Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will try to keep to the second and third pillars as much as I can. However, I wish to come back to the delivery of Part V provisions. I believe that when the Minister reintroduced the 10% requirement, it has been a big mistake. I do not believe it will deliver enough and I again ask the Minister to review that decision on Part V provision. No affordable scheme is in place although there is a requirement under Part V for 10% to be social or leasing or whatever it is. However, we need more ambitious targets under Part V and it is bad. I also refer to compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, which do not get much mention. There are many locations all around Dublin city that are boarded up and that have been with banks for a long time. Many of them must be deemed to be derelict sites by Dublin City Council before a compulsory purchase order can be made on them and this process is not working in any way. I believe this area must be examined as no compulsory purchase orders have been made in the Dublin City Council area. While it is starting elsewhere, there has been none there and I wished to raise that issue with the Minister.

On the issue of land supply, which is part of the third pillar, an audit has been carried out with Dublin City Council and other local authorities in many areas. The Minister also mentioned the churches and lands and I note the churches have vast amounts of lands. In Finglas I could cite the example of the Church of the Annunciation. There is land there - we call them the Fergal's lands - with the Church of the Annunciation. I believe we must up our game in inducing religious authorities to deliver more and perhaps there should be greater engagement with them. There is major scope in this regard.

On examining the figures in the mid-year review, I am deeply disappointed by some of the targets set and what has been achieved. Thus far, according to the figures from 2016, we appear to be failing badly in respect of many of the targets. For example, a target was set in respect of Traveller accommodation to deliver 66 units but only 16 have been delivered to date. This simply shows the priority that has been given to this issue. Greater consideration must be given to older people and the issue of financial contributions and to building more for senior citizens. There is huge demand in this regard and it must be examined. While the financial contribution is in place, it is not being used much and must be increased.