James Browne

-----applications for funding for regeneration-----

-----including for funding to support refit, retrofit and remedial works programmes. In the case of Oliver Bond flats, funding has not been withdrawn. Let us be very clear. There is plenty of funding available for the regeneration of Oliver Bond flats.

Deputy Ó Broin is fully aware of this.

What the Department cannot-----

What has been refused?

What the Department will not stand over is the reduction in the number of homes.

The proposal includes-----

Every time I try to speak in this Chamber and it is something the Deputy does not like-----

-----he tries to shout me down.

These are shouting tactics because they do not want to-----

This is a Chamber. The Deputy does not want to listen because he does not want me to say what I am saying.

Let me say what I am saying. May I speak?

Are you going to keep shouting me down?

The Deputies are not doing this House or anybody any favours-----

-----by constantly trying to shout me down.

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. The funding stands available for the regeneration of Oliver Bond House. What the Department cannot stand over is a reduction in the number of homes. We will not fund a reduction in the number of homes.

The proposal includes a 30% reduction in the number of homes. There is not a net increase in the number of homes in this regeneration project.

Since 2015, the Department has spent over €500 million on regeneration projects across Limerick, Cork and Dublin, as well as providing additional funding for planned maintenance, voids programmes, energy efficiency upgrades and refurbishment works. The Government has made available substantial funding. In terms of how we govern in this country, we govern in a way that we ensure we have a strong e…

That is the reality of the position.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (Designation of Fingal and Wexford County Councils) (Parts of Administrative Areas) Order 2026, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 12th March, 2026. I welcome the opportunity today to outline for Members the motion to…

I thank all Members for their valuable contributions. I welcome the support for the designation of parts of Fingal and County Wexford. I will work with all sides of the House to ensure this decision is now acted on promptly, if supported. I commend the motion to the House and look forward to further engagement on this issue.

I welcome this discussion today and the opportunity to speak in full confidence in the Government and its leadership. There is no doubt the Dáil and every single one of us here, all of us elected representatives, are experiencing in our constituencies the impact of global political uncertainty on real people, families and businesses. Events that seem so far away geographically have a very immediat…

I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to my plans to address the month on month rise in homelessness. Addressing homelessness is a priority for my office, the Department and this Government. Our new housing plan is an integrated housing and homeless plan based on two key pillars: activating the supply of 300,000 more homes; and supporting people to have a home of their own. Increased su…

I have already outlined the several of the measures we are taking. Through our national homeless action committee along with homeless organisations, we are developing new strategies around child and family homelessness, and there are also our programmes around other homeless prevention. What the Deputy does not mention when he mentions the 55,000 figure is how many we have prevented going into hom…

I have set out numerous new measures we have announced in the past number of months to address homelessness. We know the only way we are ultimately going to address the housing, rental and homelessness crises is through increasing supply and not calcifying these crises in permanency, as is proposed by Sinn Féin with its measures. In the new tenancy legislation, we have some of the strongest, if no…