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capacity to deliver direct build homes and rebalance the housing system; — reverse the increasing centralisation of housing responsibilities by devolving more power to local authorities, introduce a single stage approval process and a single set of standardised design guidelines for low-cost energy efficient social homes, and resource … upfront delivery of community infrastructure where new homes are built; — introduce a land price register and bring down house prices by giving effect to the recommendations of the 1973 Report of the Committee on the Price of Building Land (the "Kenny Report"), implement land value sharing, and establish

manage their health closer to home. Across the community and hospital settings pharmacists are making an increasingly important contribution to patient care. They are among the most trusted and accessible healthcare professionals in Ireland. Every day, they support patients, families and communities through their expertise, professionalism and commitment … pharmacists' expertise to support patients and the wider health service. We have also seen substantial progress in community pharmacies. Over the past year, community pharmacists have successfully delivered a range of new services in addition to their core role in dispensing medicines, counselling patients, and supporting the safe

example of delivering on this, over the period 2022 to 2024, 64% of the total Government spend on residential and community retrofitting across our Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's schemes was invested in upgrading home energy performance for households at risk … provide for an increase in the allocation for the warmer home scheme. These allocations will be published as part of the Revised Estimates Volume later. This allocation will support even more home energy upgrades to make homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills

national service plan commits to the delivery of 352 community beds in residential settings for older people in this period. The community nursing unit capital programme is ongoing and will have 90 public community nursing units and community hospital beds refurbished or replaced so they meet … body of work to do this. The public-private partnership project will deliver 528 residential care beds on seven sites in 2026. The programme for Government commits to building more public nursing home beds, including dementia-specific provision, which is a huge issue in the delayed transfer

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

central objective of the programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated health and social care with service delivery re-oriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services to enable a “home first” approach. It is acknowledged – as the Deputy has rightly said - that … town in Ireland with a diverse population. The Minister is committed to building capacity in primary care, as outlined in the programme for Government, by recruiting additional staff numbers, promoting advanced practice roles in the community for health and social care professionals and increasing the number of college

community-based services. In older people's services, we will support people to live at home within their own communities and strengthen the nursing home sector. These commitments build on the investment and reforms undertaken over the past number of years, including delivery of approximately 1,225 acute … waiting longer than the Sláintecare targets, equating to more than 191,000 people. Care is being delivered closer to home through a total of 179 primary care centres and 96 community specialist teams for older persons. A total of 26 community specialist teams for chronic disease are operational

Dunsink. The proposal is for up to 18,000 new homes, most of which will be built on State-owned land, which will I hope will mean more affordable prices. Fingal County Council plans to build the first 2,500 by 2029. Central to the success of this … late. The new community will not work without high-quality public transport being delivered. I ask the Tánaiste to ask the Minister for Transport to bring forward the plan for the Luas green line extension to Tyrrelstown to complement the delivery of these new homes. I am sure

these areas are lively rural communities. However, the number of young people who are being denied an opportunity to build a home in their community is increasing. These are the young people who contribute to our GAA clubs and whose children should be going to our local schools … tainted. Rather than obstacles being put in their way, I want us to work together to ensure that young people get to build in their communities and beside their families. By no means do I want to see the countryside filled with housing estates or apartment blocks

context of modern-day construction, but it is absolutely vital that we empower the LDA as much as we can to build quality homes that citizens can then buy in whatever way. Affordable purchase first should perhaps be the strategy for the LDA. I will come back … with that were mentioned. In my experience, and taking Clongriffin Central as an example, the LDA is not necessarily funded or empowered to deliver community facilities. We have that issue out in Clongriffin Central. An area left underdeveloped and unfinished for 15 years after the crash needs community

Strandhill in County Sligo. Deputy Fitzmaurice mentioned Lough Funshinagh, which is close to my home. We brought in interim measures in the space of three months to deliver protection for those communities. There is a lot that has to be taken into account. Members come in here … should do this and that and reverse the matter concerning the pearl mussel. We will not do that. We build 56 schemes by working with the land and all the bodies. That is how we do it. We do not say it is a matter of one thing

would fix the causes rather than paper over the symptoms. We would build homes that would be owned by the public and establish a public model of childcare and a community-based health service that employs its own staff. We would invest now to meet our climate targets … their fair share, and we would rebuild the capacity of the State to actually do things, because a state that cannot deliver is a state that will end up renting from someone who can, at a premium, forever. The tragedy of this budget is not a lack

vacancies, build sustainable capacity and improve co-ordination across hospital and community services. The Government will continue to build on the progress made in Tullamore and Mullingar with a clear focus on ensuring that investment delivers meaningful, lasting improvements for patients throughout Longford and Westmeath. I will bring … points raised by the Deputy back to the Minister. I have already spoken to the Deputy about delivery of home support hours for the people of Longford-Westmeath. It is something I have committed to working on with the HSE, the Deputy and his colleagues at local level

about delivering on the policies we set out in the general election. The parties that form this Government took on the responsibility in the context of the mandate we were given. Parties that excelled at diagnosing the problems but were not brave enough to deliver the antidote … build and take further action. Increasing supply is the key to addressing the housing crisis. The Government will pursue every action possible to ensure we drive home ownership in our country and deliver real progress in housing policy, and increasing the number of social and affordable homes will

need to focus on areas where childcare places have not kept pace with housing development. We have built 157,000 homes nationally since 2020, but the community in Glanmire is feeling the strain of that housing development. The State-led programme will step up and step in where … Glanmire ticks that box. I recently brought Cork City Childcare to Glanmire, with the owner of a proposed building and a proposed proprietor. It reckons that it can deliver up to 150 affordable childcare places in that building. The majority of the criteria were laid

Cian and Helen. Day care at home is delivered by trained care workers who provide one-to-one support to people with dementia in their homes every week in block hours. Unlike traditional home support, day care at home is activity-based, focused on providing variety, stimulation, social … range of settings. To ensure the best possible delivery of palliative care in nursing homes, the Caru nursing home programme ensures that nursing home staff are trained and supported to deliver excellent care, in line with residents' and families' needs and wishes. The programme was delivered to over

point. The Willows estate in Dunshaughlin now has more than 1,000 homes. When they first started selling houses there almost a decade ago, they did so with the promise of a community with essential services and amenities. Central to this was the provision of a crèche … both, depending on requirements. In the case of the Willows, there is no building to acquire or fit out. I call on the Minister to work with local not-for-profit groups to deliver State-led early years services at the Willows in Dunshaughlin

where they were reared. An entire generation is locked out of home ownership, stuck in childhood bedrooms or overpriced rentals or forced to emigrate. There is no strategy to address the demographic crisis affecting rural communities. This Bill is not in and of itself objectionable. The measures … Bill, but let us be honest, they will not move the dial on housing delivery and they certainly will not deliver the affordable homes that workers and families so badly need. This Bill will not solve the housing crisis and the Government knows it. What we have

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

have a strong political vision for change. Our vision is for the creation of an active State that can and will deliver for communities on housing, climate, care and work. That is the programme we stood for in the election and it is the programme we will … even from opposition, along with others on the left with whom we share a common vision. We want to see this Government building affordable homes, protecting our climate, defending the rights of children, ending child poverty, ensuring timely access to healthcare, guaranteeing decency at work and using

often been delayed, downsized or simply never delivered. The people of Meath kept their side of the bargain. They bought homes, raised families and built communities, yet local and central government failed to ensure that the essential public amenities those communities depended upon were provided. That failure … ahead of the public good. If the Bill is to make a meaningful difference, it must strengthen the planning framework to ensure community facilities are delivered alongside housing, not years later or, worse still, not at all. Mandatory sequencing should become the norm, with legally enforceable requirements linking

late 2026-2027. Seven years on from my first political leaflet, therefore, our major transport projects have not been delivered. I am frustrated, commuters are frustrated and communities are frustrated. I know the Minister, too, is frustrated. The only acceptable response to frustration is meaningful action. That infrastructural … building homes to hospitals and rail lines to power lines. We have to secure Ireland's competitiveness by addressing Ireland's infrastructural deficits. These are national imperatives. For every Member of this House, they are also local imperatives. Last year, over 1,300 new homes were delivered

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 own communities and strengthen the nursing home sector. The forthcoming national … south Dublin opened in February this year with additional hubs becoming operational in 2026. Care is being delivered closer to home in 180 primary care centres through 96 community health networks. Twenty-seven community specialist teams for older persons and 26 community specialist teams for chronic disease

have a rudimentary system from 2001, which provides that for every 75 homes the developer must provide 20 childcare places, but it is not working for a variety of reasons. The provision of childcare infrastructure cannot be based on such a basic formula alone. Like schools … need a proper forward planning system based on demographics, assessment of need, new residential developments and that delivers appropriate childcare buildings based on the needs of that community. Instead, what we have now is crèches being built that are not fit for purpose or too expensive

housing capacity across the country. The first round of housing infrastructure investment fund projects is expected to unlock lands capable of delivering tens of thousands of homes and this demonstrates clearly that investment in infrastructure is investment in housing supply. This is especially true of water infrastructure … implementation of reform. This budget reflects a Government determination to maintain the momentum that we have started to build. It provides resources to translate plans and targets into homes and infrastructure. The focus now must be on delivery. I look forward to working with colleagues across Government, local