Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
264. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the drafting of the heads of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; if he can outline what changes to housing legislation will be in the Bill and when he expects the general scheme to be published. [11423/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government approved the drafting of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 on 30 January 2024. I recently wrote to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, enclosing the general scheme and advising my Department is happy to assist the Committee in the course of its deliberations as part of the pre-legislate scrutiny process. I look forward to engaging with the Committee in this regard.
The General Scheme provides for –
• Amendments to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to provide legal and habitual residence as eligibility criteria in the Social Housing Assessment process and limiting eligibility for EU/EEA nationals to those who have been in the State longer than three months;
• technical amendments to the text of the Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019;
• amendments to the Building Control Acts 1990-2020 to provide for the submission of Certificates of Compliance on Completion prior to the opening, operation or occupation of a building and a regularisation process for works and buildings; amendments to extend the powers to make building regulations and inspect; and to provide for a warning letter and withdrawal of an enforcement notice.
There may be further amendments to the General Scheme that I deem appropriate on the advice of the Attorney General. The Bill is listed as one of my Department's priorities for drafting for this session.
