The Government is facing criticism for “actually worsening the housing crisis” ahead of the release of its new National Housing Plan, which the Taoiseach has described as “the most unprecedented investment in housing ever”.
Minister for Housing James Browne expressed confidence that the plan’s measures will cut homelessness numbers and bring about a “real shift in how we get housing moving in this country”, reports RTE.
The new strategy aims to deliver 300,000 homes over the next six years, including 90,000 starter homes.
However, Opposition parties remain doubtful that the plan will produce the transformative increase in housing output that is being promised, reports RTE.
Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Rory Hearne accused the Government of “actually worsening the housing crisis” and called details leaked from the plan “deeply disappointing”.
“There is no radical change here,” he said, adding that there is “no radical transformation in how this Government is approaching housing,” reports RTE.
“That is deeply disappointing. It’s not good enough and I think when we see it tomorrow — people are likely to be very disappointed,” he continued.
Mr Hearne said the Government will “dress” the plan up as significant reform, but that it amounts to “tinkering around the edges”, reports RTE.
He criticised the targets of 15,000 affordable homes and 12,000 social homes per year, arguing that they are “not a significant on what the targets are currently”.
“We have seen a consistent failure to actually reach their own targets,” he said, reports RTE.
“What we actually need is serious targets.”
He stated that at least 30,000 affordable homes need to be built each year “at a minimum”.
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“I don’t see them having the actual ideas, the competence to deliver this and I really feel at this point we are looking for a change in Government in terms of getting real action on housing,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr Hearne added that based on the leaks, the plan does not appear to represent the “radical transformation” required.
Arriving for the Cabinet meeting earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the new plan will succeed where previous housing strategies have failed, reports RTE.
He described it as “the most unprecedented investment in housing ever”.
It has been reported that Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has approved €2.5 billion in funding for the Land Development Agency (LDA) to deliver 14,000 homes by 2029, reports RTE.
The LDA was established to help acquire more private land for private housing and identify new strategic public land sites.
If approved by Cabinet, the new funding could be accessed immediately, raising the LDA’s total budget to €8.75 billion, reports RTE.
Minister Browne’s National Housing Plan is also expected to prioritise ending child and family homelessness, including a €100 million investment next year to house families who have been longest on housing lists.
The long-delayed plan also aims to signal policy stability, with hopes that this will encourage greater private investment in homes and apartments, reports RTE.
It is expected that local authorities will make greater use of compulsory purchase orders to address derelict buildings.
Other proposed measures include returning 20,000 vacant properties to use through the Vacant Refurbishment Grant, and introducing an Expert Advice Grant to support converting unused homes and shop spaces into residential properties, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin warned that the new plan “must be more ambitious” than the last one, particularly in terms of funding, targets, and delivery of social and affordable homes.
He also called for stronger tenant protections against rising rents and eviction, along with “clear, measurable targets to end long-term homelessness by 2030”, reports RTE.
The Dublin Mid-West TD added that the Housing Plan should include activation supports for small and medium-sized builders to help workers buy homes, and that more staff are needed in planning authorities and courts to speed up approvals and decisions, reports RTE.
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