Ms Mary Rose Burke:

I will respond to that one. We did a recent survey of our members and the cost and availability of housing is an issue for two thirds of businesses. Businesses are very cognisant of the impact of this on their employees. It creates great difficulties in filling open positions when businesses cannot find people to fill roles. The average national salary is €45,000 and the average Dublin rent is more than €2,000. Therefore, the asking price is out of reach for anybody on that type of salary.

We have put much thought into some of the solutions we can put forward on that. We know lack of residential capability in the city is putting a drag on the economy and will into the future. We know we need greater density. I agree with the Deputy, particularly in terms of within the canal cordon. Dublin Chamber of Commerce is always focused on both the economic and social well-being of the city and, therefore, the first element of a liveable city is about Dublin being an active walking and cycling city. It is then about a reliance on public transport once we get outside the walking and cycling distances. We know that even just adding one storey onto a one-acre site gives us 20 new housing units. We need densification in all ways, not just in height. We need greater densification and infill on brownfield sites.

In our submission we have identified quite a number of available sites that should be focused on such as the Jamestown Business Park in Finglas, the Dublin Industrial Estate in Glasnevin, sites near the Malahide Road in Coolock and a large tranche along the Naas Road. Those should be a priority if we are focused on areas along public transport routes. I agree housing is a critical issue for the economy and our individual businesses. The number one and number two issues are infrastructure and transport, and housing, which are raised constantly. They should not be business issues but they are. We have identified many proposals in that respect. On the issue of social housing, while the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and other such elements are useful, social housing provision needs to be accelerated by Government to increase the overall supply side with respect to the number of houses.