John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The affordability schemes warrant a discussion separate from the legislative proposals that may come in because committee members will have ideas and suggestions to make. There are many ideas and suggestions as to how best to provide affordable housing solutions throughout the State. It would be helpful if members could feed into that process and perhaps with officials from the Department in the room who are drafting proposals on the matter.

We should look at, and Senator Fitzpatrick commented on this as well, the various housing initiatives, what is and is not working, the reasons for that, and all of the different schemes like the repair and lease scheme. Senator Fitzpatrick asked for a cost-benefit analysis on various schemes. I suggest that we consider all of them. My understanding and experience is that some of these schemes work exceptionally well in certain parts of the country. Let us take, for example, the repair and lease scheme in Waterford where the highest number of one and two-bed solutions is being provided in the State. The uptake in other parts of the country is not there. Why? If something works in an area, let us take the best examples located around the State and analyse why they do and do not work in other parts.