Verona Murphy demands faster action on housing crisis
Verona Murphy criticised the pace of housing policy and planning decisions, saying government action has been too slow and that national planning policy does not fit all areas. She said she has offered solutions for four years, called for efficient government and warned that housing targets are pointless without a clear delivery plan.
Main criticisms
Verona Murphy said things are "far too slow" in tackling the housing crisis and that delays have prevented progress. She said she has repeatedly set out the four main components stymieing supply but that "nothing has happened" and that those remedies are not reflected in manifestos.
Planning regulator and re-zoning delay
She highlighted a specific planning problem: when first elected, the Office of the Planning Regulator instructed county councils to de-zone lands; four years later she said the minister is now instructing county councils to re-zone more lands. Verona Murphy described that four-year turnaround as unacceptable and evidence of inefficient government.
Ministerial positions and regional independents
Verona Murphy referenced the record of an independent grouping that entered government in 2016, noting five members and four who obtained ministerial roles. She said regional independents may seek a similar arrangement but that those discussions "will be discussed tomorrow," and stressed she is not pursuing ministerial perks.
Local priorities and planning policy
Verona Murphy emphasised her priority is Wexford and said she would not try to persuade constituents that a ministerial car is in their interest. She argued Wexford's housing problems can be solved at a national level only if differences between areas are recognised, warning that having the same planning policy for the whole country "just isn't going to work."
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Verona Murphy, you said upon your election, I think this time around, that if you were Minister for Housing, you'd have solutions to the housing crisis. Would you like to be Minister for Housing? I'd like to solve the problems in housing. Regardless of being Minister, I've offered solutions for four years. Just for instance, when I was elected in the 33rd Dáil, we saw the Office of the Planning Regulator instruct county councils to de-zone lands. Four years on, we now see the Minister instructing county councils to re-zone more lands. That has taken four years to rectify. Nothing should take that long and I think that's the reality of the crisis in housing. Things are far too slow. What I want to see is government efficiency or efficient government and delivery on that. There is absolutely no point in having housing targets if we don't know what to do. I've put the four main components that are stymieing supply there several times. Nothing has happened. It's not in anybody's manifesto. It sounds like you're raring to go, raring to get stuck in. As a rural group, we have mentioned this, a regional group, we've mentioned it. Can I ask you then, because the independent alliance who went into government as part of a coalition in 2016, there was five of them and four of them got some sort of ministerial position. There was one in cabinet and three ministers of state. Presumably, the regional independents would be looking for some sort of similar type deal. But that's something that will be discussed tomorrow. But the reality is I'm not going to be looking for a car. Obviously, my priority is Wexford. I'm not going to look for a car in the minister's job and try to tell the people of Wexford that it's good for them. Wexford's problems can be solved on a national level, but it has to be recognised that there are differences. And currently, we have the same planning policy for the whole country. It just isn't going to work. Okay.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
