Hospital Services
1. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her current policy on the colocation of the Rotunda Hospital; the amount spent to date on colocation planning, including any preliminary stages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17627/26]
My first question is on the Rotunda Hospital. Since the question was tabled, however, a memo was brought to Cabinet and the Minister has decided to abandon the plans to colocate the Rotunda Hospital with Connolly. If I am right that this is her position, she might outline that. Now the key thing has to be what happens with the critical care unit. I welcome that, as part of an enhanced planning application and the critical care unit, the sexual assault unit will also be enhanced. The Minister might take the opportunity to update the House on those two very important projects.
I thank the Deputy. Just to clarify and for accuracy, I did not bring a memo to Government. That is only a technical point. The Deputy is quite right. What we have decided to do is reflect on the judgment and on the needs of women going forward. The needs of women going forward are for critical care capacity for neonates. I am sure the Deputy has been in the unit in the Rotunda Hospital. They do exceptionally good work but it is not in a suitable place for neonatal intensive care. The idea is to go back in with a new application. All of our options were considered in relation to whether to take a judicial review. That would mean going through an extensive legal process, potentially for two years, to go back into the same body. I am not sure that really meets the needs in any event.
What we have decided to do is enhance the application, to go bigger. We need critical care capacity onsite. From the perspective of patient safety, that enables me to say I am satisfied that the patient safety needs of women on that site are being yet better met. Already, of course, the Rotunda is practically beside the Mater and there are very good bluelight channels, as the Mater has said. No woman has died in the Rotunda in 20 years. It is a safe pathway already but it does need enhancement. That is why that critical care capacity for women as well as for neonates will form part of the new application.
That enables us to delineate the Rotunda from the otherwise important colocation policy of having that critical care capacity for women closer, the case being Holles Street and the National Maternity Hospital. It enables us to remove that from the equation of a new planning application. The colocation question cannot be in the minds of anyone because it is delineated from that in that way. We are intending to go back with a bigger application directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála with critical care capacity for women and an enhanced sexual assault treatment unit. I want everybody here, which I know they will do, to make a statement that the Rotunda is for women in the city centre in every possible way. The Ministers, Deputies O'Callaghan and Chambers and myself will be backing that application and I am sure the Deputy will too.
The colocation plan unfortunately was an anchor around the hospital for far too long so I welcome the fact that anchor has now been removed. It is policy since 2015 but very little money has been spent on it and there was no real timeframe. An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision did mention colocation not as the main reason but certainly as one of the factors it took into account, so removing that obviously helps.
It is possible and necessary that we protect the built environment that is Parnell Street. Nobody, including the master of the hospital, disputes that the architectural heritage of that building is important. However, it is possible to have a planning application that can address some of those concerns but also provide world-class, first-class buildings and capacity for the staff who, as the Minister said, do a wonderful job in the Rotunda Hospital. I am satisfied that this can be achieved. It will require funding and support at every step of the way from Government.
I agree. Of course, the heritage consideration was the dominant one in that third round for the decision-making. It still remains of importance to that area. However, balancing the public interest is something we do all the time. Dublin City Council and the inspector took the view that in the previous application, the public interest was overwhelmingly served by progressing with it. The deciding body in the end decided in the opposite direction. In many ways, what we say here informs the public interest. We are the representatives of the public in what we say in relation to the importance of the care of women. Successfully and correctly delineating the Rotunda from the colocation policy, which is important for other hospitals, is a significant step in that. I do expect the application to be well supported in the broader public interest.
The Deputy is correct that very little money was spent on the colocation of the Rotunda. However, an enormous amount of money has been spent on colocation policy generally in respect of Holles Street. That reflects the hierarchy of need. The need to move Holles Street was much greater because the patient safety need was much greater, the distance being greater between Holles Street and St. Vincent's than between the Rotunda and the Mater. That speaks to the priority placed on it.
The decision for the Rotunda in relation to colocation has raised issues around other colocation proposals as well. The Minister mentioned Holles Street, which is moving to Elm Park and which is much more advanced. There is a plan for Limerick and for the Coombe. Now questions are being asked about where they stand, particularly the Coombe, which is to move to the site adjacent to the new children's hospital, which is yet to open. Are there timeframes for that? What is the policy of the Government? Is there any fresh thinking on the Coombe given the decision that was made for the Rotunda Hospital? It is really important that certainty is given to all of those hospitals. I refer to one of the lessons we have to learn if the certainty is not there, if the pathway is not there and if there are no timeframes for colocation while these hospitals are trying to expand and provide the services they need to provide in the here and now as well as for five, ten or 20 years' down the road. Being tied to colocation can be problematic when there are no real timeframes or movement. The Minister might be able to give her insight into the Coombe and Limerick as well.
The Deputy is exactly right. Holles Street and Elm Park is settled. The question on Limerick forms part of what we are trying to do generally in Limerick and I would be happy to update the Deputy but our policy is very much the same in respect of colocation there. The Deputy is right to identify the Coombe, which is quite close to St. James's Hospital, where we are investing significant additional capacity at present. It is something I am now going to reflect on. I do not want to separate that yet but it is important that we do a detailed analysis of the needs of the Coombe, the adjacency of St. James's and what we have learned in relation to that. Back in 2013, 2014 and 2015, there were discussions about the necessity for trilocation and all those different efforts to try to put those pieces together. Of course, we are learning more and more. We are seeing the different pathways now. The Deputy is right to identify that and I cannot answer that today. It needs more reflection. We can do that collectively over time. There is not the same imperative because we are driving ahead with investment in the Coombe as it is.
It would be a good issue for the Oireachtas health committee to examine in the next number of months, namely the whole colocation strategy.
Health Services
2. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health whether she will commission a study on the health impacts of prolonged exposure to mould and damp in homes impacted by defective concrete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18050/26]
I would be grateful if the Minister of State would let me know whether she will commission a study on the health impacts of prolonged exposure to damp and mould in homes impacted by defective concrete.
I thank the Deputy for raising this. We know that living with mould and damp can have a profound impact on people’s health and well-being. They are known to cause respiratory illnesses and can also affect mental health. Children and other vulnerable people often feel these effects more than most.
The Government recognises the difficult and painful situation that many families are in and is working to address the root cause through the defective concrete blocks grant scheme. We are very mindful of that. This scheme provides financial support to those in designated counties whose homes have been damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks during construction. We understand that families can face financial hardship and in some cases may have to leave their homes. We are very much aware of this and can see that there is a huge level of stress and anxiety.
To support those affected, enhanced mental health supports have been introduced. I do not know if the Deputy is aware of these but they are really important. They have been introduced through the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, and through our mental health services. It is called MyMind, which provided free counselling, psychotherapy, and psychological support. At the moment approximately 450 appointments are offered each year, along with group sessions and workshops.
Children’s Health Ireland’s respiratory, cystic fibrosis and sleep teams continue to provide essential care for children affected by respiratory conditions. Given the well-established health impacts of mould and damp, a further study is not going to be needed. Our priority is to deliver direct, practical support to those living with the consequences of defective concrete blocks.
I want to highlight some urgent cases in Donegal involving individuals with serious conditions living in unsafe, defective homes. I have written to the Minister of State previously regarding these. Their health, dignity and daily lives are at constant risk. These are real families, not statistics.
Unfortunately the only response from the housing Department was a generic letter offering practically no support. I commend the Minister's leadership particularly with regard to the Letterkenny hub. These cases are an opportunity for the Government and the Department of Health to lead again. We need help. Urgent cases needs to be fast-tracked. People are stuck in homes, their health is failing and they are ageing. They need to be prioritised. At the moment there are no steps to do that. Will the Department take anything from this and help them? They are running out of time in their lives. They need all the help they can get and there is no priory list for them.
Working with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, we will come back to the Deputy on that and see what we can do. Working with the Minister for Health, as a public health approach, this issue has to address the underlying cause of ill health. The best way for us to help those affected by mould and damp in their homes with defective concrete is to address the housing directly. That is a priority. I have been speaking to the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, about this too. We need to move on this urgently. As the Deputy will probably be aware, the scheme was recently extended in other counties. The amount available to homeowners was increased by 10%. It is now €462,000. We need to do more; I understand. I know families affected myself. I see the stress and anxiety. I will work with the different Departments so there is priority for what needs to be done.
I have a constituent with a severe reduction in her lung capacity. Her daughters are deeply concerned about the effects of prolonged exposure to damp and mould in a defective home. There is no doubt it has shortened her life. Each day this constituent remains in her home, her health deteriorates. She also suffers from dementia and has a heart condition. I am also aware of a terminally ill mother who is a nurse. She has stage 4 cancer. She wants her house rebuilt for her four kids before she dies. That is serious. I would like the Minister for Health to put something in place for these people to make sure there is priority. We need to make sure we is done for them. The mother who came to me will not be here next Christmas and she has four kids. It is important this is looked at in a humane way and try to get it done. Whatever has to be done, get it done. It is not just her and her husband; there are also four young children. As their representative, I take it seriously. We need to make sure there is urgency.
I understand people living with defective concrete in their homes experience real challenges. You can see it - families are really affected by this. That is why our Departments are working together to get the funding to get this done. The scheme is a major commitment by the State to help impacted homeowners to move on with their lives. We have to make sure the families who need counselling or support get it and that there is a commitment from Government. We know mould and damp can have a huge impact on people's health and well-being. I will work with the Deputy on that to prioritise. I will go back to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, about what is in her remit and mine. We will talk to the Minister for housing because it involves different Departments. I thank the Deputy for highlighting this important and serious issue today.
Dental Services
3. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her plans to bring forward legislation to enhance the powers of the Dental Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17628/26]
The Dental Council of Ireland does not have sufficient powers to protect the public from unregistered dentists. It has been unable to act in 80% of cases of credible concern of unregistered dentists in the past three years. I have met council representatives on a number of occasions. I assume the Minister has as well. It has been raising this matter for some considerable time. I also know compulsory continuing professional development, CPD, is important and the Minister is working on it and has supported it. Regulation and powers for the Dental Council of Ireland are what is at play. Will she set out her intentions are in this regard?
There is no question but that the regulatory framework requires updating and modernisation. It is closely linked to the wider implementation of the national oral health policy. Ahead of comprehensive reform, several priority interim amendments have been identified particularly to strengthen the powers of the Dental Council of Ireland. The first amendment addresses the lack of a statutory basis for continuing professional development, as the Deputy highlighted. While dentists are currently required to meet ethical CPD standards of course, that is not enough and they must be underpinned by legislation. A policy has been developed to introduce CPD on a statutory footing, which will enhance the Dental Council of Ireland’s ability to ensure dentists undertake adequate and appropriate ongoing professional development. I have received Government approval for that policy along with consent to draft the general scheme of the Bill. My Department is now preparing the heads and associated regulatory assessments. We will deal with that in the Oireachtas in due course.
With regard to unregistered dentists, powers to address the illegal practice of dentistry by unregistered individuals exist under the Dentists Act 1985 and other legislation. Under the Dentists Act it is an offence for unregistered persons to use the title of dentist to provide dental treatment or present themselves as dentists and the council may prosecute such cases. In addition, under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, the council can also seek court orders to stop dental practices from operating if they enable unregistered individuals to practice illegally. All suspected cases of illegal dental practice should be reported to An Garda Síochána. Unregistered individuals who treat patients while masquerading as dentists may also have committed assault under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 or have breached the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Those offences carry significant penalties including imprisonment.
I welcome the wider work but the Dentists Act, an issue I have been over several times, does not provide the Dental Council of Ireland with sufficient powers to deal with unregistered dentists. In fact, it has been saying recently that it has not been able to take action against a total of 37 unregistered dentists over the past eight years, including one who was practising unregistered with a sexual assault conviction. I met a locum dentists recently who spoke to me about some horror stories of him being placed in unregistered dental practices. Some of the stuff would make the hairs stand on the back of your head. He was very concerned. There needs to be a review of that Act. I agree with Minister about the wider issues, a new oral health policy and stronger regulation and so on but if it is a case of right here, right now, the Dental Council of Ireland tells us it does not have sufficient powers. It may have some powers and there are other powers but these dentists are going undetected, are not properly sanctioned and I am hearing of these horror stories. I think this was reported in The Irish Times last week as well. They are serious issues that need urgent intervention.
I agree with the Deputy. While the broad legislative suite is in place and there are existing powers are under the Dentists Act, I have no difficulty with a review and strengthening them where needed. I recognise the suite of legislative powers I outlined so we need to be very specific as to the additional powers necessary. I have no difficulty in strengthening the powers of the Dental Council of Ireland to do just that. We are talking about potentially unremediable assault on a person in their mouth or on their face. It is an appalling thing to happen to any person. We need to make sure the powers are as robust as necessary. There is simply no question on that. I signal a change I want to make to the Act to enable direct access for dental hygienists. That would require an amendment to section 54. Direct access refers to the ability of a dental hygienist to initiate treatment within their scope of practice based on assessments of patients' needs without the specific authorisation of a dentist. That is a change I want to make to enable the workforce but that is for dental hygiene work not necessarily dental work. There is distinction, of course.
I welcome that as well. It will add real value. The Minister spoke about oral health generally. The are issues with screening in schools. Enough simply is not being done. There is a need for more publicly hired dentists. I have made the same argument in relation to GPs. I would like to see a public GP contract but for dentists we need to look at that space. Dentists are not engaging with the dental treatment services scheme. There are rights and wrongs on both sides. I have said to dentists and the representative body that there is an obligation on dentists to ensure the most vulnerable patients have access to services. We need to beef up the public system particularly in terms of screening and orthodontists because of the waiting times.
This is particularly the case in the south east where I live, where children are waiting four, five, six or in some cases even eight years. They are listed as urgent cases and the most urgent cases are when children are in pain. There is a lot of work to be done in this area. I acknowledge what the Minister has said but there are so many issues to be addressed.
I agree with the Deputy. At the moment I am trying to develop a programme with Pat Healy in the HSE, who is doing excellent work on a very targeted programme of intervention to get on top of screening in schools and make sure we can address the backlog, particularly in relation to orthodontic work and specialised orthodontic work. I have given a direction to all of the various regions that I expect our new surgical hubs to have a measure of dental capacity in them, whether it is once a month or whatever it happens to be, so that access to theatres is there equally for dentistry in the community and to ensure we have pathways. I acknowledge there is a considerable work to be done and I will bring forward a plan and proposals on this.
I welcome the Deputy's engagement with the dental associations. We do need to hire more public dentists. They have suggested to me that part of the graduation programme could be that qualifying dentists spend a period of time in the public system, something I would greatly welcome. It would give dentists who do not have an opportunity to train in public practice the opportunity to be in public practice. It is too private, too remote and too disconnected from the public health system. If part of the training was that we got the benefit of a graduate spending a year in the public system, I certainly would be very much in favour of that proposal.
Cancer Services
4. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her plans for a new cancer strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17629/26]
This question is on cancer services and the national cancer strategy. We have had two strategies, the one coming to an end and the previous one, and they have added real value and are among the best success stories in the Irish health service. I am blown away by the work people do in this area, with research, development, new technology, new drugs and new treatments. It is mind blowing and it is of benefit to patients. There has been slippage in some of the key performance indicators, KPIs, and some of the access times and wait times. I will go through them later. We should accept any slippage and we cannot afford any slippage. We really need to keep the focus on what has been a real success story for the health service.
I agree with the Deputy. The two strategies have changed the landscape for people who are diagnosed with cancer. Today nearly 250,000 people in Ireland are living with or beyond cancer, 50% more than a decade ago. The evidence is that the chances of survival for more than five years for someone diagnosed with cancer in the 1990s was considerably less than what it is now. This is on foot of the extraordinary work done by clinicians and researchers, and the way in which cancer services are delivered. This has enabled a very considerable shift. Nevertheless, we know we will have more and more people diagnosed with cancer in the years to come. This is because we are living longer and we are diagnosing better, and we need to make sure that the services are available for them, for all of us and for everybody we represent who will face a cancer challenge at some point in their lives, particularly as we live longer.
The Deputy is right to identify the strengths in some of the KPIs as well as the slippages in them. I certainly want to highlight both of these things. One of the reasons we are changing to this regional funding model is so we can have better regional transparency. It is correct that public representatives have the ability to see this regional variation and that there is a pressure linked to the performance framework in relation to the regions achieving the best performance and matching the best performance around the country.
The cancer strategy had 52 recommendations, 43 of which have been delivered or continue to be in the process of being delivered, as will be the case to the end of the strategy. We want to reflect on and evaluate the strategy and its efficacy as we develop a new strategy. What will be very interesting, and where we are open to every suggestion, is how much the world has changed in terms of research and the role AI can play. Some of the extraordinary research being done in Galway, for example, is where they have learned to manipulate cancer cells against themselves and how this works. Treatment has become so individual and personalised. The next cancer strategy can be genuinely ambitious and different again, and I welcome every suggestion relating to it.
We would all accept that early intervention in healthcare is very important, especially for cancer patients, from the first GP referral to a consultant, diagnostics, treatment and surgery. I acknowledge that in some of the areas we are still doing very well but there are areas where there is slippage. Data from 2025 shows that 15% of chemotherapy patients and 21% of radiotherapy patients did not start their treatment on time. It also shows major delays in surgical care, which is concerning A total of 61% of prostate cancer surgeries were not carried out in the recommended time frame, which is the gold standard we all want and we all accept. A total of 45% of breast cancer surgeries and 39% of lung cancer surgeries did not happen in the recommended time frame in 2024 and 2025. There are also issues in relation to diagnostic equipment and radiotherapy equipment. Much of it is out of date, particularly radiotherapy equipment. I see this and hear about it from local representatives and from hospitals. The key issues are staffing and equipment. If we put these in we can improve the areas where we are not doing as well as we should.
The Deputy is right to highlight the variance. It is very different between hospitals. For example, the time for chemotherapy is within 15 days, which is so important. This information has been provided to him. In Cavan hospital, there were 174 patients and 174 of them were seen within 15 days. It was similar in Connolly hospital with 1,717 patients. Naas hospital is at 98%. I do not want to just highlight the good ones and I will pick at random. Tullamore hospital is at 93%, St. James's Hospital is at 91% and Drogheda hospital is at 83%. Then we get to Waterford hospital, which is at 66%, which is the area the Deputy represents. CUH is at 68%. There is variance. Most of the hospitals are concentrated at way over 85% and then there are hospitals such as Portiuncula hospital in Galway, St. Luke's hospital in Kilkenny, CUH, Waterford hospital and St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin, which are at less than 75% and this is not good enough. This is the sort of visibility and transparency we need, and we need to continue to drive to ensure everybody is at a rate of well over 95%. I recognise the variance in this.
One of the benefits of having health regions is that we can have this type of focus, we can drill into the data and we can have real accountability. There are regional imbalances, county imbalances and very localised imbalances. The cancer strategy is a national strategy. We have specialist centres. I want this to be maintained, of course. It is really important. Where the areas of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are a problem, and where we are slipping, we have to fix the problem. From what I can see, part of this is due to equipment being out of date and not having staff to operate some equipment. I have tabled parliamentary questions on this and gone through it in detail. In some places the problem is that we do not have the staff to operate equipment, and somewhere else equipment is not being used because it is out of date, breaking down and needs to be replaced. We have these issues. Surgery is where I think the Minister's own attention is very important. We are seeing slippage in prostate cancer surgeries and breast cancer surgeries. Again, there may well be regional variations but the focus needs to be on where it is slipping and where we are not doing as well. The health regions can add real value from this perspective.
This is very important. We have 58 seconds to have this conversation but it would be good to have a session at the Oireachtas health committee where we can go through all of the various regions and KPIs and recognise the variance. For example, we spoke in December about Galway, where there was a particular challenge. It reported 86% within the target in December, which was up from 68% in November. Local management is so important. Significant additional resources in terms of people and equipment are included in the annual plan and in the capital plan. Sometimes this is the issue and there is a question later on recruitment and replacement when we can deal with this. It is also about local management. Deputy Charles Ward spoke earlier about access to surgery. This is why I am putting in additional oncology chairs and surgical hubs in Letterkenny hospital to make sure there is better access. It is a combination of various things but as long as we are focused on what is different and why it is different, we are all likely to achieve a better and more consistent outcome.
Hospital Equipment
5. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of linear accelerators currently in use for radiotherapy services in the State; their age profile, including the number over 20 years old; the recommended replacement age for such equipment; and whether a rolling procurement and replacement programme is in place. [18169/26]
The number of linear accelerators in use in radiotherapy in the State is 22. Following the discussion we have just had about the cancer strategy, will the Minister make a statement on the procurement and replacement programme by the HSE for new linear accelerators? A number of the accelerators are reaching the age of 18 and the recommended international replacement time is eight to ten years. It costs a lot of money to maintain them.
Under the national plan for radiation oncology, an equipment replacement programme is in place in St. Luke's in Rathgar, St. James's Hospital and Beaumont hospital, along with a phased expansion in Beaumont. The replacement programme is being progressed under the national development plan. It is included in the capital plan and the health sectoral plan. There are 23 linear accelerators, ranging in age from three to 18.
These are located across five public hospitals: Rathgar, Beaumont, St. James's, Galway and Cork. State-of-the-art radiation oncology centres opened in Cork and Galway in 2019 and 2023 respectively, representing a €120 million capital investment. The linear accelerators in Rathgar, Beaumont and St. James's were installed between 2008 and 2016. The HSE advises that the typical lifespan of a linear accelerator is ten to 15 years, although some can be used for longer. An accelerator's lifespan depends on many factors, including the type, how it is used, how it is maintained and the manufacturer support lifespan, which includes software upgrades. There is a degree of variance. The preliminary design process for linear accelerator replacements within St. Luke's is ongoing. In addition, tenders for the main contract for the Beaumont phase 2 expansion and replacement project are due in the coming weeks. We are committed to improving cancer care and to investing in this way.
I am asking this question out of concern rather than as a challenge. We heard a presentation from the Irish Cancer Society and Professor Gerry Hanna last week. From the information the Minister is getting from the HSE and from what we are being told, the international standard is to replace a linear accelerator that is being fully used after eight to ten years. The Minister has raised issues around productivity and management of this infrastructure. It appears the procurement process has been held up for the replacement of those older devices, which have been around for 18 years. I believe there are three of these. They will have been in place for nearly 20 years when they are replaced. With regard to the age profile of our infrastructure, it appears we are an outlier within the European Union. It is important that we have an efficient planned rolling procurement process.
I agree with the Deputy. I would like us to be replacing equipment because we have used it so intensively. Part of this issue relates to the number of radiation therapists. There has been a very considerable expansion in that regard. We have 217 radiation therapists in Ireland, an increase of 21% since 2020. In the last six years, the radiation therapy training programme has grown by 32%, with more than 20 additional specialty training posts established in the last three years. We need the people but we also need organisation to allow these machines to be run hard. I will give an example regarding a performance indicator for radiation oncology, that is, the number completing radical treatment and the percentage commencing treatment within 15 working days in the Deputy's own area of Galway. In January 2025, the percentage was 72%, in October it was 98%, in November it was 98% and in December it was 100%. In Cork, there was a fall-off. The figure was 97% in January 2025 but fell to 91%. That is still reasonably strong but nationally we are just not where we need to be. It is about resources, organisation and consistency.
In talking about management and productivity, the Minister will find an ally in me. She has pointed this out very clearly since she began her tenure as Minister for Health. I agree with her 100%. I acknowledge the investment by the Department and the HSE in the linear accelerators in Galway. That is a hugely welcome development but, as the Minister has quite rightly pointed out, the figures for the time between point of diagnosis and getting to chemotherapy are not meeting the targets in the west of Ireland. We should not have that regional disparity. I am getting off the point but the Minister has acknowledged that, which is very honest of her.
With regard to the linear accelerators, it has been expressed to me that part of the problem is a very slow procurement process, especially for those older machines, which have been in service far longer than internationally recommended. I have been told that, when some of the components break down, not only are the machines taken out of operation for up to three weeks, but the replacement components can cost €300,000 to €400,000. In the context of a machine that costs €2 million to €3 million, that seems inexplicable.
I understand the Deputy's point. We want the machines working hard. There is considerable variance. It should not get to 20 years. We have a programme of replacement. The HSE has a key performance indicator target for 90% of patients to commence treatment within 15 working days. The figure for performance nationally is 79%. The majority are exceeding the target. Unfortunately, St. Luke's is consistently below the key performance indicator target. Is that unfair to say? What are the specific reasons for that? Is it a question of disruption to machines, access to radiation or access to management? As public representatives, the Deputy and I are now able to intelligently interrogate the reasons for that and to challenge or support, as appropriate. Because we have the capacity to tell that story rather than speaking in generalised ways, which unfortunately was our wont some years ago, we are able to have a much more detailed conversation and reflect fairly and honestly on the varying reasons for those things.
Housing Provision
146. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to do to address the month on month rises in homelessness. [18167/26]
On Friday, the Minister's Department published the latest homelessness figures. They show record highs of homelessness, with more than 17,000 people, including more than 5,000 children, homeless. Since Deputy Browne has been Minister, homelessness has increased by 12% and child homelessness has increased by a significant 16%. Will the Minister set out what additional actions he intends to take to reduce the flow of adults and children into homelessness and get people into emergency accommodation more quickly?
I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to my plans to address the month on month rise in homelessness. Addressing homelessness is a priority for my office, the Department and this Government. Our new housing plan is an integrated housing and homeless plan based on two key pillars: activating the supply of 300,000 more homes; and supporting people to have a home of their own.
Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness. The Government is focused on making sure everyone has access to a good quality and affordable, secure home that suits their needs in their local community. More than €9 billion in capital funding will be made available for housing in 2026. Our new plan recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue we face and introduces a number of key measures to address homelessness. Ensuring the implementation of these measures will be a priority for me in 2026.
Meeting the Government commitment to eradicate homelessness requires a whole-of-government response. The national homeless action committee, NHAC, which I chair, supports the co-ordination of this response by Government, local authorities and their service delivery partners. The most recent meeting of NHAC took place yesterday, on Wednesday, 4 March. I will continue to work with the committee to ensure a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in the new housing plan.
Prevention of homelessness in the first instance is an absolute priority. There are many prevention initiatives already under way in my Department and across Government. This includes the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP, homeless HAP and our strong tenancy protection legislation in order to ensure a fully aligned all-of-government approach under the plan. The programme for Government includes a commitment to a holistic cross-departmental approach to homeless prevention. Work has commenced on developing a national homeless prevention framework to ensure all possible measures are being taken across Government to prevent homelessness. It is intended that this framework will be in place later this year.
Addressing family homelessness is absolute priority for me. Under the new housing plan, we will develop a dedicated child and family homeless action plan as well.
The Minister's party and Fine Gael have effectively been in government together since 2016 and since then the total number of adults who have been forced into emergency accommodation because of their failed housing policies numbers 55,000. I ask the Minister to think about that for a moment. That is more than a capacity crowd at the Aviva Stadium. It is greater than the population of Longford or, indeed, of Drogheda. Rather than this being the Government's priority, the policies it is implementing are making this crisis worse. It is not delivering a sufficient volume of social and affordable homes. It slashed funding for vital homelessness prevention schemes last year, and this year it has reduced funding further and further restricted its use for tenant in situ. The Government has introduced a set of changes to rent setting in the private rental sector that is going to widen the gap between what people can afford and the market rents. Given that we have 20,000 or so eviction notices a year, more families and singles are going to end up homeless. I asked the Minister what new or additional measures he is going to take but he has not given any. For the second time, I invite him to tell us what he is going to do differently this year than last year to get a grip on this crisis he is making worse.
I have already outlined the several of the measures we are taking. Through our national homeless action committee along with homeless organisations, we are developing new strategies around child and family homelessness, and there are also our programmes around other homeless prevention. What the Deputy does not mention when he mentions the 55,000 figure is how many we have prevented going into homelessness or how many we have exited from homelessness. Since 2014 this country's population has increased by some 800,000 people. That is a challenge. We acknowledge there is a housing crisis in this country. What we are doing is trying to ensure people have the homes they need in their local community. There has been a challenge in driving the supply to meet the demand in this country over the past number of years. We saw a significant increase in homes being delivered last year, more than 36,000 homes and a 20% increase in housing delivery. We are stepping up even further in homeless prevention and exits and have significantly increased the amount of capital funding available to exit people longest on our homeless lists out of homelessness as well.
Yet the numbers of adults, children, families, singles and pensioners continues to rise almost every single month. By pushing up market rents, this is going to get worse. When we published our analysis based on RTB data of the cost of the market rent reset, the Minister rubbished it. He said it was not true. Yet, we already have evidence. A few days after the introduction of the new change, a tenant renting a one-bedroom apartment in Leopardstown moved out. The apartment was being rented for just over €2,000 until the middle of February. The property went back on the market on 1 March and the rent increased by 15%. That is almost an extra €4,000 in rent being charged, exactly in line with the RTB data and our analysis.
The Government is allowing additional funding to be used for homeless exits but it is robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is reducing the funding to prevent people from becoming homeless. What it gains in exits, it will lose in preventions and more people will become homeless. None of what the Minister has said is new. Is he going to take any new different measures to get a grip on this crisis that he and his party colleagues are making worse?
I have set out numerous new measures we have announced in the past number of months to address homelessness. We know the only way we are ultimately going to address the housing, rental and homelessness crises is through increasing supply and not calcifying these crises in permanency, as is proposed by Sinn Féin with its measures. In the new tenancy legislation, we have some of the strongest, if not the strongest, tenancy protection measures in the European Union. We have security of tenure - people know how long they can stay in their homes. This was introduced for the first time in the history of the State. We have effectively ended no-fault evictions for the majority of tenants.
The Minister has not in his own constituency.
That has now been brought in. The only way a landlord can increase their rent with an existing tenant leaving is if that tenant voluntarily leaves and the Deputy is very much aware of that as well. We have to drive the supply. The Deputy is finding all sorts of accusations in relation to our proposals but he is not putting any forward himself other than calcifying the crisis in permanency.
147. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he proposes to take to address the growing housing deficit given that Government never met their targets for social and affordable housing delivery under Housing for All; if he will revise the targets contained within Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17104/26]
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I want to ask the Minister today about the targets for social and affordable housing delivery under Housing for All. Given that it has become abundantly clear that the Government will not meet the targets this year, and it has never met them for social and affordable housing, will the Minister revise the targets contained within the new housing plan in order to take account of this and deal with the growing housing deficit?
I thank the Deputy. Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable supports. The latest Central Statistics Office, CSO, figures released show that a total of 36,284 new dwellings were completed in 2025, an increase of 20% year on year, the highest annual total since the dataset years began in 2011. Record level of social and affordable housing delivery have been achieved in recent years, with preliminary 2025 figures indicating further record levels of delivery.
Since 2019, new-build social housing delivery by the State has been tracking in and around 25% of the overall housing output, which is a very significant investment by the State in the provision of social housing. In conjunction with growing cost-rental delivery, it puts the State in a very strong position to meet, over time, the Housing Commission recommendation that social and cost-rental housing should comprise at least 20% of the entire housing stock.
I am confident that the new social and affordable targets set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities can be achieved, supported by tangible measures set out in the plan, including streamlining and expanding affordable housing supports; the new single approval process for all new-build social housing projects up to a value of €200 million; mandating the use of standard house layouts and specification for social housing; and facilitating the use of modern methods of construction through standardised design approaches. We have also introduced a revamped renewal programme focused on tackling dereliction and vacancy in social housing; expanding the role and remit of the Land Development Agency; expanding and streamlining the operation of the land acquisition fund; financially incentivising local authorities to exceed annual own-build social housing targets; and funding ring-fenced social and affordable new-build housing delivery teams in each local authority.
In addition, the housing activation office will identify and seek to address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects required to enable housing development and support increased delivery of the national development plan. Record levels of funding have been committed for new social and affordable housing totalling almost €20 billion.
The Minister's rental reforms are going to increase homelessness, certainly in the short term. One of the leading issues in regard to addressing homelessness is having an adequate supply of social and affordable housing. Based on the quarter 3 construction status report, the Minister is only going to, as of that date, meet 30% of his target for social housing delivery. In 2024, 10,596 were delivered against a 12,930 goal. Is the Minister going to revise the targets he has for an average of 12,000 new social homes in his current housing plan in order to deal with that deficit? The targets in that plan are too low given the demand that already exists, given the issue with the Minister's rental reforms and given the fact that a 56% increase in social homes is needed just to close the deficit.
I do not accept that the new legislation is going to drive up homelessness. We know that notices to quit are the single greatest driver of homelessness. We know that the average tenancy is about 3.6 years. The new six-year tenancies of minimum duration will, I have no doubt, drive that 3.6 years significantly longer and reduce notices to quit, with people coming in and needing housing under new tenancies.
In regard to last year, just over 36,000 new homes were built. Some 25% of those were new-build social homes. That shows the Government is fully committed. Most local authorities are now stepping up to the mark in delivering social homes but we need every local authority stepping up to meet its targets because the funding is there for those local authorities to deliver on those social homes. What we did last year was deliver 9,089 new-build social homes. That is an increase of 1,256 homes, or 16% compared to 2024. This is the highest number of social homes newly built in the history of the State. That shows the Government's commitment to new-build social home delivery.
Going by the Minister's response, he is saying that 9,289 new-build social homes-----
It was 9,089.
There were 9,089 built. That is still, over the lifetime of Housing for All, beneath the target of that plan. I am asking, in particular, about the 2026 budget allocation. For example, that does not take into account that there was an underdelivery of around 4,000 units under the previous housing plan and the Minister has already underestimated the level of need in his new housing plan. He has not actually taken into account that the figures suggest that overall, under Housing for All, the Government did not reach its targets.
The fact of the matter is that the Minister's measures are already having an effect in his own county. We have not seen housing assistance payment, HAP, levels increase and the market rent reset is going drive rents up and increase homelessness because people will not be able to pay the rent.
I do not think it can be glossed over that last year, we built the highest number of new-build social homes in the history of the State. What has to be understood is that-----
The Minister missed his target again. What was the target? He missed the target.
-----we were coming from a standing start because the Deputy will know-----
The Minister has been in government for a decade.
Stop trying to shout me down, please.
The Minister missed his targets. He should be honest.
Deputy Ó Broin.
The consistent Sinn Féin tactic is whenever I say something they do not want to hear, they start shouting me down. The Deputy has to have respect. He does not have to like what I have to say but he has to listen to me.
I do not think I shouted.
And it continues.
I politely interjected. The Minister's target was 10,000 and he missed it.
Deputy Ó Broin.
The Minister did not meet his target.
Is the Deputy going to let me speak? I thank the Deputy. It is the highest number of new-build social homes in the history of the State but we came from a very low standing start. As Deputy Sheehan will know, the last time the Labour Party had the Department of housing-----
The International Monetary Fund, IMF, was there.
-----it built 75 new-build social homes in the entire State.
The IMF was there because Fianna Fáil crashed the economy.
Deputy Sheehan.
We have taken that from 75 to 9,089.
Fianna Fáil crashed the economy.
We left them with too many houses; that was the problem. The Labour Party turned a crisis of too many homes into one of too few in four and a half years. Well done.
Fianna Fáil slashed capital funding for social housing.
I ask the Minister to resume his seat. If that continues, I am just going to move on to the next question. The Deputies are asking the questions. The Minister is attempting to answer and if that crossfire continues, I am not going to allow it. Show some respect for what is going on here. We will move onto the next question and I ask the Minister to not interrupt Deputy Ó Broin.
Housing Schemes
148. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to address the unaffordability of cost rents. [18168/26]
The price of cost-rental accommodation is far too high. There is a growing number of working people, singles and couples, who earn too much to access social housing but because of the application of the affordability rule, they are not able to access cost rental. Can the Minister confirm that he shares my concern with respect to this matter and set out what he is going to do to assist the Land Development Agency, LDA, and approved housing bodies to bring down the cost of cost rental so it is affordable for all those people seeking to access it?
I thank the Deputy for raising this question in relation to the unaffordability of cost rentals. As the Deputy is aware, the cost-rental scheme was introduced by this Government under the previous housing plan and is continued and expanded in the new plan. It is designed to address the affordability challenge in the rental sector and to provide secure, long-term homes for moderate-income households. This is why, under the new Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan, we have committed to growing the provision of affordable cost-rental properties.
Though cost rental was only introduced in 2021, over 4,500 new homes were delivered by quarter 3 of last year and a substantial pipeline is now in place.
There is huge demand for these homes as they become available. While we are not yet at the stage of supplying as many as are needed, we are getting there. The cost-rental homes already delivered and those in the pipeline are meeting a real demand, are incredibly popular and are providing a much needed, secure and affordable element in the rental sector. Let us be clear that cost-rental housing did not exist in this country five years ago. From a standing start in 2021 to now, because of the action of this Government and the unprecedented levels of funding provided in successive budgets, rental properties are being made available at heavy discounts to the private market rental rates. This State intervention is ensuring those on moderate incomes who would otherwise not be able to afford to rent are moving into decent homes with monthly rents they can afford.
We are providing substantial funding to local councils, the LDA and the approved housing bodies, AHBs. Since the launch of cost rental in 2021, approximately €2.25 billion in Exchequer funding has been approved for cost-rental projects. Beyond my Department, significant funding is also being provided by the State's Housing Finance Agency. The lowering of VAT on new apartments to 9% in budget 2026 will also assist in delivering new homes to the cost-rental sector, with lower costs meaning lower rents. The nature of my Department's funding in the form of non-repayable grants and investments and long-term loans at extremely low rates means rents can be set below full cost recovery levels and far below comparable rents in the private market.
Earlier this week the Minister visited Oscar Traynor Road, where there are two- and three- bedroom cost-rental units. The two-bedroom units cost almost €1,600 per month and the three-bedroom units cost almost €1,800 per month. That means people need a net income of €54,000 to be able to access the two-bedroom units and €64,000 for the three-bedroom units. This tells us that a huge group of people who are not eligible for social housing, but whose incomes are below those levels, are locked out.
Approximately 26% of applicants to the LDA's cost-rental stock are excluded on affordability grounds. For three-bedroom schemes run by local authorities and AHBs, it can be as high as 50%. The Minister has not even acknowledged there is a problem. We are all strong supporters of cost rental. If the Government had listened to us or to such organisations as NESC and the ESRI in the past, we would have been doing this a decade or more ago. However, right now, there are thousands upon thousands of working people who cannot access social housing, do not earn enough for cost rental and have no housing options. Does the Minister accept there is a problem? What will he do to address it?
The visit to Oscar Traynor Road was a huge day. It was great to see a huge turnout. As the Deputy will be aware, the scheme has a mix of social, affordable and cost-rental units. It is a significant mix. If I recall, there are approximately 850 homes being delivered there in total and they are being delivered ahead of schedule. It is one of many large schemes now being delivered by Dublin City Council. Cost-rental schemes are oversubscribed. I am trying to ensure - I am keeping a close eye on this all the time - that there is a scaling in affordability so that people can access the homes they need in line with what they can afford, whether that is through social housing, affordable purchase, cost rental or helping people to be able to buy homes with the help-to-buy scheme and the first home scheme under which people can purchase homes themselves. That is what we are looking to do on the affordable side and we are always monitoring the various schemes.
The Minister's response is genuinely remarkable. He does not even accept there is a problem despite the fact that the data from the AHBs and the LDA confirms it. What is worse, LDA tenants are effectively paying corporation tax as part of the rent. That amounts to 15% of the rent they pay. Although the LDA has been given an exemption from corporation tax for new developments, that will not be passed on as an affordability measure, as per the Government. Worse, the LDA has just hit almost 500 of its tenants with rent increases that are entirely unjustified and those increases will range between 2% and 5%. This is at a time when rents should be coming down.
I will give the Minister a third opportunity to respond. There is a growing number of people who earn too much to qualify for social housing and not enough to qualify for cost rental. Does he accept this is a policy problem his Department needs to examine? Does he accept, for example, that solutions such as passing on the corporation tax reduction and discouraging cost-rental landlords from increasing the rent would assist in tackling the genuine affordability problem for thousands of working people?
I very much have answered the question. We are always assessing the various schemes that come under the Department of housing to ensure there is availability for people at various levels of income. These schemes are way oversubscribed. We need even more cost-rental properties. That indicates there are people who fall into that bracket. We need to ensure, as I said, there are social, affordable, cost-rental and other schemes, whatever they may be, and the private supports we provide to people to be able to buy homes. I keep all those things constantly under review to keep a balance and that is what I will continue to do. I will continue to keep it under assessment.
I call Deputy Hearne on Question No. 149.
With 21 seconds left, the Minister cannot accept there is an affordability problem.
Does Deputy Hearne wish to put his question-----
That is utterly shocking.
-----or will I just move on to the next one?
House Sales
149. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to ensure transparency in the home-buying process, to curb ghost bids and gazumping, and to curtail bidding wars that are leading to higher house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18166/26]
House prices are completely out of control and have been for a long time. They have increased by 68% since 2020 when Fianna Fáil took over the housing Ministry - 68%. In Dublin, the median price of a home is €500,000. That is half a million euro for a home. What is the Minister doing to address the issues that are contributing to inflation in the market, such as dysfunction in our housing market, ghost bids, gazumping and opaque bidding processes? What is he doing to address that?
I thank the Deputy for his question, which centres on the home-buying process including ghost bids, gazumping and bidding wars. I recently took over responsibility for the Property Services Regulatory Authority from the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. It regulates property service providers, including estate agents. Estate agents already have to comply with key statutory obligations regulating the home bidding process under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, which provides they shall not imply to any person that an offer has been received unless it has in fact been received; they must retain for a period of six years a record of all bids received; and they must confirm in writing to all potential purchasers receipt of their submitted bid. Furthermore, where the Property Services Regulatory Authority receives a complaint alleging fake bids, it has powers to request a copy of all bids received - the record of bids document - and has investigative powers to ensure those bids are genuine.
The ESRI published a report last month, Buying and Selling Property in Ireland, which outlines how aspects of the Irish housing transaction system influence buyer and seller behaviour and provides insights on features of the Irish market that warrant consideration for reform. The matters raised in the report overlap policy, legislative and regulatory areas across the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and my Department. Along with my colleague, the Minister for justice, who has responsibility for the conveyancing process, I will reflect on the recommendations in the report. Any reform proposals will require deeper examination, including assessing impacts on the balance of rights of sellers and buyers in areas such as when a bid becomes legally binding; the rights of buyers to get an independent survey after bid acceptance; where legal responsibility for repair sits after the sale of a property; the merits, drawbacks and implications of closed versus open bid models; and the pros and cons of the various methods that auctioneers capture when displaying updates on bids. I have asked my officials to consider further reform in respect of the regulation of property service providers and the wider recommendations in the report.
Does the Minister accept that we have a serious problem in our housing market? We can look at it in terms of the gap between advertised sale prices and actual selling prices. We have a problem with that massive gulf and it is ordinary people - families and individuals - who are being squeezed on house prices, which are absolutely unaffordable. What is happening in the housing market can be seen on the Crazy House Prices Instagram page. People are highlighting it. This is going on right now. There is case after case of people being gazumped. There are ghost bids with people putting in a bid in with a price, then it says it has been withdrawn, then it says it does not exist and all the time the house prices are going up. The Minister can do something about this. We need action quickly on this, not just another report that sits on a shelf. We need action. Does the Minister accept there is a problem around bidding in the housing market that is adding to house price inflation?
The Government has accepted there are issues. That is why it set up the expert group. The programme for Government committed to a broad package of measures to assist home buyers under the home buyers help package, many of which have already been progressed by the implementation group of the task force on conveyancing and probate, arising from the previous actions under Housing for All.
The ESRI report itself focused on behavioural aspects of the Irish housing transaction system within the current supply and demand context, and with studies showing how aspects of the system influence buyers' and sellers' behaviour. The task force was set up. There is an implementation group. Those measures are being implemented. We are also continuing to review in the Department what is happening in terms of the home buyers' market.
I am very concerned because what we saw from the previous Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael Government was a commitment to address gazumping, ghost bids and the problems in the market. I am deeply concerned because the Minister is again making commitments to review it but I am not sure about the timeline for delivering changes and action on this. You can read article after article about this. We have examples of estate agents using AI photos to show potential properties and the ads regulator not enforcing. There are massive problems in our housing market that are adding to house price inflation. We cannot just let this be a review of a policy that sits on a shelf. We need to see action and I want the Minister to outline a timeframe for action on this.
I thank the Deputy. As I said, we have had our task force and we have the implementation group. Many measures have already been implemented and the rest of those measures are being implemented at pace. I am happy with the work the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is doing in this area. I am reviewing the new report that has come from the ESRI to see if further measures are needed on top of that and I will make those decisions. Where measures are needed, I will implement them.
Housing Policy
150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if plans by local councils to increase rents for council and HAP tenants reflect the commitment in the Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan to review the rents paid by social housing tenants, or if even more rent increases are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18049/26]
Across Dublin City Council letters are dropping for council tenants and HAP tenants telling them the people least able to afford to pay are going to see massive rent increases of 30% on average. Dublin city renters are getting organised. I saw there was a big meeting last night, a big meeting the week before and a big meeting the week before that. Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin is involved in organising those people. The same is happening in South Dublin County Council in advance of a planned rent rise. The question is whether this is part of national government policy and just the thin end of the wedge that is going to see council and HAP rents rise and rise.
I thank the Deputy for the question. Currently, local authorities charge rent under the Housing Act 1966 and this is known as the differential rents system. It is a critical piece of the State's welfare apparatus that subsidises housing costs and supports households who cannot meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for the executives of local authorities within the broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay and also that they contain a hardship clause under which tenants can pay a reduced rent for a specified period and under certain circumstances. Local authorities should review their rent schemes regularly to ensure they are equitable and appropriate to the household means. The Government’s priority is to accelerate the delivery of social housing, with a significant funding package to support this ambition. It is therefore increasingly important that social housing supports are targeted appropriately and managed efficiently. Central to this is ensuring that the social housing rents charged remain appropriate to household means and that charging structures protect the most vulnerable households, including those with children. The current system of 32 individual rent schemes has its strengths. However, rents can vary widely and disparate approaches mean social tenants on similar incomes can pay significantly different rents for similar properties merely because of the local authority area they reside in. The new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities commits to reviewing rents paid to local authorities and AHBs with a view to introducing a national framework that provides a consistent and equitable system of rents and protects vulnerable households.
Can the Minister of State tell me whether, in the national framework the Government is going to work towards, rents are going to come down for any council tenants or are they just going to rise? That is the simple question. The Delivering Homes, Building Communities document is extremely worrying because it suggests moving away from a differential rent-based system in which people's rent is based on their income and what they can afford to pay, which is an extremely fair system. Instead the document refers to the Housing Commission recommendation of "Merging social and cost rental housing over time to form a single affordable rental sector, based on the principle of cost recovery". In other words, it will no longer be based on the principle of how much people can afford to pay but how much it costs to build the homes. That would be an extremely retrograde, regressive step. It would be a move in exactly the wrong direction and would result in even bigger rent increases for those who can least afford to pay.
The Deputy asked whether it will result in increased or decreased rents. As I outlined in my initial response there are significant differences in rent schemes from local authority to local authority. Somebody with a given income in one council may be paying more than someone on a similar income in a different local authority area. There is a national framework contained in the housing plan. Options will come forward to the Minister in the second half of this year. Obviously we will look at what the best system and approach is at that point. It is true to say that in some local authority systems, it ranges between 10% and 20% of income and different approaches are taken to secondary earners. We set a broad framework. It is probably appropriate at this point that there be a more streamlined system where local authorities cannot have as broad a range as they have had heretofore.
I am not against a streamlined system in principle but I do not think any council tenants are going to believe the Minister of State that the Government is going to streamline this downwards to the lowest levels. Instead, everyone will hear that it is going to streamline this to the highest possible levels. That will mean even more rent increases for people who simply cannot afford to pay. I am telling the Minister of State that council tenants are getting organised in a very significant way. In Dublin City Council it is going to be a massive campaign. It was only lost by one vote. Unfortunately, the Labour Party and the Green Party voted to increase people's rents. We are building a big campaign to reverse that in the next budget. In South Dublin County Council we are a year ahead of where the city council is and we have every chance of stopping this rent increase coming in. Will the Minister of State explain to me what the idea of merging the cost rental and social housing systems would look like? What does it mean to go for it being based on the principle of cost recovery? If the Government implements that, is it not the end of the differential rents scheme?
I thank the Deputy. In the premise of his follow-up question, he is determining the outcome of this review. He is stating the outcome of it will be that we will go to the highest rent provided by a local-----
Will you promise me you will go lower?
I did not interrupt you, Deputy.
No, I am interrupting you though.
I did not-----
Deputy Murphy, you should not interrupt.
You tell me if you are going to go lower.
Deputy Murphy-----
I am just asking the question.
-----address your remarks through the Chair.
I would ask the Minister of State whether the Government is going to reduce them.
You are out of order. I ask the Minister of State to conclude his answer.
Deputy Murphy had an opportunity to make his comments. I am responding to him. He is determining the outcome of the review. I am saying that a review is under way and that proposals will be brought to the Minister in the second half of this year. There are varying discrepancies between some local authorities. I am not determining what the outcome will be. Some local authorities have a higher percentage and some have a lower one. I am not going to determine what the outcome of the review will be until it has been undertaken.
Question No. 151 taken with Written Answers.