Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the two amendments.

I ask the Minister to clarify the following in his response. My understanding, having listened to his comments previous to the introduction of these amendments, was that this was part of the attempt to ensure that at least 50% of the residential development of houses and duplexes would be made available for owner-occupation. I do not see how the sections of the Bill, which obviously were amended in the Seanad at the Minister's request, achieved that objective. Have I misunderstood that this is the legislative provision to achieve that end or does it have some other purpose? I ask because not only do we need to ensure that apartments are included in this section, as the two amendments propose, but that this would empower local authorities to make decisions to ensure a percentage is for owner occupation. The rate of 50% is arbitrary and the local authority should be able to make that decision based on the local planning need. I do not see how any per cent is achieved in this but maybe the Minister could explain.