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Irish Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘I must be radical': Housing Minister James Browne says he will ‘take risks' to solve homes crisis
A reduction to the minimum size for apartments and a removal of mandatory requirements for communal space in new apartment developments are among the rule changes which will go to the Cabinet tomorrow. Sinn Féin has said the plans will condemn renters to living in 'small and dark apartments' and will delay construction by increasing the number of judicial reviews taken by local authorities. Under the proposals, restrictions will be lifted on the number of one-bedroom apartments allowed in a development, which now stands at no more than 50pc. The minimum size for studio apartments will be reduced from 37 sq m to 32 sq m. Sinn Féin's housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said reducing minimum apartment sizes will mean renters 'paying higher rents for smaller and darker apartments'. He said a similar policy introduced by a previous housing minister, Fine Gael's Eoghan Murphy, in 2018, did not lead to an increase in supply or result in lower rents. 'As we have seen before, it will increase the value of land and push up construction costs,' he said. 'Worst of all, such proposals will lead to a dramatic increase in judicial reviews, delaying even further the delivery of homes. 'That is because repeating this hare-brained proposal will lead to two sets of planning rules – one set by local authorities' development plans and another by the Minister for Housing.' The Social Democrats also accused the minister of 'dusting off' old plans, to make apartments 'glorified shoe boxes'. ADVERTISEMENT The party's housing spokesman Rory Hearne said: 'Reducing apartment sizes, and slashing guidelines, will do one thing – increase developer profits. It will not bring down the cost of housing and it will not encourage more individuals and families to live in apartments.' Labour Party councillor Darragh Moriarty, who is chairman of Dublin City Council's Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts and Culture Committee, said the proposed rules will result in the 'trampling all over local democracy' and 'undermine the idea of sustainable communities'. The proposed new rules will state that communal, community or cultural facilities within apartment schemes shall not be required by local authorities on a mandatory basis if they have implications for the viability of a development. Mr Moriarty said this was a 'blatant attack on the principle of building sustainable communities'. But Mr Browne told RTÉ programme The Week in Politics that the only solution to the housing crisis is 'supply, supply, supply'. I think we have over-corrected from the crash and been way too cautious 'I am prepared to take risks and move our government and civil decision-makers into that more radical space around making decisions,' the minister said. 'I think we have over-corrected from the crash and we have been way too cautious. 'The decisions I have made over the last few weeks and will be making over the coming months are radical decisions that will transform housing delivery in this country, and activate the private sector.'
Irish Independent
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Ministers have historically failed the people when it comes to building houses
They are Simon Coveney of Fine Gael, Eoghan Murphy (Fine Gael), Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fáil) and, currently, James Browne (Fianna Fáil). In that period, policies to address the housing crisis have focused on increasing supply and affordability, accelerating social housing delivery and supporting home ownership. These policies include transferring public land to developers, bypassing local planning approvals and encouraging international investment; additionally, policies to address vacancy and improve the use of existing housing stock,as well as initiatives to eradicate homelessness and support social inclusion. Homelessness, as reported by Focus Ireland, stood at 3,845 (including 865 children) in January 2015. As of last January, it was 15,286 (including 4,603 children). The previous figures do not include the unreported living with parents, couch-surfing with friends and relations and finding other means of accommodation. Housing ministers and the governments they are part of have failed the Irish people. The latest attempt to resolve the crisis, apart from trying to get the older generation to downsize (so that the wealthy can buy their homes), is the formation of a new body, the Strategic Housing and Infrastructure Office, under the Housing Minister and headed by a newly appointed 'housing tsar'. This new body will be formed with senior figures from key government departments, including the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance and Transport, together with infrastructure providers such as Uisce Éireann, ESB, EirGrid and others. An additional team will be seconded from the public sector to include contracted experts. However, one wonders how this new body, with the same mindset as before, will solve our housing crisis. The formation of this body under a housing tsar is tantamount to admitting our governments and housing ministers lack the ability to solve this crisis. Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim Government continues to ignore public opinion on chronic shortage of homes There have been several letters in the Irish Independent on the appointment of a so-called housing tsar. These letters, I suggest, represent the concerns of many at what may be considered as government failure to deal with housing matters, in addition to the questionable 'best practice' use of taxpayer funds. I continue to hope the Government will at some stage take note of the views of the public. Perhaps the Government could begin by implementing the Occupied Territories Bill already approved by the Oireachtas and supported by the majority of the Irish people. In addition, the Government may learn from the actions of Donald Trump. Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork Appointment of housing tsar appears to be a case of two people doing same job What exactly will be the duties of the Housing Minister after the proposed new housing tsar takes office? Will the taxpayer be expected to pay two salaries for duplicated roles and responsibilities? Or does the Government expect the new appointee will be a 24-carat gold Superman who has all the political and moral courage our politicians lack when it comes to getting houses built? If it's the latter, then the new appointee just might be worth €430,000 a year. Tim Buckley, White Street, Cork Callan called it correctly in saying urban decline is fuelled by negative talk Oliver Callan's vivid tribute to Carrickmacross is a welcome antidote to the fog of nostalgia and fear currently clouding debate on immigration ('Those claiming my home town has been 'destroyed by foreigners' forget its past', Irish Independent, May 1). His portrait reminds us that what often feels like decline is, in fact, the disorienting shape of progress. A decade from now, we may look back and realise that towns like Carrick weren't being 'destroyed by foreigners', but quietly rebuilt by returnees, newcomers and the brave few who never left. The real threat isn't demographic; it's the pessimism that tells us decline is inevitable and integration impossible. One doesn't need a crystal ball, just a sound understanding of how places adapt, grow and surprise. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Pope Francis would have cared nothing about the colour of mourners' suits Eric Conway (Letters, May 1) was correct about Donald Trump's funeral attire at Pope Francis's funeral. A black tie is mournful, a blue one cheerful. The fact the US president attended in a perfectly acceptable blue suit was respectful enough. Pope Francis wouldn't have been so fussy as his simple funeral wishes proved. Dominic Shelmerdine, London Donald Trump probably doesn't believe one word out of even his own mouth It's unsurprising to learn that US president Donald Trump has taken no responsibility for the state of the economy. He insists poor economic performance was not related to his global tariffs. He even wrote on his social media platform Truth Social: 'This is Biden's stock market, not Trump's. I didn't take over until January 20. Tariffs will soon start kicking in, and companies are now starting to move into the USA in record numbers.' In his book, The Apprentice, Trump was proud to share his philosophy of denying everything and never accepting responsibility, allied to presenting every defeat as a victory. Trump is sounding more like a broken record, so much so that one feels he doesn't even believe what he is saying any more. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Tommy Steele's attempt at an Irish accent in 'Finian's Rainbow' takes the prize As I listened to the discussion on Liveline on Wednesday concerning laughable attempts at Irish accents by various film stars, my mind wandered back some years to the movie Finian's Rainbow. A special award in this regard to Tommy Steele. Begosh and begorrah, sure, I'd be after tinkin', I would. He is now 88, and hopefully the road is still rising to meet him.
