James Breen (Clare, Independent)

With the national development plan the Government promised to deliver to the people a means by which many of them could at long last get on the property ladder. Like so many of its promises, the Government has failed to fulfil that initial promise. As others stated, we are approximately 15,000 behind the number of housing units which should have been delivered. Speculators and developers have blossomed during the term of this Government to the detriment of those who require the protection of the Minister and the delivery of affordable housing.

One of the biggest problems ensuring the required number of houses are located in social housing schemes by developers is the lack of enforcement measures to monitor this. Frequently, I have been told by local authorities in County Clare that they are not receiving the proposed percentage of houses for the schemes. Those same developers continue to get planning permission for future projects. Developers realise it is more profitable to pay a contribution to a local authority than to risk a fall in the value of houses by allocating part of the development for social housing. This must stop. All this achieves is further profiteering and speculating by developers and the marginalisation of the less well-off with this "not in my back yard" attitude.

All local authorities should have a housing inspectorate division to ensure that an appropriate number of housing units are handed over to the authority. If there is any delay, that inspectorate should have the power to veto any other planning applications to which that developer is party until such time as the developer meets the terms of the Act. Greater analysis of land zoning is required so that speculators can be isolated and not allowed to hold the local authorities to ransom.

The Tánaiste must be the toast of land developers and speculators at present given the king's ransom he paid for land to accommodate his new prison. We saw recently on "Prime Time" how Fingal County Council cannot now buy property for development unless it pays the same rate the Tánaiste authorised. Given the outrageous statement he made in the House regarding the value of all similar land in the area, it is little wonder he did not take up the invitation to appear on "Prime Time" that night.

Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council do their best to help people seeking to avail of social housing. Shared ownership schemes, while ideal in theory, are failing because of the house values of those approved. The affordable housing scheme should come into its own but such is the over-subscription for this scheme that most have no realistic chance of being housed.

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