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committed to in the Programme for Government, including a new housing plan building on the successes of Housing for All, will help us meet the enormous challenge of delivering more than 300,000 new homes by 2030; — a record level of investment is being provided for the delivery … infrastructure needed at a local or district level to support housing delivery on multiple sites, including social and community infrastructure needed to support the development of sustainable communities; — legislative and system level reform of the planning system is progressing; — the Government is prioritising the commencement of the Planning

communities; this is far from that. Public engagement will still be protected but we cannot allow a system where national housing targets are frustrated by a minority who can delay and derail vital developments with no accountability. If we want to meet Housing for All targets and deliver … developers and, most importantly, young couples and families who are desperate to find a home, I know the call is consistent. We need clarity, consistency and speed. This Bill is a step towards delivering all three. Our planning system must be a facilitator of housing rather than

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

very aware of that. Building houses is a priority for this Government. The more houses we deliver the better. This is about the families, communities and people who need housing. In my area of Carlow, for example, through our local authority, we are looking at land that … wraparound services. The council was going to build houses in Ardattin because there was the need. It was going to look at local authority and private homes but it could not get the wastewater treatment and what it needed to build houses. We have to make sure, through

dogs and Variety Ireland's recycle mobility trikes, which are so important. While the Government is investing in a massive house building programme, not enough homes are being provided for people with disabilities. We know that when appropriate housing is provided, in places like Glensheen Court in Ennis … massive difference to the lives of disabled people and their families, particularly elderly parents who know their child will have a lifelong home to call their own. We know that disabled people, for a variety of reasons, are less likely to have a job. Organisations like the Together

this was a rural community on the edge of Dublin city and there were very few homes in the area. Since then, thousands of homes have been built in the area. In recognition of the flood risk posed, there are no buildings directly adjacent to the Mayne river … bursting its banks, right next to lands that flood and right next to homes that had previously flooded in an area where a flood relief scheme is needed but has never been delivered. Excavating and digging down to put in an underground car park at this location could

people who see the need for an alternative vision and for an active State that can provide for those in need, that can build homes, tackle the cost-of-living crisis and provide public services and those climate action measures that seem to have slipped off this Government … personnel. We need a change of government. We need a left-led government because only such a government can deliver the hope and security families, households and communities around the country so badly need and are so badly looking for. We wish the individual Ministers well in their

going to have to face reality. Its housing policies have failed. We need new thinking. The State needs to step up and deliver affordable homes. The State needs to radically change course, as its own Housing Commission recommended, because the fact of the matter is the Government … policy proposals that could make a real difference, such as the homes for Ireland saving plan to use some of the €160 billion just sitting in deposit accounts earning no interest and our plan to build a modular homes factory to turbo charge the delivery of affordable homes

micromanagement of project delivery. They must trust, empower, fund and staff our local authorities and approved housing bodies to work with building contractors to build the homes that people need. With respect to cost rental, if the Minister does not understand by now that cost rental … rural planning guidelines, we will be no further on. There is also a need to provide supports for people to build sustainable homes in rural communities. Section 10 deals with inclusion and section 11 relates to environmental sustainability. Again, these contain many good suggestions. The Oireachtas housing committee

communities came together and made peace. The agreement brought conflict in Ireland to an end, and to this day it stands as a historic international success story in peace building. It created space to acknowledge the hurt, pain and loss on all sides, to build a bridge … call home. It is the best way - the only way - to deliver an all-Ireland public universal health service. Through unity, we can build the best education and childcare systems for every child and young person. We can strengthen our public services, tackle poverty and build a fair

identify the necessary reforms required to deliver the optimum planning system to meet the challenges we will face in the coming decades. The Act will bring greater consistency, clarity and certainty to the planning system. It will build on and enhance the existing plan-led approach to development … using all levers at our disposal to build on the increase in supply seen during the term of Housing for All and to strive to reach the credible and ambitious target of delivering more than 300,000 new homes by 2030. The planning system will play an integral

best response from the Government will be a thinly-veiled attempt to pass the buck. What has this so-called war on dereliction delivered? A delayed measure, already announced in last year's budget, the renaming of a 35-year-old levy and a promise that Revenue will … centres, are profiting from the misery caused by the chronic shortage of homes so unless this new tax is set at an effective and meaningful level, speculators will keep sitting on their assets, literally. Derelict buildings on empty streets across the country will remain a visual reminder

work they do to protect our communities and keep all of us safe. Since taking up office over a year ago, I have sought to ensure we can deliver a vibrant and strong policing service that is highly visible in our communities. I am committed to ensuring … needs to prevent crime and keep us safe. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is delivering a complex and effective programme of policy development, legislative change and the resources needed to deliver on those commitments in every county. The criticism of An Garda Síochána by some

make significant interventions and further progress when it comes to housing and delivering greater housing supply across our economy because, yes, the challenges and the pressures faced by young people are concentrated in affordability of homes and of rent. That is why areas like the renter … term hope or prospects to live and build a life here. Everything we are doing is to protect capital investment in housing and infrastructure, so we prioritise investment in transport infrastructure, reduce congestion and build the social infrastructure and the communities that are required right across the country

which is six years after it got planning permission. This is not just a transport issue. If we are serious about building homes and new communities, which we have to and want to, then we have to have the infrastructure to support them. The same issue applies … country, whether it is housing, congestion, climate change, and so on. There are economic, environmental, and social costs associated with failing to urgently deliver on public transport projects. I will finish on a positive note. I commend the Minister on his progress so far in getting MetroLink over

national planning statement in relation to the ability to build a one-off home in rural Ireland will be a help. That is because there are many people finding themselves having to leave their communities due to a too-rigid planning system or at least an inconsistent application … will know I am going to continue to say that housing supply is really important, and we need to get 300,000 more homes built by the end of 2030. My Department has produced research in terms of Ireland 2040 and where Ireland will be demographically

rely on HAP as a substitute for building real social homes. Families and individuals have been on the housing list for ten years or more in some cases and there has been zero delivery of affordable or cost-rental homes in Dungarvan. In Ardmore, not a million miles … want to live and work there cannot afford to buy or build. More than half of the homes in the area are holiday lets or second homes, many of them owned by investment funds. A community-led plan for affordable homes was sidelined a couple of years

tandem would enhance the efficiency of delivering both. This would enhance the overall financial viability of delivering both. It would be a huge missed opportunity for public transport, particularly for the thousands of people who have bought, or have been sold, homes along the south-west line … been left waiting up to this point. I genuinely believe that, when we consider how many homes are needed in this country to solve our housing crisis, we must realise that building them in tandem with new and enhanced public transport is crucial. That is the argument

counselling sessions delivered since the scheme was launched a year ago. At the same time, the partnership with Community Therapy Ireland is expanding access to counselling for new clients, with a particular focus on young people and young men and members of the LGBTQ+ community. These initiatives … professional counselling and psychotherapy services for the local community. This invaluable investment recognises the important role that such community organisations play in providing accessible, high-quality mental health supports that people are able to access close to home. We were delighted to welcome the Minister of State

People are still struggling significantly to access home ownership and rents are far too high. While the fundamental aim has always been to have supply, that is the job of the State and the market in tandem. The task of delivering the right houses in the right location … task in the present environment. There are some policy options that align well with our wider aim of creating a thriving, coherent community. These are chiefly in the area of vacancy and dereliction in urban and rural areas alike. The town centres first model was implemented as part

Curragh Community College in my constituency of Kildare South is in a state of utter disrepair. The school community was promised a new school building nearly a decade ago and they are still waiting. There are several problems with mould and leaks. The ceilings are falling … conditions are absolutely hazardous. A number of classrooms have already closed; therefore, students are on a rotation between attending on site and home learning. For students sitting State exams, it is completely unfair. Students cannot be expected to learn, nor should teachers and staff be expected to work

that. There is a target of delivering 300,000 more homes over the lifetime of the plan. Roughly speaking, from memory, around 162,000 of those homes will either be social homes, local authority homes or will be homes that are part-funded through a variety of Government … going to need the private sector to build more homes as well. That is where we are going to get the bulk of delivery. To do that we have to open up sites and listen to those who build homes and the local authorities in terms

commercial buildings, including vacant pubs. This exemption has now been extended to the end of 2028. Up to the end of 2024, local authorities received 1,457 notifications from developers intending to avail of the exemptions. If acted on, this would result in 3,429 new homes across … town centre first heritage revival scheme, which represents a transformative opportunity for our towns and communities. THRIVE is a €120 million Government initiative, co-funded by the European Union and delivered through our regional assemblies in partnership with my own Department. THRIVE provides funding for the preparation

supports. Gaelscoil na Camóige, as I have mentioned a few times, has been operating out of prefabs for over 30 years. Currently, the building of the new school alongside the new school for Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin is progressing; however, the schools were notified that the ASD classes will … Community College is holding a meeting. I cannot attend because I am here advocating on its behalf. One of its asks is that the agreed and much-needed special needs unit be provided. This would allow the school to open four special classes and it could be delivered

serious cases. However, the reality is that a significant proportion of attendances at Beaumont and Drogheda hospitals could be treated in properly staffed community-based minor injury hubs. It has already been agreed that there is a need to establish a minor injury hub plan for Balbriggan … told that Balbriggan primary care centre is full, when, in fact, only a portion of the building is being leased by the HSE. It is therefore not at capacity. The entire building is not fully leased and, therefore, is not being fully utilised. There is space there that