Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Ceisteanna (74, 75, 77)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

74. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all house building projects due for completion by 31 January 2021 and not completed will be allowed continue work to completion in view of the continued lock down under level 5 of Covid-19 restrictions and the critical shortage of houses; if other projects whose completion date would have fallen due in February 2021 will be allowed to recommence building to completion at this stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6207/21]

Seán Canney

Ceist:

75. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reopen the construction industry, particularly housing given that many persons are building and purchasing houses as first-time buyers and they have mortgage approval which is time limited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6308/21]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

77. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a building project can be deemed essential if the homeowners are dependent on the project staying on schedule in order to move into the property to avoid homelessness in which the projected finish date is beyond 31 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6084/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 75 and 77 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 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 29 of 2021).

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.