Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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No, I have been listening. Who is going to enforce this? Is there an issue with regard to the timescale? A question was asked about awareness and the Minister responded to that. I am not being unfair. I think this is welcome. As a member of the housing committee, I have expressed concern to the Minister about many matters. I know this issue is particularly relevant in our cities. I am asking about regulation. This is absolutely welcome. I am delighted. Well done. The Minister is saying that the local authorities will have the discretion to consider cases. They will have to work within that. I do not know whether Dublin will be the lead base. What will happen? When the Minister comes to our next meeting, could he provide us with a plan with regard to enforcement? Will the timescale after 1 July be a year, six months or eight months? The Minister spoke about awareness. I think we need to know for definite what the awareness campaign for this will involve. Perhaps the Minister can give us more details in that regard. It is good. Like everything, it is about knowing the information. That is what is important here.

I know we have gone to 2021 with the rent pressure zones now. That is important. I have had issues on that before. The Minister has said that the criteria have changed. When will that change come? I have been waiting for seven years for the local authority reviews to be done. It is now eight years since a review was done. I was promised two years ago that this would be delivered. I am not being negative here. I understand the issues. The Minister gave a commitment when he said that the rent pressure zones would continue until 2021. That is fine. The criteria have changed. Will the Minister come back to us next week, or within a few weeks, to set out when those criteria will change? When will other counties, including my own county, qualify for the rent pressure zones? I say again that this is welcome. I feel that many questions are being asked without being answered. I am not saying that in a bad way. I ask the Minister to come back in a few weeks to give me the answers I am looking for. Is money going to be provided in certain areas, particularly Dublin and Cork, that need extra staff? What body is going to be the lead body? What role will local authorities play in this? What is going to happen with regard to enforcement? What is the timescale? Can we have more information on the awareness campaign?