Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Ministers of State for their comprehensive outline of what is a plan to revolutionise and transform the housing market. I am a big supporter of home ownership. We need to deliver homes by all mechanisms possible. I am not hung up on ideology. I do not care who builds the homes, be that councils, approved housing bodies, the LDA, public-private partnership or private builders, so long as homes are built. For that to happen, we need a plan, political will and investment. We have a plan, Housing for All, which is a multiannual plan. We have the political will and we can see very clearly that we have multi-billion euro investment behind that plan to deliver much-needed homes

I particularly welcome the affordable housing fund of €60 million and the allocation of €44 million towards the shared equity loan scheme, which will help bridge the affordability gap for young couples, young families and other people who are now looking to purchase. It is great to see 1,500 voids provided for in terms of council homes that will be refurbished, retrofitted or turned around quicker so that 1,500 families can avail of them. I welcome the investment in terms of vacancy. I particularly welcome the €12 million allocation for repair and lease. An issue that arises again and again in committee is the lack of local authority targets for schemes like this. Was funding for last year fully drawn down and how do we make sure this year's allocation is fully drawn down?

From an LDA perspective, it is fantastic to see the commitment in terms of affordable and cost rental homes with 1,000 such homes to be delivered this year. I welcome the level of investment in the AHBs, first homes, cost rental and retrofitting. All of these are really practical measures that will make a huge difference on the ground. LIHAF enables the delivery of homes and local infrastructure. My own area has benefited from the URDF. The Minister visited Tandy's Lane Park in Lucan and Adamstown where he saw first-hand how well that funding is being so well spent in growing communities. Funding has been allocated for the establishment of the housing commission. I am particularly interested in hearing if there is any update on when the planned referendum will take place.

Turning to the Ministers of State, Deputy Peter Burke and Deputy Noonan, it is great to hear so much from a heritage perspective in terms of the Heritage Council, our built heritage and our natural heritage, which are all big amenities for us as a society. It was to great hear from the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, that Traveller accommodation funding provided last year was fully drawn down. That was an issue in previous years.

It is great to see local authorities fully utilising these funds.

The Department has allocated quite a large amount of money in support of disability in older people accommodation. It will be key to see how local authorities use this.

The rates waiver which the Minister has spoken about has been a very significant lifeline to businesses up and down this country and it is great to see it provided for and further rolled out this year.

The 132 regeneration projects that the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, has spoken about are all a significant part of the plan and it is very encouraging to see the funding allocation spelled out on the diagrams on pages four and five and exactly how much of this is going directly into the delivery and support of housing. That is a top priority of this Government and it is great to see that there in black and white in that report.

On the affordable housing fund, it would be great to receive some information around the regulations that will be published as part of that.