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Here is the full statement the Department of PER gave The Journal for the factcheck on whether Ireland could bend the EU’s spending rules to spend more money on building homes:
Prior to the onset of Covid-19 expenditure operated under the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact. Under this arm of the EU Fiscal Rules, Ireland was expected to be either compliant with or progressing towards its medium-term budgetary objectives (MTOs) of a structural budgetary deficit of less than 0.5% of GDP or better.
Overall expenditure policy is currently operating under the General Escape Clause under the Stability and Growth Pact due to the Covid-19 crisis. As such, there are no set expenditure limits, either for current or capital expenditure, implemented by the EU at the moment. The limits on expenditure are applied through the overall exchequer ceilings available to each sector as set out in Revised Estimates Volume (REV). It is the responsibility of each Department to assign exchequer funds to respective priorities within their sectors.
In 2021 Exchequer funding will support the delivery of
12,750 new social homes will be delivered through build, acquisition and leasing programmes, including an increase on new-build activity to some 9,500 additional homes.
Total capital funding available for housing in 2021 is €2.031 billion, a large element of which will be used to deliver 10,300 new social homes the vast bulk through build with a limited targeted acquisition programme.
The total current funding available of €1.276 billion will support a range of other programmes, and, in particular, the delivery of 2,450 new social homes through long-term leasing by local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs).
While we are currently operating under the General Escape Clause under the Stability and Growth Pact, this will not always be the case. The resumption of the EU fiscal rules will take place at some stage and could be as early as 2023. In addition fiscal rules are not the only constraint on Government expenditure. It should also be noted that Ireland already has a very elevated level of debt compared to other countries. Furthermore, the ECB’s bond purchasing programme will not continue indefinitely and could even come to an end as early as next year. Over the medium term, these factors need to be considered.
Boosting the supply of housing is an absolute priority for the Government and will be a key part of its new housing plan ‘Housing for All’, which will be published by Minister O’Brien next month. The plan will build on our commitments in the Programme for Government to prioritise the increased supply of public, social, and affordable homes, and to put affordability back at the heart of the housing system.
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It is not up for discussion or opinion. The first day of Spring here in Ireland is 1 February. Lán stad. Bìodh lá maith agaibh uilig go léir a chairde!
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: who cares what it is in Ireland, I’d rather be in tandem with the Northern hemisphere countries, where Spring is March, April and May.
@The Firestarter: you might want to look up their midsummer festivals. They aren’t in mid July.
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: I don’t think you get to decide what can be discussed to be honest. 1st March is the first day of meteorological spring. Most European countries accept March, April, and may as being Spring.
@The Firestarter: well we have to acknowledge that it is something else before we can get it changed ;) I’d be all for changing it, like you say, to match weather patterns.
@The Firestarter: countries that don’t have our climate?
@Sara Davis: You might want to tell that to our flora and fauna
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: That makes Summer Mai June July … and Autumn 1st August …
I vote March 21st like the rest of the northern hemisphere ;)
@Michael Legris: no country has march 21st for Meteorological spring outside the US. You are confusing astronomical spring with meteorological spring.
In Irish the month of October is Deireadh Fómhair, meaning end of Autumn. So Nov, Dec, Jan are winter and today is the first day of spring.
@Nicola Cox:
You are leaving out February
@NOlivesmatter: I leave out February aswell, it’s the Tuesday of months, useless…lol
@Nicola Cox: what about February?
@Nicola Cox: today is the first day of spring but not by your logic.
@Nicola Cox: Deireadh Fómhair means end of harvest, not end of Autumn.
@Nicola Cox: were u asleep for the last 28days?
@Handsome McWonderful: I think it can mean both
https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/mean-fomhair-deireadh-fomhair-and-an-fomhar-vs-an-fomhair/
I use the meteorological system to determine the start of Winter and the Celtic one to determine the start of Spring, that way there’s only two months of Winter. It’s been working out great for me so far.
Imbolc is the first day of spring. 1st Feb.
But today is kinda pretty!
Was watching the news last night and the weather woman smugly said that as “we all know tomorrow is the first day of meteorological spring.” The cheek…
@Ryan O’Rourke: The cheek of her…being correct. Can’t be having that.
Ah here you’ll be asking for polls on what day it is next.
@Jim O Brien Tech: Monday- One day, Tuesday- Two days, Wednesday- when/what day…?, Thursday…. the THIRD day…..
@Pete Blake: it’s thor’s day
@Jim O Brien Tech: tomorrow is Hump day eve
It’s spring here in Spain has been since 23 January when it was 27 degrees .
@Maria Clery-Breen: it was -20c in Madrid early Jan.
@Maria Clery-Breen: it was -20c in Madrid early Jan. High today was 9. Spain has cold to cool winters.
Was February a lot milder back in Saint Bridgit’s day?
@Jangles: no but it was easier to measure sunlight than average monthly temperatures. So they went with the increase in sunlight hours.
Well, green shoots have been up for a fortnight, and I heard people out cutting the grass yesterday. This weekend is finally a bit warmer.
Think it is judging by the ridiculous queue for Woodies yesterday!
@Philip Cullen: Oh great, I need hardware stuff, will try to slip in at a less busy time of day. When did you queue?
finally feels like it
One thing is sure the seasons that start on the equinox or solstice are total nonsense. To say that march 20th is winter but December 20th isn’t, makes absolutely no sense. I expect then that it’s an academic idea.
@Petulant mcbarity: In continental climates like USA and Russia it makes perfect sense. Travelling through the US for years I can tell you winter lasts into April and many parts only have a short Spring and it becomes what we would consider Summer about late May.
@Jointheclubtoo: Ireland has long spring and autumn periods compared to more inland countries.
@Petulant mcbarity: Indeed. The 4 x 3 month seasons are a bit of a European construct.
Doesn’t matter, weather is crap well into April ;-)
@PJ Baettig: True enough. I’ve often thought it would be fairer to move Paddy’s Day to April. But in normal years, I suppose visitors buy a lot of fleece jackets and hats.
have your say