Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ministers and officials for attending. One year into Housing for All, our public hearings have shown to us and anybody paying attention that there is a broad welcome and broad support for Housing for All. It has been recognised as a comprehensive, ambitious plan. Some of the results are already being realised. We have the biggest housing numbers in a decade, the biggest social housing numbers in many decades and, for the first time in a generation, affordable housing. These are welcome developments and there is much positive feedback, particularly from local authorities. It is the first time many of our local authority directors feel they are not only being charged with delivering houses for their areas, but actually being resourced to do so. It was clear from them that, having put together their housing needs assessment, which is a new development and a new tool at their disposal, their housing plans are fully funded. That gives them a level of confidence they did not previously have.

The fastest and most sustainable way to increase housing supply is to use the existing vacant stock.

The Department and the local authorities have been working together and are to be commended on the progress that has been made in that area.

The fact there are now vacant housing officers in each local authority is hugely beneficial because each of these vacant properties must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. From talking to councillors and people around the country, I know the vacant housing officer is now an incredibly valuable resource to the local authorities. Is the Minister going to monitor that? I ask because having listened to local authority members, I have a sense that vacant housing officers are getting large numbers of inquiries on Croí Cónaithe and the vacant and derelict grants. Those will only increase in number so the local authorities may need additional resources. From a Dublin city perspective, the city council is ramping up and that will also present major opportunities. It seems from the inquiries the council is getting that the Minister may need to monitor and revisit those resources.

The initiatives on vacancy are great. The carrot is very large and attractive but there is an issue with the vacant property tax the Government introduced in the most recent budget. It seems very low. Is the Department working with the Department of Finance on this? Can we expect progress in the next budget on increasing the tax? Now that the funds and supports are in place, it is about what can be done to actively discourage any sort of vacancy or dereliction.

Affordability is the key issue. Affordable housing did not exist prior to Housing for All and is now beginning to be developed and delivered. The fact it is not only local authority affordable homes but also affordable homes in the shared equity scheme is welcome. From a Dublin perspective, that remains a pinch point and it is a priority. Will the Minister speak to what is being done to accelerate the delivery of affordability in the city?

I give credit to the Department for working with Dublin City Council as the lead local authority on social housing. One of the big developments for Dublin city is O'Devaney Gardens. It is fantastic to see the project has started after a decade and that it will provide more than 1,000 homes. However, the city council is telling us other big developments like St. Mary's Place on Dorset Street, the Constitution Hill flats and Matt Talbot Court are being delayed by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Can the Minister speak to that?

I cannot let the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, out of here without raising Moore Street again. Earlier today, I called for the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to come to the Seanad again. There is still no date for commencement on the national monument site. Does the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, have any good news to share with us?