Kieran O'Donnell

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding early childhood care and education facilities, commercial rates and the role of Tailte Éireann in that regard. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. Tailte Éireann is an independent Government agency that provides …

I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to clarify the position regarding commercial rates liabilities for ECCE facilities and the role of Tailte Éireann in the matter. As I said earlier, I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. Tailte Éireann is independent in the exercise of its valuation functions under the Valuation…

St. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit, CNU, Mountmellick, County Laois, is a public nursing home that currently provides 56 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. Phase 1 of the current capital project at St. Vincent's is substantially complete and consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms, adjacent and linked to the existing facility. When complete, St. Vincent'…

I very much appreciate and welcome the Deputy's kind comments on what will be the new state-of-the-art building for residents. To put it in context, phase 1 of the St. Vincent's development is substantially completed, with the new unit currently being equipped. The HSE is committed to further development on the St. Vincent's campus. A scoping exercise is under way in conjunction with a local need…

I very much look forward to the opening of the new 58-bed community nursing unit for the people of Laois and Offaly. I met with the HSE yesterday about a number of community nursing home facilities. I raised a particular issue in respect of a second phase at St. Vincent's. I asked directly about the scoping exercise the HSE will do in respect of the existing building. I look forward to seeing Dep…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 156 together. My Department provides funding under the suite of housing adaptation grants for older people and disabled people to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. This suite of grants, which include the housing adaptation grant for disabled people, the mobility aids grant and the housing aid for olde…

By way of information and to be consistent, I will give Deputy Ó Murchú an indication of the funding for Louth. He did not ask this specifically, but I want it to be consistent with the information for Sligo. During 2025, my Department considered and approved an additional funding allocation of €150,000 for Louth County Council, bringing its total allocation to €2.8 million for 2025. Louth County …

We hope to be in a position to announce the allocations for 2026 shortly. As I said, we have increased the funding this year by €30 million, a 30% increase, one of largest increases in any spending items, because it is of such importance. Again, it feeds into keeping people living at home independently. Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned particular cases and he might come to me with them. They may involve …

We very much understand. Sligo came back in twice and Louth came back once. The message is that the Government is very much committed to giving this extra funding of €30 million. We want to see local authorities spending that money, which will make a real difference to people's lives in their homes.

I thank Deputy O'Hara for raising this important matter and providing me with an opportunity to update the House on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. It is important to point out that under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister with responsibility for planning is precluded from exercising any power or control in rel…

Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to give an update on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. As I previously stated, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, the Minister with responsibility for planning is precluded from exercising any power of control in relation to a particular c…

I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I acknowledge the Bill brought forward by Deputy Nash. The principal purpose of the Bill, as outlined in the explanatory memorandum, is to establish a new body, within the current local and regional government framework with specific responsibilities for the River Boyne and its catchment a…

I am giving you a lot more to work with.

I am dealing with this on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne. I thank Deputy Nash for introducing this Labour Party Bill. I also thank him and Deputy O'Rourke for their contributions to the debate this evening. While the Minister welcomes the genuine intentions of the Bill in attempting to address issues in the Boyne catchment, this Government is alrea…

The third water action plan has given us a solid blueprint for how we can build and evolve our ambition for the next cycle. The next water action plan will build upon the water I have outlined here today. We will again look to deliver on integrated multiple policy objectives for water, biodiversity and climate wherever possible. This integrated approach will deliver gains for our water quality an…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of Deputies today, and to working with all Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann to progress this important legislation through both Houses. Home support is a vital service that is delivered to th…

It is three or fewer.

Write to us on that.

I will work on that.

Three or less.

I thank the Members for their contributions. There were 27 contributors in total and they spoke on a range of aspects of this issue. I welcome the general support for the Bill in terms of regulation. To recap, the objective of the proposed legislation is to improve the safety and quality of support services by ensuring that registered home support providers do not operate below the standards set b…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Health pursuant to Standing Orders 103 and 188.

I thank the Deputy. He did not mention the specific county. I presume he is talking about Sligo-Leitrim.

He was not specific but I am taking it to be there. The HSE is continually recruiting. If particular issues have been brought to the Deputy's attention, he might come back to me on them and I can follow up with the HSE in the region.

Like everyone else, I wish the Ceann Comhairle, the staff and our colleagues, Deputy Hearne and my colleague here, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, all the best and a good Christmas. Everyone needs a break. I wish everyone a peaceful, productive and robust new year. I wish to thank Deputy Hearne for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the Dáil on tenant in situ acquisitio…