Joan Collins
Question:80. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the referendums on Housing as a right and the public ownership and management of Uisce Éireann will take place. [6911/24]
View answerThursday, 15 February 2024
Questions (80, 104)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:104. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the constitutional referenda on the right to housing and public ownership of water. [6821/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 104 together.
Public ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has committed to holding a referendum on the ownership of water services. Importantly, the establishment of Uisce Eireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022.
I have previously committed to bringing forward a referendum proposal on public ownership of water services for Government consideration in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing.
In line with Programme for Government commitments, I established the Commission on Housing in December 2021 as an independent body to examine and evaluate Ireland's housing system, including issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing.
At the same time, I also tasked the Commission to advise the Government on the critical factors to be considered regarding a referendum on housing and, if appropriate, to recommend wording for a constitutional change. While not a commitment to a referendum on a 'right to housing', this was not precluded by the Commission's terms of reference.
The Commission has recently submitted its report and recommendations to me regarding a proposed constitutional amendment. In reaching its conclusions, the Commission examined inter alia the range of complex constitutional questions arising. It undertook a comprehensive consultation, researched international experience, evaluated various proposed wordings and considered other critical factors involved with introducing an amendment to the Constitution.
The timing of a referendum on housing has not yet been considered by Government. That said, the scheduling of any referendum will have take account of the need for a referendum in the first instance, as well as the scale and complexity of work required to consider implications of any agreed amendment, to develop policy proposals for Government approval, and to conclude the parliamentary process and referendum campaign.
I am currently considering the Commission's comprehensive analysis and report, as well as the next steps in the process, and I expect to bring these to Government in the not too distant future.