Christopher O'Sullivan
Cork South-West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The aim of the hierarchy of the plan-making, as set out in the Act of 2024, is to improve scope for the various tiers of the planning system to more closely relate to one another, therefore providing greater clarity and consistency for all involved, from individual citizens and residents' groups to landowners and developers and ultimately…”
“My understanding is that a ten-year modernisation programme has already been undertaken by the Courts Service and significant progress has been made in improving the availability and use of court data.”
“Under the Act of 2024, the national planning framework continues to spearhead and explicate the planning agenda and sits at the pinnacle of the plan-led system and structure, whereby all tiers of planning from regional to local align with strategic objectives set out in the national planning framework.”
“The Senator has suggested that such plans would identify strategic development priorities, including settlement hierarchy, infrastructure corridors, climate adaptation measures and areas for regeneration; set out indicative phasing for major infrastructure and public investment; include spatial mapping of long-term development objectives;…”
“The Bill also facilitates the completion of the work of the Valuation Tribunal and the facility for the local authority to issue the levy demand and, where necessary, for An Coimisiún Pleanála to deal with any appeals to the demand that may arise in those existing cases currently with the tribunal.”
“As the system of plan-making in the State has just been revised and is being implemented for the first time, the introduction of another layer of plan-making could undermine the new hierarchy that was carefully arranged and agreed following extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Office of the Attorney General, an…”
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“The Senator pointed out the funding to Uisce Éireann. The funding to Uisce Éireann has significantly been bolstered over the last number of years, and that includes the fresh money that has come in from the Apple windfall. The Senator is absolutely right that we, as a Government, need to start seeing results from that, not just in Dublin but outside Dublin as well. The rural water programme falls specifically within the remit of my Department. I am absolutely making the case to ensure that a lot of that money and investment goes out to the rural towns so we can see balanced regional development. Coming back to the Senator's point, the situation in Newcastle West, unfortunately, is replicated right throughout Ireland.”
“The key focus of the housing activation office and the reason it was set up is to remove these types of barriers and get all bodies into one room, be it a local authority, Uisce Éireann and whichever other authorities are involved in delivering this type of infrastructure, and bang heads together and remove those impediments. That is going to be key in terms of bringing forward the timelines mentioned by the Senator.”
“The HAO will engage and align key stakeholders, including local authorities, utility and infrastructure providers to ensure that barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects are addressed in a co-ordinated way. In the time I have left I will discuss the specific point that the Senator made about Newcastle West. It is frustrating. The Senator gave two timelines - 2028 and 2031 - in terms of being able to connect to wastewater or a water connection. I can understand the frustration because the timelines are a number of years away and people need houses now in Newcastle West.”
“This involves the upgrade of the existing wastewater treatment plant in Limerick and the provision of a regional bioresource centre at the site. This will be a strategic enabler crucial for urban and regional economic growth while managing water, wastewater and environmental resources sustainably. The project is currently at the preliminary business case stage and is expected to be brought to Government for approval later this year. To address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects needed to enable housing development, the Government has established a new housing activation office in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.”
“To further support Limerick City and County Council’s affordable housing programme, my Department has provided funding for eight dedicated administrative and technical staffing posts. The Mayor of Limerick can also engage with Ministers on a range of policy issues through a consultative forum. The first forum was held last March and had housing on the agenda. Another forum will be held in the autumn. The mayor is also working closely with my Department on a number of housing initiatives set out in his mayoral programme, which sets out the key objectives for his five-year term. On infrastructure needs, Uisce Éireann is in the process of developing a transformative water and wastewater service for Limerick.”
“Since the launch of Housing for All to December 2024, 445 affordable housing supports have been delivered in Limerick. Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline is developed by local authorities, including Limerick City and County Council, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency. Limerick City and County Council is continuing to develop its affordable housing programme. To date a number of schemes have been delivered across the county, including 21 affordable purchase homes at Woodfield Manor, Newcastle West, in 2023, seven four-bedroom affordable purchase homes at Castle Place, Newcastle West, in 2024, and a further 60 affordable purchase homes approved for delivery across three sites by the end of 2026.”
“Turning first to social housing, Limerick City and County Council has delivered 1,092 new-build social homes since 2022 and 228 of these were local authority built homes in the Adare-Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal districts. My Department is also aware of two repair and lease projects in Newcastle West, which will provide a total of nine homes for social housing tenants following the completion of renovation works later this year. The latest social housing construction status report shows that there were 717 homes on site and at various stages of design and procurement in Limerick at the end of quarter 4 of 2024. Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy.”
“I thank Senator Collins for raising that issue on behalf of the people of Limerick and specifically the people of Newcastle West, which is a fantastic town. Unfortunately, it is another one of these towns and villages that have been stymied or where development has been stopped because of a lack of infrastructure. Especially from an Uisce Éireann point of view, wastewater in particular has been a barrier to development in a lot of these towns. I will come back to that later. I will first set out the general housing outlook for Limerick county in particular and then I will come back to the specific point about Newcastle West.”
“However, in this regard it is going to be tricky to find a path to allowing them run for election as the Senator is looking for, but we will certainly have future conversations about it with the Minister.”
“As I said, I will certainly bring it back to the Minister, but that said, I would take into account what I have said about how there is no plan as it stands. There are employees within the council set out under section 161(1)(b). Retained firefighters are one such group, considering the pay scale, but there.is a reason that legislation is there in terms of separation of powers and there is a good reason this legislation is in place to not allow council employees to run for election, especially those in certain pay grades. I get the Senator's point about the incredible work our firefighters do. It is phenomenal. We have seen many efforts being made, especially from the point of view of the retained firefighters, to get increases in their pay scale and salary and these have been successful.”
“As I said at the start, I appreciate where the Senator is coming from on this and the fact these men and women are putting their lives on the line, but the point of the response is where do we draw the line on this when it comes to pay grades. What description of local authority employee do we say can or cannot contest a local election? I guess the fear is this opens it up. I will certainly bring it back to the Minister, but as it stands there are no plans to bring forward a statutory instrument to allow that to be the case.”
“This level of remuneration means that they do not exceed this threshold and can therefore contest local elections in accordance with the regulations. As of 1 March 2025, the maximum point on the firefighter pay scale was either €57,046 or €57,096, depending on the location. This level of remuneration for full-time firefighters exceeds the threshold, meaning they are ineligible to contest local elections in accordance with the regulations. In considering any changes to legislation to include grades whose salary exceeds the maximum remuneration for the post of clerical officer, including full-time firefighters, the Minister must be mindful of prevailing provisions in the wider Civil Service. As these remain unchanged, the Minister therefore has no plans to make a new statutory instrument in this regard.”
“These provisions reflect the provisions of Circular 09/2009, Civil Servants and Political Activity, published by the Department of Finance, now the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitilisation. The matter of maximum remuneration has been raised previously and, for the avoidance of doubt, my Department issued Circular 03/2024 in advance of the most recent local elections, which clarifies “maximum remuneration” as the maximum basic salary exclusive of overtime, callout-incident attendance payment or any allowances. As of 1 March 2025, the maximum point on the clerical officer pay scale was €46,334. The maximum annual allowance paid to retained firefighters after eight years of service was €17,854, as of March 2025.”
“The Act sets out the categories of individuals who are disqualified from being elected or co-opted to become member of a local authority. Section 161(1)(a) provides that member of a local authority is not to be employed by a local authority. However, it allows the Minister to designate such classes, descriptions or grades of employments to which this restriction does not apply or to specify conditions under which the restriction does not apply. SI 216 of 2004 is made under section 161(1)(b) and provides that a local authority employee whose maximum remuneration on the last date for receipt of nominations at a local election does not exceed the maximum remuneration for the post of clerical officer may be elected or co-opted to become a member of a local authority.”
“I thank Senator Duffy for raising this matter. He is correct to say it is nuanced. I can see why he is taking the approach he is taking because, first, it is about firefighters, who put their lives at risk to keep us safe. The Senator quite rightly pointed out that the work of a councillor is full time. In many ways, all a person in this situation is trying to do is to do better. Then there is the other aspect, whereby people in similar roles, in the retained aspect of firefighting, can run for election. From that point of view, I can see the Senator's point. I will set out the legislation and listen to the Senator's thoughts on that. The legislative position in respect of local authority membership is set out in the Local Government Act 2001.”
“A key goal of the housing activation office is to unlock as much land for development as possible. This includes some of the urban areas in more regional parts of Ireland. This will remove impediments, whatever they may be, such as infrastructure or wastewater infrastructure. This move will accelerate development for many of our rural towns and villages.”
“I reassure the Deputy that there is absolutely no backtracking on the commitment to provide solutions for these rural villages. As I have said, the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, recently brought forward the national planning framework, which gives a clear commitment on regional growth and regional development and allowing people to live in rural parts of Ireland. As I have said, the national development plan will inform funding for Uisce Éireann going forward. There has been a significant increase in funding for Uisce Éireann in recent years and, as I have also said, we have to start seeing results from this. In recent months the Minister, Deputy Browne, announced the establishment of the housing activation office.”
“The Deputy is absolutely right that there are two projects in Clare and it is very important that these projects in Broadford and Cooraclare are being considered. I was in Clare the other day and I have to commend the proactive nature of the local authority. It is important that it got these two schemes in for consideration for the €45 million funding. As I have said, there has been back and forth communication between the Department and local authorities, for example, Clare County Council, and responses have been received. They will be assessed. I will certainly be making it a priority that we get an answer on how we proceed and fund these, and how quickly we can get the solutions built in these very important villages and towns.”
“The responses have all been received and, as I have said, the Department will be assessing them and a response will be issued in due course. I hope we can get movement on these very important infrastructural projects as soon as possible.”
“Since the funding announcement, the local authorities and Uisce Éireann have jointly undertaken and completed a reassessment of the projects to confirm the most efficient construction options and to provide certainty to the local authorities on the funding contribution required from them for each project. The local authorities concerned have been asked to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place, and responses in this regard have been recently received by the Department. These responses will be considered over the coming weeks and decisions will be made in due course. As I have said, responses have been received from each local authority and there are seven projects under consideration. They have been reassessed in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.”
“The measure was designed to support an initial portfolio of demonstration projects that could inform a longer term strategic approach to the issue of wastewater infrastructure in small villages not served by Uisce Éireann. In December 2023, approval in principle of €45 million of funding was given to a number of projects under the programme. I believe this is the programme to which Deputy Cooney is referring. The local authorities are responsible for the delivery of the projects. However, they are required to work in consultation with Uisce Éireann, reflecting the fact that the infrastructure being built will ultimately be owned and operated by Uisce Éireann.”
“More than €243 million is provided under the National Development Plan 2021-2030, covering the period 2021 to 2025, for investment in non-Uisce Éireann water infrastructure. Included in this is €50 million specifically for demonstration projects to address the requirements of villages without public wastewater infrastructure. In April 2022, under the Department's multi-annual rural water programme, a dedicated funding programme, measure A8, was announced for the wastewater collection and treatment needs of villages without access to public wastewater services. The strategic objectives of the measure are providing opportunities for rural housing development, addressing risk to public health, and preventing water pollution.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 30 together. I thank Deputy Cooney for raising this issue. Clearly the need for investment in infrastructure, particularly wastewater services in our towns and villages, is a priority and a recurring theme that we hear. It is a priority of the Minister, Deputy Browne, of the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and of mine, in terms of delivering housing in this regard. The Government is committed to continued and ongoing sustained and strategic investment in rural water services across Ireland. As part of this commitment, the Department is investing in rural water infrastructure to deliver improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where Uisce Éireann services are not available.”
“We want to see houses built and delivered now. The interim solution in Edenderry is, once a design is finalised, to look at the potential of developer-led infrastructure which could then be connected to the new wastewater treatment plant. This is an opportunity and it could be rolled out as a model throughout the country if it worked.”
“On the tenet of the Deputy's original question on assessment, I really believe that is the role of a county development plan. It assesses towns and villages with regard to the various infrastructural needs within them. The national development plan will be announced shortly. Funding for Uisce Éireann will be formed, modelled and moulded around this. This is very important also. We have seen significant increased funding for Uisce Éireann. Deputy Clendennen is absolutely right that we need to start seeing a return for this increased investment and the increased funding of the utility. With regard to Edenderry, certainly we could look at some of these projects and designs taking anything between five and seven years, but for towns such as Edenderry and other towns of a similar size this is not good enough.”
“There is a clear commitment in that to address regional development, including some of our smaller and larger towns and villages, in terms of ensuring there is investment in those areas. It recognises the need for balanced regional growth, which is a priority for the Minister, Deputy Browne, in respect of housing as well. I will come back to the Deputy with specifics on Edenderry, if that is okay.”
“I again thank the Deputy and appreciate him raising these concerns on behalf of the people of Offaly and specifically Edenderry. My understanding is that quite a bespoke approach is being taken in Edenderry. A wastewater treatment plant that would be sufficient to serve the population of Edenderry will be designed. In the meantime, consideration will be given to an interim solution through a developer-led process which would be designed with the intention of connecting that to the wastewater treatment plant once it is designed and finished. The Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, recently brought forward the national planning framework.”
“More than €243 million is provided under the National Development Plan 2021-2030 over the period 2021 to 2025 for investment in non-Uisce Éireann water infrastructure. In addition, Uisce Éireann has a small towns and villages growth programme which will provide growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in its capital investment plan.”
“Where no public wastewater network is available, individual homes may be provided with suitable individual wastewater treatment facilities, subject to compliance with the relevant environmental standards and requirements. Further information is available in the EPA's code of practice for domestic wastewater treatment systems. It will be a matter for the respective local authorities to identify any other infrastructure deficits that may constrain housing delivery through their development plans. The Government is committed to investment in rural water services. As part of this commitment, my Department is investing in infrastructure to deliver improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where Uisce Éireann services are not currently available.”
“I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this important issue. Unfortunately, it is still the case that some rural towns and villages across the country require investment in infrastructure, be it in my area of west Cork or the Deputy's area of Offaly. It is something the Government is committed to addressing. Under section 10 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, it is a statutory requirement for each planning authority to include objectives in their development plan for the provision or facilitation of infrastructure. For new housing in smaller settlements, it is important to consider the type of appropriate infrastructure options that may support growth in these locations.”
“At the centre of anything that happens to the GPO will be the museum and the cultural and historical aspect of it. I would love if Sinn Féin were to co-operate on this project because we have an opportunity to create something wonderful. Yes, there will be a retail element to it. Yes, there will be-----”
“The Deputies have mentioned retail outlets such as McDonald's and Carroll's. First, there is already a retail element to the GPO complex. The Deputies cannot deny that a GPO complex is already there. Sinn Féin is trying to put across this argument, in its Members' own words, that it will be turned into a "giant shopping mall". That is absolutely not the case-----”
“There will be a focus on the historic importance of the GPO. There will be a focus on the role this period played in this important part of Ireland's history. The reason the State bought and owns 14-17 Moore Street is to protect it and to commemorate what happened in those houses on Moore Street. To hear descriptions such as "betrayal" and "wanton destruction" is-----”
“-----the €10 million spent on the exhibition that we already have in the GPO. There was no mention of the decade of centenaries. None of that was mentioned. It was completely wiped out for Sinn Féin's narrative. The Government is invested in this. With anything that happens to the GPO, there will be an absolute focus on the cultural importance of the GPO.”
“There are people whose family members participated through different periods of this revolutionary period. Sinn Féin does not own this narrative. We all have an invested role here. To hear things such as "betrayal" and to hear the Government being accused of the "wanton destruction" of this revolutionary period is completely outrageous and untoward. There was no mention of the investment in Kilmainham Gaol and the incredible visitors' centre that we have there-----”
“The bullet holes still etched in its columns are not scars - they are scriptures. They are reminders of what we owe and to whom, and what we must never forget. I plead with Sinn Féin not to put out an incorrect narrative on this. We are all connected to this period of our revolutionary history. Many TDs and Senators have a direct link to this revolutionary period, not just Sinn Féin.”
“I am glad to say that works to the national monument are completely independent of works to the surrounding area and will proceed under ministerial consent as soon as possible, once all of the plans have been made. I stand before the Dáil not merely to speak of bricks and mortar, and not simply to honour the fine neoclassical building that has graced O'Connell Street since 1818. I speak of a living symbol, a sacred place that still resonates with the fierce unyielding rhythm of Irish freedom, identity and resilience. To walk through the GPO doors today is to walk through time. Each echo on its stone floors is a whisper of Pearse, Connolly and Clarke, a chorus of voices who would not be silenced and who gave their all so that we might inherit a nation proud and free.”
“Considerable work has been done to ensure all preparatory work for any redevelopment has been thoroughly carried out, and all public infrastructure guidelines have been adhered to. A design team for the project has been appointed and an application for ministerial consent for investigative works has been received, which will inform the full ministerial consent application, which is anticipated to be submitted shortly. I am pleased to say the interpretation stage of the project, with detailed design of the exhibition, has been signed off and the appointed consultants are in the process of preparing tender documents for the exhibition elements of the commemorative centre. The project was awarded €12.17 million under the urban regeneration and development fund and the balance will be funded through the Exchequer.”
“It was to liaise with stakeholders with a view to securing agreement for the redevelopment of the area in a way that is sensitive to its history, its culture and its traditions. This group went through three iterations and comprised 1916 relatives and Moore Street traders as well as Oireachtas and local authority members. The group provided three separate reports to the Minister, all of which contained a number of suggestions. The key recommendation was that work would begin on the monument as soon as possible. Plans for the refurbishment of the national monument, along with a visitor centre to the rear, are well under way. A steering group of officials from the Department and the OPW is guiding the complex process involved in a project such as this.”
“We will need to ensure that various envisaged projects work together in harmony to revitalise the area and address some of the wider urban and social challenges facing this area of the city. Conservation-led development of the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street is one such project, where detailed work into the refurbishment of the national monument is well progressed. As all well know, legal proceedings from 2016 thwarted the State's hope and stopped all works, apart from essential stabilisation and preservation measures that were agreed by the High Court. Since the Court of Appeal overturned the earlier judgment in 2018, the Moore Street advisory group to the Minister has advised on how best to proceed with plans for the monument as well as a visitor centre to the rear.”
“Sympathetic to development elsewhere on O'Connell Street, the upper floors will be refurbished to provide office accommodation for public servants, a key piece of infrastructure for modern government administration. It is acknowledged by the OPW and by us all that there will be a need to consult on design, and that this consultation will be wide-ranging, given the profound symbolic and real importance of the GPO, not only to Dubliners, but to many in our nation and among our diaspora. In addition, the redevelopment of the complex affords us an opportunity to further enhance a space for the public with new visitor attractions and a city centre venue with cultural, education and recreational facilities. Redevelopment of the GPO complex will, of course, need to be considered in the context of the surrounding urban landscape.”
“The OPW has already undertaken a preliminary assessment of the building fabric and services, including a detailed survey of the entire complex. Detailed topographical surveys and internal and external digital scanning of the entire property have been completed, as well as subsurface surveys, which will provide information critical to the future detailed design process. This technical work will inform interventions to safeguard the property in future. The project has been included as a key project of the OPW's submission on the revised national development plan, which affirms that the GPO will remain in public ownership. The rich cultural heritage and essence of the building will be preserved through its continued operation of the historic post office and the museum on the ground floor.”
“The recent report of the group provides a path to implement the Dublin city task force recommendation, including governance and oversight. The report outlines the engine for delivery and the required partnership that, with the right expertise and focus, can deliver actions to make Dublin city more thriving and attractive, a safe cityscape and a desirable location to live, work and visit. The report includes recommendations for the future of the GPO. It proposes that the redevelopment of the GPO complex be an ambitious national flagship project. It proposes a mixed-use development, with a combination of cultural, retail and office components befitting the national historic and cultural importance of the site, all to be the subject of a detailed proposal to be developed and led by the OPW.”
“m of mixed-use accommodation, including office space, the post office itself, the Witness History exhibition centre, as well as some retail units and the GPO shopping arcade. While there has been a range of minor conservation interventions over many years, the condition of the fabric of the building has deteriorated in places and the building management system needs to be upgraded. In late 2023, the majority of the GPO staff moved to new premises in the north docklands and a reduced cohort of approximately 300 staff remain at the GPO complex. The interdepartmental group on the Dublin city task force held its first meeting in October 2024, with a number of Departments and agencies represented at senior level.”
“The General Post Office complex site, the former headquarters of An Post, remains the principal post office of our capital city. It is one of the most prominent and well-known buildings of our capital and country, perhaps the most well known. It has secured a place in our history and in our country's future due to its role in the 1916 Easter Rising and the hallowed space from where this republic was born. It is not just a building. It is a witness to our struggle, our sacrifice and our rising. It was here beneath the Tricolour flying defiantly over the colonnade that the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was first read aloud to the world. Here the plum of our nation's great dream turned red with the blood of patriots who dared to imagine a free Ireland. As things stand, it comprises just under 24,000 sq.”
“I move: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — the ongoing commitment of this Government to honouring the men and women of 1916; — the hugely successful and inclusive Decade of Centenaries programme, and the Government's investment in key capital projects in that regard, including the seminal 1916 Museum and Exhibition at the General Post Office (GPO), and the purchase by the State of the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street; and — its affirmation of the status of the GPO as the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the site at which the Proclamation of the Republic was read on Easter Monday, 24th April, 1916; acknowledges the central role the GPO has played since 1818 in delivering postal services, and its historical significance as an early home for the predecessor of RTÉ, 2RN; recognises the enduring role of the GPO as a hub of communication, connecting communities across the country; further notes: — that the Government has approved the overall approach as outlined by the Interdepartmental Group on the recommendations of the proposed Roadmap for Delivery: Dublin City Taskforce Report; — the accelerated delivery of several landmark capital projects in Dublin's core area, forming part of a broader strategy to drive urban regeneration and sustainable development as a result of the work of the Interdepartmental Working Group and the Dublin City Taskforce; — that this commitment will be reflected in the review of the National Development Plan (NDP) and aims to help build delivery momentum across priority projects; — that the NDP 2021-2030, published in 2021, included the GPO redevelopment and clearly sets out the intentions relating to the GPO that the building will remain in public ownership, and the rich cultural heritage of the building will be preserved through continued operation of the historic post office and the museum on the ground floor, and, sympathetic to development elsewhere on O'Connell Street, the upper floors will be refurbished to provide office accommodation for civil servants; and — that a detailed proposal for the future use of the GPO will be developed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), and submitted for approval by the Government in due course, and it is acknowledged that there will be a need to consult on design, and that the consultation would be wide ranging given the emblematic importance of the GPO, not only to Dubliners but also to the public all over Ireland; endorses the intention to reflect the national historical and cultural significance of the GPO in any development plans, creating a dynamic and respectful reuse of a key historical civic landmark; and furthermore, notes: — the acquisition by the State of the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street; — the significant stabilisation and weathering works undertaken by the Government to preserve and save the buildings from further deterioration, and, in particular, the preservation works relating to the historic tunnels; — the extensive engagement with relevant stakeholders, including political parties, through, inter alia, the work of the Moore Street Advisory Group and other fora; and — the more recent progress made by the OPW on the restoration and conservation of the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street.".”
“On the back of this, we definitely need a further focus on education and not just a weekly campaign in the year, but an all-year-round campaign on fire safety and the extension of the community alarm scheme to make sure more households get alarms. I again thank the Senator for raising the matter.”
“I thank the Senator for the passion he brings to the topic. The Department has a community smoke alarm scheme which funds approximately 12,000 smoke alarms annually. It was further extended to include more vulnerable and high risk households through the introduction of alarms for the hard of hearing in 2023-24. So far in 2024-25, the scheme has seen 15,000 standard alarms and 240 alarms for the heard of hearing supplied to fire services. There is a scheme. It could be expanded and rolled out on a greater scale. I do not know how practical it would be to address every household, but, certainly, the more households we can get these alarms into, the better. There are approximately 1.8 million households in Ireland, but the Senator is targeting those built before 1997. That makes complete sense.”
“The research helps to understand causes and will be used to develop messaging. I will come back with a short supplementary answer, but I completely take the Senator's point. I thank him for raising it. He is doing everyone a favour by highlighting the matter. There is policy around education. It is strong, but we can always do more and it can always be stronger.”
“This is run jointly with the 27 fire authorities in Ireland and with Northern Ireland fire services, and begins with a live launch. The live launch in 2024 was held in Kildare and the 2025 launch is being held in Northern Ireland. My Department also develops and funds a number of schools' education programmes for primary and post-primary education. In 2024, the primary school programme was updated, bringing Rua, the fire hound, to schools. Following these educational programmes, children often become drivers of fire safety in the home themselves. The Department also worked with the Health Research Board. The latest research is aimed at examining geographic characteristics and other factors associated with alcohol-related fatal fires in Ireland. A paper relating to this research was published in early 2025.”