Molaim an rún seo maidir le tithíocht sa Ghaeltacht. Is fadhb an-tábhachtach í do mhuintir na Gaeltachta i gConamara, Dún na nGall agus Cúige Mumhan agus don teanga agus don chultúr. I welcome and support the motion. It is of vital importance to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language and culture. Difficulties with housing in Gaeltacht areas is of course part of the housing emergency that exists in the State, an issue that continues to undermine the very fabric of our society. Failed Government policies have resulted in 17,000 homeless people, along with almost 5,500 homeless children, exorbitant rip-off rents, skyrocketing house prices, large numbers of young people living in their childhood bedrooms and even larger numbers locked out of home ownership. The only way to deal with the housing crisis is by a declaration in law of a housing emergency, a right to housing in the Constitution, large-scale construction of social and affordable housing by local authorities on public land, rent reductions, a rent freeze and the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties by local authorities for housing applicants. There are, of course, specific issues that relate to the Gaeltacht. I want to compliment BÁNÚ for its work on the housing issue in Gaeltacht areas. The word "bánú" tells a tale. It is an emotive Irish phrase referring to a place left deserted without energy or life. The fear is that if housing in Gaeltacht areas is not tackled successfully this will become reality. BÁNÚ, founded in 2023, is a Gaeltacht housing action group and advocacy organisation based primarily in Conamara and focused on tackling the housing crisis in Irish-speaking areas. It was formed in response to the lack of affordable and social housing and planning difficulties, and demands the right of local Irish-speaking communities to get housing in their own areas. It aims to prevent the depopulation of Gaeltacht areas, arguing that the housing crisis is eroding the Irish language and culture. The campaign for fairer planning guidelines, increased social and affordable housing and remediation of derelict and vacant properties is also an aim of the organisation. The organisation has organised protests and has petitioned Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Ministers on the urgent need for housing in the Gaeltacht and challenged the Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht on planning guidelines and housing delivery. I also want to compliment Tinteán, launched in November 2024, a national housing campaign aimed at tackling the housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas, a collaboration between Conradh na Gaeilge and BÁNÚ. It aims to bring together communities nationally to highlight the urgent housing needs threatening the cultural and linguistic heritage of these areas and, ultimately, the nation. The housing emergency in the Gaeltacht areas in Connemara, Donegal and Munster is undermining the Irish language and culture. There are four main difficulties in the Gaeltacht areas. There are little or no schemes of houses being built in Irish-speaking areas by housing authorities. Housing prices are high for the little housing that is available. There are planning restrictions on one-off houses in rural areas and a lack of rental housing and the rip-off cost of what is available. The housing crisis in Gaeltacht areas must be addressed to make sure that they will be a Gaeltacht in the coming years. Údarás na Gaeltachta must be given powers and funding to buy land and property to provide houses for Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht. A housing department in Údarás na Gaeltachta must be established to prioritise and build houses in co-operation with housing authorities and utility companies. Legislation will be required to do that and it should be introduced urgently. Airbnb has taken over the whole short-term rental market so there are very few long-term rental houses available. The short-term letting and tourism Bill 2025 must ensure that housing stock in Gaeltacht areas is not just for the profit of Airbnb and booking.com but for the good of the Gaeltacht language community and for the vitality of the Irish language. The Minister for housing must immediately and without any further delay publish the national Gaeltacht housing planning statement. Guidelines on this were promised in 2021 but are still outstanding. This statement on guidelines is now promised for the first half of 2027. That is six years later and is simply not good enough. The statement must specifically address the housing needs of Gaeltacht areas, promote the retention of Irish-speaking residents and align development with language plans and address depopulation in Gaeltacht areas. These measures must be taken urgently and I urge that they are done at the earliest opportunity.

Sentiment score: -0.05