Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage work programme

In April 2021, the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage agreed its work programme for 2021 and laid it before both houses of the Oireachtas. 

Dictated by standing orders, following the establishment of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2020, the committee has published its draft work programme for the year ahead. 

With a primary remit to consider bills, estimates and other business referred to it by Dáil Eireann, which relate to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the majority of the work of the Select Committee will relate to a volume of Bills included in the Government’s Autumn 2020 and Spring 2021 legislative programmes.

These include:

• Heritage Bill; 

• Land Development Agency Bill; 

• Marine Planning and Development Management Bill;

• Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill; 

• Electoral (Reform) Bill; 

• Emergency Management and Fire and Public Safety Bill; 

• Heritage Bill; 

• Housing and Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill; 

• Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor – Limerick) Bill; 

• Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill; 

• Tailte Eireann Bill; 

• Urban Area Committees Bill; 

• Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill; 

• Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill; 

• Electoral (Amendment) Bill; 

• Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill;

• Wildlife (Amendment) Bill; and 

• Housing (Amendment) Bill.

In addition, the Committee is tasked with consideration of annual estimates for public services within its remit, meaning the Committee will consider the Minister’s spending plans for the forthcoming year and question the Minister on financial allocations and associated output targets. The Committee is not empowered to amend estimates. 

Examination of the annual output statements (AOS) including performance, efficiency, and effectiveness in the use of public monies and value for money (VFM) reviews are another important part of scrutinising government expenditure. Additionally, motions and other matters may be referred to the Select Committee.  

On 30 July, the Dáil passed an order that the work programme of each select committee should include consideration of: 

• the State’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic;

• science, research and development and innovation; and 

• progress on the development of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Joint Committee 

The Committee deals with items of business referred to it by one or both houses and can also select business for consideration from areas within its terms of reference. The Joint Committee largely deals with EU business, as well as key policy and governance priorities. 

In addition to its core business of legislation, for the period January 2021 to December 2021, the Committee should be able to focus on one or two major topics within the remit of the Department, with the aim of producing a well-researched report to both Houses by the end of the year. 

Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the 33rd Dáil and the 26th Seanad:

Deputies

Steven Matthews
Chair
Green Party

 

 

 

Francis Noel Duffy, Green Party

Joe Flaherty, Fianna Fáil

Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin

Emer Higgins, Fine Gael

Paul McAuliffe, Fianna Fáil

Cian O’Callaghan, Social Democrats

Richard O’Donoghue, Independent

Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin

Senators

Victor Boyhan, Independent

John Cummins, Fine Gael

Mary Fitzpatrick, Fianna Fáil

Rebecca Moynihan, Labour Party

Mary Seery Kearney, Fine Gael