of the council is in respect of that. In regard to Limerick-----

I am not running the council.

On another day, the Deputy would be attacking Government if we interfered in local authorities and local government. We need to make up our mind in the Oireachtas. Do we believe in a local authority system or not? Do we believe in delegating-----

Do we believe in delegating authority to them or not?

Deputies are paying lip service and playing both ways as it suits. I will come to the Deputy in regard to Limerick. Who was it?

I was going to say, "Get your act together there". We are providing the funding. We have asked the council to zone land. Is the Deputy saying the density is too low?

I cannot; it is a rhetorical question. We are anxious for it and we will work with the local authority to make progress here. We have provided substantial funding. We believe the councils, generally, should be rezoning more land to get more housing. In some places, density can be an issue, where apartment blocks may not be feasible or sustainable. I do not know which is which and in that case, tha…