Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is my slot now. I will use my time to continue on that topic. As a committee, we recently visited Mount Lucas to have a look at some of the technology advancements there. It is highly impressive. The waste on sites associated with building using conventional old-fashioned means is massive. MMC are highly efficient. We are building the skills base we need to meet not only our housing needs, but all of our infrastructural needs.

I have a couple of questions. I will not get to them all. Cost rental is a game-changer and will be over the next decade or so. We are starting to see that at the moment. When I talk to people about cost rental, it seems that this housing system is still unknown. I recently talked to people in Wicklow who have been successful in the Land Development Agency, LDA, scheme at Archers Wood. What is being produced there is of incredible quality. Rents are affordable and tenancies are secure, which is main thing for people. Some people wish to buy while some wish to rent but security of tenure is critical. Cost rental provides that. Do we have more work to do to promote cost rental and get more people to do it? The figure is 1,000 for the local authorities. The LDA came before the committee. It is going to lead strongly on this. It told us that it is targeting cost rental. The approved housing bodies, AHBs, are also involved. What are we looking at in total with regard to cost rental over the five-year period up to 2026?