Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Tááthas orm an deis seo a fháil. Tá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama le mo chomhghleacaithe, Deputy Healy and Deputy Crowe.

This country has something of a dysfunctional housing policy which is accelerating the breakdown of communities. The symptoms point to the fact that this country has failed to tackle the inordinate increase in land value that comes by way of rezoning land from agricultural use to housing development. When I was a member of the all-party committee on the Constitution which dealt with property, this was one of the issues which occupied a considerable amount of time and many experts were invited to speak to the committee. The Government is running away from the elephant in the middle of the room, which is the issue of affordable housing. It was proven many times that the Constitution allows, without the need for a referendum, for the Government to ensure any increase in the price of land can be returned to the community by way of a windfall tax. Compulsory purchase orders by local authorities could be used for the purpose of ensuring properly planned housing and communities.

Somebody is pulling the strings, and not in the interests of the public. The cost of housing is so high and unaffordable that it puts pressure on families. Both parents are forced to go out to work with its knock-on effects on child rearing and difficulties brought about by parents not staying at home during a child's younger years. All those knock-on effects give rise to considerable problems in communities the length and breadth of Ireland. They give rise to isolation in rural communities and to lack of parental control in urban areas. I appeal to the Government on the basis of this debate to come forward and finally face up to that elephant in the room, the need for——

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