Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to follow on briefly with a question on cost rental. Let us consider the figure of €1,200 for Enniskerry Road in the context of the average income in Dublin. As a percentage of net take home pay, that figure is approximately 42% for a single earner. It is far above what would be deemed the affordable level of one third, or between 30% and 35%, of net take home pay. That is significant and the agency representatives get the picture from the members that this is a concern when we are discussing a Government scheme of cost rental. The figure is less than Dublin market rates. However, if we take the average throughout all of Dublin, as per the Residential Tenancies Board, we are nearing a figure of €2,000. The view that it is below market rate when the market is so inflated is a problem and I think the agency representatives understand that. That is one point.

I wanted to ask the NDFA representatives specifically about St. Michael's Estate. A total of 70% is proposed for affordable rental housing. Who gave the figure of 70% to the agency? Was that a direction from the Department? Mr. O'Neill might wish to answer that.

I have one final question for Mr. Baneham. He referenced Castlelands, which is a large site in Balbriggan. We found out today that it is not currently with the LDA and is still with the Housing Agency. A master plan was issued and published by Fingal County Council. It is closed for public consultation at this stage but it will come back to the local authority in September. What percentages of rental and cost rental housing are proposed for the Castlelands site? What percentages of social and affordable and private purchase housing are proposed for Castlelands? What is the figure for the total number of units from the perspective of the Housing Agency? I realise that is rather parochial, but it is important because it is the largest site in respect of which there is a proposed transfer to the LDA. Obviously, we must ensure that we take into account the wider issues in the area when we are considering cost rental, affordable and social housing.