Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy issued the call to the Government in the Seanad
Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy has urged the government to reform the National Planning Framework to boost the production of new accommodation.
Senator McCarthy, from Punchestown is the Co-Founder of Tiglin, a charity aiding those struggling with homelessness and addiction.
Speaking in the Seanad recently, Senator McCarthy said, “Recent data from the Central Statistics Office shows Ireland's population has grown by 8%, now exceeding 5.1 million. This demographic shift presents significant housing and infrastructure challenges.”
He added, “The NPF, launched in 2018 as part of Project Ireland 2040, aimed to guide population growth, development, and infrastructural investment over two decades.”
Senator McCarthy concluded by advocating for local planning authorities to have limited discretion to release additional housing on fully serviced Tier 1 lands, stating, “We must explore practical solutions to ease housing pressures while awaiting the NPF revision. This temporary measure would not undermine the NPF but would show the Government's responsive approach to immediate challenges.”
Senator McCarthy was unhappy that Minister for Housing James Brown failed to provide what he described as clear timelines for housing targets.
Meanwhile, another record total for the numbers living in emergency accommodation was set in February.
State figures show it has reached 15,378.
The total includes more than 4,600 children who are registered as homeless and growing up in B&Bs and hotels.
154 adults were registered homeless in Kildare - unchanged from January.
In Meath, 309 adults were homeless - a decrease from 312 in January.
In Wicklow, the figure stands at 80, up from 70.
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