Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North Frank O’Rourke met with senior officials from the Housing Department to press for measures to enable more housing units to be built for the many that are now seeking homes.
‘I met with senior officials from the Housing Department and pressed for some specific measures to be put in place to enable more housing units to be delivered.’
‘The housing crisis is being exacerbated due to a lack of infrastructure to facilitate construction of new housing units. Towns such as Maynooth, Clane, Celbridge, Leixlip, and Kilcock for example, all need additional infrastructure to enable housing units to be developed.’
‘Ring roads, waste water treatment plants, schools, and public transport are examples of facilities that are required to enable further housing units to be constructed. A €200m fund is available for local authorities to assist with the provision of these services and I highlighted the importance of this fund for a county like Kildare.’
‘This infrastructure such as waste water and roads etc could be provided in tandem with the construction of new houses. Given the low cost of borrowing, now is the time to provide this infrastructure.’
‘I also requested the officials to consider easing the planning conditions, to enable contractors who have commenced the construction of housing units, and complying with the planning requirements, to complete the construction of these units without having to apply for full planning to get an extension to their permission. Seeking an extension in many cases adds little or no value to the planning process, but will slow down the supply of housing units.’
‘Following my meeting this week with the Department, I am confident that it sees the benefit of these two proposals. I believe that progress will be made on both of my proposals. Enabling the supply of housing units is a key challenge for this country. We must put in place the necessary policies so that the country has enough houses for its people.’
“There are a number of areas in Kildare where planning has been granted, but construction is delayed because the necessary infrastructure for waste water and ring-roads are not yet in place. In some cases, the construction of housing has been delayed for in excess of three years,” said Deputy O’Rourke.
“We need to tackle the slow pace in completing the construction of new housing estates. In the Dail last week, I asked Minister Coveney to examine irregularities in the planning code to ensure this problem is addressed and unnecessary planning delays are avoided. The current situation is not acceptable,” concluded Deputy O’Rourke.