I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and giving me this opportunity to update Members on the issue of vacancy and dereliction. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. Tackling vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for the Government. The reuse of vacant and derelict properties can provide much-needed housing, while also being a catalyst to revitalising communities. A number of national structures have now been established, including a dedicated vacant homes unit in my Department, a full-time vacant homes officer in each local authority and the implementation of a vacant homes action plan to ensure co-ordinated, cross-Government action. In March 2025, the Minister, Deputy Browne, published the 2025 progress report, which shows the significant progress being made in tackling vacancy and is available on my Department's website. A key focus in the action plan relates to the interaction with the Government's town centre first policy approach, which was launched by my Department and the then Department of Rural and Community Development in 2022. Town centre first provides a whole-of-government policy framework to address the decline in the health of towns and support measures to revitalise them. To drive the delivery of town centre first, dedicated town regeneration officers are now established within local authorities and are working in concert with vacant homes officers and other local authority staff to tackle dereliction and develop regeneration initiatives. In addition, where local authorities find that the acquisition of particular derelict properties is the appropriate mechanism to return them to use, they are enabled by the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act to acquire them compulsorily. This approach is now supported through the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, which has established a €150 million revolving fund specifically for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, residential and-or commercial, if necessary, using their compulsory purchase powers, and to carry out any associated works needed to make them more attractive for use or sale. On completion of the most recent review of this element of the URDF programme, over 1,370 residential and commercial properties were approved by the Department for inclusion in the approved programmes for all 31 local authorities. My Department has also introduced planning and development regulations that provide an exemption from the need to obtain planning permission for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings to residential use, including above-the-shop living. The most recent local authority returns from 2024 show that local authorities have received notifications of 1,457 exempted development proposals to date, with plans put forward that result in the provision of 3,429 new homes nationwide. These exemptions can be combined with other funding supports, such as the vacant property refurbishment grant and the repair and leasing scheme, in order to bring buildings into residential use. At the end of quarter 2 of 2025, over 13,730 applications had been received for the vacant property refurbishment grant and almost 10,000 had been approved. Over 2,800 grants have been paid to date as refurbishment works have been completed. Further information on the range of supports is available on the Department’s website. This month, the CSO released new vacancy data for 2022 and 2023. It notes a national vacancy rate of 3.3% at the end of 2023, dropping from 3.6% in 2022. While varying levels of vacancy are indicated in different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are declining nationally. The new programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, also includes actions that aim to further continue work on town centre living and regeneration challenges. These measures will be considered in the context of the forthcoming new national housing plan that is currently being prepared by my Department, including consideration of potential funding and financial supports to assist in encouraging the use of vacant or derelict buildings in towns and cities for new homes. I will bring back the point the Deputy raised to the Minister.

Sentiment score: 0.34

Once again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key priority for the Government. As I stated, I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne. As I mentioned, with to regard to dereliction and vacancy in Ireland, particularly in small towns and villages, the Government is taking a proactive, co-ordinated and whole-of-government approach, which recognises the importance of supporting and empowering local businesses and residents to make real and lasting change in their communities. The Deputy referenced local authorities. Many local authorities have specific vacant homes and properties teams operating. Substantial progress is being made on delivering on the town centre first approach and the vacant homes action plan through the provision of dedicated staff and resources for the dereliction and vacancy issues I referenced. These are being complemented by the financial supports for planning reforms aimed at converting underutilised buildings to new homes in our towns and urban areas. The range of measures being taken by the Government to address vacancy and dereliction are having a real success and vacancy levels are declining. Significant investment through schemes, such as the urban regeneration and development fund, the vacant property refurbishment grant and the repair and leasing scheme, are helping both local authorities and ordinary people to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use and revitalise towns across the country. With regard to derelict sites, my Department initiated a review of the Derelict Sites Act and invited local authorities to make initial submissions on potential improvements to the legislative provisions and the way they are applied. I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue and providing me with an opportunity to inform and update the House.

Sentiment score: 0.39

I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for raising this matter. I am taking this debate and matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Deputy Ó Cearúil will appreciate that I cannot talk about individual cases before the Chamber. Obviously, if the Deputy has questions in relation to individuals, they can be raised directly with the Department of Health. I acknowledge the case he has highlighted, however. While I cannot specifically talk about it, I acknowledge how difficult it has been for the family. I welcome the fact that the procedure has now been scheduled. It should not have had to come to this, and I appreciate that. I acknowledge that he has raised it, but I cannot speak about individual cases. It is acknowledged that acute hospital waiting lists are too long, and many patients are waiting an unacceptably long time for care. The Government is focused on having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it. Since the commencement of the waiting list action plan approach in September 2021, significant progress has been made in reducing both the number of patients on waiting lists and the length of time they are waiting. In relation to the Deputy’s particular query on paediatric hip surgery waiting lists in north Kildare, I can advise that the National Treatment Purchase Fund. NTPF, does not publish data on subspecialties. Therefore, I will refer to the orthopaedic waiting list, within which hip surgeries are a subspeciality. According to the NTPF, the total outpatient waiting list for orthopaedics in CHI was 3,406 at the end of August 2025. This compares to a total of 3,930 waiting at the same time last year. This is a 13% decrease. Additionally, the inpatient and day case waiting list for orthopaedics in CHI reduced from 764 in August 2024 to 671 in August 2025. This is a 12% reduction. Further, the percentage of inpatient and day care patients within the Sláintecare targets was 27.3% at the end of August 2025. This is compared to 22.1% at the same time last year. I can also advise the Deputy that for Kildare specifically, the number of children waiting for inpatient and day case paediatric orthopaedic procedures in CHI has reduced from 58 in August 2024 to 46 in August 2025. This is a 20% decrease. This highlights that the waiting lists are trending in the right direction. I acknowledge the case he has raised on behalf of his constituents, however. Further developments to these lists are under way, including the migration of the specialty to a central referral system. The NTPF has advised the Department of Health that it has approved both outpatient and inpatient and day case initiatives for orthopaedics, which will facilitate treatment for patients on these waiting lists in Children’s Health Ireland. As the Deputy is aware, the final report of the developmental dysplasia of the hip audit was published on Friday, 23 May. The Minister’s immediate priority following the publication of the Thomas audit was to ensure there was clinical follow-up and care for patients who had undergone pelvic osteotomy surgery. All patients and families were sent a letter from CHI and the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh about the next steps that will apply to them and their child, and how they can get further information or support. As of Tuesday, 23 September, a total of 196 patients have had clinical reviews as part of the multidisciplinary team clinics. In relation to retrospective reviews of cases to determine the indications for surgery, the HSE is establishing a separate process involving external experts. It is expected that the panel will be established in the coming weeks and that the review of individual cases will commence in January 2026. The recently established HSE CHI improvement steering group is overseeing the progress of these reviews. This group was established by the HSE CEO in recognition of the need to co-ordinate oversight of a range of matters of focus in CHI in a cohesive fashion. This group most recently met on 29 September 2025, and senior officials from the Department of Health attend these meetings. The improvement of waiting times and particularly waiting times experienced by children and young people remains a priority for the Minister for Health. The Minister is committed to ensure that reform remains centred around putting the child and their family at the very heart of our paediatric services.

Sentiment score: 0.18

Once again, I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for the attention he has given to this important matter. As I already said, I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Once again, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot speak on individual cases, but I do want to acknowledge the matters he has raised in respect of his constituents. The procedure needs to go ahead as scheduled. That is hugely important. I acknowledge the angst and anxiety caused to families when operations and procedures are cancelled. I acknowledge that. I will bring the three points the Deputy has raised to the attention of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Department. I suggest the Deputy also communicate formally with the Department on this matter. The Minister for Health is conscious of the impact the prolonged waiting times are having on patients and their families. The Deputy has brought up the specific case of his constituents. The waiting list action plan 2025 follows an outcomes-informed approach and specifically focuses on reducing the length of time that patients wait for care. The total CHI paediatric orthopaedic waiting list has reduced compared with this time last year. Importantly, the length of time children are waiting has also decreased. Nevertheless, the Deputy raised the specific situation of his constituent, and I acknowledge that. Work is ongoing to improve services, including a migration to a central referral system and a national reporting initiative to increase capacity. The HSE CEO has also commissioned an audit to assess the governance and inequity in access to care within CHI, especially regarding the balance between public and private patient management. Further consideration will be given to any additional actions required. The HSE CHI improvement steering group, co-chaired by the REO for Dublin and the midlands and the chief clinical officer, is co-ordinating the oversight of the implementation of the recommendations from the completed reviews, including the audit of developmental dysplasia hip surgeries in CHI. I assure the House that the Minister for Health remains fully committed to the improvement of waiting lists, including in respect of children awaiting paediatric orthopaedic surgeries.

Sentiment score: 0.23