John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To confirm, I am in Leinster House. I will begin by thanking Mr. Coleman and his growing team at the LDA for their presentation and for the work they are doing. Mr. Coleman probably addressed a lot of the negative commentary in respect of the LDA, which I believe has been unjustified, in the first round of questioning. One element he did not get to address, which I would like to give him the opportunity to address in his response, is the transparency element because there have been many wild accusations with regard to his organisation to the effect that it is not open and transparent.

Mr. Coleman summed it up well by saying that the cohort of people the LDA is looking at helping is those who are above the threshold for social housing and are in high-rent accommodation or looking to save for a mortgage. They are the type of people I believe we need to help and are seeking to help with the Affordable Housing Bill and the Land Development Agency Bill.

In answer to the last question asked by Deputy Ó Broin, Mr. Coleman mentioned the mix between cost rental and affordable purchase. If I am correctly reading between the lines he is saying that the costs on any given site will determine the mix as to whether it will be a cost rental or affordable purchase. Is there a tendency for the LDA to go more towards the cost rental side over the affordable purchase side? How does the LDA arrive at that mix?

What engagement has the LDA had with other local authorities? I know the sites Mr. Coleman mentioned in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. I would remind him, as I have done previously, that the national planning framework identifies five growth areas, including Waterford, which is essential. We have the North Quays project that is progressing but it is essential that there is further engagement between Mr. Coleman's organisation and the local authority in Waterford about other sites, particularly in the Carrickphierish area to which the LDA could bring added value.

Lastly, is there anything Mr. Coleman would like included in the regulations or the Bill as set down, that is not already included, that he believes would help him and his organisation in delivering affordable homes for people?