Longford/Westmeath TD appointed as chair of Oireachtas committee on housing

A Longford/Westmeath TD has been appointed to a high-profile role as chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Fine Gael's Micheál Carrigy announced his appointment to the position in a social media post this morning (Friday).

The Longford man was elected to the Dáil for the first time at the general election in late November last.

In his previous role as a Senator he developed a reputation as an advocate and campaigner for better services for children with autism.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage was previously chaired by Wicklow Green Party TD Steven Matthews, who lost his seat at the general election.

The committee has 14 members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

During the term of the previous Government, the committee examined issues such as revisions to the National Planning Framework, data on the private rental sector, a Constitutional referendum on right to housing, and measures to protect the integrity of elections.