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MINISTER FOR HOUSING Darragh O’Brien said that vacant sites across the country could be used for housing and noted the significant amount of church-owned land that he said is underutilised.
The minister made the comments as he launched the next phase of a housing programme in Finglas, Dublin, where 100 social homes will be built for senior citizens.
O’Brien also said his department is set to meet their target of building 24,600 homes, both public and private, this year under the Housing for All programme.
Approximately 1530 new social homes across several counties will be delivered under a new phase of PPP #socialhousing delivery, announced by Minister @DarraghOBrienTD this morning in Finglas. #HousingForAll targets 10,000 social homes a year https://t.co/V8aa9zH53z @merrionstreet pic.twitter.com/T5SytFliwT
— Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (@DeptHousingIRL) June 22, 2022
He also said the Government will be targeting vacant homes and properties as part of the plan to tackle the housing crisis.
“We do have a scourge of vacancy across the country that in the short two years that I’ve been minister we’re looking to address and tackle, about converting old commercial premises to residential,” O’Brien added.
“I’ve relaxed planning rules on that, where there’s full exemptions, if you convert commercial premises into residential, we’re doing that very successfully through schemes like Repair and Lease.”
“We brought back in two years just short of 6,000 vacant social homes. That’s the highest amount that’s ever been done before and I’ve a new programme this year to bring back another 2,450.”
“There’s very few left, thankfully, vacant social homes. We’re doing replacements and infill developments as well. But a lot more needs to be done.
“There will be data in the coming weeks from the local property tax returns, which will look at the vacant properties as opposed to derelict sites. We will be bringing in a tax in that space as well, run by the Revenue, which I think is better than a derelict sites levy.”
“It will disincentivise them and punish those who are leaving sites idle.”
Speaking in Finglas today, the Fianna Fáil minister said there is “no question” that there are significant church lands that are “underutilised”.
“I have written to the Archbishop of Dublin and that has been brought up at the Bishops Conference, at my request, that the church would look to transfer lands where appropriate to the state so we can deliver social and affordable housing,” he added.
“I’ve actually seen that happen in some areas and lands have been transferred for free in some areas.
“The matter of the development plan and zonings within Dublin City Council is a matter for our councillors.
“My department has engaged with church authorities, and not just the Catholic Church, other denominations too, and we are seeking, where land is available, that we would be able to have that land offered to us, either at a reduced price or in some instances for free where we can do that.”
The Government is also set to make available 9,000 social homes this year, according to O’Brien.
He said that despite the pressure of materials shortages, as well as inflation, his department is set to deliver 24,600 homes this year.
“We need to make a leap next year, where our target is 29,000,” he added.
“If you look at the last two years, because of Covid, we’ve delivered about 20,500 homes.
“A large portion of that, about half, are social and affordable homes.
“So the state is the biggest player in the housing market and the biggest developer in the housing market.
“We’re going to deliver more social homes this year than we’ve done in any year in the history of the state.
“To be frank, we’re dealing with a previous 10 years of very significant undersupply.
“I’m acutely aware of the challenges that we have. We’ve had a pandemic, we’ve have inflation, but thankfully the pipeline is good and the outlook is good. This year, next year and into the year after that.”
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You’d be led to believe the government are in opposition
@Séan Ó Nuanáin: The Government is in opposition, the Government can only implement policies that are approved by the powerful money backers inside and outside the country.
@Roger Bond: The EU, they are our real government and pupetmasters for FFG and their empty promises.
@Christopher Byrne: if the government were left to their own devices we would be a lot worse off. We should be thankful for the EU.
The man has had vested interests that work against the public’s need when it comes to owning homes. Complete shambles of a td.
Anything but build from this crowd, fingers pointed and blame hurled at everyone but themselves when the dogs in the streets know this is all as a result of government policies, specifically FG policies. Try harder minister.
@Gerard McConnell: yes seems no problem in accessing materials for private builds, I drove through celbridge, about 6 or more estates being built, just in one area.
Underutilized? You’ve been minister for years! Your party has been in government a decade by now! Do you think we are bleeding dense or what?
@v39e84kK: er…… his party have not been in power for the last decade.
@Baronvoncass: Apologies I forgot which of the two ideologically identical parties he was in. Who cares anyway, they are all the same. FF and FG, anyone really believe these parties have different ideas?
@Baronvoncass: They kinda are with the confidence & supply trick they pulled off with FG. This was continued on a more solid footing when they merged with FG to form the current government.
Oops. Was I meant to say merged?
@Baronvoncass: 2 cheeks of the same arse
@Baronvoncass: Disagree..When last in opposition F.F. kept Varadkar and FG in power with a confidence and supply agreement. You could say they were in government. Ironically F.F. now criticise the opposition because they hold the FFG/ Green government to account. A duty that FF failed to do by keeping FG in power.
@Donal Desmond: True, FG had a clear run for that period of ‘confidence & supply’ by FF in that they had very small numbers in opposition. Just prior to the next election in 2020 FF’s leader bizarrely attacked FG’s policies and record in government yet he went into a proper instead of pretend coalition with them, you couldn’t make it up. Now that we have real opposition FG are accusing said opposition of being bullies because they can’t handle criticism!
@Frank Cauldhame: yes opposition parties doing what they are suppose to do, oppose. Go figure. Wait till next election, when the shoe is on the other foot. Wait for the mud slinging.
We should start building more hotels for migrants coming to Ireland..
We have unlimited funds for providing hotel accommodation to migrants and we have no hotel accommodation for local Irish people or tourists that might bring some money into the country..
Useless is the only word
That yoke is the Epiphany of what’s wrong with Ireland….did u hear him in the dail .the high moral ground just got higher ……an utterly utter disgrace…..
@Michael Nolan: D’ya mean “epitome” …? Doubt that yoke would inspire many epiphanies, if any
@Accord Moan Eye: it was probably an auto correct issue.
@Ciaran Burke: sounds like you just had an epiphany too
Why are comments closed on the article where he says no cap on Ukrainian refugees. Total madness.
@Cat Moloney: was curious about that myself comments normally only go off around court cases to avoid prejudicial comments influencing potential jurors.
Oh it’s a terrible scourge isn’t it (wringing hands), oh desperate yes. They will never do anything to fix the housing market.
This lot would P!$$ down your leg and tell you it’s raining. In this case the church look like soft targets to create a smoke screen. The issue of derelict sites has been shouted about for years but those in charge who can change such policies said it couldn’t be done. I don’t accept this nonsense being spouted .
Church still owes there state money. Why would we have to pay for it?
Numpty.
Another Red herring Policy and Useless Tax, Donegal County Council have just released Data stating they have collected no Tax under this incentive, as it’s too difficult to implement and in fact it may be unconstitutional.
There are tens of thousands of empty residential properties across the country laying unused. It needs to be made a taxable asset to have an unused property like that. On the flip side, people need to be rewarded somewhat for entering these properties to the rental and affordable list.
Galway City Council have been sitting on derelict City centre properties for years. All promise, Plans and talk, talk, talk with no Action, unfortunately the same Council puts more effort and money into Castle’s in the Air and crazy cycle ways. Yes Minister !, a bright idea if you can get your City Manager’s to appreciate the Urgency.
The minister is wrong. A majority of the vacant houses are in areas no one wants to live. Who wants to travel 5-10 miles to nearest shop?
Plenty of green fields in the country to build houses,, just zone them and build them
@John Morgan: agreed declare national emergency confiscate the vacent land compensate with a one time pay out them suspend an bord planola for 3 years and flood the market with houses so much supply reduce demand.
They are all spoofers every last one of them, except Eamon Ryan, bless him.
How about making complusory purchases instead of writing letters. If indeed it is a crisis, treat it like a crisis.
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