Results 5,641-5,660 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 (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Senator Boylan. I move on now to Deputy Cian O’Callaghan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: We will take the Fine Gael slot again and I call Senator Cummins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: Did the Minister say that all local authorities will be mandated to provide some amount of homes through the repair and lease scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is great. We made that recommendation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: This committee compiled a report on urban regeneration and made the recommendation. I am glad to see such progress.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: We will give credit to the Senator but we do things collectively here on the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am going to move on to the Fine Gael slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The next slot is myself. I thank the three Ministers for being present. I am enthused to hear so much discussion on cost rental. This is something we have wanted to promote for years. I recall talking about cost rental for many years in council chambers and seeing blank faces looking back at me asking what was cost rental. I still think we need to do far more on publicising and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I recall reading a book that was a 20-year review of the 1963 Act. It was done by Professor Berna Grist. She examined the Act 20 years after it was introduced. It was the first planning Act. One thing that jumped out at me was the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, as it was at the time, complaining about development contribution charges that far back. I am looking for assurance that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is very positive. When will we get the result of that public consultation and some feedback?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is positive. It is something that has been requested for a long time and it is good to see it coming to an end.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy has one minute if he wants responses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: The Minister has to respond, by right. Deputy Boyd Barrett has ten seconds left.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have to move on. I ask members to leave the Minister time to answer, if they want an answer. I will take the next slot. The Affordable Housing Act 2021, which the Government introduced, includes a small line about community-led housing. I do not know if any work has been done in that area, which I raised last week with the officials. While it is probably a small strand of housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: It does, but I ask the Minister of State to let me make a point before he answers. People have to borrow, and the banks and lending institutions wish to know that they are not lending to somebody who will end up with a shell without a roof, that is, a dream project that did not work out. They also wish to know that the asset they are lending against will be worth money at the end and they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is important to see the issue in the overall framework, where the challenge is in having high-density urban living. It is expensive to do. It is a climate action, and not just a housing action.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for his attendance. We do not have much longer to go and we will continue with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank colleagues for reminding me of the time. I took my eye off the clock for a minute. However, we did start a little late so I am okay to go beyond 6 p.m. I call Deputy McAuliffe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will interrupt at this point. I will let Deputy O'Donoghue and Senator Boyhan ask their questions as well because I did not realise the Minister has to leave at 6 p.m. We will leave the last five minutes for the Minister to answer. I call Deputy O'Donoghue.