Planning permissions falling off a cliff while Minister fails to address housing viability issues
Planning permissions falling off a cliff while Minister fails to address housing viability issues - The Labour Party
Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has expressed concern at reports that planning permissions fell by more than 50% in three Dublin council areas last year.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“All the experts within the housing industry are clear – emergency measures are needed to address the fall in permissions. Despite this, the new Housing Minister has failed to take a look at any of the many positive, proactive measures put forward by Labour.
“Apartment construction has plummeted, and instead of taking proper charge, the Government is opting for superficial solutions.
“We’ve yet to see a single proposal to tackle the root problems—namely, the soaring costs of building apartments and exorbitant land prices. It’s reminiscent of the reckless Fianna Fáil policies of the Celtic Tiger era, where short-term gains were prioritised over sustainable planning.
“The evidence is clear, developers neither want nor need tax cuts. Developers require a stable and predictable environment to operate effectively.
“There are actionable steps that can be taken now to address this drop off in planning permissions and increase the numbers of homes being built.
“For instance, Labour has advocated for transforming the Land Development Agency to ensure that the State plays a direct role in housing provision particularly in the area of land management.’
“The availability of sufficient zoned and serviced land is vital for reaching housing targets.
“Additionally, the Housing Solidarity Fund must be mobilised to support affordable housing initiatives, providing much-needed relief to those struggling with housing costs.
“The time for real, effective action is now. Building in Dublin is going the wrong direction, as acknowledged by the Minister himself. We need to see emergency action taken now to reverse the chaos in the housing market.”