Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
46. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has engaged with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann since the publication of its report on the housing needs of Ireland’s offshore islands in November 2023, and if her Department discussed its recommendations with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. [10552/24]
View answerHas the Minister engaged with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann since the publication of its report on the housing needs of Ireland's offshore islands in November 2023? Did her Department discuss its recommendations with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage?
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.
As the Deputy will be aware, last June I launched Our Living Islands, the national islands policy, on Arranmore island, County Donegal. The policy recognises the challenges facing the offshore islands in relation to housing, which was one of the most pressing issues of concern raised by island communities during the public consultation process for the policy. Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann also raised it with me directly when I spoke at its AGM in September 2022. As a result, my Department held a number of bilateral meetings with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage during the development of the policy and associated action plan. I also met the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, prior to finalising the policy in order to discuss the issue and to secure housing-related actions and commitments for inclusion in the Our Living Islands action plan. Many of these actions align with the recommendations of the report the Deputy referred to.
My officials have regular engagement with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann and met it most recently on 31 January to discuss a range of matters, including the housing-related actions in the action plan, Our Living Islands. When it comes to implementation, however, matters relating to housing come under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the relevant local authorities. I understand that members of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann have recently met my colleague, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to discuss the recommendations in the report referred to by the Deputy.
The monitoring committee for the islands policy, which will meet tomorrow, includes a representative from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as well as six representatives of island communities nominated by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann and I expect that an update will be provided to the committee on these issues.
I welcome the Minister's answer. She seems to have covered the issues. Have the following recommendations been accepted by the Department, namely, the island-specific housing task force and action plan; the community-led housing association or approved housing body; an advisory or input role into the national policy formation and planning guidelines and liaison role regarding planning processes and statistics; an advisory role to the national policy implementation on vacant homes; and ongoing research and community engagement?
Many of the actions the Deputy referred to lie with the Department of housing. However, I have engaged directly with the island communities and I know that housing is the big issue. If you are living on an island, there are additional construction costs for transporting materials. That is why I am keen, as part of our islands policy, that my Department provide the 20% top-up to the Croí Cónaithe grant for islanders. There are approximately 20 applications for Croí Cónaithe from our islanders so 20 more families will be living on our islands at some stage. That is good progress in itself.
On the report by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann the Deputy referred to, there were a number of recommendations on areas such as approved housing bodies, planning guidelines, water and sewerage services. I have been in contact with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. As I said earlier, he met Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann to discuss those issues. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not the Minister for housing, but I will be keeping the toes of the relevant Ministers to the fire, whether it is Deputy O'Brien or any of my other colleagues to make sure they deliver for the islands because they gave me commitments for this islands policy.
