Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Why does the Government continue to repeat the false mantra that objections by residents groups to planning applications, rather than the speculation of property investors are the cause of the housing crisis and the slow delivery of housing and residential development, particularly when a Government report says that it is speculation? The report, published in July, shows 75,000 planning permission applications for apartments, but only 5,000 apartments are being built annually. It explains that this "could indicate the speculative purchasing and holding of land with a view to greater future resale value", acquiring planning permissions to hold as an asset. It goes on to say that "acquiring permission for apartment development, rather than housing developments, could be the most attractive option for speculative land holders and thus yield the most amount of value". Why does the Government not target the speculators instead of limiting people's right to make submissions on planning applications?

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