Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús báire, aontaím le go leor rudaí atá ráite ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh. Táim ag obair ar an gceist tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht agus ba mhaith liom níos mó tithíocht a fheiceáil tríd na Gaeltachtaí, ar phraghasanna réasúnta. Táim ag obair ar an gceist sin le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, faoi láthair, ar scéim i gContae Phort Láirge. Mar a dúirt an Teachta, bhuail mé le BÁNÚ timpeall trí mhí ó shin agus cruinniú fíor-dhearfach a bhí ann. Dúirt mé le BÁNÚ go gcuirfinn síos dhá leasú tábhachtacha ar son na daoine atá ina gcónaí sna Gaeltachtaí timpeall na tíre. Beimid ábalta leasuithe Rialtais a phlé go luath agus tá sé sin an-tábhachtach ar fad. Beidh ar gach rialtas áitiúil plean speisialta a chur le chéile le haghaidh gach ceantar Gaeltachta sa tír. B'fhéidir go mbeidh Gaeltacht amháin difriúil ó Ghaeltacht eile agus beidh ar na comhairlí contae plean ar leith a fhorbairt le haghaidh gach Gaeltacht. Beidh daoine sa Ghaeltacht ábalta tionchar a bheith acu ar na pleananna sin chomh maith. Tuigim an fhadhb tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht agus bhí plé ann faoi Airbnb agus na short-term lets. Táim cinnte go mbeidh an tAire, an Teachta Martin, ag tabhairt treoirlínte nua maidir leo sin nuair atá sí i mbun cruinnithe leis an Rialtas an tseachtain seo chugainn. Tá mo chuid oibre déanta i leith na treoirlínte. Níl a fhios agam an aontófar le gach rud atá iontu. Ba mhaith liom iad a chur os comhair an phobail ar feadh coicíse, b'fhéidir, mar a dúirt mé cheana. Tá mé in ann obair a dhéanamh, mar a iarradh orm, chun cabhrú leis na cónaitheoirí sa Ghaeltacht. Ní féidir liom glacadh leis na leasuithe seo ach aontaím le neart den mhéid atá ráite.

Maidir leis na leasuithe sonracha, I have already said I cannot accept amendments Nos. 56 and 57. First, due to the unprecedented scale of the Bill before the House, a careful and considered phased commencement of it will take place over a period of at least 18 months. This is to allow for the planning system, which is central to all types of development from commercial to educational to renewable energy, to remain in steady operation as we migrate smoothly to the new legislation. This will also include new updated regulations and a programme of training and awareness within the relevant sectors and for the wider public, where necessary. Timeframes of not longer than six months after enactment are not practicable, not to mention that the positive impact of legislation generally takes somewhat longer to manifest. The obligation that would be placed on the Heritage Council, an Chomhairle Oidhreachta, under amendment No. 56 is not considered suitable as it falls outside of the council's remit, which is provided under Part 2 of the Heritage Act 1995.

With regard to consistency with the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, consultation has taken place with the National Monuments Service on the drafting of the Bill, and I am moving a range of amendments on Report Stage to provide for the necessary interaction between the Bill with that Act, including amendments to the following: section 15, saving for national monuments; section 50, development plan strategy for natural or built heritage; and section 87, planning permission conditions relating to archaeology.

On amendment No. 57 and the proposal that the Housing Commission produce a report on short-term lettings in Gaeltacht areas, it is not correct or appropriate in the first instance that the commission be required under legislation to produce such a report as it has been dissolved. The Housing Commission was established by me with bespoke terms of reference to examine and evaluate Ireland's housing system, recommend proposals to support the long-term approach to housing and identify where we want to go between 2030 and 2050 and the housing policy we need to consider. As Members will know, the commission presented its findings and final report on 8 May and, having discharged its mandate as per its terms of reference, it was formally dissolved shortly thereafter. However, we are considering its recommendations. It will be useful when the short-term lettings legislation is available. It is proposed to submit the draft heads to the Cabinet next week. I believe the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, will then move towards the preparation and publication of the Bill itself and outline the timeframe. The issue with short-term lettings is significant, particularly in areas in our Gaeltacht regions that Deputy Ó Snodaigh has mentioned. The Bill would present an appropriate opportunity to consider that issue.

When I was discussing this issue first, I mentioned that draft guidelines will be published simultaneously. In respect of planning guidelines for the Gaeltacht, I have said that a great deal of work has been done over a long period. There has been some interaction between Departments. The guidelines are currently being finalised for review and will be published. I want to see them published and I have been a bit frustrated with the process, to be honest, but the amendments we are introducing now and will introduce later will have a significant impact in the Gaeltacht areas. We will put the onus on the local authorities to create a development plan with specific and special plans for each of our Gaeltacht areas and our islands. It is not a matter of one or the other. There was some confusion in Conradh na Gaeilge that it was just an island thing but it is not. We will provide a special plan for islands, whether they are Gaeltacht areas or not, and will provide a plan for all Gaeltacht regions. This will be the first time we have done that. In fairness, the Deputy was supportive of that. I know from the meeting with BÁNÚ I mentioned earlier that it is an-dearfach faoi freisin.

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