Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be fairly brief. I will try to speak specifically about housing, as opposed to the broader economic implications of Brexit. The one thing that is coming through is uncertainty. None of us knows exactly what we are headed for. The other word I have used in the context of Brexit is "stability". Stability is required in all markets if we are going to try to get out of this. Reports have identified that while other areas of Ireland might be exposed in the broader Brexit situation, the areas that are currently facing a significant housing crisis - Dublin and surrounding areas, and possibly other city-centre locations - will be further exposed by a bad Brexit. The supply of materials and skills in and out of the country is an issue in the housing sector in the context of Brexit, just as it is an issue in all sectors of society. It has been clear in my mind for some time that there is a need for the State to take greater control of the delivery of social and affordable housing, and this view has been confirmed here. We need to reduce our reliance on the private sector to deliver such housing. As we take that into account, we must equally acknowledge that a bad Brexit will cause our economy to contract. In such circumstances, the Government will not have the fiscal space to deliver on the need for social and affordable housing. This brings me back to the cost-rental model, which was mentioned by Dr. Healy when he was before this committee previously. For once and for all, the State has to find an off-balance sheet model that can deliver social and affordable housing for this country now and moving into the future. I ask the witnesses to comment on the fiscal space and the off-balance sheet model. I believe we can create a sustainable model as we move forward by using the cost-rental model or a differential model with a top-up from the State. The only way the State is going to fix the housing crisis is to take greater control of the housing sector, as opposed to allowing it to be dealt with by the private market.