Rush to bring whole country under new Rent Pressure Zones by end of week
Legislation to expand the zones under which rent increases are limited to 2pc, are expected to be signed off on by the Cabinet today, before being put to a Dáil vote as an emergency measure over the coming days.
About 17pc of tenancies do not come under the current rules, which will be implemented 'at the earliest possible date' if passed by the Oireachtas.
Meanwhile, the former chief executive of the HSE, Paul Reid, is to be named as the chairperson of the new planning body which will replace An Bord Pleanála.
It is expected that his name will be brought to cabinet to be appointed as chair of An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Mr Reid, who took over as head of the HSE in 2019, became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He stepped down from the position in 2022 to spend more time with his family and with the belief that the HSE was 'entering a new phase and that the appointment of a new leader was now timely'.
Memos going before the Cabinet tomorrow are to include the expansion of the remit of the Land Development Agency and changes to the Rent Pressure Zone system, which was agreed by the Cabinet last week.
Housing Minister James Browne will bring a memo to the Cabinet to establish the new body to replace An Bord Pleanála, in a move to reset the organisation and its culture.
As part of the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála there will be a number of changes, including a restructuring of the organisation as well as a new governing board, with Mr Reid as chairman.
The body will be subject to statutory mandatory timelines, which will aim to give greater certainty to applicants.
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The board will also appoint a chief planning commissioner.
The overhaul of the former planning commission is part of number of recent changes that have been brought to the Cabinet in recent weeks in relation to planning.
This includes the ability of developers to seek extensions to planning permissions that were caught up in judicial reviews, and changes to planning exemptions to allow for modular units and granny flats to be built without permission.
Meanwhile, designated cost rents from the Land Development Agency (LDA) are set to be exempt from corporation tax, under plans going to the Cabinet today.
The Government is expected to sign off on plans to expand the remit of the LDA.
Plans to change the agency's powers include amending legislation to allow for it to deliver increased levels of private housing.
Changes will also allow for the increased acquisition of private land.
Currently, the LDA focuses on building large developments in cities and towns including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kildare.
However, proposals going before the Cabinet will see housing delivery by the LDA expanded beyond where the agency currently operates.
It will also consider strong land transfer powers to the LDA for public land that is owned by commercial state bodies. There will be a particular focus on 'underutilised' state lands.
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