Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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The definitions of affordability are vitally important. The suite of housing Bills the Minister is bringing forward are intertwined, including the Land Development Agency Bill and the Affordable Housing Bill. This suite is a market discount Bill, as our housing spokesperson, Senator Moynihan, has said. Linking affordability to income is vital. It has been said in previous contributions. It is not only about the thresholds for social housing lists, which have not been raised in more than ten years and need to be raised. Deputy Gould said that bank clerks and people with regular jobs need to be included for social housing. People with regular jobs traditionally would have been able to afford a house. They are caught, unable to afford a house and outside the social housing net. Both those thresholds need to be looked at. It is all based on income and that is not being included adequately in the Affordable Housing Bill. It bleeds in to how practical this Bill will be in a real way.