Mr. Brendan Burgess:

If a semi-detached house in a part of Dublin sells for around €300,000, there is approximately €37,000 VAT in that and €10,000 for social housing in that the builder must give a percentage of the site and build a house. We are asking buyers of new houses to pay for social housing. As someone who bought a second-hand house years ago, I do not have to contribute to social housing. I can get a grant to do all the sustainable energy work in my house whereas a first-time buyer is told from the get-go that he or she must have solar heating and various other things like that. They are probably a good idea. I do not know about the north facing site but it is probably a good idea to have those energy saving things. I am against State intervention but if the State imposes a standard like that, maybe it should contribute to the cost of it.