Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to mention and welcome something referenced by the witnesses from Cork City Council, which is the amount of student accommodation coming onstream. The fast-track planning process has facilitated this. The amount of student accommodation coming onstream and that has been built is very much welcome. It takes students out of the private rental sector, which eases that for us. It is also recognised in the CSO figures because it is shared accommodation and does not come under the principal builds. It is never really included although a huge volume is coming through.

When it comes to affordability this is where I disagree with Deputy Boyd Barrett. Affordability is based on the cost of the land and the cost of the development. It is not necessarily the average price in that area. We can have different figures on different sites. A substantial proposal was made by a number of councillors in Dún Laoghaire, including John Bailey and Michael Merrigan, which was supported by the 40 members of the local authority. It looked at affordable purchase, affordable rent to buy, social housing and step-down housing for older people. While the concept will have to be tweaked in some shape or form to make it happen, where is the scheme with regard to the Department because we are getting mixed responses on it?

When it comes to appropriate use of land, is there a scheme for the Mount Anville depot site in Goatstown? While I have ideas for the site and I know other things are happening with regard to it, I would be loath to sell any piece of State land in an area such as this when we have an affordability crisis. It would be ideal for the cost rental model or the affordable purchase model. I would be against any sale of a piece of State land in an area that is hugely resourced by infrastructure and with accessibility to the facilities in the area.

Dundrum is hugely important but I would rather see us deliver Shanganagh first before we start to dilute the resources we have. While Dundrum will be welcome, the focus must be on the Shankill site first. I would welcome a separate meeting on Cherrywood because it is too complex for this meeting. We would want to get into far greater detail on it but it was not what the witnesses came to discuss to be fair. Some detailed answers on this would be welcome.