Charlie McConalogue
Donegal · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There are indications that the opt-out mechanism for the text and data mining exception is not working well in practice. Evidence gathered by the Danish Presidency showed that some activity is taking place on the licensing of works for AI, but that it is uneven across member states and subsectors of the creative sector.”
“The proposal involved the development of grass pitches, an Astroturf facility, flood-lighting and dressing rooms. The Football Association of Ireland wrote to my Department in 2023 stating that it no longer intended to proceed with the LSSIF-funded centre of excellence in Glanmire.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels.”
“This is Ireland's first national strategy for diabetes and it sets out recommendations for action in relation to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and paediatric diabetes. The strategy marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland and represents the development of a unified approach to its delivery.”
“It is anticipated that the final business case will be submitted shortly to my Department. In relation to the site in Glanmire, my Department has been informed that the property has now been leased to Riverstown Football Club by Cork County Council.”
“The structure of that payment, which was agreed between An Post and the postmasters, is designed to maintain and strengthen our post office network and to keep it sustainable, taking into account the number of post offices in an area, the distance to the next nearest post office and the rural nature versus the population base that it migh…”
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“I thank Senator Byrne. Congratulations to him on his election and indeed to Senator Brady beside him. It is a great honour to be elected to the Seanad. Both Senators, and Senator Higgins, know better than anyone it is a very difficult election so congratulations to all and best wishes for the term ahead. I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter. It is important to state the Government and Minister of State for disabilities, Deputy Naughton, are fully committed to providing the necessary services to enable any child with a disability to reach his or her full potential. Both the Government and the HSE are committed to further progressing and enhancing children's disability services in the State.”
“I will certainly feed that back to the Department of housing. It is important we have a decision on this promptly so there is clarity for local authorities. It is the intention of the Minister, Deputy Browne, to ensure there is a Government decision on it. There is a commitment in the new programme for Government to continue the scheme. There were many acquisitions in 2023 and 2024. We now need to see the detail of the programme for 2025. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has engaged extensively with local authorities on the current position through individual engagements and also in plenary discussions with the CCMA housing committee and executive. A decision on the tenant in situ programme for this year is expected to be made by the Government shortly. It is important that this happens.”
“Pending a Government decision on the 2025 programme, local authorities are asked to continue to take appropriate steps to ensure their first response is through local tenancy sustainment structures in order to support households and prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served a notice of termination by their landlord. A decision on the tenant in situ programme for 2025 is expected to be made by the Government shortly and it will be notified immediately thereafter to local authorities.”
“These options include securing the continuation of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the HAP place finder, allocating another RAS property to the tenant, or allocating a social housing tenancy, including voids, untenanted properties or properties available through an AHB. There were 1,500 acquisitions approved for 2023. The programme was extended by the Government into 2024 with a further 1,500 acquisitions, of which 1,300 were tenant in situ acquisitions. Over 1,800 homes were acquired by local authorities and AHBs in 2023. While final figures for 2024 are not yet collated, it is expected that 1,500 acquisitions will have been completed. The programme for Government commits to continuing the tenant in situ scheme.”
“In 2023, following a lifting of the temporary eviction ban and a reported uplift of sales of homes in the housing assistance payment, HAP, and rental accommodation scheme, RAS, the Government introduced, as a temporary measure at that stage, the tenant in situ acquisition scheme in order to mitigate the risk of homelessness arising for tenants being supported by HAP or RAS. A key objective of the programme is to prevent potential homelessness where other solutions cannot be found for affected tenants. It is a matter for local authorities to assess the circumstances of each case and decide the appropriate action. All available options should be considered in order to prevent homelessness, up to and including acquisition.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this. Under Housing for All, the Government has outlined a commitment to delivering 47,600 new-build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period from 2022 to the end of next year. Our clear focus as a Government is to increase the stock of social housing through new-build projects delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHBs. Under Housing for All, there is provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year.”
“I will ensure the Department of housing is fully updated on the engagement here and continues to engage with Tailte Éireann on the issues the Senator has raised with the objective of ensuring the public is well-served by the service Tailte Éireann is tasked with providing under legislation.”
“I thank the Senator. As I outlined earlier, there had been an increase in applications received for registration by Tailte Éireann year on year. In combination with the challenges in recruitment that have existed for some time, this has unfortunately contributed to an accumulation of applications for registration. I outlined in my initial response the steps Tailte Éireann has taken on recruitment and also the business steps they have taken to reduce application processing times, including trying to make the system more efficient. I thank the Senator for raising this. I think we all agree it is important this service is provided in a timely fashion and done in a way that serves the public well.”
“Further information on specific cases is available and obtainable by Oireachtas Members by contacting the dedicated email address in respect of the body, namely, oireachtas@tailte.ie .”
“Tailte Éireann also continues to promote its digital services and uptake of e-registration services where paperless application types are available to legal practitioners and financial institutions which will help to reduce processing times for all service users. It is understood from Tailte Éireann that where an application is lodged fully in order for registration the application will be registered without any long delay. Applications involving transfer of registered land where no change to the registry map is required are in the main processed within 15 working days. Processing times for transfers that require a change to the map and those requiring first registration of property are improving. Lodging parties may of course contact Tailte Éireann about specific cases at its email address, info@tailte.ie .”
“Outside recruitment, every effort is being made by Tailte Éireann to reduce application processing times, including implementation of the efficiency driving measures. These include revised procedures for more efficient handling of the large volume of applications that are lodged that are not in order to proceed to registration, a targeted approach to reduce the age profile of applications pending registration, revised internal processes aimed at reducing the volume of applications on hand which are not in order to proceed and remain under query and also an organisation-wide focus on reducing processing times with business process improvements now implemented across the organisation.”
“The continued increase in applications received for registration by Tailte Éireann year on year and challenges in recruitment for some time now have unfortunately contributed to an accumulation of applications for registration. To address this, Tailte Éireann has embarked on a targeted recruitment campaign where a significant number of new staff have are now being onboarded who, when fully trained, will allow Tailte Éireann to reduce waiting times for registration services. Tailte Éireann has advised me improvements have been made to date in throughput times, especially for cases that do not require mapping. The Department is confident that as the full complement of staff is successfully onboarded it will be in a position to reduce waiting times across all application types.”
“As he outlined, it provides a property registration system as well as a property valuation service and also national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, which the Senator was involved in the pre-legislative scrutiny of, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions. As such, the Minister does not have a role in the operational matters relating to its function. However, it is important we see it carrying out its functions in a very efficient manner and serving well the purpose for which it was set up under law by the State and which it is funded by the State to serve as well.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this. I congratulate him on his re-election and on a very fine vote. I congratulate Senator Joe Conway as well and welcome him to the Seanad. I congratulate Senator Maria Byrne on her re-election and of course also congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election to the Chair, which is a great honour. He has my best wishes for his term of office. On the Commencement matter Senator Boyhan has raised, I will certainly relay his opening comments on his understandable preference to have a Minister or Minister of State from the Department here. Tailte Éireann is an independent government agency under the aegis of the Department of Housing. Local Government and Heritage, as the Senator knows.”