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Shared equity scheme to be extended to self-build homes, says minister

Controversial planning rules for “build-to-rent” apartments are also set to be abolished.

THE SHARED EQUITY SCHEME for first-time-buyers is to be extended to self-build homes, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has told the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis. 

The First Home Scheme, which opened in July, involves the Government taking a stake in a home purchase to help make up the difference between the buyer’s level of mortgage approval and the cost of the property.

Describing the scheme as a “game-changer” in his speech to the party’s Ard Fheis, O’Brien said: 

“I’m announcing today that I will be extending that to self build homes across rural Ireland.”

The rules operating the scheme will be extended to self-builds, so if a person gets mortgage approval for a certain amount, but the new-build all-in cost is higher, then the First Home Scheme can be used to bridge the gap. 

In addition, he said the €50,000 grants to buy and refurbish empty and derelict homes, in rural areas is being extended to cities.

Applications for urban areas are expected to open in October.

Planning rules brought in by Eoghan Murphy

The minister said planning rules around “build-to-rent” (BTR) apartments, which allow properties not having to comply with minimum size standards required in homes for sale, are set to be abolished,.

In 2018, the then Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy brought in these raft of new guidelines around apartment developments. 

“I’m abolishing the separate two tier planning standards for build to rent apartments. This means that from the end of this year, every apartment application in our country will be a single, built-to-buy standards, and allow it to be sold and not restricted solely for rental.

“If it’s good enough to rent, it should be good enough to buy. And we need to level the playing field between homeowners and investors,” he said. 

A single apartment standard will give certainty, said O’Brien.

“It will level the playing field and it will still enable the investment where it is needed. We all know the scale of the challenge in housing. But we also know of the cynical and callous exploitation of it by some opposition parties,” he said.

Developments already in planning will be allowed to continue under the existing regime. 

O’Brien said home ownership is his core believe and core pillar to Fianna Fáil.

“I believe in owning your own home. And I believe that it is good for individuals. It’s good for families, it’s good for our communities, and it’s good for our country.

“My wife and I were lucky enough to buy a home and start a family. And it is a basic opportunity that I want for my daughter when she was she’s growing up. A person earning a decent wage should be able to own their own small corner of this world,” he said. 

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    Mute Bill
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    May 17th 2013, 7:25 AM

    Vast majority of the population have no say in the makeup of the Seanad shut it down .

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    Mute Sean O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2013, 7:08 AM

    Reform me arse! Shut it down!

    22
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    May 17th 2013, 7:26 AM

    If there were imperfections in the system why were they not ironed out by now ,did it suit to have them there .It,s jobs for the boy,s I think -put them on half pay like the rest of the working people and see
    how many of them turn up

    21
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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    May 17th 2013, 7:36 AM

    If we could see value . They are just a talking house with no power . The Dail can listen or ignore recommendations. The seante should have the ability to veto and block things.

    13
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    Mute Godblessthecraic
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    May 17th 2013, 7:39 AM

    I can’t wait to vote for its abolition, that’s if Fine Gael keep their election promise……..they wouldn’t lie to get into power would they??

    18
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    Mute gerbreen
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    May 17th 2013, 8:05 AM

    The Seanad has offered little to its citizens for many a year. Reform is not on the agenda as far as the referendum is concerned and has been frowned upon for years. Like the Dail it has a small number of successful people in the real world but they are too few in number and restricted by the whip. Unless I have been missing all these great successes of the upper house – I will be voting for its removal

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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    May 17th 2013, 7:20 AM

    If I could see value I would be in favour however since FG got in no real change has happened so shut the place down.

    16
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    Mute John Campbell
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    May 17th 2013, 8:10 AM

    Sorry, Senators Quinn and Zappone nice try but the people will not fall for it. Starting debate about changing the Senate is simply a smoke screen to hide the obvious which is that we simply cannot afford it and it serves little purpose save to award political ‘friends’ or groom prospective TDs. I note the proposal is for an ‘in house’ vote to make the change with the citizenry allowed no say. A straight yes or no vote in a referendum will do nicely thank you .

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    Mute Oisín Ó HAlmhain
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    May 17th 2013, 8:41 AM

    Perhaps the fact that the Seanad is used as a consolation prize by some people, and a place to raise profile and become TDs is part of the problem.
    If all seanad nominations had to be in before any Dáil General Election, and no sitting senator was allowed run for the Dáil, then the Seanad might have more respect.

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    Mute John Scott
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    May 17th 2013, 9:43 AM

    there has been lots of reports sitting some where in the big house on REFORM. so SENATORS Quinn Zappone may be u should have a read of them. now get rid if this house an use all 65000e that u all get put it to some good.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    May 17th 2013, 7:34 AM

    There are more than enough TDs and high ranking civil servants to oversee the tasks outlined above. The Seanad has no place in our political system and should be abolished.

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    Mute Geraldine Lee
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    May 17th 2013, 7:10 AM

    Shitheads

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    Mute Irish Mule
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    May 17th 2013, 12:50 PM

    Can’t wait till this retirement home is shut down.

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    Mute Tom Brennan
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    May 17th 2013, 1:02 PM

    I read it like this “Seanad, …., blah blah, drone on about constitution, waffle, more sh!te talk, blah blah, here is my pay cheque thanks to you taxpayers…”

    Shut the bloody thing down – simples.

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    Mute Scarr
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    May 17th 2013, 9:44 AM

    I’d like to see the Seanad shut down to make way for an innovation fund – one project fully funded for up to 4 years on Seanad money. Project would eventually have to be self funding. or We could start a entrepreneurialism course in school, or programming or product design. Much better uses of money.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2013, 10:46 AM

    We can’t abolish the Seanad without seeing some real reform of the Dáil as well. It’s already too easy for the Government to railroad legislation through the Dáil thanks to the whip system, and removing the Seanad will make that even easier.

    If the Government set out their proposals for real reform of the Dáil before the referendum and put mechanisms in places that assure those reforms WILL go through once the Seanad is removed, then I’ll consider voting yes. Until then, I’m voting no, because I just don’t trust the Government being left completely to their own devices to do what’s best for the country.

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    Mute tax slave
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    May 17th 2013, 3:38 PM

    For a small country we are to top heavy . . Too many chiefs not enough Indians .

    3
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