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

Mr. Hogan references the possibility that some of these sites may end up liable to a vacant sites levy if they are not developed. My concern relates to circumstances where permission for 52,000 units in an SHD scheme is granted but where only a fraction of that number are developed. I am dealing with people every day who are crying out for housing - private, affordable private or cost-rental. People are seeking answers and solutions and the SHDs were meant to form one of those solutions. People are at their wits' end and we are now looking at new legislation on the back of the Government's launch of Housing for All last week. What about the ordinary people watching these proceedings or who are waiting to see what will happen?

Some developers have abused the process by getting planning but not delivering. We need to take action in order to deliver for people. We are in the worst housing crisis in the history of this State but developers and speculators are sitting on land in respect of which there is planning permission and are not moving forward with developments. That is not acceptable. We must do something about it other than bringing forward new legislation.

Deputy Ó Broin and others told the previous Government that this system would not work. We can see now that it did not work. I hope we will not be here again in five years in the same position.