Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I had expected the Minister would be here but I have no issue with the Minister of State being here instead and I thank him for coming to the house to deal with this issue.

According to media reports, though not according to any politician I have spoken to, the controversial planning rules for the build to rent, BTR, apartments are set to be axed. I think it stemmed from the deliberations of the Acting Chairperson's party Ard Fheis at the weekend. A lot of media coverage was dedicated to it and to the Minister's intentions over the weekend.I understand, again from reading media reports, that this was discussed. I welcome that decision, if it has been made. I certainly welcome that we are having a conversation about it and the direction of policy. As the Minister of State knows, a failed policy was established in 2018. While there has been some commentary about the previous Minister, which I will not get into, I remind the current Minister and the current regime that this policy has continued to today. This Government is now, at almost two and a half years, nearly at the mid-point of its term. It has continued the policy it is now saying needs to be changed and that there needs to be a better system. It is better late than never when it comes to the change, but it is important we do not lose sight of that fact.

The BTR rules were introduced by the Minister's predecessor in 2018 and, as I said, continue to be in place today. It means that apartments owned by institutional investors and developers, specifically for the rental market, do not have to comply with the minimum size standards required for homes for sale. That is the subtle difference, especially as regards floor space but also storage, which is a particular challenge. We now have a surplus of some of these units, many of which have been improved through planning, either by the planning authority or through An Bord Pleanála, but have not been developed, despite a housing crisis. We have something in the system that has been approved and yet we have the task of housing. This measure is pragmatic and I generally welcome the idea and concept behind it. As I said, I know this was discussed at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis and was reported widely in the media and through television commentary.

I would like to ask the Minister of State a few questions. If we do not have the detail today, we can follow up with a supplementary question, if that is okay with him. When will the Government seek to amend the existing guidelines and changes that have been discussed? Will it be the case that developers already in the planning process or that have been granted planning permission will be allowed to continue under the existing regime? While I see some logic and understanding for building out, and under the current regime we have to have some sort of planning, we need an end game. There has to be a cut-off point where the regime has to end, if that is Government policy. No doubt, we will discuss that at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and other forums within this House. Will converting existing BTR planning permissions into conventional standard units - homes - especially in the area of affordable and social housing, be considered?

I am delighted the Minister of State is present rather than the Minister. I prepared this Commencement for the Minister, which included asking him whether he could share with me his Government partner's view on this policy. Now the Minister of State is in the hot seat, which is great, and I am interested in his party's policy. I am particularly interested in Fine Gael's view on it. If he cannot address all those details today, I ask him to follow them up.

Generally, I welcome this reform. It makes absolute sense. We have to be pragmatic. No policy stays static; it has to be reviewed. This is a particularly good reform, albeit late.