Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have given them additional staff. The Department keeps it under constant review and I am currently embarking on a tour of all local authorities to find out exactly what is happening on the ground. The Department will take on board any additional resource requirements. We want to keep people in their homes.

I will move on. Senator Black is not present. However, she spoke about a dysfunctional market. If 13,500 small landlords have left the market in the past 12 months, we have to question why. We believe that public and private provision are needed for a proper functioning model. The State cannot do the entire rental market. We want to keep small landlords. That is why we took a fundamentally different view from Sinn Féin, but we are putting measures in place. To date, during the eviction moratorium we have provided 6,000 social units with 5,000 of those built, and more than 1,500 from voids during the same period.

Senator McDowell made reference to the area of planning laws. The planning Bill is currently being revised. It has been sent for pre-legislative scrutiny by the housing committee. They will report to us on it shortly. We will then look at bringing the final Bill before both Houses with a view to enacting it by the summer.

Senator Flynn made reference to the Traveller caravan loan scheme. That loan scheme was fully subscribed in 2022. We are currently reviewing the scheme to see what can be done with the options for the coming year.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke of student accommodation for the technological universities and the borrowing framework. I will take that matter up with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and ask about his intent with regard to that framework being put in place. The Senator also spoke about modular housing and modern construction methods. That is something that we are proactive on in the Department. We are working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment too. He spoke about short-term letting. That legislation is being brought through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. My Department will examine the planning laws that will need to go with that. However, I am conscious that we need to have a functioning tourism sector too.

I have just covered Senator Maria Byrne's point about the living over the shop initiative. The housing density guidelines are going for public consultation shortly. We will look at the ways in which we can, in essence, look at more own door developments. It is something on which I would encourage people to make submissions and come through it. She spoke about the LDA and is probably aware that the Bord Gáis site on the Dock Road in Limerick City has been earmarked. It is something on which I am working with the LDA to speed up provision within Limerick. I will turn to the first home scheme, which the Senator mentioned. It is a €400 million scheme. We are looking at a total of 8,000 people who will avail of it over a five-year period. She also spoke about derelict houses. It is something I am very keen on. Each local authority now has a vacant homes officer. We want local authorities to become active in that space. It offers benefits in housing, and it offers huge benefits in terms of rejuvenation of areas. It falls under my direct remit, and is something I will take up with all local authorities. On affordable housing, I am actively working with both Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council to find ways to fast-track affordable housing schemes. The Senator mentioned one scheme in Castletroy. They are also actively looking at one in Newcastle West and other areas of the city.

Senator Keogan spoke about the area of planning bottlenecks.I covered that in my response to Senator McDowell.

Senator Dolan spoke about the help-to-buy scheme and taking-in-charge of estates. In the past two weeks, I asked my officials to write to all the local authorities asking for a list of all housing estates that are not taken in charge. I want to get an up-to-date survey to see exactly what the position is, at which point I will consider the matter. I was proactive in asking the Department to do this. This issue is coming up.

The Senator spoke about the credit unions and the Croí Connaithe scheme. This is a matter for each individual credit union but I am conscious of it and we will look at it.

I thank all the contributors. Housing for All is a working, living document. I think everyone agrees we want to keep people out of homelessness and build more homes. That is our entire objective. We have a roadmap under Housing for All. I thank all the Senators for their contributions and I look forward to further engagement.