Latest news with #JamesBrowne
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
'I'm in charge', says Browne amid claims he's lost reins over his top civil servants
Embattled Housing Minister James Browne has moved to assert his authority over his department and most senior civil servant, declaring: 'I am in charge of this brief.' He told 'Let me be clear; policy decisions are made by the minister. I lead, decide, and I am held to account for that.' Mr Browne spoke out after the secretary general of his own department publicly said there is no need for a housing 'tsar' to help the Government meet its pre-election promise to build 300,000 new homes over the next five years. Minister for Housing, James Browne. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Speaking at a Property Industry Ireland conference, Graham Doyle said: 'We do not need a housing tsar – can I just clear this one up please, once and for all? 'There is a sense in some quarters that if you knock a few heads together, if you give enough people a kick in the backside, then things happen. I only wish that was the case.' Mr Doyle's comments sparked a political backlash, with one minister criticising what they described as 'an unruly leadership class of senior mandarins who increasingly appear to believe they run the country'. Graham Doyle, Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Pic: HSE The senior civil servant later issued a statement saying his issue was with the use of the term 'tsar', but he is 'fully supportive of the HAO [Housing Activation Office] and wholly supportive of the Minister and what he is trying to achieve in this regard'. But one senior figure central to the Government's housing strategy told 'When you are explaining, you are losing, particularly when the explanation is not convincing.' Another senior Coalition source noted: 'He [Doyle] demolished the Minister's own phraseology word by word and then expects us to believe what he is quoted as saying was not what he was saying. That lacks credibility.' Housing Minister James Browne. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire They added: 'It represents another blow to the authority of Mr Browne. His top officials are running riot in that department, and he isn't even the referee. He's just a bystander.' The latest controversy comes after the botched attempt to appoint the €430,000 NAMA boss, Brendan McDonagh, who was Minister Browne's preferred choice to head up the new housing task force. And concern is also mounting over the political consequences of the difficulties Mr Browne appears to be having within his own department. Brendan McDonagh. Pic: Leah Farrell/ One minister noted of Mr Browne's new housing policy: 'If it is not radical and seen to be radical, public faith in our capacity to solve this crisis will melt away. 'It already is.' Mr Browne's political authority was initially weakened by the strong response of Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers, who warned his colleague's top civil servant that, while he is entitled to his own view, he will have to 'implement what the Government decides'. This contrasted sharply with Mr Browne's initial, more diplomatic observation that differences between him and Mr Doyle were a matter of 'semantics'. One senior Coalition source noted: 'It certainly raises serious, systemic questions as to who actually is in charge here. 'There is a real contrast between the way [Health Minister] Jennifer Carroll MacNeill cleared the Children's Health Ireland Board – four gone by their own hand – and the chaos in Housing. They added: 'I don't think a secretary general, even of [Department of Health Secretary General] Robert Watt's status, would be hanging around for long if they started calling out Jennifer.' Another veteran Government source added: 'He [Browne] lacks authority. If Graham Doyle had behaved in that way to [former finance minister] Charlie McCreevy, he would have been booted out of the department on his return.' Growing tensions between the Cabinet and senior civil servants have also increased unease about the longevity of the Coalition. One experienced TD told 'Governments do not always last for five years. 'The administration Bertie put together in 2007 [a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Greens, two Progressive Democrats TDs and four Independents] barely managed to survive for three-and-a-half years, and all that kept them together for the last year of that was the IMF coming in. 'There are a lot of similarities between this administration and the 2007 coalition. The mood is very fragile and very dislocated. There is a similar sense of absence of control when it comes to housing, crime, everything really except for health.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Housing emergency? Ireland is not even acting at the level of mildly urgent
Housing , the Taoiseach and Tánaiste pronounce regularly, is the Government's 'number one priority'. Then what does it say about the Coalition when things are so demonstrably getting worse? There is a growing tendency around Government Buildings and Leinster House to mutter about the performance of new housing minister James Browne , and not just among Fine Gaelers. Not up to the job, they sniff. A bit at sea. Overwhelmed. Maybe they're right – probably too soon to make a fair judgment – but this isn't Browne's failure. It's a whole of Government failure and it's being going on for a long time. READ MORE Are there viable pleas in mitigation? Sure. The bust wiped out the construction industry (though that was a decade and a half ago). Covid froze things for a year and a half. The planning laws and processes seem designed to prevent the provision of housing. Inflation has driven up costs, rogering the developers' sums. Banks are too slow to lend. The courts seem eager to quash planning permissions, often for flimsy reasons. But does all that excuse the Government's performance? Not at this stage. We are heading for a decade of failure to get to grips with a growing social disaster. That's long enough to fix things, even in Ireland. This is a Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil failure and they are running out of time to fix it. The evidence that things are going in the wrong direction is mounting lately. Last week, reported that the cost of renting increased by an average of 3.4 per cent in the first three months of 2025, with the increases taking the monthly average open-market rent to over €2,000 for the first time. Meanwhile, despite the skyrocketing rents, home ownership is in freefall among the young. This is deeply socially destabilising. A friend reports from a terrace of two-up-two-downers in Ringsend that there is a queue down the street of prospective renters for a nearby house. The rent? Nearly three grand a month. The figures for the delivery of new housing, meanwhile, are also going in the wrong direction. On Tuesday, the ESRI told an Oireachtas committee that there will be no big increase in housing supply this year or next year. The numbers might get to 34,000 this year and 37,000 in 2026, but 'most of the risks weigh on the downside'. [ ESRI to warn Government of no major uptick in housing supply this year or next Opens in new window ] And even if those numbers are achieved, that would require 78,000 houses to be completed for each of the following three years to meet the Government's promises of 300,000 units during its term. What, do we think, are the chances of that happening? Meanwhile, water utility Uisce Éireann has said that it may be unable to grant any new connections in the Dublin area by 2028 . And the secretary general of the Department of Climate and Energy told the Oireachtas committee that the squeeze on energy connections was such that they might have to choose between housing and artificial intelligence (AI). Data centres are scheduled to guzzle 30 per cent of our electricity by 2030. In recent days I've spoken to two housing developers, each responsible for thousands of units and desperate to build more. Both are pretty much tearing their hair out at the planning, bureaucratic and legal barriers put in their way. One says he cannot plan anything because of the lack of certainty over what's happening with rent pressure zones and possible tax changes. Both measures were flagged as possibilities five months ago; there is still no sign of a decision. 'We can't take a view on whether projects are viable because we have no certainty on anything,' he says. Even on existing projects, the processes are ridiculously time-consuming. He has been waiting seven months for clarity on one design feature. The entire industry is 'sitting on its hands', he says. The other developer spent three years preparing an application for permission for 500 units. The planning inspector recommended the go ahead. But An Bord Pleanála nixed it. The board could have put conditions on it and construction would be under way by now, but instead it refused outright. So, back to the drawing board. 'This is not a system that promotes supply,' the developer says. 'It is a system that retards supply.' [ Ireland's housing perma-crisis returns to centre of political agenda Opens in new window ] Everyone talks about an emergency, but the reality is that at no level is the system set up to deliver housing at scale and quickly. In fact, the very opposite seems to be the case. There is simply no way that the current system of housing provision – from finance to planning to utility provision to actual construction – can solve the housing crisis. There is a very quiet school of thought in parts of the Government that says the political fallout from all this is actually already baked in – that the people who are most concerned about housing don't vote for the Government parties anyway. I don't think that's right. I think there are a lot of people that gave Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael the benefit of the doubt on housing at the last election, but will turn against them if the crisis is not substantially eased by the next election. But even if I'm wrong about that, there is surely an overwhelming moral responsibility on the Government to fix housing. The only way to do this is to begin actually acting like it is an emergency. Special planning powers, tax incentives, rapid approval for expenditure – whatever it takes. Emergency? Come off it. We're not at the level of mildly urgent.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
3 crucial issues facing the Government on housing
In a week when the minister responsible for housing admitted that meeting the Government's own target for the delivery of new housing this year would be "extremely challenging", RTÉ's Economics and Public Affairs Editor David Murphy examines three key issues that must be addressed if progress is to be made. The Government is facing the most significant decision during its tenure on housing - what to do about rent caps. The limits on how much landlords can charge are blamed by some in the industry for a downturn in home building last year, although they protect thousands of financially stretched tenants in an already expensive market. The current Rent Pressure Zones were introduced as a temporary step in 2016 and continuously extended. In 2021 they were tightened, reducing the maximum increase from 4% to 2% and making them some of the most restrictive in the world. The current rent caps expire at the end of this year, and the Government has to decide if it plans to retain them, alter them or abandon them altogether. Last month the Minister for Housing James Browne received a report from the Housing Agency which looked at options on the issue for the Government. The report highlighted significant problems with retaining the existing 2% cap and looked at alternatives including moving to a higher limit. Another option, suggested by Paris-based think tank the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, is allowing to landlords freely adjust rents when tenants move out. But the downside is that it could act as a financial incentive for property owners to evict tenants. The feeling in government circles is that any change is going to require a lot of work to make it clear to the public why an adjustment to the rent caps is being planned. That would likely see ministers preparing the ground by explaining the drawbacks with the existing restrictions, which are partly blamed by the industry for a 24% fall in apartment construction last year. Obviously fewer new homes leads to higher rents at a time when the population is growing, the economy is expanding and there are plenty of jobs. It is important to note that the cycle of higher interest rates, now being reduced, made some building projects unviable for investors over recent years and that too was a factor in the fall in house building last year. Many observers across the political spectrum and housing sector believe the Government will have an exceptionally tough decision to make on rent caps and will face vocal opposition. Sources within the Coalition say that high level talks are continuing and a decision is possible in the coming weeks. Completions During the General Election last year, the Government controversially misled the public over how many houses would be built in 2024. A number of figures, including then Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien said about 40,000 would be completed last year. When the final figures were published only 30,000 were built. This year the Government has a target of 41,000 homes. The Economic and Social Research Institute forecasts it will fall short, and that 34,000 will be completed in 2025. This week, Minister Browne admitted meeting the Government's target would be "extremely challenging". He added there were "different numbers out there and they are all trending to the ESRI's number". But the Government's own target of 41,000 is far short of the approximately 50,000 or 60,000 homes other experts, including the Central Bank and the Housing Commission, say are needed to address the existing shortfall and future needs. This week, Minister Browne said the State is now involved in supporting about 50% of the housing output. He argues that if completions are to increase "we have to activate the private sector". That means getting more private investor involvement - which explains why the Government is reviewing the rental caps. Water connections Homes can't be finished without connections to water and wastewater networks. Late last year, Irish Water/Uisce Éireann said it could only connect 35,000 properties a year over the next five years. The utility has become notably vocal about key issues which it feels are hampering urgently needed improvements and expansions of the water network. At the Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure this week, Uisce Éireann CEO Niall Gleeson forecast it would spend €10.3bn on capital projects between 2025 and 2029. But he said the organisation required a further €2bn to achieve the Government's objective of building 300,000 homes over the next five years. He also criticised the existing funding model and said providing additional money annually creates uncertainty. He suggested multiannual funding to help deliver long-term projects. The Department of Housing says Uisce Éireann's request for an additional €2bn is being considered in the context of the revised National Development Plan which is expected to be published in July. Mr Gleeson also highlighted issues with the planning system and said some complex projects are taking more than a decade to get the green light. He called for reform of legislation to tackle the issue. The Government continually repeats that dealing with the housing crisis is the number one issue for this administration, but it has a lot to do before it can convince observers that significant progress is being made.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Over 230 new social houses opened in Meath developments
Over 230 new social houses have been officially opened across three residential developments in Co Meath. The developments, which cost a total of around €81.3 million to build, are located in Farganstown outside Navan, Aylesbury in Clonee and Millrace in Ashbourne. The development at Farganstown outside Navan, which cost over €25.8 million, consists of 84 new homes on a 1.7 hectare site. The Aylesbury development in Clonee cost over €28 million and consists of 73 new apartments in two apartment blocks close to the village. Meanwhile, at a cost of around €27.5 million, the development in Millrace in Ashbourne is made up of 74 new homes on a 2.8 hectare site. Minister for Housing James Browne visited each of the three developments today to mark the official opening of the houses. Speaking afterwards, Minister Browne commended Meath County Council for exceeding their five-year social housing delivery target and for their "forward-thinking approach" in acquiring land for future social housing projects. The minister said: "Beyond the numbers and delivery figures, it's crucial to remember the real impact: a family or individual whose life will be greatly enhanced by having a long-term, secure and affordable home in a thriving community. These 231 new homes aren't just roofs over heads, they offer peace of mind and long-term security. Meanwhile, the Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Councillor Sharon Tolan said: "Late last year, when we launched Meath County Council's Corporate Plan, I emphasised the council's unwavering commitment to excellence in every priority, strategy and vision we set out. Providing high-quality homes to people was a key priority in that plan. "I am thrilled to welcome the completion of 231 beautiful new homes in three rapidly growing areas within our county, especially considering the current national housing challenges." Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe said he was proud that the local authority continued to exceed its delivery targets despite being in the middle of a national housing crisis. "These developments are yet another example of Meath County Council and our partners in the Department of Housing recognising our communities' diverse needs and delivering high-quality housing solutions to meet them. "At Meath County Council, we remain as focused as ever in making major strides to address the housing challenges for the people of Meath," Mr Kehoe added. It comes as the latest homelessness figures, which were published today, show that 15,580 people were accessing emergency accommodation in April, an increase of 162 compared to the previous month.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on public sector reform: defining the powers of a tsar
The secretary general of the Department of Housing, Graham Doyle, caused something of a stir at a housing conference this week when he said that the State does not need a ' housing tsar' – the moniker given by the media to the person who will head a new office to try to accelerate housing provision. This idea is, of course, part of Government housing policy and the Minster for Housing, James Browne, has been trying to fill the post. A statement issued by the Department of Housing later the same evening said that Doyle had emphasised that the new Housing Activation Office (HAO) will have a chief executive with ' an interventionist' approach, but not a tsar ' and the connotations that word evokes.' Predictably the media was given the blame for the 'tsar' title, which we were told was 'misleading and not reflective of the real intent and purpose of the HAO.' Words are important here. The primary dictionary definition of a tsar obviously relates back to Russian history, but it can also refer to a person given power by a Government to deal with a particular issue. So what power will the head of the new office actually have? It is clear that the Department sees the HAO role as under its aegis, rather than the independent executive recommended in the report of the Housing Commission. Clearly the Minister, reporting to the Government, is ultimately responsible for this. He needs to make it clear how the incumbent will relate to his and other government departments and groups in the area, of which there are now a few new additions? READ MORE Clarity and accountability is vital. We have seen in other cases, such as the recent revelations surrounding Children's Health Ireland, how blurred lines can lead to a lack of transparency and questions over who is responsible. The housing secretary general is no doubt correct to observe that just knocking a few heads together is not going to solve the housing problem. But it may still be needed, particularly to sort out who exactly is responsible for what in the complicated structures now in place.
