Affordable housing scheme
Dessie Ellis asked why the promised affordable housing scheme was missing from forthcoming legislation and what was delaying it. The Minister for Housing said the scheme would be reintroduced shortly and did not require new legislation, only repurposing existing law.
The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has been telling everyone for a long time that he is planning to introduce an affordable housing scheme. Yesterday a list of forthcoming legislation was published by the Government. Amazingly, despite the significant housing crisis, there was no mention of an affordable housing scheme. Many citizens remain excluded from the housing market. The Government made a commitment to resolve the housing crisis, yet we will not have an affordable housing scheme. When will we see such a scheme? What is holding things up? It is not rocket science to introduce a proper system. I remind the Tánaiste that this is the Government's second term and we still have not seen an affordable housing scheme.
Comment on this
We will be reintroducing an affordable housing scheme very shortly. It does not require new legislation because legislation is already in place which we will re-purpose for the scheme.
Comment on this
The Minister said he had asked for new legislation.
Comment on this
New legislation is not required. We have legislation in place from 2009, from which we will take provisions and regulations for a new scheme to be introduced very shortly.