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THE GOVERNMENT’S HOUSING For All plan is on track to be published by the end of August, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has confirmed, despite its delay last week.
Speaking to reporters today, O’Brien confirmed that “the vast bulk of it is agreed, and the finances are agreed, which is crucially important” but said more work needed to be done on measures to tackle vacancy within the plan.
O’Brien had previously said he would launch the new plan in July but this was pushed back last week.
The much talked about new housing plan will replace the government’s ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ scheme which former housing ministers Simon Coveney and Eoghan Murphy stood over.
O’Brien confirmed today that 3,000 homes could become available under a plan to allow families keep rents where an elderly homeowner is in care under the Fair Deal scheme.
Vacant family-sized homes where the last remaining householder is in care could amount to 9,000 properties in total, he said, of which 3,000 could be released relatively quickly under Government plans.
“From the research that we’ve done, and this also comes through on the returns for the Local Property Tax, where people seek exemptions for medical reasons and are no longer living in the home, it can be around 9,000 homes,” O’Brien told reporters today.
“I think it’s significant. These homes tend to be clustered in particular areas where there are more mature communities. I’ve seen it in my own constituency as well. It is generally urban but not exclusively.”
O’Brien said the plan “will give options to families to rent out the home potentially or indeed to sell it at a rate that’s not punitive,” following a report from the Irish Independent.
The Minister also responded to the continued delay to the housing plan: “I think what we want to do is have a plan that works.
“We’ve had plans published before where people will then obviously ask questions as to whether they did work. I’m conscious of having a plan that people understand, that it’s costed, and deliverable.
“It will be published in the coming weeks. We haven’t been saying it for months and months that it would be published, originally we said we were looking to have the plan published by the end of July.”
He said last week that 4% or 5% of the plan needs to be narrowed down further. “The vast bulk of it is agreed…and the finances are agreed, which is crucially important.”
He added: “This a very significant piece of work. And for the sake of a few weeks, I’ve no bother rolling with the punches in that regard, because it’s important we get it right.”
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Great to know. You don’t stop being a citizen when you lose your home.
Remember to answer the religion question honestly folks!
If you don’t practice, it’s ‘None’.
If in doubt.. Catholic’.
I’m with bopter that’s why I put down pastafarian
Make sure and wear a colander on your head when filling it out. Might as well look the part.
Indeed. The CSO on its website says you should answer with any religion you currently practise, not the one you were born into. If you do not practise a formal religion, please tick No Religion. The annoying thing is that it does not make this clear on the form, so many people will not understand and will just tick a religion because they were baptised.
The problem with that is that the state uses to census to plan for future services and weirdly they extrapolate that if you state a religion you will want your children to go to a state school where they will spend the entire school day having ‘faith formation’ in one narrow belief system only and substantially kept from discussion of anything that strays from the dogma.
The fact that so many who may identify as somewhat religious, and the growing numbers who are ditching religion, say in polls that they do not want that will likely not have as much weight. So if you want to see any kind of separation of church and state in our state services like education and health, tick No Religion!
The other reason that census results are always out of step with what people say about their beliefs in every other poll, survey and forum is that many older adults will complete the form for all adults in their household, including adult children, without asking them what they want to put down for their religion. That is wrong.
Anyone under my roof tomorrow night is going into the ‘Catholic’ box.
This is my right as head of the household.
Lies make baby Jesus cry, Cal.
Wow Cal you’re always banging on about atheists and feminists brainwashing people and ramming their opinions down other peoples throats, and yet here you are gloating about denying others the right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
Typical hypocritical thinking from a religious fanatic, and by the way you have no such right as “head of the household” to deny others their rights.
Them’s the rules fiachra.
Thems not the rules Cal…
Cal I will be completing the census in our household and as an atheist I will tick no religion but my husband wants to be marked RC, though non practising per se and as my children are in a Catholic school and take part in the religious curriculum, they will be marked Catholic. I hope someday we will all be marked no religion but for now I am being honest on the form. I could do what you’re doing but I don’t see that as my right
Just because you dont practice a religion doesn’t mean your not catholic. For some its a social thing. Don’t believe myself but still will probably get married and have a funeral in a church. Its a society thing. For some its about belonging.
cal: you sound a a gawbsh!te from dark ages ruled by patriarchal BS!
Practise!
Can you be penalised for not doing it?
No.
It’s like the TV license. All talk and no action.
From the 2011 census, countrywide there was all of 5 convictions for not filling out the census. And the max fine from those 5 convictions was €500.
You would be breaking the law
Why not fill it in? From a market research point of view it actually is interesting.
According to the law no you can’t. 24.—(1) The Director General or an officer of statistics may invite any person or undertaking to— (a) complete a form, questionnaire or other record, (b) answer any questions, (c) provide any information or records, on a voluntary basis and any information so obtained shall be subject to the restrictions on use and prohibition on disclosure of information specified in sections 32 , 33 , 34 and 35 of this Act. (2) Persons and undertakings may provide information and records, or copies thereof, which they may possess to the Director General or officers of statistics on invitation under the provisions of this Act notwithstanding anything contained in the Data
Fines up to 44,000
Census 2016 Micro Analysing peoples lives to further ways of more taxation and control our freedoms.
Why is this census different to the previous census’ that practically has been around since the dawn of time?
Its every 5 years, it gets filled, forgotten until the next one. I don’t see why the uproar its causing to some people.
How exactly will the census ‘control our freedoms’?
The lizard people are using the census to compile information on us before they carry out their plot for world domination.
Is there a question on whether you own a tin foil hat?
I for one welcome our new lizard overlords
The whole of page 2 is a tax trap.
Strangest thing every happened me today, met John Denver after he awoke from the dead had a good chat with him, we hit it off great, long story short he said he’s going to call round to my house tomorrow and Fill Up My Census.
He’s leaving on a jetplane this evening.
He’s been smoking something that’s got him Rocky Mountain High….
With ya there Martin! Unfortunately someone in our house accepted the Census in our gaff. But it’ll be filled up with garbage. Anyone who believes that the census is a way of streamlining services is, to my mind anyway, naive. How did the 2011 census work out in relation to “streamlining” services. The census is a stock take (with us being the stock) and a way of seeing what the stock possesses…. with a view to introducing new taxes & charges.
“How did the 2011 census work out in relation to “streamlining” services.”
referring to what?
Seeing as the RCC uses the figures from the census to justify their grasp on schooling, for instance, it does have an impact on policy.
@Joe.
Dead right Joe.
When has any government EVER used this data for forward planning?
If it truly was the case why is our health service in meltdown and our housing programme non existent?
Makes no real difference at the end of the day.
This data will only be used to impose further taxation on an unwitting public.
They use it to analyse population demographics, ie is the population young in an area. Will they need more school places etc.. It’s easy enough when you stop moaning and actuality think of its benefits.
If you believe you should keep watching sky news
Joe – what do you think they might find out ?
Surely we need to know trends about how the country develops ?
Those homeless will be delighted to feel so included in our society, I’m sure.
The statisticians must get their data, they just don’t give a damn how they get it,
Fake or made up is useless data. Whats the point?
Will the census include people in hospital and on trollies ? Serious question.
Of course.
Hotels, B n Bs, hostels, everywhere.
Everyone, even if youre just on holiday. Heads of IMF were legally oblidged to fill the last one out last time.
Haha…funny how you could face a fine up to 44,000 if you do not answer questions truthfully…yet if I run over a 2 yr old out of my.mind on drugs and drive off I face less than 5yrs in prison…funny country
While I understand the point of the CSO wishing to know whether you own your own home, either outright or by mortgage, or are renting either Local authority or private, I fail to see why they are entitled to know how much rent you pay. That and other financial questions do not appear to have anything to do with ‘demographics’ or indeed planning.
Rashers – look at the clamour for rent controls. If you think the state can’t ask for statistical purposes then surely the state has no right to interfere with private rental market like Kelly did ?
Food for thought, lavbeer. I shall ponder the question again. Many thanks.
I don’t pay/agree with water charges or the census, which we’re paying for already…
Good news – proper order.
Statistics Act 1993, Art 24 says “Voluntary Basis” What about Data Protection Act 1988, section 32, 33,34 and 35?
Leave nobody uncounted? It will leave six counties full of Irishman and women uncounted.
What about those who have left these shores for work???
The government says they want them to return but if they did then the government would have no record of them at all and what if they took home their new families, does that not prove this census is a joke?
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