Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will start with the comments from Deputies Duffy, Higgins and McAuliffe. I thank them and the Chairman for their engagement with regard to Report Stage amendments that I will table to substantially increase the affordable quotient in our major cities, as Deputy Duffy said. I thank him. We will have a 100% social and affordable requirement. For those who say that this Bill is not transformative from the one published in the previous Dáil, these measures are significant. We will increase the baseline for affordability to a minimum of 50%. Any decrease would require a positive resolution by the Dáil. I will table that type of amendment to section 9 on Report Stage.

I will address points made by Deputies Gould, Ó Broin, O'Callaghan and Boyd Barrett. The LDA will provide housing above and beyond what local authorities will provide on their own lands. It will be on LDA lands. The housing needs demand assessment came up at the previous meeting. It is a new tool for all local authorities. Local authorities know on the basis of our research how much social, affordable and private housing, if we are allowed to use the word "private", is needed in their own areas. If the LDA is developing a site of State agency land and, in that area, there is a requirement for far more than the minimum 10% social housing, it would be increased up to 50% because we have set a requirement of 50% affordable housing. Most of us recognise that there is an urgent need to address those working people who have found themselves stuck in a rental and unaffordability trap.

We are the first Government to roll out a national cost rental scheme. We and our colleagues in government, Fine Gael and the Green Party, will have a national cost rental scheme rolled out within a year. We will have people in cost rental homes this year. Should the Affordable Housing Bill pass, which I earnestly hope it will, with the support of Opposition Members as well, we will have people in affordable purchase homes this year. That is what it is about for all of us. It is about making change in this area to improve the lot for our people, especially those who are so acutely affected.

I will address Deputy O'Callaghan's question about Report Stage. The scheduling and length of time on Report Stage is not up to me. It is a matter for the Business Committee. I am guided by it as we all are. I intend to table specific amendments on Report Stage. We were not delaying them in any form. It is simply a phasing of them in conjunction with the Affordable Housing Bill. That is when we will make sure that the definitions of "affordability", "proportion" and "ratios" will be brought in. It is up to each Deputy who has tabled an amendment to move or withdraw it at this stage. For the purposes of doing our work efficiently and appropriately, I have suggested that amendments be withdrawn. Deputies can reserve the right to reintroduce them. I will table Government amendments on Report Stage, which I hope will be soon, because I, my Government colleagues and others who have spoken here want to have this legislation passed by the recess because it is urgent.

Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about social housing. Social housing is defined and eligibility for it is being reviewed. I note his comments at the previous committee meeting. He believes that social housing lists should be open to everyone. He is entitled to that view. That would mean that millionaires would be on the social housing list too. I do not agree with that and think that social housing should be focused on those who need it most. We will expand the provision of social housing. To take the Deputy's point in the manner in which it was put, the review of the eligibility criteria and income limits is being done and is expected to be completed in the coming months. The affordable housing eligibility and criteria fit into that and to what we will do with our social housing.

I thank Deputies Duffy, Higgins and McAuliffe for withdrawing their amendments while reserving the right to table them again on Report Stage. It is up to other members how to proceed but I will not accept any of the amendments.