Opposition criticism of housing measures ‘entirely predictable’

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Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has called opposition criticism of the housing measures entirely predictable, saying he knows what the opposition parties are up against but has no idea what they support.

It comes after Sinn Fin and other opposition members criticized a billion extra housing package that Mr O’Brien announced this week.

It’s quite predictable because even if you take something like a vacancy grant they were against it, and I asked Eoin Broin what the problem was with giving money to new owners to help them redevelop a vacant house and never got a response, said Mr O’Brien.

He said he was focused on delivery and making sure people could afford to buy their own homes, and he criticized resistance to measures to ease the housing crisis.

Help to buy a 30,000 grant, which is people’s tax refund for their deposit, said very clearly that they would be removing that.

Mr OBrien said the first housing scheme had helped nearly 1,500 households buy affordable homes in more than eight months, which he said would also be dropped under opposition plans, adding that they had said they would build more houses faster.

When I look at their plans, they say they will do more with less money. Were investing 4.5 billion a year, and their housing plan that they published is around 2.8 billion or 2.9 billion.

For me, it focuses on delivering for families and individuals, so the constant criticism is to be expected, I don’t mind. When I receive constructive criticism, I take it into account.

He was speaking at the launch of 52 social housing units in Bluebell, Dublin, which have been occupied since September.

The social housing scheme was delivered by accredited housing body Respond in partnership with Dublin City Council and is one of two schemes launched on Wednesday under which more than 200 homes have been delivered.

Housing for all is happening on the ground.

He said that private sector investment was still needed and that to reach the number of housing units needed, around 8 to 9 billion in private investment was needed.

It is an investment to build new private projects for sale, some for rent as well.

Mr OBrien said there were currently 37,000 homes in various stages of construction and said he was confident the government would meet and exceed targets this year.

Separately, he defended Fianna Fil TD Niall Collins, saying he did nothing wrong and broke no laws.

Mr Collins recommended the disposal of property in 2007 when he was a member of Limerick County Council.

His wife, Eimear OConnor, purchased the land in 2008 after it was publicly advertised. By this time, Mr Collins had left the board after being elected TD in May 2007.

I welcome the fact that he is making a statement, I think it is really important to note that when the land has been handed over by the local authority, the land can only be handed over by full council, Mr. OBrien.

He said he fully supported Mr Collins, adding that the sale had been approved by the local authority and the land had been publicly advertised.

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