Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Rents have almost doubled in the past decade, house prices are so high that we have collapsing rates of home ownership and unprecedented numbers of people in their 20s and 30s are still living with their parents or in box rooms. We can all agree that we have an affordability crisis.

This amendment’s measure works in other countries and helps make housing more affordable. How on earth could it not be appropriate? Affordable housing zoning does not prevent unaffordable or full market price housing being built in other areas. Rather, instead of a large windfall being privately pocketed by the landowner or speculator – the person who assembles the land – in particular areas where land is rezoned, we would effectively get the benefit of that windfall in reduced house prices and reduced prices for land that is made available for housing at affordable levels.

The programme for Government speaks about the Vienna model of housing. Affordable housing zonings happen in Vienna. Given our affordability crisis and the extreme shortfall of affordable housing, why on earth would the Government be opposed to allowing councillors, if they wish, to adopt affordable housing zoning for parts of their development plans, for example, in respect of agricultural or industrial land? I cannot see any rationale for such opposition. This measure does not mean that local councillors must rezone land for affordable housing. It just gives them a statutory instrument to be able to do so. By failing to support my amendment, the Government is tying the hands of local councillors who want to be able to do this.

As I said, councillors from Dublin City Council wanted to do this with some of the council's industrial land, but they were basically told they could not because there was nothing in the legislation to allow them to do so. Why tie the hands of the local authorities and local elected representatives when they want to provide more affordable housing? It makes no sense. Simply saying that it is "not appropriate" is not a rationale. It is absolutely appropriate for people to have access to housing that they can afford.