NESC calls for more flexible rent controls and brownfield development incentives
Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Marina Depot in Cork last Friday as work continued on more than 600 new affordable homes in the Cork Docklands, delivered by the LDA in partnership with Cork City Council, and Glenveagh Properties. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan/OSM
The Government should provide more flexible rent controls, review incentives for brownfield site development, and increase building density, a new report has said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will update Cabinet on Tuesday with the findings of the latest report from the National Economic and Social Council, focused on improving compact growth in Ireland.
Under the new National Planning Framework, a goal is set for half of all population growth to be in Ireland’s five cities and their suburbs between now and 2040.
Of that, 50% of growth is due to be in Dublin, while the other half will be in the remaining four cities.
It is understood that the council has made a number of recommendations to Government, including a review of incentives for brownfield site development. It says that this should culminate in stronger incentives for developers to move towards brownfield sites.
It also calls for the introduction of more flexible rent controls to support increased levels of rental accommodation supply.
The report calls for more investment in cost-rental, alongside the development of a brownfield activation strategy.
Brownfield sites are previously developed lands which have either been abandoned or remain underused and are typically found in urban areas.
The report welcomes existing commitments within the programme for government, including plans to enact a new Compulsory Purchase Order bill.
Meanwhile, mental health minister Mary Butler will update her Cabinet colleagues about Ireland’s reductions in the suicide rate.
Preliminary figures for 2023 outline that there were 302 deaths by suicide, which is the lowest preliminary figure for over 20 years.
This figure is likely to increase however, due to a significant time lag in reporting on deaths by suicide, but Government figures have welcomed the overall downward trend.
According to Eurostat data, Ireland now has the 11th lowest suicide rate in the EU.
Ms Butler will also update Cabinet on the consultation process for Ireland’s new national suicide reduction policy, which has received a total of 1,895 submissions.
She will also inform the Government of plans to introduce a new strategy to reduce self-harm and suicide by the end of the year, with implementation and oversight monitoring structures to come in in early 2026.
Additionally, Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to bring forward updates on the ratification of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, or CETA, between the EU and Canada.
The ratification, previously blocked by the Supreme Court, requires amendments to the Arbitration Act. A draft scheme of these amendments have now been prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
This would allow for the ratification of CETA, alongside other trade agreements which contain elements of investor-State arbitration arrangements, including Singapore and Chile.
It is understood that this draft scheme of amendments is being considered across Government, with Mr Harris expected to bring forward a formal proposal later this month.
The Tánaiste will also update Cabinet on the latest developments surrounding negotiations between the EU and US.
Also, Higher Education minister James Lawless is to confirm Ireland’s intention to sign up to the European quantum pact. This pact, among EU science ministers, is to recognise the possible potential of quantum technology on science and industry into the future.
By signing the pact, Ireland will be able to collaborate with other EU countries, with access to shared infrastructure and research capacity to improve national work.
The Government has signalled that signing up to the pact is a key aspect to Ireland’s long-term competitiveness, given the convergence of quantum and AI in advanced computing.
Meanwhile, finance minister Paschal Donohoe and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers will update Cabinet on the work for Ireland’s first medium-term fiscal strategy.
This new plan is expected to be published this summer, which will set out Ireland’s fiscal strategy over the next five years.
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