Simon Coveney rules out immediate attempt to oust Enda Kenny

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has ruled out an immediate attempt to oust Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

On Wednesday, backbench TD John Deasy said at least “10 to 15” members of the parliamentary party now want Mr Kenny to step down.

While suggesting the issue “will come to a head before the end of the year”, the Waterford TD said that he believes the Taoiseach would survive a no-confidence motion at this stage and that it is likely any push will take place by spring or summer next year.

Although a number of TDs criticised Mr Deasy’s decision to express his view just days before the budget, a number said their leader should step down after it.

In particular, one TD said he will give Mr Kenny just two post-budget opinion polls to rescue his position, while another said other TDs will act by early next year when they realise that the Taoiseach “has no intention of going anywhere”.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s News at One programme yesterday, Mr Coveney — one of two likely potential successors to Mr Kenny — said he believes that the Taoiseach remains focused on “stabilising this Government”. The Cork South Central TD said there will “absolutely not” be a push against Mr Kenny now, adding he has “faith” in the Taoiseach’s ability “to decide when there should be a leadership change”.

Enda Kenny

Meanwhile, he has said local authorities will have a number of means to return voided properties back into the system.

Speaking in Dublin as he launched the latest phase of his Action Plan for Housing, Mr Coveney said that around 7,000 “voids” or boarded-up properties in council ownership have been brought back into the system over the past two and a half years.

The minister said great efforts have been made in Dublin, Cork, and Galway in relation to returning such properties t o the system.

Mr Coveney added that efforts will now be made to bring empty, private properties back into use. Under the plan, Mr Coveney said the Government will invest €140m in a ‘repair and leasing’ scheme to encourage home owners to rent such houses on a long-term basis if money is made available to refit the properties. The scheme is being piloted in Waterford and Carlow and is expected to result in 3,500 additional units if rolled out nationwide.

Meanwhile, the proposed €20,000 grant for first-time buyers expected to be announced in the budget is a supply initiative for new homes because builders are not building for first-time buyers, said Mr Coveney.