Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is ironic that we are debating housing again here this evening when An Bord Pleanála is being investigated and is before the courts, which matter I will obviously not get into. However, it has to be highlighted that there have been many cases over the years of inspectors deciding, on looking at planning files, to grant planning permission for various developments only for the applications to be dashed and destroyed by a group of people – it might comprise only three – at ad hoc, informal meetings up in Dublin. Reasons for refusal might emerge only over the following months or years. Only then would we find out more about why the group was doing what it was doing, but it was not helping us in having planning permissions granted.

I welcome the changes to the grant scheme to do up old properties. I was always looking for a grant to be made available to bring old, disused houses into the market. When a scheme was introduced, the Government made a mess of it, as it has done with a pile of things. A good idea was given to it and it made a mess of it by saying the houses could not be rented out or sold. I very much appreciate it when people realise they are wrong. The Government realised it was wrong and is now changing the scheme and saying a property can be rented out.

Of course that is great. It will be work for the local builder, if there are any local builders left because of their demonisation. People in the Opposition seem to have a hang-up about builders and developers. They hate and despise them and do not want them to be in our villages and communities at all. They think the houses will build themselves and the roofs will repair themselves. They are down on anybody who wants to do anything good. The attack on those involved in Airbnb is ridiculous. The Government is putting more people out of the market. The continued demonisation of property owners is wrong.

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