Exemption for developers in new government housing plan has no legal basis, experts claim

The Housing Minister has claimed an exemption for land bought between 2015 and 2021 is necessary on foot of 'strong advice' to stave off legal challenges

Housing For All, the Government’s new €20bn housing roadmap and successor to 2016’s Rebuilding Ireland, was launched last week with the aim of securing 160,000 new homes by the year 2026. File photo

An exemption in the new Housing For All plan which could see the loss of thousands of affordable homes was included on foot of legal fears which have no basis, it has been claimed.

The Department of Housing declined to confirm whether or not specific legal advice had been sought before including the exemption.