Seanad Éireann has passed the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025, without amendment.

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: Deputy Ciarán Ahern - To discuss teacher allocations and class mergers in St. Kevin's BNS and St. Kevin's GNS in Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue - To discuss anti-social behaviour in the Northwood area of Santry. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss why the capitation grant for primary schools is significantly less than that paid to se…

It is very difficult to listen to my friend's sanctimonious rant on this issue. We all know from junior cert economics-----

I am sure the Deputy is familiar with this. I think he is a lecturer in economics. We know from junior cert economics that when supply is increased in the market, prices stabilise, if not come down. This is something we have probably all studied and it is really the basics of economics; it is economics 101. I am very glad to speak on this Bill. It is about ensuring fairness, certainty and protection for renters across the country. My constituency of Dublin South-Central has been part of a rent pressure zone, RPZ, f…

I rise again to discuss therapeutic supports for children. As the Taoiseach said, the in-school therapy programme has been a huge success. Even people in the Department were blown away by how many applied for the positions. Therapists like working in the school environment. It is the best place for therapies to be delivered to children and for their parents, the majority of whom work. In CHO 7, more than 2,700 people in Dublin South-Central are waiting for first contract. Some 2,100 of them have been waiting for mo…

I rise to speak about the Loreto Centre Crumlin in Dublin 12. It is a trusted and vital mental health and community support service that has been serving families, individuals and young people in Crumlin and Dublin South-Central more widely for more than 25 years. The Loreto Centre Crumlin was founded by the Loreto order of nuns and has grown over the decades into a cornerstone of the community. It provides counselling, education and support services to those in crisis or in need of emotional and mental health supp…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I must respectfully state that the situation with this centre is now urgent. The suggestion that the centre should be a section 39 agency is understood but the process for becoming a recognised section 39 funded body is opaque, lengthy and deeply under-resourced. In the meantime, the centre is expected to maintain 3,000 units of counselling per year with only one salaried staff and the rest of the team working voluntarily. I am asking for interim financial support or …

Families are exhausted as a result of battling not for something extraordinary but for something fundamental, namely an assessment of need. It is supposed to be a gateway to support. In practice, it is a locked door. Without it, children cannot access home tuition, school places, the domiciliary care allowance or, most critical, any therapy. The message that families receive is simple: no assessment, no services. More than 15,000 children have been waiting for more than six months for an assessment of need, and the…

I welcome Francis Gorman, president of the IFA, to the Gallery.

The Deputy is eating into his colleague's time.

Apologies, I skipped Question No. 154 by accident.

I will now go to Question No. 154.

The tenant in situ scheme funding allocation to Dublin City Council in 2025 was reduced to €95 million, a significant decrease on last year. Coupled with the new exclusions that a property cannot be in need of refurbishment and has to have been in HAP or RAS for the past two years, this has limited the council's ability to work. There are currently more than 100 tenants with applications pending a decision from the council on whether it will go ahead with the purchase, leaving many families in this city at risk of …

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: Deputy Paul Lawless - To discuss the wastewater treatment plant in Newport, County Mayo. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss the shortfall in home care provision in Kerry. Deputy Gary Gannon - To discuss accommodation options for young people leaving care in Dublin Central Deputy Dessie Ellis - To discuss funding for An Saol Foundation CLG's plan to relocate t…

St. Michael's Estate in Inchicore was meant to be a flagship cost-rental development, but progress, as we know, has been slow. Planning permission was granted in July 2023. Dublin City Council is seeking a loan of €132.5 million to fund the cost-rental units. Given that work on the site was due to start this month - main construction is not now expected until November - can the Minister clarify what exactly is causing the delays and whether loan approval is holding up the project?

That is all very welcome but construction is yet to start. It looks like it will not be starting until late this year, with a completion date in 2028. As the Minister explained, this is a fantastic project of 578 mixed-tenure units plus 52 social housing units by Circle Voluntary Housing Association. It will be a fantastic development, but is there anything that the Minister can do to expedite the funding for the project or to provide direct financial support to the council in order that there will not be any furth…

Dublin City Council plans to outsource the management of this development. Can the Minister confirm if that decision will affect the affordability of tenancy protections for cost-rental tenants? Additionally, if the €132.5 million loan is not approved quickly, what alternative measures can be taken to ensure that the project moves forward without further setbacks?

The tenant in situ scheme has been hugely successful for many constituents in Dublin South Central. Nationally, it has prevented 20,000 people from losing their homes. Colleagues from across the House have all had people coming to our clinics who are waiting for this scheme to be properly recommenced. In light of the announcement of additional funding, which is very welcome, how many extra homes will be secured through the scheme by Dublin City Council specifically, particularly given the huge demand that exists in…

I thank the Minister. The extra funding is extremely welcome. The demand for the scheme continues to grow. We all have people literally looking to get into our constituency offices to try to find out when the scheme will be recommencing. Can the Minister confirm if the new allocation will fully meet the need that exists or will a further increase be required? Are there measures in place to speed up the process relating to purchases, especially as some tenants have been left waiting months. The bureaucracy relating …

Has the Government considered streamlining the application process? Do all local authorities have the necessary resources to ensure quick turnaround once the circular is issued? If demand exceeds the current budget, will further funding be made available by the Department?