Housing Minister James Browne has been accused by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy of violating Dáil regulations by refusing to provide data on social and affordable housing programs. Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin raised concerns that his parliamentary questions were not adequately answered, prompting Ms. Murphy to investigate the matter further. Mr. Ó Broin had requested information on various housing schemes, such as funding applications and approvals, to address what he perceived as significant delays in the approval process.
Department of Housing officials cited commercial sensitivity and the complexity of compiling the data as reasons for withholding information. Despite providing some data, they claimed that fulfilling Mr. Ó Broin’s request would require an excessive amount of time and effort. In response to the complaint, Ms. Murphy invoked Dáil standing orders, which mandate ministers to address all information requests from TDs. She determined that the responses provided to Mr. Ó Broin did not meet the requirements outlined in the standing orders, prompting her to request a timeline for compiling the necessary data from the Minister for Housing.
The Department of Housing refuted claims of funding delays for social and affordable housing projects, emphasizing ongoing approvals and disbursements to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. The department highlighted recent approvals for new-build projects and reiterated its commitment to releasing over €1.1 billion for housing programs this year. Ms. Murphy’s intervention underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in the housing sector, signaling a potential shift towards greater oversight of government initiatives.
