Green party ministers have questioned whether housing reforms aimed at limiting the role for “cuckoo funds” could have knock-on consequences for urban development, The Irish Times understands. Sources said all three Green Party cabinet ministers questioned the exemption for apartment purchases to new rules proposed by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien. Green Party ministers Eamon Ryan, Catherine Martin and Roderic O’Gorman are understood to have questioned whether the measures would concentrate ownership on the edge of urban centres, while apartment renting would dominate in cities. Ministers were told exempting apartments would ensure investment in the sector was continued. The motion which the Government had not supported passed after the Government appeared to forget to back its own countermotion.

Source: The Irish Times May 18, 2021 21:14 UTC