I thank Deputy Connolly. It was lovely to hear her using our native tongue when asking her question. Unfortunately, I am not as fluent or líofa as she is to be able to respond.
Sentiment score: 0.20
The Deputy's question is a very serious one and it is on the issue that this Government will be judged on. I have some statistics from the Department, but on the Deputy's specific question, I am not aware of the tenant in situ scheme being suspended. I will share with the Deputy the information I have with me. If it does not have specific details relating to her question, I will bring it to the attention of the Department to try to get clarity for her. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022 to 2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and AHBs. Under Housing for All, there is provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. In 2023, however, following the lifting of the temporary eviction ban and a reported uplift in sales by landlords of homes in the HAP and rental accommodation schemes, the Government introduced a temporary measure - the tenant in situ acquisitions scheme - in order to mitigate the risks 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 the 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. The Deputy's specific question was on Galway local authority and she stated that it had verbally confirmed to her that the scheme had been suspended since, I believe, 2023.
Sentiment score: -0.05
I beg the Deputy's pardon. I will take a note of that. These options include securing the continuation of the tenancy with the landlord, securing alternative accommodation through the HAP place finder, allocating another rental accommodation scheme property or allocating a social housing tenancy, including voids, untenanted properties and properties available with an AHB. There were 1,500 acquisitions approved for 2023 and the programme was extended by the Government into 2024 with a further 1,500 acquisitions, 1,300 of which would be tenant in situ. Local authorities have delegated sanction to deliver the 1,500 acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within acquisition cost guidelines issued by the Department. More than 1,800 homes were acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies in 2023. While final figures for 2024 have not yet been collated, it is expected that 1,500 acquisitions were completed. The programme for Government contains a commitment to continue with the tenant in situ scheme. As a result, we have to assume it is not suspended. There are annual targets and budgets assigned for each local authority. Pending a Government decision on the 2025 programme, local authorities are asked to continue to take appropriate steps and ensure that their first response is through local tenancy sustainment structures in order to support households and prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served with notices of termination by their landlords. The Deputy stated that there were 15 homes in Galway County Council's area that are at risk of not being completed and of not being open to tenancies because of that suspension. I have taken note of what the Deputy said in her and will get her a response.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I appreciate the Deputy raising this matter. She referred to Galway County Council specifically.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I commit to the Deputy that I will contact the Minister for housing and his Department tomorrow to get the Deputy a clear answer on whether it is suspended.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. I am from Cavan-Monaghan and do not live in the Dublin area, but I have heard much discussion in the media in recent days about the concerns of parents, particularly parents who are expecting their first child and who do not have access to a public health nurse to make those all-important milestone checks. The Government remains committed to providing continued investment in the health workforce, including public health nurses, and ensuring that this service is available to those who need it. Public health nurses are employed by the HSE to deliver safe, quality and person-centred community nursing care across people's lives. There are currently 1,511 whole-time equivalent, WTE, public health nurses employed in the HSE. A further 27 posts were provided for in budget 2025. The Department of Health has requested that the HSE expedite recruitment to these posts in areas where child health developmental assessments have been impacted. It is important to note that the HSE recruitment pause ended in July 2024. There is currently no impediment to normal recruitment or replacement of staff within agreed WTE limits. Each regional executive officer will continue to prioritise, recruit and replace staff within the approved numbers as appropriate, including public health nurses. There are known challenges with the recruitment and retention of public health nurses, and right across the health sector, particularly in parts of Dublin. The HSE has established a national oversight group with specific focus on community nursing services to address these issues. Several short-term, temporary solutions to prioritise resources and service provision in line with clinical needs have already been undertaken in areas most affected by high vacancy rates. Some areas are operating a priority 1 service as per the HSE's national caseload prioritisation procedure. They are, therefore, prioritising essential care, including birth notification visits and post-natal assessments. As of last month, ten local health offices were using the national caseload prioritisation framework to provide services. These include the office in Lucan, which falls within the remit of HSE Dublin and Midlands, of which the former CHO 7, to which Deputy Gogarty referred, is part. Where the prioritisation framework is used, child health developmental assessments have, in some instances, not been provided. I acknowledge the concerns of parents where access to these important public health nursing services is limited. The Department of Health is working with the HSE to address these challenges as a priority in the programme for Government. I take on board the suggestions made about how we can entice people into those all important positions as public health nurses. In 2024, to attract more nurses to specialise as public health nurses, it was provided that existing nurses who wish to enter the public health nurse sponsorship programme could remain on their current salary scale. Public health nurses have seen their salary scale improve with the addition of one further scale point and the introduction of a long service increment. This measure has contributed to an increase in the number of applicants to the programme in 2024 and 2025. In addition, over the lifetime of the current public service agreement, public health sector staff, including public health nurses, will receive a pay rise of 9.25%. They are some of the introductions being made to try to address the issue, but I know, as has been raised tonight, if parents are living in the area and have a newborn baby or are expecting one, they need solutions right now. I take on board the suggestions made and the concerns raised.
Sentiment score: 0.19
I thank both gentlemen again for raising this important topic. The Government remains committed to providing continued investment in the health workforce, including public health nurses. I take on board the suggestions relating to capacity, recruitment and the Dublin allowance. There is also that piece about how we maybe have lots of staff who are willing to be in the HSE and public health and there are areas like Dublin, including the Deputies' constituencies, where they are thinner on the ground. The 27 WTE posts were provided for in budget 2025 and the Department of Health has requested that the HSE expedite these posts to areas where child health developmental assessments are impacted. Several short-term, temporary solutions to prioritise resources and services provision in line with clinical needs have been undertaken in areas most affected by the high vacancy rates. In 2024, to attract more nurses to specialise as public health nurses, it was provided that existing staff nurses who wish to enter the public health nurse sponsorship programme could remain on the existing point of their current salary. As of November 2024, 86.6% of all three- to nine-month child development assessments were completed in time and before them reaching their 12-month old milestone. I acknowledge the concerns raised tonight and that the Deputies are raising them on behalf of their constituents. I acknowledge the suggestions they have both brought to the table with regard to how to address it.
Sentiment score: 0.20