Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I confirm I am in Leinster House. I thank Mr Coleman and his team for attending tonight and taking questions.

It has been confirmed to me that a one-bedroom apartment in the St. Kevin's site in Cork will be valued at €900 per month. That works out at approximately €36,000 a year after tax, net, if one wants to keep that under 30% of a person's income. In other words, that means a person would need to be earning €47,000 a year. That is not the wage of the people looking for affordable housing in my constituency. Will Mr. Coleman comment on that? I do not feel that is affordable for the people I represent and those looking for affordable rental accommodation in Cork.

The Housing Agency stated in its affordability calculator that lower income threshold households could find it difficult to maintain rents between 25% to 34% of their net income. Does Mr. Coleman disagree with the Housing Agency's assessment of affordability? I believe there is a clear contradiction in some of the Land Development Agency's statements. It has stated affordability is a key metric for determining rental costs. At the same time, the agency is giving rental monthly figures which are not affordable for those in my constituency who I represent. How can Mr. Coleman explain this contradiction?

When Mr. Coleman was responding earlier to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan on the St. Kevin's site on the breakdown, I did not get his response. I know he could not be definite because he said he is waiting on the Government. However, I am concerned that the non-committal approach to this would only see 50% or 60% of it given to social housing . We want to see that site to be fully given over to affordable and social housing. Will Mr. Coleman explain that?