Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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On childcare, approximately 18 months ago Deputy O'Connell and I brought forward a proposal in regard to tax credits for childcare. Such proposals are not always popular. Its purpose was to give choice and ownership back to families and to reflect the fact that in modern society many people no longer work nine to five. It is probable that most of those at this meeting do not work nine to five. Conventional commercial childcare operations do not work for the majority of people. Deputy O'Connell and I are still working on that proposal. What are the views of the delegates in that regard? For me, it is about giving ownership back to parents in terms of quality childcare which they deem suitable for their children in their home or another environment.

On affordable housing, there was a very good meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government yesterday, which was attended by representatives of the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, and which dealt with affordable housing and its complexities, with which I am very familiar. Some of our cost rental models are being subsidised by in the region of €40,000 or €80,000 depending on where in Dublin they are and the cost of land, topography and complexities that go with that. The delegates referred several times to the situation in Scandinavian countries. The Vienna model is seen as the panacea in terms of affordable housing. Cost rental has been established there for a very long time, whereas we are only at its pilot stage. We are looking at ways of bringing down the cost of rent, particularly in the affordable sphere. Obviously, the delegates were not in attendance at yesterday's meeting and may not have seen it. One of our pilot schemes is likely to involve rents of approximately €1,200 as a result of hitting granite during the construction of underground car parking, as well as other complexities on the site. Do the witnesses have any suggestions around affordable housing, affordable purchase or cost rental of which we may not be aware or of which they may wish to remind us?

On the help-to-buy scheme, almost 12,000 people have availed of it and far more subscribed. The construction industry needs certainty and consistency. Obviously, there is a skills shortage in this area and much investment must be made in apprenticeships and so on, especially when we are looking at new technologies in building. The help-to-buy scheme is due to finish this year. If it were to be extended - I do not know whether it will be - would it be preferable for that to be announced prior to the budget such that the construction industry can plan ahead in that sphere?

I welcome Mr. Murphy's comments on people not having to travel to Dublin for work. The statutory Project Ireland 2040 plan is all about investing in our cities, compact growth and encouraging the opportunity of growth around employment and education in areas such that people do not have to travel to Dublin. I agree with him about rebalancing the country.

On costing a climate plan, there was a very good meeting of this committee yesterday at which it was highlighted that some costings were not in the plan because they will be borne by the individual who may be buying an electric car or retrofitting his or her home. Do the delegates have ideas regarding the retrofitting of people's homes? Could it be done in a manner similar to the help-to-buy scheme? Could one avail of a tax rebate over several years? Are there models such as that which could be replicated?

On costing a climate plan, there was a very good meeting of this committee yesterday at which it was highlighted that some costings were not in the plan because they will be born by the individual who may be buying an electric car or retrofitting his or her home. Do the delegates have any ideas the retrofitting of people's homes? Could it be done in a manner similar to the help-to-buy scheme? Could one avail of a tax rebate over several years? Are there models such as that which could be replicated?

In 2004, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council began a very deep maintenance programme on its council stock. Deputy Boyd Barrett and I were members of the council at the time. Money recovered from the sale of council properties was invested in the renovation of other council properties. Several deep retrofitting schemes involving wraparounds, etc., were carried out. The council has been very proactive in that sphere for many years and will continue to be so. Council houses with energy ratings of A1, A2 or A3 are now being delivered. I recently visited a development of more than 50 units in Fitzgerald Park in Monkstown. The standard of home being delivered there is exceptional. However, exceptional is expensive. How do we rebalance that?