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

On amendment No. 896, we had a long discussion. To make a general point, I have visited new social housing estates over the past four years and noted they were of top quality. Even in mixed developments, there was rightly no distinction between social, private and affordable housing. Unquestionably, there have been some legacy issues. I have encountered them myself but the issue simply does not arise anymore. Consider what we are investing in social housing. I came from the Hole in the Wall Road development this morning and noted that the quality of the apartments built there is exceptional. There will be about 150 cost-rental units and about 250 social units in this brilliant development.

We discussed the term "undue" in the context of amendment No. 896. The provision is from the 2000 Act, so it is very clearly understood by local authorities. It is working well and I am not going to accept the amendment. We had a long discussion on it. The issue the Deputy referred to was previously relevant but is no longer relevant because it does not arise anymore. The State is building the vast bulk of our social housing. The Part V social housing that is delivered is delivered within the estates, and there is no distinction between one form of housing and another. As the Deputy knows, the changes I introduced to Part V, which will be Part VII, reinstate the additional 10% for affordable housing. Its reversal by the previous Government was something I argued against in opposition. I reversed that Government's decision and the measure is back in play. We will see some of the additional Part V units later this year and next year because of the changes we have made.

On the housing strategy aspect, I do not accept the Sinn Féin amendment. The legislation sets out the process by which housing targets are reached. Amendment No. 895, which I assume was written by Deputy Gould or Deputy Ó Snodaigh, refers to "the Local Authority's own Housing Needs Demand Assessment". There is agreement on this and the HNDA is provided for. The reason for what I outlined in my response to Deputy Andrews concerned the timing of the measure's introduction. Some of the plans had been produced already but most authorities have used the HNDA. The amendment also states, "and any other data that may be available and in the view of the planning authority may be relevant". This is pretty vague, and to say so is not disrespectful. We use better data than that specified in the amendment.

What we have in the Bill is much better than what Sinn Féin has proposed, as evident in all of section 219. Section 219(4)(a) states, in respect of preparing a housing strategy, that a planning authority shall "have regard to the overall housing needs of the population of its functional area, taking account of the matters specified in subsection (5)". The Deputy should examine what we have in the Bill already. It relates to what must be referred to in order to come up with a new housing strategy and targets. It is all included. Section 219(4)(b) states a planning authority shall "have regard to the most recent summary of social housing assessments prepared", section 219(4)(c) states it shall "consult with such approved housing bodies in its functional area", and section 219(4)(d) states it shall "have regard to relevant policies or objectives ... of the Government ..., and any National Planning Statement, that relate to housing or social integration". Section 219(4)(5) states a housing strategy shall take into account "the existing need, and the likely future need, for housing, based on national and regional population growth targets set out in the National Planning Framework". Right now, we are concluding the review of the NPF. Hindsight is great but I argued even when in opposition that our population projections in 2016 were too low because of population growth. We now have the 2022 census data. Thankfully, our population is growing, and doing so more than we thought. All these factors need to be taken into account by the local authority, so the provisions in the Bill as published are far clearer than what the Sinn Féin amendment would introduce. I do not mean that disrespectfully. The authorities are doing what I have described and will actually have to do so again this year.

I expect, once the NPF review is completed, and based on the 2022 census data, that we will have a revision in our housing targets. I expect that will lead in areas the Deputies represent, and local authority areas in which they reside, to a need to bring more zones and more land forward in that regard.

I genuinely believe that we are more than well covered with what we have, so I am not accepting either amendment.