Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two comments and three questions for the witnesses from the ESRI. I welcome Mr. O'Connor's welcome for the local authority-led affordable purchase scheme and the shared equity scheme. In respect of Dr. O'Connell's and Mr. Cahill's presentation and reviews of their eight reports, they recommended everything from the established of the LDA, cost rental, the expansion of Part V, the expansion of the site services fund, CPO powers and a flagship project. I am inclined to agree with everything they said and all of the other research on this. While we might not agree on everything, I am sure Deputy Ó Broin would agree with me when I suggest that Dublin Mid-West be looked as a key location for such a flagship project.

My first question for the ESRI relates to the criticism of the UK scheme. One of the major parts of criticism was that it was open to all earners and that 60% of those who availed of the scheme did not actually need that support. I know that is of concern to the witnesses from the ESRI and Senator Moynihan, who also raised it. Do the witnesses from the ESRI accept that we have learned from the UK experience and that, under this Bill, someone will only be eligible for affordable housing if he or she cannot buy without that support and that as Mr. O'Connor said, this, in itself, is a control mechanism?

My second question concerns the supply constraints. As both Dr. Slaymaker and Dr. O'Toole said, supply is the most critical part and is probably the hardest one to get right. They described it as the most difficult to rectify and something that will take the longest time to materialise. The two shared equity schemes in conjunction with the LDA, and it is quite that they look at it in conjunction with the LDA, which is also going through the Oireachtas, are aimed at becoming a catalyst for supply in the near future. The witnesses from the ESRI outlined how key rectifying supply issues is in terms of delivering affordability. Do they agree that when looked at in conjunction, the two different shared equity schemes and the LDA will together kick-start supply? If those three mechanisms become that catalyst in supply, will that will offset any potential impact on inflation?

Following on from the points raised by Deputy McAuliffe and Senators Cummins and Fitzpatrick regarding not looking at the local authority scheme, I know the witnesses said they do not have much research on this side of things. Can they use this opportunity to acknowledge that their opening statement only deals with two of the three elements of the Bill and, therefore, could be misleading if it is read as a commentary on the Bill in its entirety? We saw that on the front page of today's edition of the Irish Independent. If the witnesses are willing to take this time, could they put on the record of the Oireachtas their views on the full Bill, particularly the full Bill when it is looked at in conjunction with the LDA? Do the witnesses accept that the Bill provides for people who cannot buy without support? Do they agree that, taken in conjunction with the LDA, this will kick-start supply? Does that alleviate any concerns in respect of potential inflation? My third question concerns that holistic view of the Bill. Could the witnesses start with the third one in case we run out of time?