Limerick Chamber

Lobbying Organisation Limerick Chamber

Date published 21 Sep, 2023

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023

Specific Details Raise concerns around practice of bulk-buying of homes from the Limerick housing market by agencies of the state

Intended results Press for reform to current policies local and national that permit bulk-buying of housing developments by agencies of the state. Query if this practice of bulk-buying by publicly funded bodies is viewed differently to bulk-buying by investors Strongly advocate for equalisation of 'Affordable Housing' targets to social housing targets to ensure supply of Worker Housing for Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Ask the Minister who is envisaged will build homes for average workers in Limerick as the private market is not delivering for this cohort and the state has yet to provide any cost rental in Limerick and just one scheme of affordable purchase of 25 homes in Castletroy. Also there are no affordable targets at all for Clare and Tipperary, begging the question who will build homes for the workers in these counties?

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dee Ryan and Seán Golden

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

Meeting held with Chief Executive and Directors of Service from Limerick City and County Council on 19/06/23 Meeting held with Minister Darragh O'Brien at Leinster House on 27/06/23

Letter (1)

Formal enquiries to Minister O'Brien as follow-up to meeting held in Leinster House, dated the 14th July, also addressed to Minister O'Donnell, copying CE of LCCC Dr Daly and SA to Min Housing, Kevin Dillon.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Pat Daly Chief Executive Officer (Limerick City and County Council)

Gordon Daly Director of Services or Equivalent (Limerick City and County Council)

Brian Kennedy Director of Services or Equivalent (Limerick City and County Council)

Vincent Murray Director of Services or Equivalent (Limerick City and County Council)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Kevin Dillon Special Adviser (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)