Kieran O'Donnell

The Deputy might send the details to me.

We have had a debate for more than three hours with 38 contributions, which shows the significance of the issue for people. I thank everyone who has taken part in the debate. I will touch on a few general points and then I will try to address some of the points that were raised by Members. I want to reflect on the progress has been made since Uisce Éireann was established as Irish Water more than…

I thank Deputy Lawless for raising this important issue. I will reply on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne. This matter has been raised by Oireachtas colleagues of the Deputy's from Mayo, notably the Minister of State, Deputy Alan Dillon, who is here. It is obviously a matter of huge concern for the public representatives and the people of Newport. Deputy Lawless will appreciate that the oper…

I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As I have said, the Newport wastewater treatment plant is currently at preliminary business case stage 2. Uisce Éireann will develop a shortlist of solutions identifying preferred options and will calculate estimated costs. A significant amount of data gathering, surveys and assessments are required to support various consenting processes. A licence…

I am pleased to contribute to this debate. I have watched it from the start. There have been many contributions. I say to Deputy Healy-Rae, if I may, that my wife has Kerry roots, albeit not quite first generation as her family is second generation. He would know the family.

To deal with the topic at hand. As the Minister, Deputy Browne, has stated, we are opposing this Bill because the introduction of the household water conservation charge is not in the programme for Government. It will not be introduced. That is categorical. By way of background, the legislation to implement water charges was contained in the Water Services Act 2014, which was repealed by the Wate…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue on the provision of an ambulance base at Recess, County Galway. I know how important this issue is to them. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of Minister for Health. As the Deputies are aware, this Government has a consistent track record of investment in the National Ambulance Service, NAS, with significant increases in funding since 20…

The update we have been given is that planning permission has been secured, which the Deputies already know. The design team is finalising a detailed design, including a fire safety certificate and a disability access certificate with a view to having a stage 2C report submitted to HSE local estates review in the coming weeks. Approval will be sought to proceed to issue tender documents. There we…

I thank Deputy Timmins for raising this in his role as TD for Wicklow. Under Housing for All, the Government has committed to delivering 47,600 new-build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022 to 2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new-build projects delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHBs. The …

The Deputy made practical points and suggestions. I suggest that he follow up on his detailed proposals directly with the Minister, Deputy James Browne, and Minister of State, Deputy Cummins. In my own role in the Department, I am over housing for the elderly in the context of local authorities. I will respond to the Deputy's point about An Bord Pleanála. Under the new Planning and Development Ac…

I thank Deputy Neville for raising this issue and offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Foley. Ryevale House in County Kildare is an International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, accommodation centre, contracted to the Department since 2023. It provides shelter to approximately 90 women who are app…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter, as I said, on behalf of the Minister for children, disability and equality, Deputy Foley. The points the Deputy raised will be brought to the attention of the Minister. I reiterate the Department understands there is ongoing engagement between the provider, the local authority and An Bord Pleanála in the courts in relat…

I thank Deputy Cummins for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I can see the Deputy's commitment to the area. She has lived it and breathed it so I can see how important it is to her on both a political and personal level. The Minister is committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and…

I again thank Deputy Cummins for raising this important matter today. I note the points she made and her acknowledgement of the survey and the benefits it will bring. I note her point on a committee for young people. That matter will be brought to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley. While providing adequate funding of youth work and youth services is essential, it is also paramount that …

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising the need to discuss the water supply issues in Duleek and Stalleen. I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of the Minister for housing, Deputy James Browne, who is my colleague in the Department. I appreciate Deputy O'Rourke's concerns for the services and businesses affected. He has outlined it very well. The Deputy will appreciate that the operation …

I once again thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge the patience and co-operation of residents and businesses in Duleek, Staleen and surrounding areas who have been affected by these outages. Uisce Éireann would like to assure customers that when an unplanned outage occurs, local water services crews are immediately dispatched to do repair work as soon as possible. It is always abo…

In terms of my role as the Minister of State with special responsibility for older people, and the specific aspect in terms of women in the context of the issue raised by the Deputy, I am going to work with the Minister on the matter. More specifically, I am going to work on the issue raised by the Deputy regarding women moving into their older years. It is something I am very strong on and I will…

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue and for giving me, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Browne, the opportunity to update Members on the issue of vacancy and dereliction in Clonmel town. Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government. To address this, a number of structures have been established, including a dedicated va…

I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue and I note his genuine concern regarding Clonmel town. As he stated, a new Garda barracks will be located in Kickham Barracks. The Deputy referred to the site and the people who served there. It is a formerly inaccessible military site which will be turned into a new civic, cultural and educational quarter as part of Clonmel 2030. The regener…

I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this important matter. By way of overview, long-term residential care is a crucial part of the overall continuum of care throughout the country. Our HSE community nursing units and community hospitals play a vital role in the provision of long-term care and other services. I am also very conscious of the importance of strengthening the capacity and resilience of ou…

The intention is this summer and that continues to be the case.

I thank Deputy Kelly for raising that matter. He might provide me with the correspondence he has received.

I will repeat particular clarifications on a number of points. First, the decision to utilise the Nenagh community nursing home building on an interim basis as a step-down sub-acute and rehabilitative facility was taken to alleviate the significant pressures at UHL. It is about the pressures and that is a fact. I also reiterate the HSE is working towards a HSE-led model of delivery at Nenagh commu…

On behalf of Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, I thank Deputy Kerrane for the opportunity to update the House on the delivery of pre-hospital emergency care in County Roscommon and the important emergency response role delivered by our National Ambulance Service. The National Ambulance Service serves the county of Roscommon out of three bases located in Roscommon, Boyle and Loughglinn, which all…

I note the points the Deputy raised in respect of Roscommon and the roster. There are currently two vacancies. I understand an offer has been made for one of the posts through the National Ambulance Service national transfer process and options for the filling of the second post are being examined. I have asked my Department to follow up on that issue with the NAS and to look at the particular iss…