Cathal Crowe
Question:306. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31865/23]
View answerThursday, 29 June 2023
Questions (306)
Written answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is the foundation for my Department's main policy initiatives. My Department has commitments across 10 of the 12 Missions in the Programme. My Department's 2021 Statement of Strategy was published in April 2021 and set out our strategic goals, objectives and actions for the period ahead. It is available on my Department's website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/9a047-statement-of-strategy-2021-2025/. A new Statement of Strategy for the period 2023-2025 will be published in the coming weeks and will build upon progress already made over the previous three years.
My Department's website, www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage, is a good source of information about activities and initiatives undertaken, but by way of illustration, some of the key actions delivered since 27 June 2020 include:
• the publication of 'Housing for All - a new Housing Plan for Ireland' and the continued progression of initiatives covered under this policy;
• the launching of the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme and subsequent amendment regulations increasing the number of eligible applicants;
• the enactment of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 which established the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, introduced Cost Rental tenancies, established the First Home Shared Equity Scheme and expanded Part V of the planning requirements;
• the extension of the Pyrite Remediation Scheme to include the administration area of Limerick;
• the enactment of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022;
• the delivery of the largest voids programme to date;
• an increased budget to support local authority homeless programmes and Covid-19 enhanced services;
• the establishment of the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC);
• the publication of the Youth Homelessness Strategy;
• the setting of targets for social housing delivery in the period 2022-2025 as part of the Department's lead role in the development of the Housing for All strategy;
• the establishment of the Emergency Refurbishment programme;
• publication of the Housing Need Demand Assessment tool;
• the establishment, with the Department of Rural and Community Development, of a Town Centre First inter-Departmental Group on the regeneration of towns and villages;
• the enactment of the Land Development Agency Act 2021;
• the establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Approved Housing Bodies;
• the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021;
• the development of the Marine Spatial Plan;
• the development of the National Marine Planning Framework;
• the enactment of the Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2022 to separate Uisce Éireann from the Ervia Group;
• establishment of The Electoral Commission following the enactment of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, in order to modernise the electoral registration process and introduce regulation of online political advertising;
• increased funding for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Historic Structures Fund and the Community Monuments Fund;
• the development of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan;
• the publication of the 5th Nitrates Action Programme;
• the publication of the Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service;
• the publication of the Vacant Homes Action Plan to tackle vacancy and dereliction;
• the signing of new Drinking Water Regulations;
• increased funding for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older and Disabled people;
• significant progress has been made on planning reforms to ensure sustainability in our housing system;
• the introduction of a Ready to Build scheme, funded through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund; and
• the preparation of legislation for a Zoned Land Tax to commence in 2024.
The Departments high level activity, with respect to the Statement of Strategy, is documented in it's Annual Reports, which can be found at gov.ie - Annual Reports (www.gov.ie).
Regular updates, in the form of press releases, are also issued by my Department, particularly when outcomes are achieved, and these can be found at www.gov.ie/en/search/?type=press_releases&organisation=department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage
The Departments high level activity, with respect to the Statement of Strategy, is documented in it's Annual Reports, which can be found at gov.ie - Annual Reports (www.gov.ie).