Results 81-100 of 2,167 for speaker:Joe Flaherty
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I know. I do not dispute the work the Department is doing but consider the exasperated couple looking into this and wondering "Are we making any headway at all". For example, we are virtually through three quarters of this year. Where is the Department vis-à-vis the targets this year and what has it done for the fourth quarter to ensure the affordable housing targets will be met for...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: Where are we on that? We are coming to the end of the third quarter, so where are we on the target?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: Where are we on the target? Not "very hopeful". What is the specific number? Are we on target to meet it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I am conscious of time but I will just drill into that. In her opening statement Ms Behan said that since 2021 there were 14,500 affordable houses delivered. When I talk about affordable housing, I talk about an affordable housing scheme. Ms Behan said that this was through approved housing bodies, local authorities, the Land Development Agency, and the first home scheme, which strictly...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: Advertised by the local authority as an affordable housing scheme.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I do not agree with that analysis. Basically, that works out at about 11 affordable homes a week since 2022 as what we have provided.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: We need more.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I welcome the witnesses. I am a great advocate for the AHBs. It is an underacknowledged arm in this battle to try to resolve the housing issue. I saw a figure from the Housing Alliance that 45,000 units are being managed now and over the next three years there is the potential to deliver 25,000 houses. Would the witnesses agree with this figure?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I am sorry to cut in but I am just conscious of my time. My next question is for Mr. O'Connor. We are doing a new housing plan at the minute. Has the Department brought Mr. O'Connor in and asked him to show it his pipeline for the next three years and what is going to be delivered, or are we still in this situation where the Department is operating in one silo and only goes to the AHBs...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I know, but it was said the 25,000 units could be actioned, and much more. Has the Department reached out to Tuath and asked if it can include these figures in its housing action plan?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I know, but what I am trying to get to is that when I see the new housing plan, will I see those 25,000 units plus in it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: In relation to that, there is a good cordial relationship. On the review that was done for the approved housing body sector, I think the report is with the Minister. Have the witnesses had any feedback on that or when do they anticipate that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: Of course - certainty.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: Grand. Professor Norris was on the Housing Commission. It indicated we need to get to 20% of our housing stock being social as opposed to the 8% we have at the minute. How important are the approved housing bodies in that reach?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I thank Professor Norris. I am nearly out of time. I have one last quick question because we have not addressed it sufficiently. On the funding, obviously there should be a multi-annual funding model. Given the scale of the money being dealt with it seem crazy there is an annual model. The other point is on the CALF loan element method. That should be replaced by a government equity or...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I thank the witnesses.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: There is a sense of déjà vu for me because I was on the last housing committee for five years. Then I was sick for the bulk of this year, so I thought coming back the housing crisis would be sorted but unfortunately it is not. My apologies that I was not here for the committee's June meeting. Having spent five years on the committee I am always exasperated that I do not get a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Affordable Housing: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)
Joe Flaherty: I know they are working tirelessly but-----