Sheehan calls on Housing Minister to make Dáil statement on Strategic Housing Activation Office
Sheehan calls on Housing Minister to make Dáil statement on Strategic Housing Activation Office - The Labour Party
Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has called on the Housing Minister to clarify the duties and KPIs associated with the Strategic Housing Activation Office.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“The housing czar debacle and subsequent retreat from the frontline from our Housing Minister has left the public with more questions than answers. It’s my view that the Minister should provide full clarity on the Strategic Housing Activation Office in the Dáil this week to outline in detail the duties and responsibilities of the Office.
“The Housing Minister must come into the Dáil and explain how the Office will work, if a housing czar will be appointed, and if so, what the duties of the role will be.
“It’s incredible to me that last week, the Minister thought he could by-pass the public appointments process and appoint somebody on a salary of €430,000 to do an, as of yet, unspecified and undefined role. What is a housing czar?
“We’ve heard plenty of noise about unblocking blockages, tackling shortfalls and watching delivery, but nothing in black and white as to the legislative underpinning of the office, and if it will do more than check the Minister’s homework.
“Unfortunately, the housing trajectory we’re on under successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalitions is trending in the wrong way. How can the Minister be certain that the Housing Czar will actually address the shortfall in homes that are needed for the thousands of people across the country who badly need them?
“The big thing the public are struggling to understand is what will the Housing Czar do that the Housing Minister couldn’t do himself? This cannot be a fall person for the Minister. There needs to be very clear strategic delivery indicators associated with the office of the czar, but ultimately the buck must stop with the Minister.”