Conor Sheehan

Will the Minister outline a timeline for the implementation of the recommendations of the AHB strategic forum report? I ask him this in particular in relation to the gearing issue that is there and in relation to moving the AHB sector towards a sustainable delivery model. There is a real lack of clarity in the Minister's new housing plan on exactly how the Government will deliver its targets. How …

We know that AHBs are crucial if we are to have any hope of meeting our housing targets, particularly in terms of social housing delivery, but we also know they are approaching the limit of their borrowing capacity. A workable solution has been proposed by replacing the CALF loan element of AHB social housing with a Government-backed CALF equity grant support. It is the same level of funding as a …

I thank the Minister of State for that response. We really need to see action on this from the Government. The gearing and debt levels within some larger AHBs need to be addressed because they are basically putting our capacity to deliver housing at risk. Specifically, in relation to the recommendation of moving the AHB sector away from turnkey and towards direct delivery, there is a distinct lac…

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputies Conor D. McGuinness and David Cullinane - To discuss Irish Coast Guard SAR aviation service. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss issues with reliability and punctuality of Cork city's bus service. Deputy Marie Sherlock - To discuss …

Through the Chair.

Thank you, Deputy.

Thank you, Deputy.

Thank you, Deputy. The Minister of State to reply.

Deputy, please.

Deputy, please. Through the Chair.

Let the Minister of State respond.

Deputy, let the Minister of State respond.

Deputy, please let the Minister of State respond.

Please, Deputy.

Deputy-----

Please, Deputy. Is the Minister of State finished?

Okay, I am moving on to the second Topical Issue matter from Deputy Sherlock.

She said private housing developers.

It is in the Housing Commission report.

The Government missed its social housing targets.

It would if the Government had started it.

He sounds like Trump

I want to raise the issue of prison overcrowding, particularly in relation to Limerick Prison. The Office of the Inspector of Prisons’ report is damning. Limerick Prison and its women's wing have one of the worst levels of overcrowding in the prison estate. The official bed capacity was at 155% last year. Overcrowding is impacting on the physical, psychological and emotional safety of women who ar…

It is a huge issue.

I am asking about women in particular.