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

I do not really understand. If we have a housing strategy that states we need to provide thousands of affordable homes to meet a housing need in a local authority area, why not then have an affordable housing zoning to ensure sufficient land is available for affordable homes? If we are not going to oblige the local authority to dissemble land at affordable prices for affordable housing, as my previous amendment sought to do, why oppose a measure to give the option of an affordable housing zoning? The councillors do not have to take it up if they do not see a need.

If we have the housing strategy and do not have the tools to get to the amount of affordable housing that is needed it will not happen. We will be stuck in endless debates about why there are these national and local targets that are not being delivered. I am putting forward tools that will help us to get there. For some reason that I genuinely do not understand they are not being accepted. If the amendments need to be worded better I am more than happy to work with the Minister of State on that.