Rory Hearne
Dublin North-West · Social Democrats · Ireland
“I thank you, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle, for your work and support during the year and thank all the staff here. I wish my colleagues in government the best of luck over the summer and respite from our robust engagement. We look forward to going at it again in the autumn.”
“The Dublin public will be very upset when they realise their fire fighters and emergency response service are at risk of being split and downgraded.”
“I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. It is important to have a discussion about the context of education costs and back-to-school costs. Of course, the context is massive inequality in this country.”
“However, what it is actually doing is throwing families into even more stress on top of not being able to pay the basic bills. In my constituency to respond and support families struggling with back-to-school costs, the Finglas voluntary food and family support service, Feed Our Homeless, last year organised help for families with a pop-u…”
“A second tier of child benefit would lift 55,000 children out of poverty but the Government will not do it. It costs the same as what it has given in tax breaks to developers, investor funds and large fast-food giants. Childhoods pass quickly. No child should have their future limited by poverty.”
“The Government is ramming through planning legislation this week that will exempt sheds out the back without proper scrutiny. It is satisfied with handing our young people to vulture landlords. The Government is now offering a future of renting a shed out the back with no rights whatsoever.”
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“While the Bill is restricted to the shared equity scheme, we are bringing it forward in the hope that this is extended further in time. Wherever public subsidies are going to the private sector, there should be transparency. In this Bill, we are not arguing against private development or, in this instance, the role of State subsidies to the private sector. While we are opposed to that in principle, in this case, we are putting forward a very straightforward Bill that provides for transparency in the amount of profit private developers are making, where they are receiving a State subsidy in the shared equity scheme and that contribution is being made to the viability of their development. The Government has said it is all in favour of transparency, for example, in the grocery sector and food.”
“If we are honest again, what viability means is profitability because the question that the developers in the private sector are asking is this: are they making sufficient profit to deliver housing? Then, we have to peel that back further and ask why we are making policy that uses public money essentially to increase the profits of the private market. This is the fundamental question. We are not necessarily achieving value for money, and we are certainly not achieving genuinely affordable housing. What we are trying to do with this Bill is bring transparency. We are trying to bring transparency to the housing market, particularly where the State is playing a significant role in that market by subsidising development, contributing to the ability of people to buy a home and providing funds to developers who are building homes.”
“We have seen the argument made by the various construction interests, developer interests and investor interests that there is this very significant viability gap. Figures have been put on it of between €100,000, €150,000 and €200,000 depending on how high the apartment development is going to go. However, if we are really honest here, there is no actual clarity about what the viability gap is because we have not seen the evidence even from those who are putting forward the claims. We have seen estimates depending on certain projects, but we have seen no real independent analysis of what this viability gap is. We can deconstruct the argument around viability even further when we question what viability means.”
“It is that developers and private builders who are building homes and receive a State subsidy, specifically in relation to the shared equity scheme, are required to publish profit and loss accounts. It is a very straightforward request, and a very straightforward piece of legislation. It is a very common-sense Bill because the State is giving significant funding to private builders, private developers and private investors, and when the State is using public money - taxpayers' money - we need to ensure there is absolute value for money achieved with that investment. The context of this, of course, is that we have a huge debate ongoing about the viability of the delivery of housing and whether it is viable to build housing in this country for the private market and the private sector.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to move this Bill. I will start by thanking Deputy Cian O'Callaghan and his parliamentary assistant, Jack Sweeney, and my own parliamentary assistant, Ellen O'Doherty, for their work on this Bill. It is a privilege to bring this Bill before the House on Second Stage; it is my first Bill before the Dáil. It is very apt that it is the Developer Profits Transparency Bill. The issue that is to hand and why we are bringing forward this Bill is that house prices are completely out of control. We have seen house prices rise year after year. We have seen a double-digit increase in prices whereby house prices are now completely out of reach for most ordinary people in this country. What we are proposing in the Bill is something very straightforward.”
“How do we let this genocide continue? Our governments use strong words to condemn Israel, but the words are empty without real action. Ordinary people across the world have bravely protested. They are in the Global Sumud Flotilla, holding our hearts and hopes for peace, our hopes that the blockade will be broken and humanitarian aid delivered. These ordinary people are taking the action our governments should. I call on the Irish Government and governments across Europe to protect them and protect the innocent children of Gaza and the people in the West Bank. I plead with the Government to implement the occupied territories Bill and put sanctions on Israel anois. It is upsetting, and I apologise for getting upset, but it is hard to really talk about this without talking about the actual people who are dying and being murdered every day.”
“In many ways, our words have lost meaning. The words we speak include "genocide". Genocide is ongoing right now in Gaza. The word "genocide" has almost lost its meaning because we have all watched it live-streamed on our phones and have seen thousands and thousands of people murdered by Israel, yet what has been done? The word "genocide" has lost meaning for the people of Gaza. Our hearts are broken for the people of Gaza. In fact, the very souls of all of us have been hollowed by the murder of 20,000 children. Our eyes are burned by the images of fathers holding lifeless daughters and sons and daughters and sons lying beside lifeless fathers and mothers. How have we let this happen? How have we let these children be bombed in shelters, schools and tents? How have we let their beautiful laughs be silenced forever?”
“These are carers missing mortgage repayments or rent payments. Alongside the stress, challenges and commitment involved in caring, carers are also struggling financially. Can the Minister imagine the stress of that struggle, the daily toll it takes, and how it shortens their own lives and reduces their ability to provide the care they are so dedicated to providing? There is a cost-of-living crisis, but it disproportionately affects carers. The State must step up and ensure no carers are living in poverty. We need a change in approach to carers. We need Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Government to support this motion. The Social Democrats’ vision for Ireland is a vision for a compassionate, caring republic; a social, democratic Ireland of care, where everyone can live in dignity, a true social democracy.”
“The risk of consistent poverty hovers over these families and it is them whom the Government is subjecting to means-testing that is part of the fabric of their daily lives of worry. They worry about the future for their relatives, their health, the health of those they are caring for, access to services, waiting lists and must constantly push and try to find services. The least that could be done to recognise these carers is to remove the punitive means test. There are adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s who have ageing parents and have started caring for them. These are adults who cannot afford a home and are among the 15% of carers who rent privately and precariously. Of the 37% of carers who are mortgage holders, 17%, or nearly one in five, missed a mortgage payment in 2024. Of the 15% renting privately, 35% missed a rent payment in 2024.”
“None of us would survive without care. It is fundamental to our relationships as human beings as well as to our survival, yet the economic market model we have places no financial value on care, and that is fundamentally flawed. We have a skewed economy and a skewed society that rewards speculative greed and ignores, penalises and undervalues caring roles. We need to see a change to this. Carers need to be viewed as central to our economy and society for us to recognise the role they play. Poverty and deprivation disproportionately affects carers. The 2024 Pobal disability and deprivation report found that rates of deprivation are higher among people with disabilities or health limitations.”
“It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure the welfare and well-being of everyone in this country, especially the most vulnerable. Carers provide for those most vulnerable. They are some of the most incredible people in this country. Their tireless and important work needs to be properly recognised. Often when people in the Government talk about carers, they note how inspirational, hardworking and compassionate they are. What seems to be the harder truth for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Government to acknowledge is that, actually, carers are some of the most exploited workers in this country today. The work done by those who care for children, the disabled and the elderly is not recognised, and there is no real conversation about the value of this work or the cost of this work to themselves and to wider society.”
“The truth is that the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; the current housing Minister; and previous housing Ministers from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can waffle on with hollow words about record economic growth and achievements, but the legacy of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael after 100 years in power is an utter failure in their primary and most important task and responsibility, as set out in the Proclamation, to ensure all children are cherished equally and to guarantee the welfare of all children. There are 5,000 children homeless and 225,000 children living in poverty. This budget must invest in housing and in supporting those who are in poverty. We can end homelessness and child poverty. It is a question of political will.”
“A mother in my constituency who is facing homelessness because she is facing eviction from a rental home contacted me this week to tell me that Dublin City Council has told her that when she is evicted and needs emergency accommodation in the coming months, there will be no emergency accommodation available in Dublin. It is full. She will have to go to Meath, Kildare or Louth. How is her child going to go to school? How is she going to go to work? The housing crisis is absolutely out of control. In recent weeks, I listened in disbelief to interviews with the former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as he spoke about his time in office with no acknowledgement of the fact that he never prioritised tackling homelessness.”
“That there are 5,014 children homeless is an utter scandal. The truth is that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have never prioritised children. This includes the children who are made homeless and the children who are living in poverty. The Government has refused to put in place a ban on evictions because it is making housing policy for the big investor fund landlord lobby. This week is Simon week and it points out that prevention is what is needed. We need the ban on evictions, a properly resourced tenant in situ scheme and investment in prevention of homelessness to keep children in their communities where they have the support of family and friends.”
“I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this vital motion. It is unfortunate that the Government is opposing it. There are 5,014 children homeless in this country. When that number is thrown out, we often do not consider that each of those children is a child whose life is being damaged. It is equivalent to 220 primary school classes of children being homeless. Homelessness has doubled under this Government since 2021. These children and the 225,000 children in poverty are growing up experiencing what psychologists define as "an adverse childhood experience", which is something that causes trauma, stress and developmental delays and potentially has lifelong physical and mental health impacts on children. It is shameful that one child is homeless in a country that has never had such wealth.”
“There are two Irelands, and indeed there are many Irelands today. There is a small number who are doing okay but there is a majority that, at some level, is struggling in one way or another to cover the basic costs of living. Luxuries used to be a holiday, nice clothes, a meal out - things people saw as treating themselves. Today, a luxury and a treat, for some people, is actually turning the heat on. This is outrageous in a country that is one of the wealthiest in the world. The Government promised an energy poverty action plan. It has not been implemented and it is very clear that the Government's priority is not implementing measures that will actually alleviate this real poverty. Instead, it is too busy and unwilling to challenge the massive greedflation we are seeing.”
“It is not the families who are scraping by and who are unsure whether they can continue to do so. We have allowed a society and culture to develop where families and children go cold and hungry in order that the profits of big companies are sated and fulfilled. I ask the question again. This is 2025 in Ireland, in an economy that is supposed to be a social-market economy and a balanced economy that is about feeding, supporting and nurturing a society, not just profit at all costs, yet it feels we are back in the laissez-faire early Dickensian capitalist days where people go hungry while other people amass wealth and money. The social contract has been broken, and for what? For these companies to make more profits. The Government has to start prioritising the families who are stretched.”
“This will be compounded. We will see the number of children in poverty increase when these energy costs are added in. It is not just inflation and we should call it out for what it is. It is greedflation. We should name it and the Government itself should not be afraid to name it. It is greedflation. Companies are making massive profits off the backs of people being pushed into poverty and not being able to afford the basic cost of living. We know that incomes cannot keep pace with this. The energy poverty crisis that is ongoing is going to continue for people. Energia generated a profit after tax of €135 million in 2024. Bord Gáis Energy also made hundreds of millions of euro in profit in 2024 and 2025. Who is seeing the benefits of these profits?”
“We are seeing already that it is an early winter. People feel it. Temperatures are dropping already and many people are already facing the choice between eating or turning on their heating. In many situations in families it is parents who are deciding to forgo their own meals. The figures from Barnardos have shown this. Parents in this country are forgoing eating a meal so their children can have a meal. This is 2025; it is not 1905. What is going on here? If we look, for example, at SSE Airtricity customers, from 20 October a typical customer's annual bill will increase by about €150. This is a massive increase for families who are facing back-to-school costs, massive food inflation and skyrocketing rents. Where does it end? One in five children are at risk of poverty after their families pay the housing costs, be it rent or a mortgage.”
“I thank Sinn Féin for bringing the motion forward. It is absolutely essential that we keep the focus on the cost-of-living crisis. It is incredible, when we think about it, that we are calling it the cost-of-living crisis. It is too expensive to get the basic things that are required to live your life. It is truly shocking the extent to which profits are being made by companies, by grocery stores, by food outlets, by gas and electricity companies, and by our own State company, the ESB. Profit gouging is happening in so many areas. Who is paying for it? It is ordinary households. This is why we have seen child poverty rates double when we have never been as wealthy. There have never been such levels of economic growth. There is something fundamentally wrong in the way in which our economy and society is operating.”
“When will the Minister increase the Garda allocation to Ballymun and deliver a north-east inner-city level of funding in order for the Ballymun implementation board to undertake vital community prevention work with young people, families, community groups and schools?”
“Ballymun, in my constituency, is a strong and proud community. As the Minister knows, having visited Ballymun recently, following decades of underinvestment by successive governments it is facing huge challenges ranging from poor housing to lack of economic opportunities. The community has been promised so much but is dealing with issues such as high poverty levels and a recent increase in drug-related and gang-related violence and intimidation. Today's Movember health report shows that men in areas of high levels of deprivation, such as Ballymun, are 150% more likely to die before the age of 75 than those living in less deprived areas. Having visible community-based gardaí is a key measure to ensure community safety. The level of Garda presence in places like Ballymun is 20% below the national average.”
“People are looking for community gardaí, visible gardaí. The number of gardaí available in north Dublin is way behind that in other parts of the city and country. Fundamentally, we need an approach that values these communities and gives the children who grow up in them an equal right to a safe community and a future that includes and involves them and gives them support so they can live a life equal to that of anybody else in this country.”
“I wish to speak broadly about the issues concerning antisocial behaviour. I represent the communities of Finglas, Ballymun, Beaumont and Dublin North-West. The problems of antisocial behaviour are caused fundamentally by deep inequalities in our society, poverty, and the neglect of communities. There is a lack of investment in communities, youth services, drug services, community employment and public safety. Communities needs investment. They have been abandoned and have been left to deal with intergenerational trauma. What we need to see in places like Ballymun and Finglas is real investment in diversion and supports for young people, giving them hope and involving them, and in services, schools and, in particular, the communities. I was at community safety meetings in Finglas and Ballymun this week.”
“As has also been pointed out, the Government is in breach of the law in relation to access to assessments of need. It is utterly unacceptable that this Government refuses to take responsibility for these children. We will continue to raise these cases and push the Government as hard as we can until children have the education-appropriate places that they deserve.”
“What is an absolute disgrace is that they have been asked to pay for photocopying and for arts and crafts supplies by the school despite the class not being open. Lucy's case is not an isolated one. There are many children across this country who do not have an appropriate school place. The Minister of State can say he is doing all he can but the reality is that he knew about this issue. He was part of the previous Government. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been in government since the foundation of this State. Children with additional needs and children with disabilities have never been a priority. They have never been invested in as they should be, namely as equal citizens of this country. They have a constitutional right to education. That constitutional right is being denied by the Government.”
“It is more empty promises. These school places are not a reality. Riley's family received 13 different refusals from schools. He has been offered a place in a class but it is not what is needed. What he needs is a place in a special school. Lucy's parents received an offer contingent on the opening of the new autism class. I will refer to what Lucy's parents, Rachel and Aaron, said to me. They have asked me to refer to this. They said that, after a school place offer in March of this year, they were told it was subject to building works. In September, Lucy is still at home. There is no start date or interim plan and there has been no communication throughout the summer from the Department of education, the NCSE or the school. The building works are due to be completed in mid-October but still no start date has been confirmed.”
“As we start a new term in the Dáil, it is utterly scandalous that there are children all over this country who do not have an appropriate school place. The Government says that it has offered places and, as my colleague said, that only a small number have not been offered places. However, the reality of the places that parents are being offered and that children are being sent to is that some of them do not exist because the buildings do not exist yet or that the places are not appropriate. In my own constituency of Dublin North-West, I have written to the Minister for education. The parents and I hand-delivered a letter for Riley, Lucy and Teddy, all of whom are children with additional needs and autism who have no appropriate school place yet. They are the reality. The Minister of State is making empty promises.”
“With the homes for Ireland savings scheme we could be leveraging the billions that are in savings accounts – which is private finance – into affordable housing. The Taoiseach and the Minister have said we are putting forward no solutions and the State needs private finance, so there is a source of private finance. It is done in France through the Livret A scheme, through the accounts, and it funds billions in affordable and social housing delivery. Michelle Norris of the Housing Commission said very clearly this could be a solution and my question is why is the Minister not putting into that the effort he is putting into ramming through this legislation.”
“Again, is this about jacking up numbers without concern for quality and liveability? I cannot remember whether it was the Tánaiste or someone else who was talking about how this is a measure that will help people buy their own home. They will get one of these apartments and they will go on the property ladder. Nobody is going to be buying these apartments. They are not for sale. They are all build-to-rent. It is delusional, and actually downright misleading, to say anybody is going to be buying these apartments. The Government is not building apartments for sale. Nobody can buy a home. No young person can buy any of the new homes that are being built in Dublin. In my constituency it is apartments to rent at rents no-one can afford. That is the fundamental problem and there was and is an alternative. We have set it out.”
“I appreciate the Minster's detailed response. He did not answer my questions on the consultation with the institute of planners, the architects or the Irish Wheelchair Association. It is deeply regrettable that they clearly were not consulted and there was not proper engagement with them. If there had been there would be a different outcome to this, so it is deeply regrettable. The Minister referenced people buying these apartments. How many people does he think bought a newly-built apartment in Dublin in the last couple of years? It is a handful. None of these apartments being built are going to be bought by anybody. They are all going to be build-to-rent or they will be social housing, and there is a massive question about micro-social housing units where people will be forced into overcrowding.”
“I am not sure if the Minister has looked at their actual size. Has he seen the graphic of the tennis court in The Irish Times ? It is nicely done and well worth a look. It shows how eight of these units can fit on a tennis court. I am sure the Minister knows a tennis court is not that big. These are not homes; they are micro-units for investor funds. It is a disgraceful decision and the Minister will regret it, and the people who live in them certainly will.”
“It has still not been clarified where the savings will come from in terms of €100,000 and whether those will be passed on in rents. This Government, and the previous Government, which is the same Government, has long said it wants to help people move out of their parents' box rooms but much like its inflated housing figures, it misled the public during the last election by failing to mention that for the 500,000 people stuck in their childhood box room, their only option would be to move into another box room, this time owned by a corporate investor, and they would be charged €2,500 a month for the privilege. These poorly designed, poorly thought-through concessions to the developers and corporate landlords that see homes as nothing more than commodities and investment assets will lead to greater inequality.”
“Ms Kavanagh said the Irish Wheelchair Association had yet to be consulted on the guidelines. Were these new guidelines ever discussed with that association? If not, why not? It is very clear these changes will have very long-term negative implications. Would the Minister pay €2,500 to live in these units? I doubt he would and I doubt that other Ministers in his Government or the Taoiseach would, yet he is telling the people of Ireland to do so. They are not homes. They will be cash cows for developers and other vested private interests that have been lobbying for this kind of barefaced deregulation for years. The Minister is taking away the space to start a family, have a pet, have space for a bookshelf, have sunlight and access to the outside, have space to entertain friends and family and have a full and dignified life.”
“However, that is indefinitely on pause until we move to a space larger than here.” Where are the spaces where families, couples and people who want to have children be will be able to do so, particularly in Dublin? The article also looked at the views of people with disabilities and access to housing and spoke to Pamela Kavanagh, head of communications at the Irish Wheelchair Association. She said wheelchair users will be further pushed out of the housing market if the minimum size of a studio apartment decreases and that there is “very minimal housing stock available for people with disabilities”, whether they are looking to privately rent or purchase a wheelchair-accessible home. The article quotes her as saying, "Housing is one of the biggest issues” for wheelchair users, acting as “the main barrier towards true independence”.”
“Another good article in The Irish Times spoke to couples who are living in small apartments. I will again read some of their quotes because this is the reality of what people will live in because of the Minister’s decision. A Galway couple said their hopes for having children are "indefinitely on pause until we move to a space larger" as new guidelines for smaller apartments are introduced. Mr. Ó Murchú and his fiancée, Laura, live in a mobile home in Galway that measures just under 37 sq. m, which is bigger than the Minister’s new studios. Mr. Ó Murchú says he cannot imagine making this space any smaller as it would be “mentally taxing”. He said, “We want to start our family, and have children.”
“Housing must accommodate families, couples, older people and people with disabilities and these new standards will not assist with that. That is truly damning because a question I have asked repeatedly is, in Dublin particularly, where are couples and families who want to have children going to be able to live and have children if all we have are micro-units – one beds and studios – where people cannot raise kids? “Would you live in these?” is the big question. What is the reality of living in these units? We asked for time to debate this issue in the Dáil this week. We were not given it. It is disgraceful and anti-democratic that the Government is ramming through this legislation without consultation with key stakeholders, public consultation or proper time in the Dáil. It is very regrettable that the Minister has gone about it this way.”
“My mind boggles at this because these developments will be flooded with judicial reviews and challenges. I was contacted by another architect about the impact of these changes. They said: "The priority should be delivering a variety of housing types that satisfy different family structures, life stages and adaptability for accessibility, ageing and special needs." It is a real issue that this housing does not provide that. The architect continued: Long delays in changing existing approvals to a high percentage of smaller studios and one beds might provide higher numbers in the short term but the long-term issues will emerge from a limited scope of housing stock that does not satisfy a broad scope of needs.”
“One states: "the legislation is flawed and potentially unconstitutional due to the lack of public consultation on what could be a significant change to a developer's ... plan". The source further states: "any 'permitted modification' decision could be challenged in the High Court by way of judicial review". Again, we asked at the briefing for any analysis of risk assessment that the Minister undertook regarding potential legal challenges and none has been provided. I can only assume that he did no assessment in that regard, but it is a very real possibility that there will be delays as a result of legal challenges because of, again, his disconnect from people, to think that the Department can ram through a development that might have had 100 homes and will now have 400 homes, with no public consultation whatsoever. It beggars belief.”
“Mr. Lawlor continued: "We welcome meaningful, evidence-based reforms that support the accelerated, coordinated, and sustainable delivery of apartments and homes in communities across the country." The institute goes on to say: In particular, the erosion of unit mix requirements represents a market-led approach to housing that is fundamentally at odds with the significant work undertaken by the Department of Housing to date to create a plan-led system with high quality, long term sustainable outcomes flowing from transparently and democratically adopted local development plans. This, and allowing changes to already permitted developments, also risks introducing more legal unpredictability. This point is also made by Niamh Towey in her excellent article in The Irish Times , which quotes lawyers and legal experts.”
“I would be very interested to hear the institute's feedback on this. As regards the guidelines, Gavin Lawlor, president of the institute, said: "Professional planners not only recognise the gravity of the housing crisis - we are actively working to be part of the solution." The Minister can smirk and smile. I am not sure-----”
“The RIAI also states: Making better use of existing infrastructure that already benefits from essential services ... presents a real opportunity to speed up supply. In this regard, we need to continue incentivising the adaptation and reuse of existing vacant and derelict buildings ..., including vacant office spaces. (*The vacancy rate for Dublin office spaces is now at 17.5% .... The RIAI is advocating for increased resources to be deployed within our local ... authorities to kick start immediate progress in this ... area. The RIAI has more but I will not take up the Minister's time on it. I will go on to the Irish Planning Institute, the representatives of which I do not believe the Minister met or consulted either as regards these guidelines, but he can correct the record if that is not the case.”
“In a very significant paragraph the RIAI further stated: The RIAI agrees that action is urgently needed to accelerate housing delivery; however, there are other ways of addressing this. In Dublin, land prices are one of the single biggest contributors to the high cost of building homes, partly driven by speculation on land assets as a commodity. While not the only factor, they significantly affect affordability, feasibility, and development timelines. The RIAI believes a better, and more sustainable approach, is for the government to seek greater control of land values in the first instance. We see no emergency measures on land values. Where are they? Intervention on providing affordable land would reduce the cost and then, if affordable housing were to be built on it, could deliver genuinely affordable homes.”
“I was talking to an architect yesterday who said, in terms of social housing and private housing, they expect to go back to the drawing board. Literally, the architects expect to go back to the drawing board to redesign the units. That will all take time, and it means that developments that were due to start will not now start. The Minister does not mind, however, because he has set out that the Department will not reach its targets this year and will not reach them next year and he knows that these units will come onstream probably in three to four years, just in time for the election, when he will be able to say, "Look, we have increased the units." Again, he is playing politics with people's homes.”
“This idea that the Government will build apartments that are micro-units and that are really expensive and that the international mobile professionals will just pay the rents is actually wrong. Everyone values and needs a quality of life. The RIAI also states: "The new proposals ... risk causing further delays to delivery of new housing projects as options are reassessed and new designs commissioned, which will take time to work through." Other Deputies on this side made that point as well. Again, we ask: where was the analysis done to actually assess what delays will result as these changes are made and the modifications are required? Architects will have two years to work up new designs that might have been started.”
“I am reading this in detail into the record because it was utterly mistaken not to meet the institute's representatives - again, the Minister can correct me if he did meet them - to discuss these guidelines and take its points of view on board. I am also quoting it for the benefit of him and his advisers because I imagine they actually have not read this. Maybe they have, but they certainly did not consider what is in here, so we will continue. The RIAI states: "There is evidence that, over time, the cumulative effects of poorly sized and designed homes can contribute to social inequality and reduce overall productivity." The Department's new guidelines, "may also diminish Ireland's international competitiveness, particularly in retaining talent who value quality of life".”
“The document sets out "indicators of quality urban design and placemaking, which should inform the development strategy for settlements, neighbourhoods or an individual site". Within that, it points to what should be done in planning and design: The creation of sustainable communities ... requires a diverse mix of housing and variety in residential densities across settlements. This will require a focus on the delivery of innovative housing types that can facilitate compact growth and provide greater housing choice that responds to the needs of single people, families, older people and people with disabilities ... These groups will not be catered for in these mono-tenure micro-units that nobody will be able to afford. I will go back to the Royal Institute of Architects.”
“The policy sets it out as: The creation of sustainable communities has been an enduring goal of housing policy in recent decades. Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work. The second sentence bears repeating. These will not be places where people will want to live and work. The Government's policy further states: "They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment and contribute to high quality of life." Architects and planners all make it very clear that these new guidelines will be detrimental to the quality of life provided in these new apartment blocks. The Government's own Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements: Guidelines for Planning Authorities has among its key indicators quality design and placemaking.”
“We are deeply concerned that moves to relax key design safeguards risk undermining the creation of sustainable, high-quality living environments and will create future long-term challenges for apartment owners and tenants. I will come back to this in the context of the Department's policy and guidelines on creating sustainable communities. The institute goes on to state: The new guidance will allow for development of apartment blocks with single typologies which is completely at odds with the previous work of the Department of Housing to strengthen the sustainable communities approach to delivering homes. On that, I quote the Government's own policy, Housing for All, which I looked up earlier today. Section 5.2 relates to the aim to support sustainable communities. What does this mean?”
“It is at the forefront of designing and delivering the homes, schools, workplaces and civic spaces that shape our communities and projects that prioritise sustainability, safety and quality of life. These architects, it could be argued, might benefit from the redesign of these guidelines because it will mean more work for them. Yet the institute came out with a damning statement, which I will read into the record. It stated: "The recent statements [in regard to the apartment guidelines] appear to suggest a shift in direction to lower-quality solutions driven by short term expediency [and what it means there is political expediency] rather than long term vision and sustainable solutions that [create and] deliver real value for money." It went on to state: It is critical that we get this right.”