Local authorities must be micromanaged to meet housing targets – Timmins

Local authorities should be compelled to provide monthly housing progress reports to ensure targets are being met, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Edward Timmins said government’s decision to publish social housing league tables is a significant move, which he has consistently proposed in the Dáil, but that targets should not be confined to just social housing and overall housing targets must be set and communicated to local authorities without any further delays.

Deputy Timmins said: “Council Development and Local Area Plans will need to be amended to factor in targets. I know local authorities have been contacted and advised that development plans across the country must be reviewed and in the coming weeks they will be informed of their new housing growth requirements.

“Currently many planning permissions are being refused because the Development Plans’ core strategies have population targets that are too low. In my own constituency of Wicklow, planning application for 335 houses in Blessington, supported by the Council and all elected members, was refused by An Bord Pleanála because the Local Area Plan was not up to date with new housing targets.

“In order to ensure transparency and accountability with the public, the Department of Housing will begin publishing the new-build social housing delivery achieved by all local authorities as set against their targets. But this delivery must be micromanaged. Monthly figures must be produced by all local authorities and explanations given if targets are missed. This is the only way to deliver large numbers of houses.

“The Minister must then meet the CEOs of the Councils and the Heads of Planning on a quarterly basis. This method is exactly the way a business would aim to achieve its targets and the only way stakeholders can be held accountable and real accelerated housing delivery can happen,” Deputy Timmins concluded.