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

Many things have changed in the 14 months since the initial launch of Housing for All.A lot of these changes were anticipated but a number have arisen that were not and some of these could not be fully predicted with the level of inflation and the extent of supply chain issues being two such examples. Again, these issues have been raised by some Senators here this evening.

Like all good plans, Housing for All is a living document by design. The Government's commitment to review and update the plan on a yearly basis ensures that it will remain relevant and is flexible enough to respond to whatever issues may arise.

The first annual review of Housing for All was published last week. We have used the opportunity to bring to the forefront a number of priority actions that will directly support supply. A considerable amount of work has gone into the review process identifying blockages to supply that have arisen since the publication of the plan and setting out how to address them. The focus on a number of priority actions will ensure that the Department and the Government as a whole remain dedicated to achieving the plan to provide well built, sustainable and affordable homes for all.

Although many things have changed our commitment to ending the housing crisis has not. We will provide 90,000 social homes and 54,000 affordable purchase and cost-rental homes over the lifetime of Housing for All. The 2021 summary of social housing assessment showed that there were 59,247 households assessed as being qualified for and in need of social housing support, a 4.3% decrease on the social waiting list in 2020 and a 35.3% decrease in the social housing waiting list since 2016. Progress is being made and official figures show that we are helping more and more of those who need it most.

I reiterate the point that I made earlier. The Minister has given clear direction to local authorities so that where a family or an individual is at risk of being evicted into homelessness as a result of a landlord selling the home then the local authority will be supported by his Department to purchase the home should that be appropriate. This, and the winter eviction ban, are proof that when it comes to the extremely pressing issues that are prevalent in terms of eradicating homelessness then all options will be considered. The plan is ambitious but, importantly, it is working as we speak. The evidence is in the number of homes that are being built. We are actively delivering Housing for All and the whole-of-government approach shows how deeply committed we are to solving this crisis. We are reviewing, reforming and improving almost every aspect of the housing system and everyone involved is doing their utmost to fix the crisis.

As further evidence of our determination to solve the crisis we are taking action in response to the ongoing accommodation shortage in the private rental sector, particularly in areas of highest housing demand. We have introduced new arrangements for short-term letting that are aimed at strengthening the pre-existing regulatory controls in this area and have been legislated for. The new arrangements will provide that for a period of six months non-principal private residences in rent pressure zones shall not be advertised or accept bookings on online platforms or other media for short-term letting purposes unless they have the necessary planning permission in place.

We are not just reviewing the wider housing system to ensure that our targets are met. We are also reviewing the targets themselves to ensure that they accurately reflect the growth in population. The 33,000 average annual target was informed by the housing need and demand assessment, HNDA, tool and framework, which forecasts future housing need based on a number of assumptions and conditions. There is a commitment to review the targets used in the HNDA tool having regard to the official census of 2022, the results of which are due for publication in mid-2023. This review will examine the appropriateness of the existing assumptions and targets underpinning Housing for All and the extent to which these should be revised. The outcome of this work will enable the Government to refresh both the overall national housing targets and the subsets of social, affordable and market delivery having regard to the progress already made to ensure overall housing need is met in line with the original vision for Housing for All. This review of the HNDA tool and framework will commence in quarter 2 of 2023.

Addressing vacancy and dereliction, which have been referenced by many Senators, is also a pressing concern for Government. Numerous steps have already been taken to tackle the problem around the country. According to the most recent property tax returns just over 57,000 homes were classified as vacant so a little over 3% of the total housing stock. The Government has taken numerous measures to ensure that this figure is reduced. Local authorities are already delivering the recently launched Croí Cónaithe town scheme, which provides grants to support people refurbishing vacant properties. This will encourage people to live in our small towns and villages in a sustainable way. The Minister recently announced the ready to build scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe towns fund. The scheme will see local authorities make serviced sites available in towns and villages across the country at discounted rates for buyers who wish to build their own home. The Government launched the Town Centre First policy in February of this year, which aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres. Vacant homes officers will play a key role in each local authority and will assist prospective applicants with their vacancy-related queries. My Department is continuing to work on the revised compulsory purchase order, CPO, programme that will see local authorities purchase thousands of vacant homes for sale in their local area. The team is also working on a vacancy strategy that will further empower our tackling of vacancy and dereliction all over the country. Again, this matter was referenced by Senator Conway and other Senators.

Although the plan is a plan for now it is also a plan for the future. To ensure that supply ramps up to a scale we need to deliver on Housing for All's ambition. We must increase the number of people employed by as well as the productivity of the construction industry. These long-term policies will result in a sustained level of housing output. The Tánaiste announced last summer funding of €5 million over a five-year period for the establishment of a construction technology centre to accelerate research and innovation within the construction and built environment sector. The construction technology centre will be hosted by the University of Galway and a consortium that includes some of out top universities working with the Irish Green Building Council. The new construction technology centre will also prioritise residential construction through a number of initiatives such as putting in place structures and funding to enable innovation, and promote, develop and support innovation such as modern methods of construction, and support SMEs to develop scale and adopt modern methods of construction, MMC, for residential construction. It will also support digitisation in the manufacturing sector for residential construction. Furthermore, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, supported by my Department, has established a modern methods of construction leadership and integration group. This group will support the development of MMC to ensure its adoption and improve innovation in the construction industry with a particular focus on residential construction. The construction sector group, facilitated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has appointed a consultant to carry out an analysis of each component of the cost of construction of house and apartment developments. This is being done with a view to reducing costs, including the cost of compliance and increasing standardisation. It will also identify opportunities for cost reduction for consideration by relevant Departments and industry.

Although the publication of the updated action plan is the perfect time to look back at where we came from we never stop looking forward. The foundations that have been laid during the first year of Housing for All have set us up for success and we will see the full effect of our affordability schemes as they build and maintain momentum. We will also see the widespread delivery of cost rental, which is a true game changer for the rental market. We will further tackle vacancy and dereliction, and bring thousands of homes back on to the market through Croí Cónaithe, repair and lease and our voids programme. Perhaps most importantly of all we will continue to implement, review and alter the plan as required. We know what has to be done, we know we have to do it and we will not stop until we have successfully and sustainably provided housing for all.