Local Fianna Fáil Deputy, Robert Troy, has welcomed a progress update from his party colleague and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, on the planning measures he introduced two years ago to increase home ownership and restrict the practice of the bulk purchasing of homes.
The update shows 871 homes in Westmeath received planning permission with conditions restricting the bulk buying or multiple sales to a single purchaser in the two-year period between May 2021 and May 2023.
The Ministerial Planning Guidelines are part of a series of government measures designed to prohibit the bulk buying of houses and duplexes in order to increase housing stock for home ownership.
Other measures include a 10% stamp duty levy on the cumulative purchase of 10 or more residential houses in a 12-month period.
“Fianna Fáil in Government is committed to supporting homeownership and to supporting first-time buyers. This data demonstrates that we have made the right interventions while continuing to point investment to where it is needed.
“As well as restricting bulk buying, we are also boosting supply through our plan, Housing for All, with recent data for new home commencements and completions at record levels. The dream of owning a home is becoming a reality for more and more people and we intend to keep this momentum going as we meet – and exceed – our annual targets,” Deputy Troy, commenting on the data, stated.
Shortage of GPs across rural practices needs to be addressed
Meanwhile, Deputy Troy has called for the shortage of GPs across rural practices to be addressed.
Deputy Troy asked his party colleague Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to outline what is being done to encourage GPs into rural areas so that existing local doctors are not under as much pressure and can take necessary time off.
While he welcomed Minister Donnelly’s announcement that more than half a million people were set to benefit from free GP care for six-year-olds and seven-year-olds, he called on the minister to ensure practices can meet the demand.
“Rural GPs are under enormous pressure because of a shortage of GPs. Patients are finding it very hard to get an appointment with their GP. Doctors are working extraordinary long hours and are finding it very hard to take any time off. For patients it’s also causing difficulties because it is becoming increasingly difficult to get timely appointments with their GPs. This cannot continue – the issues facing general practice across rural Ireland needs to be address urgently.
“While I’m very happy with my party colleague Minister Donnelly’s expansion of eligibility for GP visit cards, which means more children will have free GP care, I would urge him to put plans in place to ensure there will be enough GPs to meet demand,” Deputy Troy remarked.
