James Browne
Wexford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I cannot accept amendments Nos. 10 and 11. The interpretation of "lawfully resident" and "habitually resident" is construed in accordance with section 20A, which sets out the new residency requirements for social housing applicants.”
“The safety net provision is to be provided by the local authority on a night-to-night basis, and this is to allow local authorities to reassess the circumstances each day to determine whether the safety net should still be provided.”
“I cannot accept amendment No. 21. This amendment proposes the introduction of a social housing passport allowing households to transfer between local authority areas while retaining their original waiting list or transfer list position. The amendment as it stands is well-intentioned.”
“No one factor is intended to be decisive and it is not necessary for a person to score strongly on all five factors outlined in section 20A(7) in order to get a positive decision. However, the local authority decision-maker must be confident that there is strong evidence that it is the applicant's main centre of interest.”
“In relation to Senator McCarthy’s amendment, while it was a very well intentioned and constructed amendment, it has been disallowed. It was not my decision on those matters. I am satisfied the safeguards and safety net are there for those who are not entitled by way of legal or habitual residence.”
“In practical terms, if an Irish citizen has severed ties abroad and has decided to return home, the process of establishing habitual residency could be determined from day one.”
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“The first fix free scheme is still in place and aims to help reduce the amount of water wasted through leaks on customers' properties. From 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2023, 19,523 customers had a leak repair carried out by Uisce Éireann under the first fix free scheme, with 90.79 million l of gross water savings per day. In recommendation 5.4, the committee recommends that a more proactive approach be taken to promoting the awareness of the importance of domestic water conservation in Ireland. Uisce Éireann has sponsored An Taisce's Green Schools water programme every year since 2013. The programme provides education and training on ways to think differently about how to use water both in school and at home, and to look at ways of conserving our water resources.”
“I will also address progress on the other water conservation measures recommended by the 2017 report of the Joint Committee on Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. In recommendation 5.2, the committee recommends that adequate resources be invested to reduce leaks in the shortest possible timeframe. Uisce Éireann has a national leakage reduction programme, and from October 2023 to September 2024, 23,416 leaks were fixed. Investment in the various works initiatives under the leakage reduction programme directly addresses resilience issues in the network. Uisce Éireann will be investing €250 million every year up to the end of 2030, fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply. In recommendation 5.3, the committee recommends that the first fix free scheme remain in place.”
“No legislation exists that allows us to do it. Part 2 of the Water Services Act 2017 contains other provisions such as amending the Water Services Act 2007 to include An Fóram Uisce as one of the bodies that the Minister can make grants to out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. It also contains a provision for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to carry out a review to assess the rate of household demand for water services provided by Uisce Éireann. This proposed Bill would not allow the Minister to make grants to An Fóram Uisce and so impacts its ability to function. It would also take away the need for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to assess household demand and limit the data available for the consideration by the water conservation working group, which advises me on water conservation strategy.”
“The Government opposes this Bill. I highlight the fact that the previous programme for Government included a commitment to introduce water conservation charges. Despite the commitment in that programme, Sinn Féin did not table any legislation to prohibit water conservation charges. Water conservation charges do not form part of the new programme for Government, yet we now see Sinn Féin tabling this legislation, wasting time and inventing a phantom to fight against rather than engaging in good faith. It is important to remember that the legislation to implement water charges was contained in the Water Services Act 2014 and this legislation was repealed by the Water Services Act 2017. There is therefore no statutory basis for the introduction of water charges. The Government simply has no power to do it.”
“Once again, I thank all the Senators who contributed this afternoon. I will not shy away from the challenges ahead. I am committed to considering all means at my disposal to address the challenges, building on the robust platform and increased supply under Housing for All, and striving to deliver more than 300,000 new homes by 2030.”
“Despite historic levels of State investment, the simple fact is that a large proportion of private capital must come from international sources. Without it, we risk exacerbating our supply and affordability challenges, in particular in the private rental sector. A review of rent pressure zones, RPZs, will also be critical in this regard. The review is considering if RPZs should continue as is or be removed, modified or replaced, as well as looking at potential future policy options and how they might be implemented. I hope to bring proposals to the Government on foot of the review in the near future. I reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that whatever changes are made, our priority focus will continue to be on protecting renters and securing affordability in the private rental sector.”
“There are also increased resources for An Bord Pleanála, which have already yielded significant improvements in its performance, since the Government invested a doubling of resources in that organisation. State investment, which is critical to crowding in much-needed private investment, will continue to grow in the coming years. We have no choice in that regard if we are to deliver at least 300,000 new homes by the end of the decade. Budget 2025 provides for record investment in housing, with €6.8 billion in capital funding now available, and a further €1.65 billion in current funding also being provided to address housing needs. However, it remains the case that delivering an average of 50,000 homes per year to 2030 will require an estimated €20 billion of development finance each year.”
“I am confident the step-change in delivery since 2022 provides a robust platform on which the supply of new homes can be substantially increased over the next six years and thereafter. To this end, we will work to grow capacity in the residential construction sector. We will continue to invest in modern methods of construction, having accelerated the pace of construction and enhanced efficiencies, and increasing the construction sector's capacity to support the uplift in housing targets by the end of the decade. I am acutely aware of the frustrations experienced with the planning system. I am confident that reforms being introduced through the new Planning and Development Act will alleviate many of the frustrations and bring the certainty and confidence needed to plan for and deliver the scale of housing we need.”
“I specifically asked local authorities to focus support on the most vulnerable households, including tenant in situ acquisitions, older persons and persons with disabilities, those exiting homeless services and buy-and-renew acquisitions that tackle vacancy. Prioritising vulnerable households for support is important, but it does not mean excluding others. It will be a matter for local authorities to determine how they can best respond to local needs and priorities. Delivering 60,000 new homes by 2030, supporting 15,000 starter homes per year and delivering an average of 12,000 social homes presents combined and individual challenges. While these targets reflect a considerable level of ambition, I believe they are credible.”
“I reaffirm Ireland's commitment to working to eradicate homelessness by 2030. Budget 2025 allocates more than €300 million to this end, up €61 million on the 2024 allocation. In addition, €12 million in capital funding is being provided for supported emergency accommodation for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. We have also committed to creating 2,000 Housing First tenancies to target long-term homelessness. Earlier this week my Department wrote to all local authorities to confirm its continued support for a targeted second-hand social housing acquisitions programme for 2025. This will allow us to continue responding to acute local situations. The allocation of €325 million this year will support a significant programme of acquisitions for identified priority categories of need.”
“The Government has provided the first affordable homes in a generation. From a standing start when Housing for All was published in 2021, we have delivered more than 10,000 affordable housing supports, with delivery in 2024 likely to significantly exceed the 2023 outturn. Our ambition is to deliver much more. The programme for Government commits to support the delivery of 15,000 starter homes, on average, each year during its lifetime. We will do this by redoubling our efforts and continuing our close working partnership with local authorities and other delivery partners. The social housing programme has resulted in the greatest number of social homes delivered for many decades. We will continue to build on this. Supporting households experiencing homelessness remains our priority.”
“I thank my fellow scalder, Senator Cathal Byrne, for his kind comments. I know his family are very proud of him as well for being here in the Seanad. I thank all Senators for their contributions this afternoon. As with the recent debates in the Dáil, today's engagement will help to reform our approach to the challenges we face. Before drawing this afternoon's debate to an end, I reaffirm our commitment to tackling the many challenges in the housing sector. Housing has become a serious social challenge that is having an outsized impact on people's lives. We must act with unprecedented urgency to meet the challenge and ensure that all of us in the State have safe, secure and affordable homes. We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge. We are putting the work in, day in and day out. We are making progress.”
“The plan will also focus on policies and structures that set us on a more sustainable and resilient footing as we seek to secure a long-term pipeline of delivery and funding to 2030 and beyond. Out of necessity, the plan will follow the review of the national development plan, which will be completed in July. In the meantime, I will continue to engage with Government colleagues including the Minister, Deputy Chambers, as the latter review takes shape over the coming months, making the case to reaffirm the critical importance of housing as recognised in the previous national development plan review. I again thank Senators for inviting me to speak to them today. I look forward to hearing their views over the coming two hours and to engaging with them further on ideas and possible solutions to the difficulties we face.”
“We can both protect renters and attract sustainable long-term investment and finance to finance new homes for rent. We have no choice but to do so. I have taken the initial time available to me to document the recent progress as well as some of the more substantial measures we are progressing and will progress in the coming years as we strive to relieve the pressures in the housing system. The forthcoming national housing plan will encompass many additional strands of work, including ambitious targets for social and affordable starter and cost-rental homes, addressing the homelessness challenge, boosting the capacity of the construction sector, our local authority housing delivery teams and approved bodies, and continuing to reduce vacancy and bring much-needed stock back into use.”
“This is an outcome inextricably linked to the almost full retreat of international capital in the sector since 2022. This capital is critical to apartment delivery, particularly from the private rental sector. Many of the apartments delivered last year were State led, and while this secured much-needed social, cost-rental and affordable housing, it is not sustainable in the long term. A stable and certain policy environment will help attract the private investment needed, and a review and potential recalibration and reimagining of rent pressure zones will be critical in this regard. Whatever our direction of travel, our approach will seek to strike the right balance between protecting affordability for renters, on the one hand, while encouraging new investment in the residential construction sector, on the other.”
“The State has invested unprecedented levels of public money in the delivery of housing in recent years and we intend to continue to do so. With that said, as much as some do not like hearing it, there is just no getting away from the fact the State cannot go it alone. Much of the investment needed to meet our needs has to come from the private sector, financed through the appropriate sources of private capital, a lot of which will come from international sources. We need to look no further than last year's dip in new home completions, which we all know was driven largely by the fall in the number of new apartments. To appreciate the importance of private investment, it has been three years since we carried out a review of apartments.”
“The new office will ensure timely provision of the enabling infrastructure needed for public and private housing development while addressing unnecessary infrastructure delays and blockages within the system. Work to establish this office is well advanced and recent engagement with key stakeholders has reinforced the importance of getting this office up and running urgently. The office will manage the significant housing infrastructure component of the new towns and cities investment fund. This will be agreed as part of the upcoming review of the national development plan. We are committed to investing in capital for Uisce Éireann to reach the levels of housing supply envisaged and deliver an average of 50,000 new houses every year between now and the end of the decade.”
“The new Planning and Development Act represents a radical reform of the planning system and will be commenced on a phased basis over the next 18 months. The new Act will bring greater clarify and certainty for those navigating the planning system. For example, new statutory timelines for decision-making and streamlined judicial review processes will help to reduce the delays that may be constraining supply and ensure investment decision can be made knowing when a decision on a planning application may be forthcoming. Infrastructure is at the centre of the Government's programme. A new strategic housing activation office is being established under my remit.”
“The plan will incorporate pragmatic actions to boost housing activity in the short term, as well as strategic delivery boosts that will implement systemic change and help achieve and sustain the levels of supply needed in the long term. We can all agree planning remains a critical piece of the solution. We are close to finalising the first revision to the national planning framework, NPF, and I expect the revision to be completed in the coming weeks, subject to Government agreement and thereafter the approval of both Houses. The revised NPF will set out the need to plan for the delivery of 50,000 new homes every year until 2040 and provide local authorities with the scope to zone the land needed to reach these targets.”
“We have committed to delivering 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030, targeting at least 60,000 homes annually by the end of the period. When achieved, as a frame of reference, this will be more than double the 133,000 homes built in the past five years. The new targets are ambitious but they provide a credible pathway to delivering the scale of housing needed. The targets are not a ceiling. We plan to revisit them in 2027 and if, reflecting demand and growing industry capacity, we need different targets for 2028 and subsequent years, we will revise them. Our immediate focus must be on achieving these targets. To this end, the programme for Government commits to a new national housing plan to build on the success of Housing for All.”
“At the same time, we must be honest and acknowledge housing remains an existential challenge. We bear witness to the consequences of this every day. The number of new homes coming on stream each year is far short of where it needs to be. The result is a limited availability in choice, affordability challenges for those seeking independence in the housing market, social housing lists that remain stubbornly high and growing numbers of homeless households. We do not underestimate the challenge facing us, nor do we resile from it. We remain steadfast in our commitment to meet the challenge head on and ensure all those aspiring to independence in the housing market can realise their aspiration. Building new homes remains a key priority for our Government. Increased supply remains the answer to many of the problems we face.”
“By 2020 and 2021, this had increased to 20,500 new-build homes added to the national housing stock in each of these years and, a short three years later, an undeniably significant step change in delivery has been achieved, with more than 92,000 new homes built from 2022 to 2024. More social homes are being delivered than in many years. Measures like the first home scheme, help to buy scheme, the local authority home loan, the relaxation of social housing income eligibility limits and the introduction of the renters' credit have all helped younger people to achieve autonomy in the housing market. Government measures on rent regulation and tenant in situ schemes have also successfully protected tenants and shielded vulnerable households from homelessness.”
“In many ways, we are still recovering from the deep wounds inflicted on the housing system during and shortly after the great financial crisis. It is easy to forget that only ten or so years ago, we built only 7,200 new homes in the State. Remarkably, in the decade since, we have increased this significantly to an annual average of almost 31,000 new homes in the past three years. Despite the almost continuous upward trajectory in supply through this period, there have been some recent disappointments, most notably the dip in the number of new homes built last year. This in particular brings into stark relief the enormous task of securing enough housing to meet our needs. That said, it is important to recall how far we have come in a relatively short period of time. In 2012 and 2013, we delivered less than 5,000 new homes each year.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the Seanad today on the challenges we face as a country as we work to build on the progress achieved under the Housing for All plan and to secure a housing system that meets the needs of our society. I recently outlined a broad housing policy agenda in the Dáil with reference to the Government's work on the report of the Housing Commission. I hope to take a similar approach here today. In doing so, I will outline the progress achieved since Housing for All was published in September 2021, the Government's ambition to build on that progress and the challenges we face in doing so, as well as, most important, some of the key measures we will bring forward as we strive to meet and address the challenges we face. It is important to start by reflecting on the progress we have made in recent years.”
“We have achieved much since Housing for All was published and will continue to work tirelessly over the terms of this Government to increase supply, address the affordability challenges and fix the housing system for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.”
“To this end I have requested local authorities focus on the following priority categories, namely, tenant in situ acquisitions, older persons or persons with a disability, exits from homeless services and buy or new acquisitions which tackle vacancy. Prioritising vulnerable households for support under the second-hand acquisitions programme is important but it does not mean excluding others. It will be a matter for local authorities to respond to local needs. To conclude, this Government is dedicated to ensuring the continued success of Housing for All and implementing the far-ranging commitments of the programme for Government. In its countermotion, the Government highlights the substantial progress made to date and how it will built on this progress.”
“We will consider the best means for regulating the private rental sector, including any recalibration of the existing rent pressure zones that may be required. We will seek to strike the most appropriate balance between protecting affordability for tenants on the one hand, while increasing the supply of new rental homes for new private investment and construction on the other. Tenant in situ acquisitions are recognised as a key measure in the prevention of homelessness and as such I reassert the Government's commitment to the continuation of a more focused and targeted programme to ensure it benefits those most in need.”
“We also have a strong pipeline, with more than 28,000 homes at all stages of design and build. The Government will continue to roll out the largest social housing programme in the history of the State. The programme for Government contains a commitment to expanding on this significantly. It will target some 12,000 homes per year on average over the Government's term. Allied with support for approximately 15,000 starter homes, this reflects our commitment to resolving the housing crisis. In the rental market, we have committed to continuing support for renters and landlords, including measures to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices through enhanced enforcement powers for the Residential Tenancies Board.”
“Affordability is a key focus of Housing for All, which introduced many measures to support access to affordable housing and assist those aspiring to buy their own home to do so. It includes the help to buy scheme, the local authority affordable purchase schemes, the local authority home loan and the first home shared equity scheme. Unprecedented State investment under Housing for All has supported record levels of delivery of both social and affordable homes via the various delivery partners involved. We continue to deliver the first affordable homes in a generation and we are going from strength to strength with affordable housing supports provided in 2024 likely to significantly exceed 2023's outturn. Notably, since July 2020, almost 42,000 social homes have been added to the social housing stock.”
“The nature and the scale of homes being bought by non-household purchasers is often misinformed. The reality is illustrated by latest CSO data on market purchases of homes by non-households, including institutional investors, is that the State was the largest non-household purchaser of homes in 2023. It acquired almost half of the 12,000 or so homes bought by such purchasers. Furthermore, the owner-occupier guarantee introduced by the Government in May 2021 has succeeded in preventing the inappropriate purchase of homes by a single purchaser and securing those homes for purchase by homeowners. Between May 2021 and November 2024, planning permission was granted for some 55,600 homes with conditions prohibiting bulk purchase by or multiple sales to a single purchaser of those homes.”
“The revised national planning framework will provide local authorities with scope to zone the amount of land required to meet housing needs in areas of highest demand. The motion calls for the creation of a State housing infrastructure investment fund or bond to unlock housing savings. We are examining all options to secure the public and private financing required to deliver on our targets. We continue to engage with domestic lenders and we continue to explore development of new financing resources, especially for brownfield sites and small builders, with the support of Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI, the Housing Finance Agency, HFI, as well as State-supported equity investment. The motion also calls for a ban on institutional purchases of houses and apartments, other than by local authorities and AHBs.”
“To this end, we have committed to delivering some 300,000 new homes by 2030, rising to 60,000 homes per year by the end of that period. Scaling up to 60,000 homes per year and building further on this thereafter will be an enormous challenge. We will rise to this challenge by utilising all the means available to us. We will do this by, among other things, prioritising investment in infrastructure development. For example, we will draw on the Housing Commission's proposals and establish a new strategic housing activation office to co-ordinate home building and investment in the service of zoned lands and to remove barriers that stifle supply. The commencement of the Planning and Development Act 2024 is a key priority for the Government. The Act will bring greater clarity and certainty.”
“We are building on the progress already made since the launch of Housing for All three and a half years ago. Housing for All sets out a comprehensive and ambitious multi-annual programme to accelerate and significantly increase the delivery of new homes. This ambition is reflected in the record level of investment being provided for the delivery of housing in 2025, with overall capital funding of almost €6.8 billion now available and a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. Last year's dip in delivery was very disappointing, but supply continues to grow in the longer term. More that 133,000 new-build homes were delivered between 2020 and 2024, with 92,500 of these delivered between 2022 and 2024, up almost 50% on the three previous years. Building new homes remains a key priority for the Government.”
“I will set out what we are doing to build on the successes of that plan and our ongoing commitment to meet the significant housing challenges facing us as a nation. Housing is a cross-society challenge that has a real impact on people's lives. I reassert the Government's commitment to addressing the housing crisis by implementing Housing for All and the suite of measures outlined in the programme for Government. We want to make it very clear that we do not underestimate the scale of the challenge and that is why we are considering every lever at out disposal. We are looking at immediate, short-term, pragmatic actions to increase supply, as well as longer term initiatives that will help sustain and build on this over the coming decade. It is important to acknowledge that we are not starting from scratch.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "acknowledges that: — Housing for All sets out an ambitious multi-annual programme that seeks to deliver more than 300,000 new homes between 2022 and 2030; — more than 133,000 new build homes were delivered between 2020 and 2024, with 92,500 of these delivered between 2022 and 2024, exceeding the Housing for All target for the period by some 5,500 or so new homes, and a 49 per cent increase on the quantum delivered in the previous three-year period; — there have been record levels of delivery for both social and affordable homes via the various delivery partners involved; and — Government measures, such as the development levy waiver and water connection refund have been a catalyst for increased construction activity in the last 12 months, establishing a robust medium-term pipeline and supporting significantly accelerated supply of new housing in the coming years; recognises that: — the measures introduced under Housing for All have helped establish a solid platform to 'scale-up' delivery further in the short-term and secure a sustainable level of supply that will help us meet fully unmet and emerging demand; — the Government's revised housing targets, informed by expert, peer-reviewed research by the Economic and Social Research Institute, and targeting a minimum of 300,000 or so new homes over the next six years, are an ambitious and credible pathway to achieving these objectives; — the measures committed to in the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future, including a new housing plan building on the successes of Housing for All, will help us meet the enormous challenge of delivering 60,000 or more new homes per year by 2030; and — the Government's new national housing plan will incorporate pragmatic actions to boost housing activity in the short-term, coupled with strategic deliverables to drive comprehensive systemic change and subsequent increase in supply into the long-term; notes that: — Housing for All contains a suite of actions that have, and continue to, increase the provision of housing by accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes; — the increase in new homes, as well as measures such as the First Home Scheme, the Help to Buy scheme, the Local Authority Home Loan, the relaxation of social housing income eligibility limits, and the introduction of the Rent Tax Credit, are all helping to support younger people achieve autonomy in the housing market; — the latest Central Statistics Office data on market purchases of homes by non-households, including institutional investors, show the State was the largest non-household purchaser of homes in 2023, acquiring almost half of the 12,000 or so homes bought by such purchasers; — the owner-occupier guarantee introduced by Government in May 2021, has succeeded in preventing the inappropriate purchase of homes to a single purchaser, securing those homes for purchase by homeowners, with planning permission granted for some 55,600 homes with conditions prohibiting bulk purchase by, or multiple sale to, a single purchaser between May 2021 and November 2024; and — defective concrete blocks is a complex issue, which the Government is addressing by allocating a significant amount of money to affected homeowners, to enable them to rebuild their homes and get on with their lives, while changes were included to the scheme late in 2024 to take account of the most recent research undertaken; and affirms Government efforts to: — increase supply and improve the availability, choice and affordability of homes; — build on the significant number of social and affordable homes provided in 2024, expanding the State's investment available for the delivery of social, affordable and cost rental homes in 2025, supplemented by the Land Development Agency investment, and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) lending, which will bring the overall capital provision to almost €6.8 billion; — support individuals and families who may be struggling to purchase a home, by bridging the gap between their financial resources and the price of the home, through a range of schemes including the Help to Buy, First Home Scheme, Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan; — consider the best means for regulating the private rental sector, including any recalibration of the current Rent Pressure Zones that may be required, which will seek to strike the most appropriate balance between protecting affordability for tenants on the one hand, while increasing the supply of new rental homes through new private investment and construction on the other; — boost supply of private rental homes by introducing new regulatory controls for short-term lets, by progressing the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill; — address homelessness through additional measures included in the Programme for Government, including to develop a cross-Government prevention framework, reforming the legislative framework, the continuation and expansion of the Housing First scheme, and a commitment to focus social housing allocations to exit families experiencing homelessness; — sustain Tenant in-Situ Scheme acquisitions into 2025, as a clear indication of Government's commitment to preventing homelessness for Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme tenants, who have been served a 'no fault' Notice of Termination; — support a targeted second-hand social housing acquisitions programme, which responds to the needs of the most vulnerable by increasing the 2025 budget for the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme, from the €60 million available under Housing for All, to €325 million; — support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to acquire and re-develop vacant and derelict buildings and sites, from single properties to more extensive buildings or blocks for social housing, through the Social Housing Investment Programme and the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; — support the full time Vacant Homes Officers in all 31 local authorities to actively pursue all avenues to bring vacant properties back into use; — introduce new regulatory controls for short-term lets, by progressing the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill; — establish a land price register, for which work is committed to in the Programme for Government and already underway; — continue to develop Land Zoning Value Sharing proposals to allow the State to secure a proportion of the increased value of land associated with zoning decisions, with communities benefitting as a result; — prioritise infrastructure development as a critical means for increasing housing supply, noting the Government's commitment including, for example, investing additional capital in Uisce Éireann; — establish a new strategic housing activation office, to coordinate homebuilding and investment in the servicing of zoned lands; — expand the capacity of the construction sector, as another key measure to scale up delivery to the levels necessary by 2030; — diversify sources of investment, noting the level of investment required in the long-term cannot be solely the responsibility of the State, and it will also require a very significant level of private investment, including appropriate institutional capital investment, which is essential for the delivery of critically needed private rental homes; — work with domestic lenders to ensure that the banking sector is appropriately using its lending capacity to support the development of new housing; — develop new financing sources, especially for brownfield sites and small builders, with support from Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI), the HFA and domestic banks, as well as State support of equity investment; and — deliver on the far-ranging commitments in the Programme for Government, and informed by the Housing Commission's proposals for the long-term reform of the housing system, accepting this is an appropriate response to the current housing challenges which Ireland is now facing." I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Government's countermotion and to outline the progress made to date by this Government and that which preceded it under Housing for All.”
“Its members have reduced themselves to acolytes of Sinn Féin. What was once a party of principle has now lined up with populists and opportunists, lending its voice to this cynical circus and treating everything as a joke, as we have just heard. This House faces serious challenges including threats to the economy from tariffs and challenges in housing, healthcare and climate. The people want solutions not stunts. They expect leadership and not tantrums. We choose responsibility over rhetoric.”
“I condemn the reckless behaviour of the Opposition, a coalition of chaos determined not to serve the people but to sabotage the democratic functioning of this very House. Opposition Members' constant disruption of the Dáil is not protest but performance. It is a blatant attempt to undermine the very institution they claim to serve. Now, they stoop even lower, lodging a motion of no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle, an attack not on a person but on the integrity of this institution. The Ceann Comhairle has conducted her duties with fairness, impartiality and respect for every Member of this Chamber. To undermine her is to undermine the very authority of the Dáil itself. Where is the Labour Party in all of this?”
“I would be concerned that single people would not apply for the scheme because of the misinformation being put out there by both Deputies. There is flexibility in it. Like so many other schemes, there is a prioritisation being applied. That happens with local authorities for social housing schemes as well. We are prioritising families, older people and people with disabilities. I do not understand why the Deputies have an issue with prioritising the most vulnerable.”
“In fairness, I think I was supposed to respond before Deputy Hearne, so if he wants to speak after me again, I have no difficulty with that. With the tenant in situ scheme, we believe that criteria need to be applied to it. It was introduced as a temporary measure. It is there as a last resort to prevent people from going into homelessness. I responded to all of this last night. It is somewhat frustrating that no one from the Labour Party or the Social Democrats was there last night for my response. Perhaps the two Deputies are now learning that, due to the pressures in the Oireachtas, there are many times when we cannot be in the Chamber every single moment. Anyway, we will leave it at that. I answered the question. Single people are not excluded. Putting the contrary out there is complete misinformation.”
“Under revised arrangements for 2025, local authorities will receive a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of homes for priority categories, namely, tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons and people exiting homelessness, as well as buy and renew acquisitions that tackle vacancy. The provision of a capital funding allocation will help promote best practice in obtaining value for money and provide local authorities with the flexibility to respond to the needs and priorities locally within the categories of need being prioritised. The tenant in situ acquisitions continue to be supported and prioritised where other solutions cannot be found for the affected tenants. The arrangements for 2025 will ensure a more targeted and focused acquisitions programme.”
“Tenant in situ acquisitions were introduced by Government in 2023 in response to a reported uplift in sales by landlords under the HAP and RAS schemes. Such acquisitions have been an important measure in preventing homelessness. The Government therefore agreed to continue the programme in 2025. My Department has notified local authorities about the extension of the programme. A circular setting out the arrangements will issue shortly. The introduction of additional eligibility criteria for acquisitions this year is to ensure that priority categories such as tenant in situ, elderly and disabled persons and people exiting homelessness can benefit in an equitable manner from the second-hand acquisitions programme.”
“I certainly agree with the Deputy. As someone who has served on a town council and a county council, I am a great believer in local democracy. We will be strengthening the role of county councillors throughout the country. We will be setting up a task force soon which will report quickly to ensure that councillors have their role to be able to hold officials to account where they are not meeting the standards. While we have highly capable officials throughout this country, there are times when perhaps the focus is not put on those key equality issues that should be. I certainly intend to ensure that happens. We will look at the funding piece as well in the context of local authorities. I will certainly pursue this matter.”
“This is certainly a matter on which I will follow up. If the Deputy has any particular situations to highlight, he should provide the details to me and I will follow up on them.”
“Their work should certainly not be treated as an add-on; it should be focused on ensuring compliance with the Disability Act. We have had a number of these officers in my local authority in County Wexford. They have been absolutely excellent in ensuring that the relevant requirements are met. I will certainly reach out to the local authorities to remind them of the importance of this role. I will also remind them that the role should be focused on the terms of what the officers involved should be doing, that is, ensuring people with disabilities have fair and equitable access – not just equality but actual equitable access - and ensuring their rights are being upheld. This is a human rights issue. The needs of people with disabilities are something with which I am particularly familiar.”
“Local authorities play a key role in the planning and provision of social housing in their areas and decide on the number and types of dwellings to provide based on identified need. The National Disability Authority is undertaking an economic and social evaluation of the universal design housing model. My Department will consider this analysis as soon as it is published.”
“Part M of the building regulations sets out the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access and use. Part M aims to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability, new dwellings are visitable. The accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate. Housing for All provides the overall framework within which the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 operates. Under it, we are committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing is made available with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important question on the role of accessibility officers in Dublin City Council and the oversight mechanisms that are in place to ensure future housing developments meet universal design standards. These are issues in respect of which he has long campaigned, even before he came to the Dáil. Under the Disability Act 2005, each local authority is required to have at least one officer authorised to act as an access officer. Per the Act, the access officers in each local authority are responsible for providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by the local authority. Each chief executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority.”
“On Lismore, I do not have the information to hand. I will certainly raise the matter with Uisce Éireann, however. If the Deputy sends me the details, we will follow up on that. Of course, I am sure the situation in Cork is always kept under review by Uisce Éireann. However, I will again raise that matter with Uisce Éireann.”
“There will not be any return. That has always been clear. There was a proposal by the previous Government to bring in water conservation charges. It is noticeable that Sinn Féin did not table a Bill to change the legislation during the previous Government's term of office. It has now put forward a Bill that has made the front page of a newspaper. It is interesting that when it was proposed to do this, Sinn Féin did not have any particular legislative proposals to stop it.”
“I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to reiterate the Government's position on it. I reiterate that there is no work being done on this issue. The measure is not in the current programme for Government. There are no plans to introduce it. We will not be taking any further action in relation to it.”