Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will go through some of the issues the Deputies raised. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised the different application of the tenant in situscheme across local authorities. Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised the matter. I will look into that. This is the responsibility of local authorities. The Government designed the scheme but it is up to local authorities to implement it . The Deputy gave a long list of testimonies. If there are any issues he wants to raise with us regarding specific cases, he should certainly bring them to us or bring them the relevant local authority.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of families in long-term homelessness. It is absolutely a priority for Government and for local authorities to try to address that. The Deputy also spoke about the inconsistencies in cost-rental income limits. There are a range of supports across all income thresholds, including the First Home scheme. Again, we can liaise with local authorities.

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Deputy Mick Barry referred to Noonan's Road flats and the condition they are in. It sounds appalling and we urge Cork City Council to continue to engage positively. My colleague, Councillor Dan Boyle, was there with residents today. Trying to address those issues is critical. It is unacceptable that people live in those conditions.

Deputy Canney referred to the concrete levy, the tenant in situscheme and Croí Cónaithe, in the context of their being positive, as well as the release of homes for those in full-time care. I will raise that matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. The planning and development Bill will address many of the planning issues to which the Deputy referred.

Deputy Tóibín mentioned people dying in homelessness outside of Dublin not being recorded. That is the responsibility of the Department of Health.

Deputy Mattie McGrath referred to the capacity of wastewater treatment plants in our towns and villages. What he said is not the case. We have invested significantly in Uisce Éireann's capacity to deliver not just for the large urban conglomerations but also for the smaller schemes in towns and villages. That is happening at pace.

Deputy Michael Collins spoke about the Green Party driving people out of rural Ireland. I do not know what the hell that was about.

Deputy Nolan referred to the vacant homes grant scheme and voids. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae also spoke about voids. The matter he raised is one for Kerry County Council.

I will take on board the issues raised by Deputy Connolly regarding Galway in the context of house prices and master planning. The latter is the responsibility of the local authority.

Deputy Joan Collins made the point the people this Government represents are the wealthy. That is not the case; we represent everybody.

The issue of the public construction company was referred to by Deputy Boyd Barrett in oral questions last week. We would be talking about five years to develop legislation. I do not see a need for it. The LDA is in place. I am not sure what the merits of a public construction company would be.

I reiterate the Minister’s comments on the importance the Government places on addressing the housing crisis. We know it is having a real impact on the lives of people and we understand how urgent and critical it is to ensure that people have safe, secure and affordable homes. We understand the importance of this in terms of social and economic impacts, as well as on the well-being of individuals, families, the wider community and the nation as a whole. That is why we have a plan, which is starting to take hold. Housing for All is that plan. I acknowledge the support for the plan and the significant work done to date in addressing the challenges in housing.

What has Housing for All achieved to date? There have been many initiatives that have benefited the people we represent. They have benefited as a result of the plan and the non-stop efforts we have made since taking office. There has been a monumental overhaul of practically every aspect of our housing system, from the consolidation and clarification of the planning environment to all the efforts we have made to get this country building and the ongoing review of the private rental sector. We are not finished as we know far too many people are not feeling the effects yet. Mar, tá a fhios agam go mbaineann na Teachtaí úsáid as an seanfhocal chomh minic agus is féidir, is é an ceann: tús maith leath na hoibre. We need to continue this work and embed all the initiatives the Government has created to continue to effect real change that will have an impact on the delivery of housing and on people’s lives.

The motion calls for an expansion and acceleration of the delivery of affordable homes, and we agree. We have to remember that many of the streams now delivering homes simply did not exist until we passed the Affordable Housing Act. From a starting point of zero to the almost 1,800 affordable homes delivered last year, these homes would not have happened without Housing for All. Schemes established through the plan, such as the local authority affordable purchase scheme and first home scheme, have resulted in homes now being lived in by families and individuals. More needs to be done. However, that to which I refer is proof that the plan is delivering much-needed homes that would not exist without it.

We have an expanded local authority home loan that has been made as accessible and applicable to as many people as possible. Along with help to buy and delivery from our partners such as local authorities, approved housing bodies and the LDA, the suite of affordable measures in Housing for All will make homeownership achievable for tens of thousands of people across the country.

The motion calls for changes to the rental market. We know it has not worked for either tenants or landlords at times. That is why we have commenced a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. The public consultation phase of the review was launched a few weeks ago and the Department held a constructive workshop with stakeholders last week. The deadline for submissions has been extended to 8 August in order to ensure that everyone has a chance to provide feedback. We are constantly listening to constructive feedback and making changes where we can. We have further limited the rent increases in RPZs to a maximum of 2%, half of what was allowed before the Government took office, and have introduced tenancies of unlimited duration.

The motion calls for a rental tax credit, which we introduced in the last budget and which can be claimed every year until 2025. This tax credit is worth €1,000 to renters this year, as they can claim in retrospect for 2022.

The motion highlights last year’s underspend. It is true there were significant challenges, including war in Europe and the lasting effects of the global pandemic, which impacted on spending. Despite this, 2022 saw the highest capital spend ever for the Vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, an overall increase of 28% on 2021. Over 93% of the 2022 capital provision, including capital carryover, was spent. In 2022, we had the highest level of housing expenditure ever in a single year, at almost €3.5 billion. This year continues to see further record investment in housing, with total Exchequer funding of €4 billion to deliver housing programmes, including €2.6 billion in capital funding and €1.4 billion in current funding. Overall, €4.5 billion will be available for capital investment in housing. This is the highest level of funding dedicated to housing in the history of the State.

Tackling vacancy and dereliction was one of the top priorities for the Government during the drafting of the plan and Housing for All has delivered on that front. The vacant property refurbishment grants proved enormously popular and the grant rates were increased earlier this year. The grants can also be combined with the SEAI better energy homes scheme, which covers works of just under €27,000. Along with the vacancy action plan, the rural regeneration and development and urban regeneration and development funds and the vacant homes tax, Housing for All has transformed the vacancy landscape and will see thousands of homes returned to use that would be lying idle.

The motion highlights how we need capacity for businesses to expand and cannot limit the potential investment in new jobs. We agree. The Government in the plan has committed to balancing regional development and ensuring businesses have the housing and infrastructure they need. That is why we have begun the revision process for the national planning framework, NPF, which sets out the policies and objectives essential to achieving proper planning and sustainable development. The NPF is at an early stage of its implementation and this revision demonstrates that we constantly monitor our plans and strategies to see if they need to be revised upwards. This revision will enable us to account not just for the inadequate housing needs of our people to thrive but also for the infrastructure policies and guiding principles that will underpin our development strategy for years to come.

The overarching and ultimate solution for those who cannot afford their own homes or business owners worried about their capacity to expand is to increase supply as much as possible. That is why we recently announced a number of new measures to boost supply and get the nation building. This includes a 12-month time-limited exemption from development levies and water connection fees brought in to stimulate construction and get things moving.

We have increased the grant rates for the aforementioned vacant property refurbishment grant by €20,000 for both vacant and derelict homes, widening the net and returning even more homes to use. We are also finalising our new cost-rental viability measure to activate existent planning permissions, particularly in the build-to-rent sector, and make the resulting supply of rental homes more affordable.

We all want the same thing: to provide secure, sustainable and affordable homes for everyone who needs them. That is why we need Housing for All. We have made clear progress, built and sustained momentum and have an extremely solid foundation on which to build for the future. The reforms we have introduced have taken time precisely because they are so comprehensive and far-reaching. I believe we want the same thing. This is the Government’s plan. It is comprehensive and detailed. We will continue to listen to feedback and seek ways to improve. One thing that will never change is the core message of the plan and driving aim of my Department and the Government as a whole: to provide well-built affordable housing for all.

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