I thank the Deputy for the question. Significant progress has been made on establishing the housing activation office. Senior specialists from Uisce Éireann, ESB Networks, the NTA, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local government sector are in place. In addition, senior staff from my Department with expertise in planning and project and programme management are assigned to the office. Further administrative support is in place and staff from the wider Department are continuing to support the office across corporate functions. The appointment of a head of office is also being progressed as a priority. The office is actively engaged in identifying barriers to housing delivery and is co-ordinating with local authorities and infrastructural agencies to address these barriers. This includes engagement with the 31 city and county councils over a series of meetings scheduled across September and October to get an understanding of the infrastructural requirements across each area. In the coming months, I will be bringing forward a new housing infrastructure fund with multi-year funding being made available and will provide up to €200 million next year to support direct investment in critical housing infrastructure where it can be accelerated and delivered. I intend to convene the housing activation delivery group in the coming weeks, bringing together senior representatives from Departments and infrastructure agencies to support the work of the office. I will also convene a housing activation industry group that will provide regular engagement with the industry. I look forward to engaging with all the stakeholders through these forums and ensuring that infrastructure for housing is prioritised and accelerated.
Sentiment score: 0.35
The housing activation office is just one piece of an important set of measures we will take to ensure we can unlock housing delivery. We have our State agencies, but the housing activation office will be able to work with those Stage agencies where they identify that land can be freed up very quickly for housing delivery to ensure that utilities are in place. The HAO itself has that fund where it needs to spend money quite quickly on key infrastructural projects to unlock land in order that we can get it delivered as quickly as possible. Really, it is a troubleshooter but with a lot of high-level expertise and capacity behind it as well as key funding to ensure that everybody is on the same page and delivering what needs to be delivered so we can deliver homes as fast as possible.
Sentiment score: 0.52
That work remains ongoing, but the head is not critical to this. As has been demonstrated, all the key experts are in place. The departmental staff are in place. The work is already well under way. We are engaging with local authorities. We are meeting with the relevant groups. That activity is being driven now as quickly as possible.
Sentiment score: 0.14
The Deputy’s party does not support those schemes but we will continue as a Government to support those individuals and couples to be able to get their foot on the property ladder.
Sentiment score: -0.40
I thank the Deputy for his question in relation to affordable homes in Dublin for 2025 and 2026. More than 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All, including over 5,200 in Dublin. Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale in Dublin and the affordable housing delivery programme continues to be expanded and developed year on year, supported by unprecedented levels of State investment. Across the four Dublin local authorities, affordable housing fund approval is in place to support delivery of 35 projects, delivering more than 3,500 affordable purchase and cost-rental homes. Large-scale mixed tenure schemes such as Church Fields, Montpelier and Oscar Traynor Woods are delivering affordable purchase homes and 133 cost-rental homes were recently launched at Innovation Square in Tallaght. Furthermore, 13 cost-rental projects being delivered in Dublin by approved housing bodies have been approved for funding support under the cost-rental equity loan scheme, with more than 1,350 cost-rental homes expected to be delivered by the end of 2027. The Land Development Agency is also progressing key projects in Dublin on State land in partnership with local authorities and through its market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh. These projects include important large-scale mixed-tenure schemes such as Shanganagh, the Donore project, Cherry Orchard and Cromcastle. Apartment delivery and the availability of new cost-rental homes, both of which are key to the scale of affordable delivery needed in Dublin, were given a significant boost of viability in yesterday's budget by the announcement of the VAT reduction on new apartment delivery and exemption from corporation tax of cost-rental housing delivery. We will further advance our affordable home delivery plans to Dublin as we implement a new starter home programme to remote home ownership, and secure long-term rental. Delivering on that programme for Government commitment will be part of our new housing plan.
Sentiment score: 0.43
As the Deputy is well aware, the Government has long acknowledged that there is an affordability problem in this country. There are two issues - a viability issue and an affordability issue - and both of these are driving supply difficulties. That is why we have taken measures on viability and affordability. Many of the affordability measures have been opposed by Sinn Féin's good self. The legislative framework governing affordable purchase and cost-rental tenure is set out under the 2025 regulations under the Affordable Housing Act. Capital funding includes €695 million in funding for approved housing body cost-rental housing via the cost-rental equity loan and €155 million for local authority affordable housing via the affordable housing fund. We are determined to drive supply as much as possible in all tenures - social, affordable, cost-rental and the private market - so that everybody has the ability to get the home he or she needs in the local community at a price he or she can afford. We have always acknowledged there is an affordability issue, and we are taking measures to address that.
Sentiment score: 0.13
I am not sure if the Deputy listened to my last answer. The Government has long acknowledged that there is a serious affordability issue in this country. That is why we brought in significant measures such as the first home and help to buy schemes to address the affordability issue. Supply is the only answer so that people can afford homes.
Sentiment score: 0.06
That is on the rental side and the purchase side as well. What I do not hear from Sinn Féin is how it is going to drive supply.
Sentiment score: 0.14
What I hear are objections to almost everything we are doing. That is Sinn Féin's right, but I am not seeing any solutions coming forward, just constant criticisms. I continue to make decisions to address the viability issue and the affordability issue. Ultimately, this is about driving supply right across this country including Dublin, which is a crucial part of that.
Sentiment score: -0.12
I thank the Deputy. The question I have in front of me from the Deputy relates to a housing referendum.
Sentiment score: 0.18
I am happy to get the Deputy a written answer on the other question but-----
Sentiment score: 0.57
I will answer the question on the housing referendum now. The Housing Commission was established in December 2021 to consider housing policy post 2030 and make proposals building on Housing for All. It was also tasked with advising the Government on the critical factors to be considered regarding a referendum on housing and, if appropriate, to recommend wording for a constitutional change. The commission submitted its report to the Government, including recommendations pertaining to a referendum on housing, in May of last year. There were differing views within the commission on the right to housing and no consensus on what was a complex issue. At the moment, the Government is fully focused on measures to tackle homelessness, increase housing supply and affordability and ensure access to housing of an adequate standard for all. As work continues on our new housing plan, we are continuing to focus on measures in the short, medium and long terms to boost supply. In the past few months alone, I have secured record levels of funding for social and affordable housing. Furthermore, the establishment of a new housing infrastructure fund in my Department will help to secure the enabling infrastructure needed for public and private housing developments and unblock infrastructure delays on the ground. This practical focus on housing supply is my priority right now but I will keep the report to the commission on this area under review.
Sentiment score: 0.18
The Deputy is right that there were differing views on the commission, and well-reasoned views I think on both sides among the commission members as set out in the various reports. While it was a majority it is not that straightforward either due to the different views. We are keeping this under review but my priority is actually delivering on housing. It is a basic necessity, one of the most fundamental basic necessities, for people to have a home and to have a roof over their head. We are very proud in Ireland in ensuring people can live in their own communities. Very strong communities are essential in the way we do things. That is where my priority is right now. I am not against a referendum on putting housing into the Constitution but it is not where my priority is right now and certainly not in my first year as the Minister for housing.
Sentiment score: 0.21
It is important to set out that putting it into the Constitution is not going to deliver one more house. This Government has set out that housing is a priority. This is evidenced by the fact that almost one in three euro in our national development plan is going towards housing delivery. This is not even including the funding for grids and roads, which are all prioritised towards housing delivery as well. Spain, for example, is engaging with our Department and Government because it is in a housing crisis. Their minister for housing is looking at schemes we are doing to see how they might work in Spain to help advance and deliver housing and affordable housing. Other countries such as Slovakia, Romania and France are also looking to Ireland. I had important meetings with the minister for housing from France only last week and with the ministers for housing from Denmark and Romania, all of whom are facing housing crises. Nobody has a simple answer to this at the moment. While reviewing whether we put that into the Constitution is important, let us not pretend it will deliver housing.
Sentiment score: 0.10
I thank the Deputy for her question and the clarification. The Government has scaled up affordable housing delivery rapidly across all tenures since 2022 and continues to accelerate housing supply. Cost rental is a key element of the Government's strategy to improve affordability in the rental sector and to provide secure, long-term homes for moderate income households above the income limits for social housing, who may have difficulty affording rental accommodation in the private market. Overall, 14,500 affordable housing solutions have been delivered since the launch of Housing for All and over 1,900 affordable housing supports have been delivered in Fingal since 2021, including 590 cost-rental homes. In Balbriggan, affordable purchase homes have been delivered in Hampton Gardens and construction is under way on the LDA's Hampton Demesne development, which will comprise 817 affordable-purchase, cost-rental and social homes. These homes will be available in an array of housing options, including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bed houses. Housing delivery in Balbriggan is being supported by €25.4 million in urban regeneration and development fund investment to implement eight key projects under the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation plan. With €8.5 million matched funding provided by Fingal County Council, work is well under way on these projects to regenerate the heart of the town, including new public spaces to transform the Quay Street and harbour areas in support of sustainable, compact growth. Building on this progress, my Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners, including Fingal County Council, approved housing bodies, the Land Development Agency and the first home scheme to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline for 2026 and beyond, and to ensure the affordable housing programme responds effectively to the affordable housing needs identified at local level. Under the programme for Government, the Government committed to introducing a new starter home programme across the public, private and AHB sectors, a programme that will promote home ownership and secure long-term rental tenure for young people and fresh start applications. My Department is currently progressing that commitment and it will form part of the next housing plan.
Sentiment score: 0.41
I thank the Deputy. I know the Deputy never wants to hear good news or progress but just wants to-----
Sentiment score: 0.40
-----focus on the negatives.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Government consistently acknowledges there is a massive affordability issue in this country. That is why we have brought in significant affordable measures-----
Sentiment score: 0.10
-----which Sinn Féin opposes again and again. We have an affordability problem and a viability problem in this country. We are addressing both. I was delighted to be in Balbriggan only a few weeks ago turning the sod on 817 affordable-purchase, cost-rental-----
Sentiment score: -0.04
-----and social homes. They are real homes, there are shovels in the ground, and homes being built in Balbriggan.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I know the Deputy does not want to hear about that. She wants to pretend those houses do not exist, that we are not doing these things-----
Sentiment score: -0.08
------with URDF funding and that we are not doing other projects in Balbriggan, but that is what we are doing. This happens every time I come in.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I know it upsets the Deputy's social media plan when I start to say the positive things that are happening, so she likes to talk over me to ensure there is no possibility of anybody being able to hear anything I am saying that is positive. It is an ongoing tactic from the Opposition benches.
Sentiment score: 0.42
It is really disingenuous.
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My time is up but the reason I am still talking is the Deputy will not give me an opportunity to say anything.
Sentiment score: 0.57
The Deputy really gave the game away when she talked about government. Sinn Féin is obsessed with getting into government instead of providing solutions. It has abandoned all attempts now in terms of providing solutions for housing. The public rejected its proposed solutions in the last general election.
Sentiment score: -0.17
We hear very little about those proposals anymore because it does not want to talk to them-----
Sentiment score: -0.06
"A home you will never own" simply did not work with the people.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Here we are again. I am back on my feet, trying to give an answer and once again, the Deputy is trying to talk over me. Getting into government for government's sake is not going to work. The Deputy has to provide solutions. We are providing solutions. I turned the sod only a few weeks ago on 817 affordable, cost-rental and social homes and more homes will be delivered in Balbriggan as well. Our plan is working, we will deliver homes that are needed, and I am happy to hear any solutions from the Opposition if it wishes to put forward some.
Sentiment score: 0.19