Housing

Nama boss: ‘significant obstacles’ to delivering sufficient housing

Brendan McDonagh told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) planning costs and judicial reviews are slowing development

Brendan McDonagh said planning costs and judicial reviews were making it difficult to meet housing needs. Picture: Bryan Meade

There are “significant obstacles” to providing the state with sufficient housing to meet demand, according to Brendan McDonagh, chief executive of Nama.

McDonagh made the comments in his opening statement to PAC on Thursday, where he cited these obstacles as causing delays in meeting demand.

“One of these is the achievement of the appropriate planning approvals. Planning costs are significant and average circa €3,000 per residential unit. Achieving a grant of planning continues to be ...