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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“These regulations also recognised that there are many affected homes that are attached to other affected homes, such as semi-detached properties. Prior to this change, if one of the two attached dwellings did not meet the scheme damage threshold, it could not proceed to obtain a determination from the Housing Agency. The regulations provide a route for this cohort of applicants and provide a pathway for them to receive a determination under the grant scheme. The point is there have been adaptations and amendments since the grant scheme was first introduced. The current grant scheme was designed in accordance with the prevailing scientific evidence available at the time.”
“Following the commencement of various parts of the defective concrete block (amendment) Act 2025 , the Minister, Deputy Browne, adopted regulations in February and June that provided welcome improvements to the grant scheme. The February regulations allowed homeowners who had suffered construction inflation to apply to the scheme for an increased grant, which resulted in them receiving additional funding to remediate their homes. The June regulations operationalised further improvements, including a key change to allow certain homeowners apply to the scheme to enable them to build a new property adjacent to their defective home and remain in it until the new home is completed. This has provided welcome relief for families who have homes adapted for the needs of members of the household.”
“More than €336 million has been spent on the scheme to date and Government funding for this work continues to be provided as and when required on an annual basis, with a record €175 million allocated to fund the scheme in 2026 - that is more than double the amount allocated to the scheme last year and reflects in the increase up take in the grant scheme. Over 500 homes have been fully remediated to date, with approximately 750 more currently at various stages of construction. When the current grant scheme launched in 2023 it contained four designated local authority areas. In 2024 Sligo County Council was added to the scheme and this year parts of Fingal County Council and Wexford County Council were added to the scheme. Parts of Meath County Council and Carlow County Council will also shortly be added to the scheme.”
“Finally, there is the very real and practical way in which we monitor how the scheme is working within the framework of the legislation set down by the Oireachtas and how we adapt to changing circumstances to improve the scheme for homeowner participants on a continuous basis, including making amending legislation in the Houses last year. Over 3,500 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB grant scheme and will be supported with grants for eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of €462,000 per household - this represents a 10% increase in the maximum cap since the scheme launched in 2023.”
“The Department also participated in this group during the full period of its deliberations on the revision of IS 465: 2018. The State also funded the required independent research that contributed significantly to the review of the standard. My Department remains in regular contact with those affected and we continue to work to listen to homeowners as we keep the scheme under review to identify where we can improve how it operates. The level of commitment shown by this Government to affected homeowners is clearly shown by our actions over the past few years. Principally these relate to the funding we have provided and the way we have extended the scope of the scheme as and when needed.”
“My Government colleagues and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that all such homeowners are provided with the right assistance to remediate their homes to allow them to move on with their lives. The publication of the new standard is welcome. The Deputies will be aware that in November 2021 as Ireland's official standards body, the National Standards Authority of Ireland was tasked by the Government with a special review of the previous standard. This review started in March 2022 and has been conducted by the TC63 concrete blocks committee of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. Membership of this committee included representatives of the concrete industry, Engineers Ireland, the Geological Survey Ireland, homeowner action groups and the Housing Agency.”
“If I can give a shred of comfort, despite the fact we are proposing an amendment, the Minister has committed to reviewing the Act as quickly as possible. I do not have an exact timeline for that but it will be reviewed as quickly as possible because, as the Deputy said, new evidence is always emerging. Today's motion sets out a number of matters relating to the recently released national standard. I will do my best in the time I have to address as many as I can. As the debate progresses, I am sure there will be time at the end to address further issues during the time allocated for concluding remarks. First, I would like to emphasise the Government recognises the distress experienced by thousands of homeowners caused by the use of defective concrete blocks in their homes.”
“No one has lived this experience the way he has. No Member of this House can say they have lived and breathed this issue the way he has, having personally experienced it, so I completely appreciate the points and sentiments made. That is no disrespect to Deputy Murphy, in that his point is made as well but I wanted to say at the outset that Deputy Ward has lived this and can speak about it with authority. The standards were just revised on 2 June. We have to rely on the science that we have. There are mixed messages. On the one hand Deputy Murphy is saying the science is faulty. Deputy Ward is saying he has full faith in the science and the scientists. We have to decide whether we trust the science and the evidence we have as per the revised standards or not.”
“465:2018 will have the choice to continue with their works; — the review will focus, as per the provisions of Section 51 of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, on the operation of the Act in the first instance, with all matters relating to the introduction of I.S. 465:2026 and its interaction with the DCB Scheme being considered as part of the review, and this will include the matter of foundations; and — the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will consider all implications of the new I.S. 465:2026, and make recommendations to the Government on any proposed changes to the DCB Scheme as soon as possible.". I would like to thank the group involved in bringing this motion to the House today. The case is well made by Deputy Charles Ward, in particular.”
“465:2026, was recently published by the NSAI on 2nd June, 2026, and the revised Standard is based on new research in the area, it entails quite significant changes from the previous Standard in that, under the new Standard, almost all houses with defective concrete blocks would be demolished, and furthermore, the Standard provides for the testing of the foundations of each house in case they may be found to be affected at some point in the future, notwithstanding that there are no current cases of damage to foundations; and agrees that: — aspects of the changes entailed by the new Standard require detailed consideration in terms of the DCB Scheme, and could entail significant financial implications for the State if adopted under the DCB Scheme; — the 2022 Act requires that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall, on the publication of the revised Standard, undertake a review of the legislation, the Act also requires that, not later than three months after the completion of the review, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall make a report to each House of the Oireachtas of their findings and conclusions resulting from the review, and it is intended that this formal review of the DCB Scheme will be initiated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shortly; — existing DCB Scheme participants who have already received their determination under I.S.”
“(Irish Standard) 465:2018, the Standard which provides for the assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious material, which was published in November 2018, and the 2018 version of the Standard did not require any testing of foundations as there has never been any evidence of damage to foundations, and the DCB Scheme and the underpinning legislation make no provision for such testing; — in November 2021, as Ireland's official standards body, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked by the Government with a special review of the concrete Standard, this review started in March 2022, and has been conducted by the TC 63 Concrete Blocks Committee of the NSAI, membership of this Committee included representatives of the concrete industry, Engineers Ireland, the Geological Survey Ireland, homeowner action groups, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Housing Agency; and — a new revised Standard, I.S.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme (DCB Scheme), which provides grants to help those affected by defective concrete blocks to remediate their homes, is underpinned by the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (2022 Act); — over 3,500 homeowners are now at various stages of the DCB Scheme, and will be supported with grants for 100 per cent of eligible expenditure up to a maximum cap of €462,000 per household, and this represents a 10 per cent increase in the maximum cap since the DCB Scheme launched in 2023; — more than €336 million has been spent on the DCB Scheme to date, with a commitment to more than doubling the level of funding for 2026 to €175 million, and to continue higher investment levels over the entire period of the National Development Plan 2026-2030; — the DCB Scheme is actively helping homeowners to rebuild their homes, allowing them to move on with their lives; — over 500 homes have been fully remediated to date, with approximately 750 more currently at various stages of construction; — additional counties continue to be added to the DCB Scheme, clearly showing the Government's commitment to help all those affected by the legacy defects caused by defective blocks; — the legislation refers to I.S.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, has already specified to the House the further Government amendments to the residential tenancies Acts that will be made as the Bill progresses through the legislative process. I thank Deputies for their contributions and commend the Housing and Residential-----”
“Since the Government announcement on 10 June 2025 on the enhancement to rent controls and tenancy protections, my Department has engaged extensively with the RTB in relation to resource requirements for both staff and funding in order that it can implement rental law promptly and effectively. An Exchequer allocation of €22.8 million has been provided to the RTB for 2026, which is an increase of €8 million compared with 2025. This increase will assist the RTB to deliver its demand-led services and enable the enhancement of its ICT systems. My Department will continue to work with the RTB to ensure that it is sufficiently resourced to implement legislative changes and deliver on its mandate.”
“The Irish rental market grew in quarter 1 of 2026, with registered private and cost-rental tenancies increasing by 2.4% year on year to 246,477, the highest level since the data series began. The RTB also received 16,548 new tenancy registrations for quarter 1 of 2026. The number of private landlords rose by 1.3% annually to 105,847, indicating increased participation in the rental market. While the notice of termination figures increased in the first two months of 2026, the data show a downward trend following the February peak. There are always landlords entering and leaving the rental market, with new notices of termination and new registrations. However, the longer term trends show that the market continues to grow. We must provide the RTB with the tools and resources to effectively regulate the sector.”
“The key provisions of Part 3 of the Bill aim to streamline the court enforcement of RTB determination orders; allow members of An Garda Síochána and officers of a housing authority, if required, to provide evidence in certain RTB dispute resolution cases, such as where antisocial behaviour arises or there is danger posed to a dwelling; empower the RTB to issue 28-day fixed payment notices for certain offences to provide the opportunity for the offender to avoid prosecution and to speed up compliance with the residential tenancies Acts; and clearly provide for public RTB hearings in the context of adjudication, tribunal and sanctioning cases. These reforms to how we regulate the sector will be critical as our rental sector continues to grow into the future.”
“2) Bill, approved by the Government on 14 October 2025. The amendments to sections 9, 137, 137A and 138 are additional and are required in order to increase the penalties that apply for offences under the residential tenancies Acts, clarify the RTB powers to charge late registration fees to approved housing bodies and increase registration fees in line with inflation.”
“The Government has provided increased levels of funding to the RTB, which will support improved dispute resolution and enforcement activities to minimise dispute resolution timelines and ensure effective outcomes for both landlords and tenants. Part 3 of the Bill provides for technical amendments to the residential tenancies Acts 2004 to 2026 to enhance its implementation and the outcomes thereunder, with greater efficiencies for stakeholders, including the Residential Tenancies Board and the courts. The vast majority of the amendments were included in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2024, as initiated in Dáil Éireann on 24 July 2024. However, they lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 November 2024. Many amendments were also included in the general scheme of the residential tenancies (amendment) (No.”
“The Government’s action plan on housing supply and targeting homelessness, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, similarly commits to strengthening the RTB’s organisational capacity, processes and performance to ensure that its business and resourcing needs are optimised. These processes are important in the light of the updated regulatory and legislative framework being introduced through this Bill to better serve the rental sector. It is important for both landlords and tenants that disputes are resolved as early as possible, and that parties to the dispute consider the process transparent and reflective of our rental law.”
“Similarly, in the case of the new appeals mechanism, the Department and the Housing Agency will work closely to ensure a standardised approach to the implementation of the new provisions. Ongoing monitoring of the volume of appeals, and outcomes of the appeals, will be important to ensure that greater understanding can be brought to how decision-making can be improved in the interest of applicants. The programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, commits to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB.”
“The timelines for both applicants and appeal officers were developed following consultation with the local authority sector and drawing from existing experience of appeals and review processes already in place. On that basis, these timelines have been deemed to be sufficient and fair. Notwithstanding that local authorities are already operating residency eligibility requirements for social housing on a non-statutory basis, important preparatory work is under way with the assistance of the Housing Agency to build a suite of information and training resources. New application forms and related public information are being developed to assist applicants with the process of both applying for social housing and making an appeal.”
“The new requirement does not impact those already in receipt of social housing support, for example, or on HAP or in local authority or AHB dwellings, on the basis that they have moved past the eligibility process and their housing need is met. In relation to the appeals mechanism, the Government is committed to the necessity for independence and fair process in the administration of these decisions. Again, the provisions have been the subject of detailed advices from the Attorney General to ensure that they are robust and meet a high bar of independent and transparent process. The administration of the appeals mechanism remains within the local authority sector but it continues to be the case that applicants unhappy with the outcome of an appeal can make a case to the Ombudsman.”
“This habitual residence requirement is a question of fact, which seeks to ascertain whether the household member has established his or her centre of interest in the State by examining family connections, length of stay, employment history, etc. However, this habitual residency requirement will not be onerous for those already assessed for social housing, on the waiting list and potentially being reassessed, as is normal practice over time under existing legislation, given that they are likely to already have been present in the State for a significant period of time. Very little additional information will be required as part of the application process for social housing. Much, if not all, of the existing documentation required, such as proof of address, income and history of residency permission, will in most cases suffice.”
“The Department, in consultation with the Department of justice, has worked to ensure the Bill aligns with existing social housing policy and is robust but flexible, allowing the Minister to respond to the practical realities of the immigration and permissions system where the Minister for justice has powers to grant permissions and stamps, and set conditions which can change over time. The introduction of the new habitual residency requirement for all social housing applicants as a new eligibility criterion is consistent with the approach taken in social protection legislation. The measure will ensure social housing support recipients are resident in the State, have close links to the State and have made Ireland their home.”
“The advices and support of officials in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and the Attorney General’s office have been important throughout, and the Government is satisfied that the Bill as drafted is fit for purpose. A number of meaningful policy and legislative changes have been initiated in this area since the general scheme was drafted. These include the enactment of the International Protection Act 2026 and plans for the ending of temporary protection.”
“The policy and guidance on this matter are provided in a 2012 Department circular. There is strong advice that operating such a significant decision framework in the absence of a statutory structure brings risks to the State. The Government is moving to manage that risk and ensure transparency and clarity for applicants and decision makers. I understand that the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the Oireachtas joint committee report and engagement and input from the IHREC were an important benefit to the drafting of the provisions, since the general scheme was published in January 2024. This is a complex area of law, social housing and immigration policy, with a significant quantity of international and European law and case law needing to be considered.”
“In relation to the social housing provisions and residency requirements, these legislative reforms are building on existing policy and procedures which, in the first instance, define social housing as a long-term housing support and therefore successful applicants must be in a position to demonstrate that they have a long-term right to reside in the State, that is, their permission to reside here is not temporary or short term. These statutory provisions are founded on the Government’s objective to ensure a robust legislative framework and a consistent and standardised approach across the local authority sector to eligibility for social housing. There is currently no provision in the housing Acts requiring residency as an eligibility criterion for social housing support.”
“I thank all the Members for their contributions during the Second Stage debate. Some concerns were raised and there was some support for the provisions within the Bill. I hope some of that can be addressed on Committee Stage. I was here when Deputy O’Reilly raised the issue of the terrible situation her constituent finds himself in. As she knows, the Minister cannot get involved in individual cases but I wish that gentleman the best of luck in his treatment and recovery. It should be the case that our emergency accommodation provision is fit for purpose, is comfortable and is a safe place. If that is not the case, I urge the Deputy to bring it to our attention if there is a particular emergency accommodation she has concerns about because that should not be the case.”
“They had a very innovative idea known as gateway housing, which was trialled in the Hebrides in Scotland, whereby the islanders, the comharchumann, or the community, were allowed to build four to six houses to allow people to try out island life for a while and if they liked it, they stayed. Future populations would then keep the businesses and the schools going. That is something I would love to see reflected in this as well. The details will emerge shortly but this is one of the greatest hopes and chances we have ever had to ease the burden, stress and strain, not just on young people but on people of all ages and backgrounds and allow them to live in their area or an area to which they have a connection, whether that is where they work or live or where they were born. I thank all Senators for their comments which were very helpful.”
“Working with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, that is the direction of travel. We want to ensure clarity and consistency and that we accommodate. Let that be the key word, that we accommodate applicants rather than put up barriers. I will touch now on the islands, which I referenced in my speech. The islands are different. We talk about school depopulation and the fear of the closure of schools. On islands in particular, that is a real and acute concern. Cape Clear is a Gaeltacht island in west Cork. It is one of the most beautiful places one will ever visit and I urge Senators to go there but the school is just barely hanging on.”
“Acknowledging the fact that it is the applicants who are going to be living in these homes, they should have more of an input into design. All too often we see situations where people had their dream home but perhaps it is out of character with the landscape. There has to be reason there as well because at the end of the day, it is the applicants who are going to be living there and they have to be happy with the house that has been designed. Another issues is where the applicant is already living on a road, perhaps with their parents, and using that road but they are being turned down because of road traffic safety concerns. These are the issues that this national planning statement provides us with an opportunity to provide clarity on.”
“It will mean connection to an area does not mean you have to have been born in the field where the site is, or maybe the field next to it, or in that postcode but rather the community you are part of, that you grew up in, played sports in, went to school in and worked in. We need clarity and flexibility when it comes to interpreting that. It means if you have a bit of a landholding and there are a number of sites, you are not expecting to get permission to build on the top of the tallest hill there but we cannot be sending people down to the lowest, darkest, deepest hole either. That is what success looks like if we get this national planning statement right. It means that there is flexibility. At the end of the day, the applicants are going to be living in this house for the rest of their lives.”
“I want to focus on the word "accommodate". That is exactly what we need to do when it comes to planning in rural areas. We need to accommodate people rather than blocking them and putting obstacles in their way. It is essential. Take a newly married couple who, perhaps, have just had a child and are applying for planning permission. We cannot have a situation where that couple are contacting Senators' offices and crying down the phone because they have been refused for the third or fourth time. We have all seen at first hand the cost, the distress and the emotional impact of something like that. If we are successful with this planning statement, that success will look like not having those types of situations.”
“Officials within my Department also continue to work closely with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, local authorities and Údarás na Gaeltachta in supporting the provision of housing and infrastructure in Gaeltacht communities. That is the gist of it. Obviously in today's statements we could not go into in-depth detail about what may be in the draft national planning statement, but that draft will emerge very shortly. The Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and I have been working on this to ensure the input is appropriate. There is a stated aim. The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, mentioned that, in a rural area suffering persistent and substantial population decline, the policy is to accommodate anyone who is looking to build a house.”
“These include subsidised cargo ferry services to offshore islands to support the carriage of construction machinery and materials, and funding for community development companies and capital investment in community infrastructure on islands. In addition, enhanced support under the vacant property refurbishment grant is available to assist the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties on qualifying islands to help bring them back into use as homes. The maximum grant amount is 20% higher in recognition of the additional costs involved in construction on offshore islands. Up to €60,000, compared with €50,000 on the mainland, is available for refurbishing vacant properties, with up to €84,000, compared with €70,000 on the mainland, where the property is derelict.”
“Investment through the rural water programme helps support safe drinking water, improved wastewater services and the delivery of housing in these areas. These measures help ensure essential infrastructure keeps pace with housing needs and supports long-term community resilience. The national planning framework complements and builds on existing Government policy set out in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 and Our Living Islands: National Islands Policy 2023-2033. In recognising the unique characteristics of our island communities, which include Gaeltacht islands, a number of measures have been implemented through the our living islands policy.”
“Nationally, rural housing continues to be an important component of overall new housing delivery, with about 4,000 or 5,000 new rural dwellings being built annually. The Government is progressing a range of planning and housing actions contained within its housing action plan that will support the delivery of housing across the country. An example of this is the launch of the housing infrastructure investment fund by the housing activation office. This provides significant investment in social and affordable housing along with funding schemes to support the reuse of vacant and derelict properties. My Department is also working with Uisce Éireann and local authorities to address water and wastewater infrastructure needs in rural areas, including Gaeltacht communities.”
“I thank everybody for their contributions. I was not taking notes but I was taking mental notes and listening to it all. Fortunately, it is all recorded so we can watch it back. I thank Senators for giving me the opportunity to discuss rural planning, further to the important discussions on this topic in the House today. The draft national planning statement is being prepared and will provide more clarity and certainty to those engaging with the planning system and seeking to build a new rural dwelling. The importance of delivering on the needs of rural communities is acknowledged, especially through the supply of housing that meets the need of people who can demonstrate they have a local housing need to live or work in that rural area, based on economic or social considerations.”
“I confirm that we are actively looking at the matter. I thank the Senator for raising it. On Uisce Éireann, I will get the message back to it that it needs to prioritise engagement and proper communication with the Senator, local representatives and, most importantly, the vulnerable people who are experiencing issues with water.”
“I thank the Senator. In response to her last question on the Curragh Plains, it is an iconic and famous area for many reasons. Many of us pass through it every week. I often look at it and consider its potential from a nature and biodiversity point of view. It could be extraordinary if we managed to look after it in the right way. The Senator has actively raised this issue over the years. We are considering how to come to some type of agreement with the other Department and stakeholders involved. Obviously, the Department of Defence would be involved. We will speak to it and determine whether something can be done. There are a range of complex issues. There is incredible horse racing in the area, sheep grazing is a tradition on the Curragh and the public use it as an amenity. The Army and Department of Defence are involved.”
“It is certainly something I will report back. The Senator can see that operational procedures are being carried out to improve distribution and remedy the issue around pressure and leakages. I can speak to this as it is an issue in my constituency. Where there are repeated leakages, it is almost like a patchwork that needs to be constantly fixed. If leakages are happening at such a frequent level, the best thing to do is to completely replace the pipework. In the long run, that is the way to go. I will speak to Uisce Éireann about that option. I thank the Senator for raising the issue.”
“Turning to Hillsborough, Newbridge, I am informed that a combination of operational issues occurred in the area yesterday impacting water pressure and supply, including unauthorised abstraction of water from the network by a third party. In addition, a leaking air valve was identified and repaired and a burst watermain in the Greatconnell area, which serves Hillsborough, was also repaired earlier that day. These issues coincided with a period of exceptionally high demand on the network, which further increased pressure on local supply. To support network recovery, Uisce Éireann plans to carry out a controlled overnight operation to optimise water levels in storage, which is not expected to result in any impact on customers. As I said, there is nothing in the answer about the communication issues the Senator highlighted.”
“However, we made enquiries for the Senator and understand that the issues impacting supply that she raised are primarily due to sustained high demand on the network, which has led to critically low reservoir levels and intermittent outages for customers in the area. Uisce Éireann has a range of measures in place to address these challenges and restore stable supply. Pressure management and network reconfiguration measures are being implemented to optimise water distribution and improve resilience across the network. In addition, leakage detection is ongoing across the impacted wider network to identify and repair leaks as quickly as possible. The network is being closely monitored on an ongoing basis, with operational teams responding in real time to changing demand and supply conditions.”
“Its personnel has also increased significantly in recent years. Its capacity is growing so it should be able to respond to issues like this. Wastewater can be far more problematic, as the Senator will be aware, but supply should be more straightforward, I think. I am not a water engineer so there may be technicalities there, but I will certainly bring back the message about communication. Specifically on the projects at Allenwood reservoir, Hillsborough and Newbridge in County Kildare, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services, including planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Neither I nor the Minister, Deputy Browne, has operational function in such matters. We always have to introduce that caveat when we speak about these matters.”
“I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this issue. I hope there may be something for her in the answer, certainly around the technicalities and the question about light at the end of the tunnel. There is nothing in my response about communication, but it is not good enough if communications are not accurate or are not helpful. Uisce Éireann is improving its whole communications process massively, so I will certainly reflect it back to the Department and to Uisce Éireann that better communication is needed. If people are informed, it takes away a lot of the frustration. That is a key aspect. On the supply and the pressure issue the Senator raised, Uisce Éireann is building capacity. We are funding it now to the tune of approximately €12 billion up to 2030. That is significant funding.”
“I know the answer does not concretely answer the Senator's question but I would take it as a positive that the Department is saying that it intends to use this opportunity to create a permanent passenger route. Watch this space. Incidently, the Ryder Cup in Adare will be amazing for Limerick.”
“I get the Senator's concern. I would take positives, if I was looking at it from the Senator's point of view. The Senator is trying to deliver permanent passenger connectivity with Adare. It will have a permanent station. I am assuming - I cannot guarantee this and we will have to get it checked - that it will not only be used for the week-long event, which is the Ryder Cup, but that there may be a window either side of that event to allow passengers to travel. That is a great template to say that we have established that there is a need for this and people will use it if we build it. The track will be there. With the investment being put into it, one would imagine that it would not take a massive further investment to secure a permanent platform and concourse. It is worth exploring further.”
“I assume from the Senator's question that she hopes that this is the permanent passenger link that is put in as opposed to the entire length of the Foynes link and I would take positivities from that response, in that they are securing the potential for it being a permanent passenger line. The sooner that would happen after the temporary station is built, the better.”
“While intended for temporary use during the period of the Ryder Cup, providing a sustainable way for thousands of visitors to access the event, the reacquisition of the former station building where the temporary platforms will be located also ensures that this access point to the line is safeguarded for future permanent passenger services on the line. In that regard, I note that the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy indicates that passenger services on the Adare line could be considered in future, should development patterns support the viability of a regular service. On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I hope this response helps clarify the matter. There certainly are positive elements in the reply in terms of the building of the temporary station at Adare.”
“The works will also connect the Foynes line to the existing network at Limerick. Once the line is commissioned in October, driver training will commence on the route before the first freight services begin operating in early 2027. The reopening of the line will deliver a reliable, frequent, and sustainable logistics option for many companies that currently or in the future will use the port of Foynes. Linked to these overall works, construction has started on a temporary passenger station at Adare, which is set to support thousands of spectators travelling to and from the Ryder Cup in September 2027. The temporary station consists of a platform and external concourse. Construction, which is expected to take six months, is being progressed alongside works on the reinstatement of the Limerick-to-Foynes freight line.”