Local authorities should be “micromanaged” to ensure they meet housing delivery targets, Fine Gael TD Edward Timmins has said.
In a statement released by Fine Gael this week, the Wicklow TD welcomed the government’s plan to publish social housing league tables, but warned that a stricter oversight regime was necessary to accelerate delivery.
“Monthly figures must be produced by all local authorities and explanations given if targets are missed,” he said.
“This is the only way to deliver large numbers of houses.”
Timmins argued that housing targets should not be limited to social housing alone, and said councils needed immediate clarity on their overall housing growth requirements.
“Council Development and Local Area Plans will need to be amended to factor in targets,” he said.
“I know local authorities have been contacted and advised that development plans across the country must be reviewed and in the coming weeks they will be informed of their new housing growth requirements.”
He highlighted a recent case in his own constituency where a planning application for 335 homes in Blessington was rejected despite support from the council and all elected members.
“Planning permission…was refused by An Bord Pleanála because the Local Area Plan was not up to date with new housing targets,” he said.
Timmins said that the Department of Housing’s new league tables comparing social housing delivery across councils would increase transparency, but insisted they needed to be part of a broader oversight strategy.
“The Minister must then meet the CEOs of the Councils and the Heads of Planning on a quarterly basis,” he said.
“This method is exactly the way a business would aim to achieve its targets and the only way stakeholders can be held accountable and real accelerated housing delivery can happen.”
Independent TD Carol Nolan criticised the remarks in comments to Gript, warning that the plan risked targeting underfunded councils.
“Shifting the blame to Local Authorities is a losing strategy,” she said.
“That is what blanket proposals like this will achieve for the simple reason that some local authorities are operating with significant funding deficits, and no matter how hard they try, they will not be able to deliver. That is not a failure of intent. It is primarily a failure of central government to adequately resource local housing efforts.”
She added that more bureaucracy was not the solution.
“We don’t need more bureaucracy,” she said.
“We need more bucks, more euros, and a guaranteed commitment that schemes like the tenant in situ scheme will be appropriately funded and expanded.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Fitzgerald also pushed back on Timmins’ remarks, defending council staff in his area.
“I think that staff in Wicklow are doing their utmost to get housing,” he said.
“I mean, I live in Arklow, and we have a lot of planning permissions…I don’t blame local authorities.”
The councillor said it was “easy for a government to say that,” but added that significant effort was being made locally.
“There’s a huge effort being made to get people off the housing list,” he said.
“I have no say in the other districts, I’m only in the Arklow Municipal District. But, I mean, there’s a lot of problems with people being at risk of homelessness, but that will hopefully start to sort itself out over the coming months.”
Local authorities across Ireland are responsible for delivering a substantial portion of the government’s Housing for All strategy, including social, affordable and cost-rental housing. However, delays in planning, legal appeals, and infrastructural constraints have contributed to ongoing delivery challenges in some areas.
Loading ...