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Government confirms that revised Housing for All plan will be delayed

Government confirms that revised Housing for All plan will be delayed

The Journal4 days ago

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has confirmed that the revised Housing for All plan, which was due to be published next month, has been delayed.
Asked today during a press conference if September is a more reasonable timeline, he responded: 'Possibly'.
'We're getting on with it,' he added.
The revised housing plan will replace the former Housing for All plan (which sets out the country's overall approach to housing) put in place by the last coalition.
Martin said today he now wants the National Development Plan (NDP) finalised first. This plan, which sets out the government's infrastructure spending, is expected in late July.
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'It makes sense in terms of the NDP that we would have a financial allocation for housing in advance of the [Housing for All] plan itself,' the Taoiseach said.
Since the general election, the government has come under fierce pressure in terms of its housing targets.
Just this month, Housing Minister James Browne said the current annual target of 41,000 new homes in 2025 is 'not realistic'.
Last year, the government fell short of its target of approximately 40,000 new homes by about 10,000.
Browne admitted that because of this low output for 2024 it will be a 'challenge' to meet this year's target.
It is expected that the government will set out revised housing targets for the coming years in the new Housing for All plan.
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Children among injured and two dead following Russian strikes on Ukraine's Odessa
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Children among injured and two dead following Russian strikes on Ukraine's Odessa

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With fear and courage, Hungarians are refusing to let their government beat them down
With fear and courage, Hungarians are refusing to let their government beat them down

The Journal

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  • The Journal

With fear and courage, Hungarians are refusing to let their government beat them down

IN THE BOOKSHOPS of Budapest, books that were easily available only a few years ago can no longer be openly found on the shelves. In police stations, authorities are preparing to use facial recognition software to identify and imprison organisers of the annual Pride parade. And in the homes of the city's LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones, people are anxiously watching as their government chips away at hard-fought-for human rights and democracy. Across the border – west to Romania, or north to Slovakia – more European Union citizens wonder if their country will be the next to ban Pride. Budapest Pride is marking its 30th anniversary this year. Organised Pride events started out small – a film festival; picnics on a mountain outside of the city – at a time when Hungary was only a few years out of the Soviet Union and most LGBTQ+ people weren't safe to let their identity be publicly known. 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Quiet man of Government emerges from the shadows
Quiet man of Government emerges from the shadows

RTÉ News​

time6 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Quiet man of Government emerges from the shadows

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Perhaps illustrating his elevated status, he has what no other junior minister possesses, a big office in the main corridor of Government Buildings. "He tells us what's coming up and how things went at the Monday night meeting. It can be a bit challenging for the Independent ministers in government sometimes, but we like challenges," one minister said. Then there is the weekly meeting of the Independent ministers and TDs on Wednesday evenings, a gathering that is chaired by Michael Lowry. Some ministers say they do not always attend and prefer to do "their own thing". Most do participate however, even if there are mixed views on whether or not Mr Lowry is becoming a more peripheral figure. "The 'Lowry Lackeys' jibe hurt a lot, and it is better just to focus on your own work," one of those who worked closely with Mr Lowry in the Government formation talks said. Another Independent TD was more philosophical, saying "he still has access to Government and still gets things done. You can't dismiss a man with that experience". Indeed, it was Mr Lowry who chaired a meeting of Independent TDs and ministers when they met with Minister for Housing James Browne on Wednesday afternoon last. There, the minister explained in broad terms what will be unveiled in the coming weeks to make the building of homes more viable. He also rejected a push from Independent TDs to publish all the new measures in one big plan and insisted that it is more beneficial to keep making changes on an almost weekly basis. There are ongoing battles between Independents and the Department of Public Expenditure over the upcoming review of the National Development Plan (NDP). "It is proving very difficult, but senior ministers from all parties are experiencing the same thing," one Independent minister said. Officially though, there is a vow of silence around these discussions. 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