Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am going to focus some questions on what was not in the review, and I would like the Minister to give us clarity in that regard, if he can. When the Minister was in opposition, he introduced a Bill which effectively had another Part V to stop cuckoo funds buying up large estates. I heard the Minister talking about the issue this week. Is he going to bring forward that legislation again to ensure that a certain percentage of first-time buyers would be able to avail of housing in new estates?

The Minister also spoke about raising Part V provision to 20%. In his contribution, however, he said that it could be for social housing or, if I understand the Minister correctly, for affordable purchase as well. Regarding the proposals he intends to bring forward in this regard, does he intend there to be a floor for a percentage of social housing or is it potentially up to 20% that could go towards affordable purchase, and therefore, effectively, the social side of Part V? I would like some clarity on that aspect.

I also raise an issue on which Deputy Cian O'Callaghan has done much work. I refer to the leasing of social housing and the cost effectiveness of that approach. Is it the Minister's intention and plan to move away from local authorities leasing properties? I ask that because as he knows that is not a cost-effective way of getting social housing, because the local authorities do not own that housing at the end of the leases.

In addition, 360 people were served eviction notices in August when the eviction ban ended. The Minister just mentioned family homelessness decreasing, and that has certainly been an unintended but welcome consequence of the pandemic. With the lifting of the 5 km limit and the eviction ban now, however, what plans is the Department putting in place to deal with any resulting upsurge in family homelessness?

Those 360 people are looking for properties.

I have a local question. Dolphin House has gone through the first stage of the community regeneration plan but it looks as if a portion of the land must be sold to fund the community centre. This has come up a number of times in regeneration projects, where the build is funded but the community infrastructure and services are not. Communities and local authorities feel forced to sell land to fund this infrastructure in the long term.

I grew up beside Fatima Mansions, which was one of the first completed regeneration projects in the State. One of the benefits ten or 12 years after the project was finished is that there is an income stream from that regeneration and the building of the apartments. What are the plans for long-term and sustainable funding for regeneration of the communities that need it?

The Minister has said he will not extend the strategic housing development legislation but two applications for co-living were approved this week. There is a real danger that over this year we will see very inappropriate applications go through the SHD process. Have plans been put in place for this?

Finally, I ask about a vacant homes tax. There was a report by Mr. Killian Woods in the Business Postthat 80% of the apartments at Clancy Quay in Dublin are not rented or registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, and up to 50% at George's Dock are the same. Some institutional investors are holding back the supply of built housing and it is not acceptable that they are allowed to do it. The authorities in Barcelona have put a vacant homes tax on a statutory footing. Do we have any plans to do that?