John Cummins
Waterford · Fine Gael · Ireland
“To ensure a structured and comprehensive examination of the issues, the task force was organised under four work themes: structures, funding, functions and governance and accountability within the local government sector.”
“At the outset, I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for raising this important issue this morning. I am acutely aware of the strong interest that exists within this House in matters relating to local government.”
“Engagement took place with a wide range of organisations and representative bodies, including employer and employee representatives, community and voluntary organisations, academic experts and other key stakeholders.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2026, Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 2) Regulations 2026, Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No.”
“In that context, I welcome the opportunity to address the House and to provide an update on the progress made today in advancing that recommendation and strengthening local democracy more generally.”
“The task force was charged with delivering its report within the challenging timeframe of six to nine months. However, considerable preparatory work already completed across the sector provided a strong foundation and enabled that timeline to be achieved. The task force, as the Senator rightly pointed out, was chaired by Mr.”
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“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. As members may be aware, Shannon Airport Group informed the Department in summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment of its structure to secure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business and employees. Several challenges had arisen, including the lack of expertise in maintaining the sites in the group, the capital investment required to maintain the heritage sites and the impact of the onset of Covid-19. Subsequently, Shannon Airport Group engaged extensively with the relevant local authorities on the transfer of sites and the business.”
“The Department is working with the local authority sector, through the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, to drive a planned maintenance approach so that we can target local authority homes. There will be stock condition surveys carried out on all 150,000 social homes as part of that programme. The Department will continue to provide local authorities with funding support, including through the schemes I mentioned. It is important to note that local authorities have to move to a position whereby all the rents they are collecting from tenants are ploughed back into the maintenance and upkeep of properties because they receive a significant rent roll. The Government is working with local authorities to ensure we have proper, adequate and comfortable homes for tenants.”
“I reiterate that it is important that local authority tenants who are paying weekly rents are provided with good quality and good comfort levels in their homes. No one will hear me disagreeing with that. It is set down in the rental standard regulations of 2019. Local authorities are obliged to provide that for their tenants. I have also set out what the Government is doing in providing funding to local authorities to assist them. Under the planned maintenance and voids programme, €31 million is available this year. Under the energy efficiency retrofit programme, €90 million is available. Under the disabled persons grants, a further €25 million is available. Within the regeneration programme, I mentioned €50 million being provided. This funding is expected to provide for upgrade works to more than 6,200 local authority homes this year.”
“Contrary to the comments the Deputy made on the in-house teams, which are important for the ongoing maintenance work, the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, indicator reports show that local authorities that have put frameworks in place to enable the quick turnaround of properties are able to turn properties around much quicker. The Department is open to suggestions. We need to see properties turned around and re-let and they need to be of good quality and to a good standard for tenants.”
“To that end, €10.1 million has been ring-fenced to support these surveys and subsequent works arising. In addition, I want to see best practice adopted with regard to the turning around and re-letting of council properties. This is a matter which the Deputy rightly raises and I have addressed on the floor of the House previously. It certainly should not be the case that it takes some local authorities up to a year to re-let a property, while others can turn a property around in between 12 and 14 weeks. That is an issue I interrogate when I visit local authorities.”
“This funding will support ongoing projects, with a focus on building new homes as well as the refurbishment and rebuilding of some of the oldest flat complexes in Dublin city and local authority estates in various parts of the country. For 2025, €50 million has been made available under this programme. As is the case across all of our housing stock, local authorities continue to receive and address repair requests in a standard manner. Furthermore, the Department of housing will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. In particular, I note all 31 of the local authorities are now live on the new asset management ICT system, which provides the ability to carry out and gather the data on stock condition surveys which will inform future work programmes.”
“Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, the Department of housing provides annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of grant programmes such as the planned maintenance, or voids, programme, the energy efficiency retrofit programme and the disabled person grants programme, with the selection of homes and nature and priority of works for inclusion in the programmes a matter for the local authority. From 2013 until the end of 2024, Exchequer funding of more than €59 million was provided to support local authority work in this area. Furthermore, funding is available under the regeneration programme.”
“In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the rental standard regulations 2019.”
“I thank Deputy Hearne for raising this matter. I assure him the Minister and I and our Department take it very seriously. It is important to note there are just over 150,000 local authority-owned social properties in this State, which have an estimated market value of more than €25 billion. The proper management and maintenance of this valuable State asset is a very important matter. Of equal importance is the requirement that local authority tenants occupying those properties and paying their weekly rent live in homes that provide good comfort levels for their occupants.”
“More than 8,652 grant approvals have been issued already to the end of Q1 of 2025 and €112 million has been paid out to refurbish almost 2,100 homes. We have also extended the local authority home loan to help finance the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable properties. Of course, this will continue to be a focus of Government. If there are proactive measures that the Opposition wishes to bring forward specifically in this area, I am more than willing to take them on board. In conclusion, social, affordable and private delivery of homes across the country is the number one priority for Government and will remain so. We will not be distracted from doing our job by efforts at sound bites for social media. We will continue to focus on our job, day in, day out.”
“The issue of vacancy and dereliction is also a significant focus of Government and a significant focus of mine in my engagement with local authorities around the country. Some local authorities are doing excellent work in respect of compulsory purchase orders. Others like my own in Waterford have done tremendous work using the likes of the repair and lease scheme. However, it is true to say that there is not a standard approach across the country from local authorities, which does have to change. We have put significant money behind this. We have provided a €150 million under call 3 of URDF to provide local authorities with the firepower to be able to use CPOs to their advantage to tackle vacancy and dereliction. We also have the vacant property refurbishment grant, which was mentioned. It provides up to €70,000 if a property is derelict.”
“My view is clear, and on the record, that we need to facilitate this, particularly in smaller settlements, to ensure housing delivery can be unlocked, particularly to a set standard and design that can be taken in charge. Work is ongoing within Government in that respect. An Coimisiún Pleanála will be formally established tomorrow. This is also a significant reform which will ensure that we have greater certainty on when a decision can be expected within our planning system. Nobody expects a positive decision but they expect certainty on timelines. That is what we are seeking to achieve with the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála. Progress has been made. Cases are down from approximately 3,600 two years ago to 1,300 cases on hand. We have statutory timelines in place which we expect the new commission to ensure are adhered to.”
“In this regard, an exempted development regulation review has been undertaken by the Department. It is intended that a four-week public consultation will commence, hopefully by the end of next week. That includes reference to modular homes to the rear of the dwelling, which a number of Deputies have raised and which I know will be helpful for many families in providing housing options. Of course, it will not be suitable in every circumstance but it is about providing options for people. Reference was also made to infrastructure and the ability of the private sector to deliver in terms of developer-provided infrastructure.”
“In that regard, the Minister, Deputy Browne, has written to local authorities. We will update local housing growth requirement figures shortly to the local authorities. As part of the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024, new urban development zones are a new part of the planning system and have the ability to be transformational. The ability for local authorities to start work on that immediately has been commenced and will dovetail with the variation process. Further, the planning and development (amendment) Bill 2025 was approved by Cabinet for priority drafting on 27 May, which will ensure sufficient time is given to activate planning permissions for much-needed housing across our country. It is intended to have that Bill passed before the summer recess. A number of Deputies referred to exempted development.”
“Furthermore, the ministerial action plan on planning resources will strengthen the planning system and ensure there are timely decisions for critical infrastructure and housing. The national planning framework has been referenced by a number of Deputies. This provides the basis for the review and updating of regional, spatial and economic strategies and local authority development plans. Given the urgent need to ensure that updated housing requirements can be incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible to address housing need and demand, local authorities will be required to vary their county development plans. This is a key priority of Government. We want to ensure that what has been agreed under the NPF is translated to a local basis as urgently as possible.”
“In addition, more than 140 professional, technical and administrative posts dedicated to delivering affordable housing have been funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to strengthen our local authorities' capacity to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects in their areas. The Government has also progressed a series of reforms to support a streamlined and well resourced planning system. This includes the consolidation and streamlining of planning legislation under the Planning and Development Act 2024. This Act represents the most comprehensive review of planning since 2000 and will reform and streamline the planning process, reducing delays in housing and strategic infrastructure projects.”
“We are consistently bringing forward a series of policy decisions because we recognise that no single policy approach, decision or silver bullet will solve the housing challenges we face. The Opposition motion states that there is chronic underfunding of our local authority housing and planning departments, which must be reversed for councils to play a key role in meeting public housing needs. That is simply not the case. On the contrary, the Government continues to support local authorities in the delivery of its housing programmes, with almost €4.8 billion provided to local authorities in 2024. This will increase further in 2025. Local authorities derive income from a variety of sources but my Department has provided funding for more than 250 additional capital posts in local authorities to support social housing delivery.”
“There are no doubt challenges and barriers to addressing these numbers, but I want to reiterate our strong commitment and determination to tackle these. As Minister of State with responsibility for planning and local government, I know the important role of the planning system as a critical piece of the solution to the housing challenges we face. I will outline some of the progress we have made in recent months in that regard shortly. The Minister, Deputy Browne, has outlined the progress made under Housing for All and referred to the new successor plan, which will incorporate pragmatic actions to boost housing activity in the short term as well as longer-term actions that will implement systemic change and help achieve the sustainable levels of supply needed in the long term. However, we are not waiting for this plan.”
“There is no such thing as a monopoly on compassion when it comes to matters to do with the housing sector. For this reason, we are working day in and day out to make substantial changes to increase the supply of social, affordable and private homes throughout our country. While there is still much to do, the Opposition motion this evening does not fairly represent the efforts and progress made to date. As a Government, we are committed to delivering 300,000 new homes between this year and 2030. We are targeting an average of 50,000 homes annually over the period. These new targets are ambitious but they provide a pathway to delivering the scale of housing needed. As a reference, these new targets are more than double the output of the last five years.”
“I thank the Deputies very much. I echo many of the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Browne, and take this opportunity to reassert the Government's commitment and determination to tackling the challenges we all know exist in the housing sector. The Minister and I are very much aware of the difficulties being experienced by some people in accessing secure and affordable accommodation. I say respectfully that I listened to many of the contributions, some of them genuine. Some Members put forward solutions. The contributions of many others just involved grandstanding, false outrage and attempts at creating clips for social media. The Members in those cases offered absolutely no solutions. The Minister, this Government and I are as aware as anyone else of the difficulties people face.”
“It is expected that the statutory scheme will be in place later this year and will provide support for the fire safety, structural safety and water ingress issues for those buildings constructed between 1991 and 2013. It is envisaged that it will cover 100% of the cost. I reiterate that the work that has been done on the pathfinder projects and on the interim scheme is banked work that will benefit everything in future. It is a priority for the Government.”
“Yes, it has been a lengthy process but it is important to state that the work that has been done will be banked work, which will benefit all of the interim and statutory processes in future. On the new statutory scheme that will replace the interim scheme, the Minister received Government approval on 18 September for the priority drafting of the apartment and duplex remediation Bill. Drafting the Bill will enable the establishment of the statutory scheme and it is progressing. Various issues requiring legal advice are under consideration. The Bill has been included in the summer legislative programme for 2025 and it is intended that Government approval will be sought shortly to publish it. Subject to this approval, the general scheme will be available to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny.”
“The pathfinder process, which will also inform the development of the statutory scheme, is facilitating the design of templates and standards for documents to be prepared by competent professionals, including procurement arrangements, proposals for fire safety assessments, fire safety risk assessments, interim measures, remedial work plans and other project related paperwork. Funding has already been released to the pathfinders to pay a majority of their professional fees. It is expected that the actual work on the ground will begin in these pathfinder projects in the coming weeks. This work will be funded subject to eligibility and meeting the governance requirements around certification for the scheme. Regarding the statutory scheme, I will address those points in my follow-up reply.”
“The appointed competent builder will be required to carry out the necessary eligible interim remediation fire safety works under a public works contract. To support the implementation and increase the efficiency of the scheme, four pathfinder projects are under way. The projects have been selected from the more-than 200 applications made to the interim remediation scheme up until the end of May, representing 595 residential units. They vary in size and complexity and will provide valuable insights for both the interim and statutory schemes.”
“Phase 3 requires significant input from OMCs, involving engagement of a competent professional, which is a registered architect, surveyor or engineer, to carry out a thorough fire safety investigation and the subsequent identification of required works. Phase three can be broken down as follows: the selection and engagement of a competent professional through a dynamic purchasing system hosted by the Housing Agency for the discovery of fire safety defects and the identification of the necessary works, followed by completion by the competent professional of the fire safety risk assessment and the preparation of a proposed interim remediation works plan subject to engagement with local authority fire services, and, finally, procurement of a competent builder via the eTender process and a determination of costs.”
“Apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013 with eligible defects qualify for the scheme. Full remedial works, which will include all necessary fire safety measures as well as those related to water ingress and structural damage, will be funded within the scope and defined parameters of the statutory scheme when in place. Through the scheme, owner-management companies, OMCs, will receive funding to carry out the necessary remediation works. Only applications from authorised representatives of OMCs will be considered and funding is not directly allocated to any individual homeowner. The administration of the scheme is being managed by the Housing Agency on behalf of the Department of housing. Applications are made to the Housing Agency via its website. The application process is broken into eight distinct phases.”
“I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter and for the opportunity to provide an update on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As the Senator rightly pointed out, there is currently an interim scheme for people with fire safety defects in their apartments and duplexes where they can and, indeed, are drawing down money to complete remedial works on their homes. In December 2023, the then Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, announced the opening of the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in eligible apartments and duplexes. The scheme provides for the funding of eligible emergency fire safety defect works to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings pending completion of the full remedial works.”
“I fully appreciate and respect the Senator's bona fides on this and other matters to do with agriculture. I know he has always been a strong advocate. As Minister of State, I want to ensure that common sense applies to any measure I am involved in. Under the legislation, however, these are matters for Uisce Éireann and the CRU. A dialogue commenced earlier in the year where submissions were invited on non-domestic charging for customers. People were able to feed into it and take these matters on board in the context of charging mechanisms going forward. While I appreciate the Senator's frustration on this, that is the process for resolving these matters. In my experience I have come across redundant connections. If people have these, they should apply to have them removed because they obviously result in significant standing charges.”
“I accept the points the Senator made about multiple holdings for farmers and the ability to combine them into one charge. As I will outline in my later reply, it is possible to have redundant connections removed or to have a temporary or permanent pause where connections are not required. Those applications are made to Uisce Éireann. I accept that what the Senator is saying is slightly different from that. However, farmers who do not have a need for water on their holdings should utilise that existing mechanism, which would reduce the standing charges that apply.”
“It provides a single, clear, transparent and fair connection charging framework. The charges are calculated in a cost-reflective manner, based on connection type. Standard connection charges apply to the majority of customers. In April 2025, the CRU held a public consultation on proposals for new non-domestic water and wastewater tariffs to apply to its non-domestic customers commencing on 1 October 2025. The CRU is currently assessing submissions. I do not know if this review process has been formally submitted to by the IFA or other bodies, but submissions are being examined with a view to finalising the future charging mechanism. Implementation of the water charges plan is a matter in the first instance for Uisce Éireann.”
“One of its roles is to ensure there is a fair and transparent system of charging for non-domestic customers. Under the Water Services Act (No.2) 2013, the CRU has the responsibility for approving the charges applied by Uisce Éireann to non-domestic customers for the provision of water and wastewater services. Uisce Éireann applies charges for water services provided to non-domestic customers, including mixed-use customers. A mixed-use premises includes a part that is a dwelling and a part that is a non-domestic premises receiving a shared supply of water, for example, a water supply serving a farmhouse and a farm. Uisce Éireann has implemented a connection charging policy, which provides a standard set of non-domestic tariffs for connections to Uisce Éireann's water and wastewater networks.”
“Senator Daly might have a job finding the hair as I do not have much left. I thank him for raising this interesting point. I also thank him for his kind comments at the outset, which were appreciated. I advise that the Water Services Acts set out the arrangements in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services by Uisce Éireann. These services, including the water connection policy, are matters for Uisce Éireann, which has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, neither I, the Minister nor my Department have operational function in such matters. The Senator rightly pointed out the role of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, as the economic regulator for Uisce Éireann.”
“The Government has also established an infrastructure division within the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to lead the process of infrastructure reform. The Government is investing record levels of capital in critical infrastructure, including in water and energy, and will continue to do so under the national development plan for the period 2025 to 2035, which is under review and will be published shortly. I am keen to listen to contributions this evening and to engage in productive dialogue. I hope contributions - when Opposition Members decide to enter the Chamber - are given in the spirit of increasing housing supply, rather than just for the sake of opposition, which has been the case in many of the debates heretofore on housing.”
“Infrastructure is another crucial aspect of enabling housing supply. The provision of critical infrastructure is at the centre of Government's priorities. We are committed to delivering on the key objectives for infrastructure to support delivery of 300,000 houses by the end of 2030 and to boost the country's competitiveness. To this end, we are establishing a housing activation office in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to identity and address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects needed for housing developments through the alignment of funding and co-operation of infrastructure providers.”
“Perfect. The Department is undertaking a review of the exempted development provisions, which will provide further options for provision of housing. A public consultation process will commence this month and updated regulations will come into force later this year. The commencement of Part 17 of the Planning and Development Act to establish An Coimisiún Pleanála to replace An Bord Pleanála is imminent. It will build on the work under way to reduce cases on hand, which have fallen from 3,616 in May 2023 to 1,364 in April this year, and introduce the mandatory decision-making timelines I referenced a few moments ago. All these measures are about getting things moving and ensuring we do not lose out on important developments and that the many planning permissions granted are realised and increase housing supply.”
“The Minister, Deputy Browne, has signed an order that will enable local authorities to identify suitable sites for UDZs and will enable the Land Development Agency and regional assemblies to bring appropriate sites to the attention of local authorities and the Minister. It is imperative this work begin as soon as possible and I envisage it being completed in tandem with the variation process. With regard to exempted development regulations, we are committed to expanding and improving existing planning exemptions for housing, including subdivision of dwelling and detached modular units to the rear of a dwelling.”
“They are an integral part of ensuring sufficient housing units through the planning permission that can be activated to deliver much-needed homes for individuals and families. Other activation measures are being progressed so no measure should be viewed in isolation. As part of the implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024, urban development zones are another new element of planning legislation that will enable further housing development. They constitute a progressive measure which will allow for a plan-led process that includes a key decision-making role for planning authorities. They also provide upfront certainty for communities and the development sector, building on the best elements of the former strategic development zones.”
“The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025 was approved by Cabinet for priority drafting on 27 May. It is intended to be enacted before the summer recess. The Bill will ensure sufficient time is given to activate planning permissions for much-needed housing across the country. It will enable an extension of the duration of permissions for housing developments nearing the end of their duration period but which have not yet commenced. The Bill will also allow the duration of a judicial review period to not be counted as part of the effective life of the planning permission, on a retrospective basis. This is important because at the moment the clock does not stop on the duration of a planning permission when the permission is subject to a judicial review. Both measures are pragmatic and grounded in common sense.”
“The Minister, Deputy Browne, has already written to local authorities advising them to commence the process of reviewing and updating their development plans. New housing growth requirement figures will be issued shortly, on completion of the necessary screening. The Planning and Development Act 2024 represents a significant reform of the planning system and is being commenced on a phased basis to the end of the year. It will bring greater clarity and certainty for those navigating the planning system. For example, new statutory timelines for decision-making and a streamlined judicial review process will help to reduce delays that may be constraining housing supply and will ensure investment decisions can be made knowing when a decision on a planning application may be forthcoming.”
“It provides the basis for the review and updating of the regional, economic and spatial strategies and local authority development plans to reflect matters such as updated housing figures, projected jobs growth and renewable energy capacity allocations, including through the zoning of land for residential, employment and a range of other purposes. Given the urgent need to ensure the updated housing requirements can be incorporated into the planning system as quickly as possible to address housing need and demand, local authorities will be required to vary current development plans. This is a key priority for the Government. We want to see what has been agreed under the NPF translated to a local basis urgently.”
“As a reference, these new targets are more than double the output of the past five years. No doubt there are challenges and barriers to addressing these numbers, but I reiterate our strong commitment and determination to address these. As Minister of State with responsibility for planning and local government, I know more than anyone that an effective planning system remains a critical piece of the solution to the housing challenges we face. A number of key achievements have been delivered in that regard in recent weeks and months, which I am happy to set out for the House. The revised national planning framework was approved by the Government in April and passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in May.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the challenges we face to secure a housing system that meets the needs of our society. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, and I will set out how we are building on the progress made in recent years under the Housing for All plan to address the serious housing challenges touching every family in this country, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, will give concluding comments. He is doing media engagements at the moment. Building new homes is a top priority for this Government. We have committed to delivering 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030, targeting an average of 50,000 homes annually in this period. These new targets are ambitious but provide a pathway to deliver the scale of housing needed for our people.”
“As I mentioned, my Department is already doing significant work in this area and I am anxious to continue with the existing initiatives that seek to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Therefore, I believe a timed amendment is appropriate in this instance. I do not, however, doubt the sincerity or the intention with which the Bill has been introduced. We all agree on the need to tackle vacancy and dereliction. By working in tandem with each other, as Opposition and Government, I think we can really bring attention to this issue and address it once and for all. I agree that seeing vacant and derelict premises across this country at a time of such housing need is something that must change.”
“Additionally, the proposed planning exemptions process set out in the Bill would involve an assessment of applications by a new town centre first panel under this separate process, including an assessment of relevant development plan and local area plan objectives pertaining. Such an arrangement would result in significant legal risk, noting that such a panel does not have the powers conferred on a planning authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000 to determine planning applications and there are no provisions for public participation or potential environmental assessments as part of the assessment process by the panel as proposed. To conclude, this Private Members' Bill has certain deficiencies as I have outlined.”
“It is intended to launch a public consultation on exempted development regulations next month and, accordingly, it would be premature to progress proposals for exempted development provisions at this stage. Second, the introduction of what is termed "a Town Centre First application process" for the change of use of all non-residential buildings would amount to a new alternative consenting process operating in lieu of the normal planning application determination and building control processes. While the details of how this new application process would operate are largely unspecified, it would likely have significant resourcing implications for local planning authorities, which would, in effect, have to manage two separate and independent application processes.”
“The existing exempted development regulation provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the associated regulations will remain in place until the relevant provisions of the new Planning and Development Act 2024 are commenced later this year. Once the sections of the 2024 Act are commenced, they will be accompanied by new regulations that will replace the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. My Department is in the process of preparing updated regulations, including in relation to exempted development provisions. The proposed amendments can be considered as part of this current preparatory work ongoing in the Department.”
“In addition to building control, a number of concerns also arise in respect of the planning-related proposals in the Bill. First, it proposes several new planning exemptions. I note in the first instance that the planning and development regulations already provide for several exemptions from the need to obtain planning permissions relevant to tackling vacancy and dereliction. These include since 2018 an exemption for the change of use of certain vacant commercial buildings, including vacant above-the-ground-floor premises, to residential - such as above-the-shop living - subject to conditions and limitations. Derelict homes may also avail of exemptions from an extension of the property to the rear, the conversion of an existing garage or shed, the creation of a porch and external maintenance and improvement works to the building.”
“The proposals to dispense with certain requirements of the building control regulations are a key concern. The proposed exemption from obtaining a fire safety certificate, which is an important process to protect the health and safety of people in and around buildings, and the proposal to circumvent certification of the design and construction of building work by a registered construction professional and competent builder could be problematic in ensuring that development works are properly inspected and monitored to ensure compliance with building regulations. Arguably, these proposals would weaken the reforms put in place since 2014 for the control of building activity in response to widespread failures that had occurred.”
“While this work is being undertaken, the measures detailed in Housing for All continue to be progressed. A suite of measures to deal with vacancy and dereliction will, of course, be an essential part of any successor plan. While the underlying objectives of the Bill are aimed at expediting the process for bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use for residential purposes and thereby assisting in increasing housing supply and facilitating urban regeneration - which, of course, is in line with the objectives of the Government's housing policy contained in Housing for All, in addition to the objectives of the national planning framework - I must record some significant concerns in relation to how these objectives are to be achieved under this Bill.”
“Notwithstanding the progress that has been made on resourcing, policy and funding support, there is a need to make legislative amendments to update the Derelict Sites Act 1990 to improve its use as a tool in tackling dereliction, consistent with Government policy objectives on regeneration and increasing housing supply in urban areas. In this regard, it is now proposed to re-engage with the local government sector and other key stakeholders in connection with the review of the Act. The proposals set out in the proposed legislation and in the Oireachtas joint committee report on urban regeneration will be taken into account as part of this review. The Government has committed in the programme for Government to a new national housing plan to follow Housing for All.”