Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy and Taoiseach Leo Varakar in the Dáil today

Just now.

In the Dáil…

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy repeatedly asked the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar if it’s true that Dublin City Council only built 21 social housing units last year.

Mr Varadkar appeared to confirm the figure when he said that a breakdown of social housing figures is available, he has seen the figures, and “I imagine that that is correct”.

But his answer came after some time.

Ms Murphy is a member of the Public Accounts Committee and recalled a recent meeting of the committee involving  the Housing Department’s Secretary General John McCarthy whom, she said, stated “quite categorically” that the figures for council housing are extremely clear in terms of the breakdown/categorisation of these properties.

She said Mr McCarthy said the department publishes “quarterly updates in this regard” and he “refuted allegations of spin when it comes to the presentation of the figures”.

Ms Murphy said:

“In 2018, the social housing output figures, under local authority build, the number is listed as 2,022 but the minister has bundled all of those categories and has consistently refused to give a breakdown of local authority build by individual category.

“However, at the Public Accounts Committee meeting last week, the secretary general [Mr McCarthy] in response to questions I posed, finally gave us a breakdown of the figures for 2018.

“Those figures: 768 for turn-key units, 200 regeneration properties and that leaves a total of a 1,054 actual newly built local authority houses for 2018.

“Why then the continued blurring of numbers by Minister Murphy?“

Ms Murphy said that a few weeks ago Minister Murphy, on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr Gavin Jennings “grilled” the minister for a breakdown of the social housing output but his questions went unanswered while the minister said the figures would be available the following week.

But, Ms Murphy said, these figures still haven’t been made public, outside of being made available to the Public Accounts Committee; they’re not on the department’s website; and they’re not in the department’s press releases.

The Social Democrats co-leader then asked if the reason for the “reluctance” to give a clear breakdown of the output is that some councils are performing “very poorly”?

Ms Murphy then said:

“For example, it has been said that Dublin City Council, who are at the epicentre of this crisis, only built 21 houses last year or could it be red tape? We need to know?”

“So, Taoiseach, can we get some straight answers to the following questions please?

“Can you confirm that the new builds by local authorities, given to the Public Accounts Committee, by the Secretary General last week, are accurate?

“Is it correct that Dublin City Council only built 21 units in 2018 themselves?

“And what’s the actual breakdown by local authority of the 1,054 new builds in 2018?”

In his response, the Taoiseach said people receiving homes don’t ever raise the categorisation of social housing.

He added:

“What matters as a fact is that last year 9,000 – more than any in ten years – 9,000 families moved into social housing with secure tenancies and we shouldn’t obsess ourselves about whether it’s done through an affordable housing body or local authority, or trust or Part 5, Part 8 or Part 26. That’s not what matters.”

Ms Murphy said knowing the breakdown does matter.

She said knowing the breakdown allows people to know what’s cost effective and value for money.

“We need to get those breakdowns so that information can be evaluated. This is public information, it’s public money. Why are you so reluctant to give the figures in a way that breaks it down and you can make those comparisons?

“Is it true that Dublin City Council built 21 houses last year? The performance of our local authorities matters because they’re going to be the ones that are going to deliver, if we’re actually going to deliver the kind of numbers that are needed, to actually get a grip on this crisis.

“You cannot keep on answering questions in the way you did. The breakdown matters.”

Mr Varadkar said:

“Deputy, I’m advised by the minister of state behind me that those figures are available and I’ve seen breakdown so I imagine that that is correct and they are available.

“But I think you’ve got it wrong here. The truth is, after years of running into problems, years of delays, when we didn’t have the money to do it, after years and years of trouble, we’re now delivering on social housing, increasing the housing stock by 9,000 last year.

“We’ll increase it by even more this year. And what you’re trying to do, is you don’t want people to know that. So you’re trying to make that housing provided by affordable housing body like Peter McVerry Trust or the Iveagh Trust doesn’t exist.”

Watch Dáil proceedings live here

Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy

This morning and afternoon.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is addressing the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government.

His appearance follows a report on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday in which journalist Louise Byrne reported that, according to documents she obtained under Freedom Of Information, the Department of Housing – in a briefing note dated January 31, 2019, to its press office – said further approvals under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme are not currently being issued for these particular loans.

Specifically, the memo said the department “has been advised that no further approvals should issue for now”.

These loans allow first-time buyers to borrow up to 90 per cent of a property’s value from their local authority. The conditions to secure one of these loans includes that the borrower has to show they’ve been turned down for mortgage approval by two banks, while gross earnings cannot exceed €50,000 for a single person or €75,000 for a couple.

Yesterday, in response to questions from Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin about this memo and – specifically Mr Martin claiming Mr Murphy didn’t tell the Dáil that no further approvals were to be issued, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government needs to decide whether to increase the scheme’s initial cap of €200m, and it needs to consult with the Central Bank.

Further to this…

Mr Murphy told the committee this morning that the scheme is not closed, money for the scheme has not run out and people can still apply for these loans.

He also told committee member Fianna Fáil TD Darragh O’Brien, who claimed to be possession of a copy of the memo obtained by RTÉ, is not his memo.

He said:

“I’m telling you I don’t know what the memo is, I’m telling you it didn’t come from my department. That’s what I’ve been informed. I’m telling you that memo did not come from my department…

“I don’t have the memo, it’s not my memo…

“It’s not my memo. The FOI was released by DEPR [Department of Public Expenditure and Reform] not by my department. It’s not my memo.”

Earlier, Mr O’Brien asked Mr Murphy not to take the public for fools and said there are 100s of people who are concerned about the loan applications under the scheme.

Mr Murphy said:

“Any confusion here has been caused by people asking questions that they either know the answers to or want to cause confusion.”

He also said:

“I’m genuinely surprised about how this was reported yesterday. The scheme is not closed, funding has not run out and I’ve been very clear about how it’s progressing.”

Watch live here

Yesterday: ‘It’s Low-Income People Being Let Down Again’

Medieval and ancient Eastern and Western architectural forms (some based on real buildings, others imagined) – all hand-carved into chunks of rock by British artist and stonemason Matt Simmonds.

The most complex piece, an incredibly detailed compartmental array entitled ‘Windows’ (top) took eight months to create.

dezeen

A file photo of Joanne Hayes, from High Court website

Sean Murray, in The Journal, reports:

The woman who was wrongly accused of murdering a baby in Kerry in the 1980s has filed High Court action against the State, a year after she received an apology from the Taoiseach over her treatment in the case.

Joanne Hayes is set to sue over being wrongfully arrested and subsequently charged with the murder of ‘Baby John’, whose body was discovered on a beach near Cahirciveen in Kerry.

Joanne Hayes set to sue the State over her treatment in Kerry Babies case (Sean Murray, The Journal)

Previously: Throwing The Book At Them

Thirty Four Years Later

A recent discharge from the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant into Dublin Bay 

Almost two weeks ago, a sewage spill took place at the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant with the discharge flowing into Dublin Bay.

The spill from the plant, which caters for 40 per cent of the country’s wastewater, was photographed with the use of a drone by Eoin O’Shaughnessy, of Dublin City Shots.

Further to this…

Seán McCarthaigh, in The Times Ireland edition, reports:

Further unplanned discharges of partially treated sewage can be expected in Dublin Bay over the next few years, a regulator has warned.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has blamed problems with a lack of capacity for an incident at Irish Water’s sewage treatment plant in Ringsend, the country’s largest wastewater treatment plant.

It said an investigation into the discharge on February 23 indicated that there would be ongoing issues until an upgrade to the plant had been completed. EPA inspectors concluded that the spillage was primarily caused by the plant operating above its capacity.

An estimated 100 cubic metres of sludge was released into Dublin Bay over 20 minutes. The details became public only after footage of a large brown-coloured plume was captured by a drone operator and appeared on social media.

Expect more sewage spillages in Dublin Bay, watchdog warns (Seán McCarthaigh, The Times Ireland edition)

Pic: Eoin O’Shaughnessy/Dublin City Shots

The How To Be Sound podcast.

With host Rosemary McCabe, who writes:

What’s it like growing up with curly hair, in a sea of ghds? In the latest episode of How to be Sound, I chat to ‘Curly Cailin’ Gabriella Strano (top) about her curly journey, the ‘Curly Girl’ method, puff cuffs, buffs, pineapples and wet plopping.

Alternatively a steam iron at high heat.

How To Be Sound

Free April 7?

Eugene Connolly writes;

On Sunday April 7, a group of very special Irish music acts are coming together for ‘A Night for Aware’, a unique concert in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, all in aid of mental health charity, Aware.

Taking to the stage on the night will be In Tua Nua, An Emotional Fish, Ryan Sheridan, The Blizzards, The Henry Girls, Sack, State Lights, Eibhin Eviston & Dave McGinley, Martin Daws, plus Special Guests. We expect a sell-out so get your tickets (at link below) now…

A Night For Aware

Ah here.

Ronin writes:

Adidas have a collection of St. Patrick’s Day inspired shoes “with festive colours and a clover sign-off to celebrate St. Patrick’s day”.

The clover really makes it ridiculous, and the Irish colours are backwards….

Adidas ‘St Patrick’ Handball Shoes (Adidas)

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