Results 5,581-5,600 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will allow a bit more.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is a scheme, which has been sought for many years. It is successful in many places. If we can iron out those lending difficulties I think we will see even more success with the Croí Cónaithe towns scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The committee would be agreeable to that. I thank Deputy Higgins, and I move now to Senator Boyhan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is my slot now. I will use my time to continue on that topic. As a committee, we recently visited Mount Lucas to have a look at some of the technology advancements there. It is highly impressive. The waste on sites associated with building using conventional old-fashioned means is massive. MMC are highly efficient. We are building the skills base we need to meet not only our housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I agree. It will take time. We met our colleagues in Vienna, which is obviously the poster child for the cost-rental model. There is a great number of people living in cost-rental homes there across the spectrum. With regard to Project Tosaigh and the stalled planning applications, while I do not want the witnesses to name any particular site or anything, what have been the main reasons...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am glad the sustainability aspect was raised. It is not purely about housing figures. Unless we can build at density and overcome affordability and viability issues, we will also encounter climate challenges. It is viable to keep building semi-detached houses on greenfield after greenfield. They could be built all day long and there would not be an affordability issue. However,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Absolutely. Driving for three hours per day is an incredible cost to someone's pocket that would not be accounted for in the affordability of a house. However, it is a living cost. I could talk about that all day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan. I will move next to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes, go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I thank Ms Stapleton. I call Senator Cummins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The Senator's time is up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Ms Timmons might be brief, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Deputy McAuliffe can come back in on the third round, or there is another Fianna Fáil slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The last two speaking lots are for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Are Deputy McAuliffe and Senator Fitzpatrick sharing time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: If there was a site in the Deputy's constituency he did not cover, he may get to raise it this time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I wish to ask about vacancies and dereliction, because they are areas in which we can address stock that is already available, serviced and town-centred. I spoke about sustainability and the climate actions we need to attach to our housing. Is there a unit within the Department now that concentrates on dereliction and vacancy? There are a huge range of schemes, policies and funding in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: We, as a committee, compiled a significant report on urban regeneration about a year ago with approximately 39 recommendations. We are interested in pursuing that further with the Department. If we issue another invite to the Department to come and discuss dereliction and vacancy, given that the three witnesses have given the committee ample time, I am conscious that I do not want to drag...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: That was only issued last year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: There are a significant number of schemes. Deputy McAuliffe stated that, for the first 18 months, the committee dealt with the legislative process, such as the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the Land Development Agency Act 2021 and a lot of other legislation. We are starting to see these schemes and funding produce. Annual reporting of all that will be helpful to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes. I hear criticism regarding the lack of uptake of the affordable purchase scheme, but we only introduced the legislation in the summer of 2021. It will take time for local authorities to get up to speed. I have seen the units delivered in Wicklow, where there is a fine development. In the Affordable Housing Act, we introduced community-led housing. This is a small area but it has...