Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. We have had a debate in the past number of months over increasing the supply of social housing, rental properties and private sector houses. It is important that in the course of the debate we do not lose sight of building standards or quality of living standards for the people who will occupy those units. While it is slightly opportunistic of me to table this amendment at this point, it was in a Bill that I had tabled earlier on First Stage.

When the Minister's predecessor introduced this legislation, I was one of a number of Deputies who felt it was a very controversial measure for two reasons. First, the sizes are wrong. That will have a negative impact on the quality of life for people, particularly vulnerable sections of society who could end up living in apartments of those smaller sizes. I have spent a considerable period living in local authority high rise accommodation in London and in Belfast. Size really matters, particularly over certain heights. I do not believe it is the responsibility of the Minister to introduce these types of detailed restrictions. That is the function of local elected members and the county or city development plan process. On those grounds, I will put this amendment to a formal vote.

This Bill presents a good opportunity to do the right thing and reverse what was a bad decision, albeit by the Minister's predecessor.