Michael Fitzmaurice presses minister on modular homes timing
Michael Fitzmaurice welcomed an announcement on modular units and granny flats and asked when people could plan for them. The minister said agricultural exemptions were moved before Christmas and that domestic exemptions, including modular units to the rear, are being finalised as regulations and will go before the Joint Oireachtas Committee after Easter.
Timing for modular and granny flats
The deputy welcomed the announcement and thanked the minister for recent meetings. He asked when the legislation or regulations will be gone through the House so homeowners can plan to upgrade or add modular sheds and granny flats at the rear of properties.
Progress on exemptions
The minister confirmed that agricultural exemptions were moved prior to Christmas and that the next phase will cover domestic exemptions. Domestic exemptions will explicitly include modular units to the rear and are currently being finalised.
Regulation rather than primary legislation
The minister said the domestic measures do not require primary legislation and are being made by regulation. Those regulations must be presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee, which the minister expects to happen after Easter.
Sequence and next areas of work
After the domestic exemptions are progressed, the minister indicated the next focus will be infrastructure. The minister thanked those involved and said officials will progress the work as quickly as possible so people can plan accordingly.
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I welcome the announcement and the Minister is beside you, Minister Cummins, in relation to the likes of Modular, Granny Flats and all of that coming in, and I thank them there in the last few weeks for a meeting. The one question I have that we're getting a lot of calls about, the line of the Modular or small shed at the back and all of that, where people want to try and get it done up, when do you envisage that the legislation will be gone through the House here, the way that people can go planning for it now. Minister? Thank you, Deputy, for your comments. Obviously, you'll know I've moved in terms of the agricultural exemptions prior to Christmas. The next phase is domestic exemptions, which will include Modular to the rear. We're finalising those. It doesn't require legislation. It's regulation. It has to go before the Joint Oireachtas Committee, which I expect to be able to do after Easter. We'll get there as soon as we can, and after domestic, then it will be infrastructure. So we're progressing that work, and I want to thank everybody for – that's the aim, Deputy. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy Clear.
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