Mary has renewed her call for vacant property tax as CSO data reveals 166,00 vacant homes and more than 37,000 in Dublin. Renovating vacant properties is the fastest and most sustainable way to increase housing supply. This level of vacancy can’t be countenanced in the face of a housing emergency and the Minister for Finance…
Category: Housing & Planning
Tax Relief for Apartment Owners
Mary has been working with representatives of Apartment owners who have defects in their homes.She is campaigning to have Government provide tax credit and grants for social landlords, to allow them make their homes safe. Read Mary’s previous contributions on this issue here
Right to Housing
In June 2021 Mary received almost unanimous support in Seanad Eireann for her proposing a constitutional referendum on the right to housing. Following on from the debate Government established a Commission on Housing tasked with examining the issue. The Referendum Subcommittee has been tasked with examining the complex constitutional issues around housing rights and to propose…
Improved Grant & Loans for Warmer Homes
Mary welcomes the approved package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in pace and…
Apartment Defects
The Government are urging people to share their experiences of housing defects relating to fire safety, structural safety and water ingress in purpose-built apartment and duplex buildings constructed in Ireland between 1991 and 2013. These experiences are sought by the Independent Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing which was established by Minister O’Brien in…
New National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027
Mary welcomes the launch of the new national strategy on housing for Disabled People. Strategy clearly sets out Government’s vision for the delivery of housing and related support services for disabled people over the next five years. New strategy places a greater emphasis on facilitating independent living and being included in the community. A key…
Derelict Housing
As a City Councillor Mary fought to have derelict buildings revamped as much needed homes for people. In December Mary had the opportunity to question Dublin City Council on their efforts to identify derelict housing and to bring it back to housing supply. Mary stated during the proceedings that the housing crisis requires both national…
Building Services Regulation
Legislation requiring providers of building services to register with Construction Industry Register Ireland published Legislation delivers on Housing for All commitment to embed compliance in the construction sector The legislation will put the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) on a statutory footing. The Bill aims to benefit consumers and the general public by giving those…
Housing Commission
Mary welcomes the news that the Housing Commission has held its first meeting. -Key Housing for All action establishes Commission to examine long-term housing policy issues -Commission to look at important issues like housing tenure, cost, quality and supply, the cost of private rental accommodation and social housing -Wording of Referendum on Housing to be…
Newsletter & Calendar 2022
Mary has been delivering her latest update on her work in Seanad Eireann over the last few weeks. If you missed it you can click here Mary has also been delivering her 2022 calendars, if you have not received one but would like to please contact mary.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie with your postal address and one will be…