Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I propose to share time with my Independent colleagues, Deputies Healy, James Breen, Connolly, McHugh and Gregory.

I agree with the excellent summary set out by Deputy Gilmore of the incredible reversal that has taken place in the Government's public housing policy in respect of its original legislative provision that all new planning permissions must involve the setting aside of 20% of units for social and affordable housing. This reversal tells a tale of how this Government has mismanaged housing policy in the last ten years. There are many other tales of reckless mismanagement in housing for which the Government will be held accountable and culpable.

It was interesting to hear Fianna Fáil Deputies complaining that housing estates are being built in areas surrounding Dublin without even a footpath to connect them to the existing towns and villages onto which they were tacked. It is as if Fianna Fáil councillors in those constituencies had nothing to do with such developments and that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government had no interest or say in the nature and style of development that has occurred in the last 15 to 20 years.

Deputy Andrews spoke about planning that is not well thought out or considered. I share his concerns in regard to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in whose jurisdiction development seems to be based on the interests of developers rather than public policy. In regard to the long-term development of Luas connections to the rapidly growing town of Bray, instead of connecting to that existing settlement, where there is a major transport need, the council is looking to open up new rezoned lands. Such an approach can only be on the basis that councillors and developers will benefit in terms of the massive rezoning profit that will occur.

No lessons have been learned from any of the mistakes made in the last ten years. We are left with a housing crisis that benefits nobody other than a small number of estate agents and perhaps those who are retiring and whose homes can be sold at a massively inflated price. The reality for anybody under 40 years of age, particularly in Dublin city, is that the mismanagement of the property issue, through various errors and a lack of effective planning, has left home owners with large mortgages to pay for the next 30 or 40 years. The lack of social and affordable housing is a direct result of decisions by the Government in the lifetime of this Dáil to abandon its original sensible commitment. As Deputy Gilmore said, that commitment would have provided at least an additional 16,000 houses under those planning permissions already given on the basis that the relevant developments would include 20% of units for social and affordable housing.

Changes are required in many aspects of public housing policy. The stamp duty regime must be amended to encourage greater flexibility in the market and to allow for the use of existing housing stock in a more effective way. Better design and planning guidelines are required. There is nothing wrong in developing apartment buildings, especially close to towns and city centres where higher-density and high-quality development is required. There is no reason that apartments cannot be built to a standard that ensures they are sustainable, of a high quality and suitable for long-term accommodation rather than a vehicle for Fianna Fáil friends in the investor community to turn a quick buck.

That is what has driven housing policy. For 30 years, we have balked at making a decision on the massive rezoning profits which, particularly in Dublin city, can account for half the house price a young person faces. There is no reason that a decision should not be made immediately to try to claw back some of that profit to help people on their way. The Government's record on housing is one of utter disgrace. It is reckless not only in terms of the imprisonment with which young people are faced in terms of long-term mortgages but also in regard to the market conditions it has created, which are unsustainable and of benefit to nobody, whether those in the building industry or those seeking housing.

I commend Sinn Féin on putting forward this Bill. It has the support of the Green Party.

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