Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Questions (253, 282, 283, 290)

Seán Haughey

Question:

253. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which persons who have engaged the services of a building contractor to build a house which has not yet been completed can prove in practice that their case involves overcrowding or a threat to the spread of Covid-19 with regard to the measures set out in SI No. 29 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7928/21]

Cormac Devlin

Question:

282. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of level 5 construction exemptions for residential properties almost completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8386/21]

Cormac Devlin

Question:

283. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of level 5 construction exemptions for the refurbishment of vacant residential properties that are required to prevent a family falling into homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8387/21]

Thomas Gould

Question:

290. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to financial support for those who have carried out renovations or have incurred delays in housebuilding due to Covid-19 restrictions and have incurred additional financial delays due to same such as extended renting. [8519/21]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 282, 283 and 290 together.

The Government announced that additional public health restrictions would apply under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 on 6 January 2021. The additional restrictions required all construction activity to cease from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with a number of exceptions. These measures are set out in The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (as amended).

With regard to private housing development, the Regulations provide that housing and construction works ongoing on 8 January could continue where the works required to render the property capable of occupation were scheduled for completion by 31 January 2021.

On 26 January, the Government announced that the current level 5 restrictions will remain until 5 March 2021. Accordingly, no extension has been provided beyond 31 January in respect of private housing development. These restrictions on construction will remain in place until 5 March. There is no provision for to provide financial support arising from these measures.