Micheál Martin: Housing push, airport cap and wellbeing update
Micheál Martin outlines government action on short-term lets, housing supply, the airport cap and the Wellbeing Framework at cabinet business today. He highlights Job Activation Fund allocations and legislation to boost connectivity and research to support housing and economic infrastructure.
Housing measures: Micheál Martin set out steps to free up more housing, particularly in towns and cities above 20,000 population, by progressing short-term lets reform and pursuing every measure to increase supply. He said the measures are intended to release more homes for those seeking rental accommodation.
Job Activation Fund and infrastructure: The Taoiseach previewed a significant allocation for about 80 projects under the Job Activation Fund aimed at enabling infrastructure, freeing up construction sites and accelerating house building. He described this investment as vital to translate planning into homes on the ground.
Airport cap and connectivity: Darragh O'Brien will bring forward legislation on the airport cap, which Micheál Martin said is crucial for an island nation that depends on connectivity. He argued the legislation will broaden access to Dublin Airport and strengthen economic links.
Wellbeing Framework and research: Micheál Martin will bring the Wellbeing Framework Memorandum to government, noting Ireland scores well on many quality-of-life metrics while flagging areas for improvement. He also highlighted proposed legislation to create a supportive environment for international research and R&D collaboration between universities and industry.
Housing measures: Micheál Martin set out steps to free up more housing, particularly in towns and cities above 20,000 population, by progressing short-term lets reform and pursuing every measure to increase supply. He said the measures are intended to release more homes for those seeking rental accommodation.
Job Activation Fund and infrastructure: The Taoiseach previewed a significant allocation for about 80 projects under the Job Activation Fund aimed at enabling infrastructure, freeing up construction sites and accelerating house building. He described this investment as vital to translate planning into homes on the ground.
Airport cap and connectivity: Darragh O'Brien will bring forward legislation on the airport cap, which Micheál Martin said is crucial for an island nation that depends on connectivity. He argued the legislation will broaden access to Dublin Airport and strengthen economic links.
Wellbeing Framework and research: Micheál Martin will bring the Wellbeing Framework Memorandum to government, noting Ireland scores well on many quality-of-life metrics while flagging areas for improvement. He also highlighted proposed legislation to create a supportive environment for international research and R&D collaboration between universities and industry.
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Transcript
Significant items on the agenda today, particularly in housing, in terms of moving forward a short-term lets issue. That's a significant issue, particularly in towns and cities above 20,000 population, ultimately to release more housing for people who seek housing in both the rental market. And it's part of a broader programme. The Minister for Arctic Cabinet will be, and Minister James Rowan, announcing a very significant allocation of funds for about 80 projects under the Job Activation Fund, and that will be quite significant as well in terms of enabling infrastructure to free up the construction sites and to get more housing built. And we're making progress this year on housing, again on top of last year's figures, and we are continuing to look at every single measure we can to increase housing supply. Dara O'Brien, as you've just probably heard, is bringing the legislation in relation to the airport cap. That's very important. Connectivity is lifeblood to the country. We're an island nation, and in terms of economy and in terms of connectivity, we do need access, obviously, to Dublin Airport, and we need to broaden that out, and I think the legislation will achieve that objective. I'll be bringing the Wellbeing Framework Memorandum to government. Ireland is doing quite well in terms of that framework. It's a framework that measures the quality of life in Ireland apart altogether from economic progress, and on most metrics, Ireland is doing very well compared to other countries across Europe or across the world. There are areas, of course, where we have to improve and where we have significant challenges, and that is all itemised and documented in the report itself. And James Clawless has interesting and important legislation to create a supportive environment for international research and for participation in international research and development programmes, both in terms of universities and also, of course, in terms of industry and collaborations between them.