Clare’s Fianna Fail Senator believes the judicial review system mechanism within the planning appeals process needs to be examined.
It comes as Clare County Council’s Housing Committee Chair believes the government is ‘grasping at straws’ to solve the housing crisis.
Last week’s budget saw the introduction of a 10 percent levy on concrete materials which is set to come into effect from April.
The levy is set to be used to in part pay for the Mica and Pyrite remediation scheme, but has been met with criticism from government backbenchers – including Oireachtas members in this county.
Fianna Fail’s Ard Fheis, held over the weekend, was dominated by the housing question.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin insisted in his keynote speech that the Government will meet its target of 25,000 new homes being built this year.
He also expressed confidence in Housing Minister Darragh O’ Brien, while saying the issue is the number one focus of the current Cabinet.
Mountshannon-based Senator Timmy Dooley says the planning system, and the ability to undertake judicial reviews of An Bord Pleanala’s decisions, is getting in the way of development.
Meanwhile, a new report suggests the housing market is starting to settle down with more price increases moderating.
A MyHome.ie analysis, released today, shows a fall in asking prices of 1.3 percent in the third quarter of the year.
The report suggests an average three bed semi detached house in Clare now costs €230,000.
Author of the report is Conall MacCoille who is also a Chief Economist at Davy Stockbrokers.
Another report from the Real Estate Alliance shows the average time it takes to sell a property in Clare has increased by four weeks in the previous quarter to a total of ten weeks.
6 in 10 purchasers here this quarter were by first time buyers.
Listen back to the full interview here:
