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affordable housing delivered there. I nGaeltacht na nDéise, the crisis is deeper. The community is facing an existential threat. It is not just about supply. It is about the survival of this unique language community. Young families cannot get a home, they cannot set up a place … live, they cannot build a home if they have the wherewithal to do it and the Government has not grasped the reality of that. We are still waiting for the treoirlínte pleanála Gaeltachta, the planning guidelines. On affordable sites, local authority chief executives are telling us there just

beyond institutional models. We need to build a continuum of care that enables older people to live in their homes and communities for as long as possible. We must also use smart technology to enable them to do so. Nursing home care should be the last resort … preserved and intermediate levels of support are provided. It also means addressing the current barriers to home care. Too often, where home care packages are approved, they cannot be delivered due to workforce shortages. We must look seriously at the terms and conditions for home care workers

virtual care solutions. In mental health we will continue to build the mental health workforce and infrastructure and support community-based services. In older people’s services we will support people to live at home within their communities and strengthen the nursing home sector. The welfare of residents … been an almost 60% reduction in the number of people waiting longer than 12 months. Care is being delivered closer to home in 180 primary care centres through 96 community health networks, 27 community specialist teams for older persons and 26 community specialist teams for chronic disease

plan recommitted to the PPP delivery model and despite misgivings, local authorities across the country were incentivised and did use PPP to deliver social homes. Last Wednesday, a bombshell was dropped on local authorities, with the Minister and the Government deciding to halt bundle 3 of the Dublin … subsequent bundles 4 and 5, which could deliver thousands more social homes, are now also facing an uncertain future. Last year, before the election, the Government promised to oversee the building of 40,000 homes in 2024, only to miss that target by a whole third

going to build almost 500 social homes, almost 200 of which are in my constituency, through public-private partnerships. They were ready to start on site in the coming weeks but the Minister has pulled the plug on them. Almost 3,000 social homes are now in jeopardy … Government had brought it to the end line. It should have just delivered those projects and said the State would deliver the rest of them directly. Now we have almost 3,000 social homes in complete limbo. What is going to happen? The Minister needs to intervene directly

moment. Building new homes is a top priority for this Government. We have committed to delivering 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030, targeting an average of 50,000 homes annually in this period. These new targets are ambitious but provide a pathway to deliver the scale … common sense. They are an integral part of ensuring sufficient housing units through the planning permission that can be activated to deliver much-needed homes for individuals and families. Other activation measures are being progressed so no measure should be viewed in isolation. As part of the implementation

County Waterford facing a demographic cliff edge. This is what the Government's failure looks like; families unable to build, councils unable to approve and rural communities being hollowed out. Irish Water told the Government 18 months ago that it needed investment to meet the Government … housing strategy that includes towns and villages, and real co-ordination between planning and infrastructure. That is the only way we will get homes delivered, not with more spin or delay, and certainly not with announcements but with action

issue for the community. As he says, the services were delivered in clinics located in the corridor that was part of the designated centre, I believe, and the residents' environment. This necessitated restrictive, controlled access to the community nursing unit and resulted in restricted movement for the residents … part of the compliance plan for St. Joseph's, a commitment was given to HIQA supporting free access for residents to their home, which is the designated centre. To achieve this, alternative access to therapy services was required, apparently. Older persons' services worked with primary care services

supports older people to live full and independent lives in their own homes and communities, with the appropriate wraparound supports. It is incumbent on all of us to work collaboratively to realise this vision. Home support is an essential service for thousands of people each day across … follow-up meetings with the nursing home sector to ensure it was reaching out to its members on the provision of safe care through nursing homes. I then met with representatives from the HSE and its community nursing home units and asked that they would do likewise

community support teams have been on site at the two nursing homes in question. Additionally, local safeguarding and protection teams are actively reviewing all safeguarding concerns raised in relation to these facilities. I and Department of Health officials met with representative bodies and stakeholders from the nursing home … sector earlier today. The engagements were constructive, with an immediate focus on delivering the highest quality of care to residents of nursing homes in Ireland. On the safeguarding points the Deputy made and on adult safeguarding in the sector more generally, the Government is fully committed to strengthening

forced to choose between paying the LPT and meeting basic needs. The Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and this Bill delivers on that commitment. I am aware that some in this House and, indeed, in the wider public have raised concerns about the LPT. Some … ultimately less fair. Second, on the ability to pay, the LPT is not only a tax on home ownership, but a contribution to the services that make our communities liveable. The updated deferral thresholds ensure that whose who genuinely cannot afford to pay are protected. The vast majority

live in the very towns and communities they grew up in. Instead, they are forced to emigrate in the hope of a better life, opportunities and a bit of independence. Young people cannot be expected to live in their families homes well into adulthood. It is stunning that … absolutely nothing to actively address this. The construction of new homes in Donegal has nearly come to a standstill. On top of this, we are grappling with a defective concrete crisis. Last year, only 382 new builds were completed in Donegal. That is nowhere near what is needed

that. There are going to be many transients in a lot of areas and a lack of community building. We need to build housing, build communities and put the infrastructure in place alongside that. I have mentioned these examples previously but I will go through a few ideas … house. There is nowhere for that person to go to access the services and community network. However, there is an opportunity to release some equity by turning the upper floor into a starter home and letting the person already living in the property have the lower floor. That

delivering over 50% of all of the homes in the State. We will deliver more social and affordable homes, but if we are going to reach a target of 50,000 homes and more, we need private investment. Nobody in opposition has said where we are going … work quickly in those areas. We can get planners to focus on the big decisions they need to make in terms of delivering homes. We are reforming the Land Development Agency. One of the key aspects will be having a master plan for key areas. The housing activation

authorities nationally are being funded by the Department to support social housing delivery; in addition, over 140 professional/technical and administrative posts dedicated to delivering affordable housing are being funded by the Department in local authorities to strengthen their capacity to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects … Development Regulations provide for an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings, including vacant above ground floor premises, to residential use such as 'above shop' living for up to nine units, subject to conditions and limitations

greener tune at that time. This has now passed and we are into a new regime. To ensure he builds confidence with a community like that in south Kilkenny, the Minister needs to bring forward the €200 million or so that has been promised for next year … that the bigger project is delivered. Relevant to this debate, the Government needs to make money available to carry out the improvement works that are essential now as a result of the fact that the road will not be delivered for eight years. It also must make sure

would not be possible without strategic and well-targeted investment, both public and private, and through the seafood development programme, the Government is delivering essential support to strengthen competitiveness, sustainability and employment across the sector. In addition, targeted supports, funded through the Brexit adjustment reserve, helped the sector … consultation I have endeavoured to carry out here at home, I am also working my way through meeting ministers with responsibility across fisheries and marine in member states where we can try to build alliances insofar as possible. I will continue that engagement. I know that the committee

Ireland real progress is being made. Fianna Fáil in government is delivering practical results. I recently met a man in Kildalkey in my constituency of Meath West who restored a vacant property into a beautiful family home, which was made possible by the vacant property refurbishment grant. That … secured their first home without the help-to-buy scheme and the first home scheme. These programmes are working. We are expanding them to include second-hand homes and adjusting value bands to match market realities, as needed. We must reject the notion that home ownership

Mungret framework area. The framework aims to unlock substantial lands in public and private ownership and allow construction of residential development supported by community and employment use. The LDA has also acquired a significant land bank throughout the city, particularly on Carey's Road. I know … water and wastewater capacity to enable housing and growth. That is €1.7 billion plus €300 million. If we are serious about delivering housing and building up the country's capacity in terms of infrastructure, it is essential we take these measures. I agree with much of what

options have dwindled, leading to a demographic shift as young people remain longer at home or leave the country. In my town, Ballygar, a decade passed without the provision of any new homes. Now, a new wastewater treatment plant has gone to tender, providing hope. This … Roscommon-Galway, thriving communities are ready to grow but the lack of affordable housing stands in the way. The status quo cannot hold. This crisis affects families, the economy and essential services as workers such as teachers, gardaí and nurses struggle to afford homes. I know the Minister

been spent. I am asking the Government to give the money to community development groups. They are willing to do the work. I have spoken to them. They will help the Government to deliver houses. I am talking about doing properly to Irish Water specifications … trying to build. More than one should be allowed to build because, at the end of the day, we have an emergency and if we have an emergency, we have to try to sort it out. Family members need to be allowed to build on farmland, provided sightlines

clear that this do-nothing Government has abandoned communities; — the Governments failure to invest in critical infrastructure such as water, electricity and under resourcing of the planning system is delaying the delivery of much needed homes; — the chronic underfunding of our local authority housing and planning departments which … needs to increase investment in and the target for the delivery of social and affordable homes. It is not just about money; it is also about reform in how those homes are delivered, a problem the Government continues to conceal from the House but everybody knows exists

delivering housing, were due to deliver social housing in several areas but the Minister has now informed Dublin City Council that he is pulling the funding for them. It is absolutely shocking that the Minister is pulling funding from social housing projects that were ready to be delivered … housing programmes. It beggars belief that in the middle of a housing emergency, the Government would pull funding from projects about to deliver and build social and public housing. Some of the councillors at the meeting last night asked whether there is an anti-public housing agenda within

Bill 2025, be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, to allow for consideration by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to consider and bring forward provisions relating to Counselling Records.". I know Deputy Coppinger is disappointed that this is the approach … will ever be ignored, excused, or accepted. It is about real change, not just in our laws but in our attitudes, institutions, and communities. One of our key priorities is guaranteeing safe refuge and accommodation in every region of the country. The zero tolerance strategy commits to doubling