Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. Regarding the reference to social housing, the changes that have taken place under the 2015 Act appear to tie down the 10% requirement in a manner it was not previously when it was lost under various guises. That the Minister of State has indicated his openness to an affordable measure is promising.

Regarding the reference to 20% local employment clause, this must be strengthened to some degree. It is operational in the Grangegorman development plan and there are regular reports. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan and I receive a monthly report on how the 20% local employment requirement is being met in order that we know where and in which company the employment is being provided. While it might not be included in the existing legislation under which the Grangegorman Development Agency was established, it is included in the SDZ and likewise in the current plan. We must ensure there is a structure in place to report in a manner whereby we can monitor it. Obviously, the consultative forum is dealt with later in the Bill, but we must have something similar to what is in place for the Grangegorman development in order that we can be assured that what happened previously, when the companies that were employed and the developers simply bypassed the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and went on about their business, will not happen again and that there will be constant checks. What can the Minister of State do to reassure us that there will be an adequate structure in place to deliver on the figure of 20% which all of the players agree should be in place? If it is not a figure of 20% for direct labour, training places and apprenticeships should be built into it.

I take the point about there being a community gain, which I welcome. With regard to the master plan, the docklands area was the first to have a master plan. The idea was that owing to their nature the area would be developed with a master plan in order that there would be coherent development. This should not be ruled out for the future, even though most of the elements appear to have been retained within the city council draft development plan, but we have yet to see whether that will be delivered in total.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive clarification. Perhaps he might reassure me on the 20% local employment requirement.