Preasráitis
Minister O’Brien publishes Housing Commission Reports
Ó An Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitúil agus Oidhreachta
Foilsithe
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Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien has today published a number of reports prepared by the Housing Commission, including its overall review of Ireland’s housing system, together with a number of reports in relation to the wording of a referendum on housing.
These reports, published in their entirety, were produced by the Commission, which was established by Minister O’Brien in December 2021, as an independent body to examine Ireland’s housing system and make recommendations to shape long-term policy.
It is clear that the radical shift which the Commission recommends is well underway as a result of the government’s Housing for All plan, and many of the recommendations are at varying stages of implementation under that policy. An outline of the recommendations is available below.
Report of the Housing Commission – Status of Recommendations
Íosluchtaigh nasc le haghaidh
Íoslódáil
As identified in the report published today, increased supply is key to addressing the housing deficit. Supply is increasing rapidly, with more than 110,000 homes delivered since 2020. As part of its Housing for All Action Plan Update, the Department of Housing detailed the approach to the planned review of targets which is well underway with new targets due to be published in Autumn, based on independent, peer reviewed research by the ESRI.
This review will also take account of other inputs, including the hypothetical scenarios set out in the Housing Commission’s report regarding housing demand to 2050.
The report, received by the Minister on 8 May, is based on over two years of deliberation by the Commission and includes 83 recommendations together with hundreds of suggested actions.
Notwithstanding the recommendations that are advanced or in train, as part of the next steps the Report will now be sent to the Housing Agency to carry out an analysis in terms of costings, timelines and prioritisation of the Commission’s recommendations to allow for full consideration. Once that work is complete the Minister will bring policy recommendations to Government.
The Housing Commission was also set the specific task of making a recommendation to Government on a proposed referendum on housing.
The complexity of this constitutional issue is reflected in the submission of majority and minority reports on possible wording. The reports, which provide a comprehensive examination of the options as well as expert analysis, were published by the Minister today.
As part of next steps, the Commission’s Reports will be submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for its consideration. An inter-departmental group will also be convened to develop policy recommendations for Government on foot of the Commission’s work. The advice of the Attorney General will also be sought before recommendations are brought to Government.
Commenting on the publication of the reports Minister O’Brien said:
“I established the Housing Commission in 2021 in order to help inform a long-term policy direction for housing. I have now received a very comprehensive set of recommendations and actions that will require significant consideration.
“When the Commission was established in 2021 our housing sector and associated delivery was vastly different. Just over 20,000 homes were delivered that year. In 2022, the first full year of Housing for All we made a step change in delivery with more than 29,000 homes completed overall, including the most amount of social homes in fifty years and the first affordable homes in a decade. That was possible through the unprecedented government funding which was made available on a multi-annual basis for the Housing for All plan and which allowed us to take ambitious decisions such as establishing the First Home Scheme which is proving highly popular with First-Time Buyers.
“As would be expected, not everything in the reports released today is accepted or agreed and a full analysis will be required before actions are taken. Having said that, 65 of the 83 actions, or 78% of the recommendations are already implemented, underway or partially underway.
“The publication of these reports today is the culmination of two years of work by the members of the Commission and I thank them most sincerely for this work.
“There is much more work to be done and the work published today will contribute to a robust and informed policy debate and will certainly inform the direction of housing strategy into the future.”