Laois TD calls for universal housing plan to ‘speed up delivery and reduce costs’

A Laois TD has said he is “demanding” that the new Government implement a universal plan for affordable housing.

Speaking in the Dáil this week, Independent Republican Brian Stanley told the Government to “give the go ahead for universal plans to be used to speed up affordable housing delivery and reduce costs.”

Deputy Stanley said he wanted to see the introduction of a housing plan which would be adhered to across all 31 City and County Councils.

“We need to mass produce homes for different household types and needs,” the Laois TD said.

“What we have had is the Government hoodwinking and misleading the people during the Election Campaign on a number of issues but spectacularly on housing.

“People were told that 40,000 homes would be delivered in 2024 when in fact the number was going to be 30,000.

“We have to increase supply. It must be doubled to meet demand and prices need to be brought down.”

Outlining his view for a universal housing plan, Deputy Stanley said mass producing homes would bring down costs and speed up delivery right across Ireland.

Deputy Stanley used architect and design team costs as an area where a universal housing plan would save the Government a lot of money, saying this sector currently accounts for “between 10% and 15%” of the costs.

The Independent Republican went on to call for “major reform” to the affordable home purchase scheme.

“The terms of the scheme needs to be more favourable for buyer’s and the supply needs to be increased,” Deputy Stanley said.

“The structure of the scheme also needs to be changed because the approved housing bodies, AHBs, are not showing an interest in it.

“A very small number of them are coming onstream in County Laois and only a handful of cost rentals. However, this is nowhere near enough to meet demand in towns such as Mountrath, Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington and Graiguecullen.”

Deputy Stanley said the Government “need to speed up all forms of delivery, including by the private sector.

“The vacant tax of 7% is not being implemented and is not effective. It needs to be increased and acted upon.

“I do not support the zoned land tax on active farmland but a levy of 3% for zoned tax is laughable. It’s simply not enough to incentives people to not sit on land. This needs to be increased and enforced to have a real effect.”

SEE ALSO – Contractor responsible for public lighting in Laois ‘should be sacked’ local County Councillor says