Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the provisions in this Bill which provide for the introduction of a vacant site levy and reform of our planning legislation. These provisions are positive steps in the right direction for Ireland's construction and planning sectors. As a Deputy for the urban constituency of Dún Laoghaire, I am acutely aware of the great housing need. The introduction of a vacant site levy is a bold and progressive step. I am sure my Dublin colleagues will agree that at a time when there are people in dire straits and in need of housing, it is unbelievable there are more than 60 hectares of land in Dublin vacant and unused.

Many people are of the impression that there are no housing issues in the leafy suburb of Dún Laoghaire and that all the people living there live in mansions and have no worries. This is far from the case. My constituency office in Blackrock is inundated with pleas from constituents in search of housing. I welcome that developers are to be incentivised by way of site levy to build on their land and provide housing. It is important not only that the shortage of housing be addressed but that all housing is decent, sustainable and of habitable quality. We do not need any more horror stories of pyrite or what happened in Berkeley. Building standards must be rigorous. No longer can we accept slipshod practices from builders.

I take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to the families of the six young people who lost their lives in Berkeley and to send my sincere best wishes to the young people who are fighting for their lives.

I would like clarification from the Minister on exactly what constitutes a vacant site. For example, is a vacant site unused land or are vacant houses, apartments and above-business accommodation included? If so, I know of several places in my constituency that could be made habitable or fit for living. I would welcome inclusion of above-business accommodation and the introduction of a grant to help traders who own the businesses below to develop that accommodation. I would also welcome information on how it is planned to roll out the vacant site register. I acknowledge that management of such a register will be a big undertaking but the operational date of 1 January 2019 is some time away. Surely it would be in everyone's interest if it could be operational before then. I encourage the Minister to examine ways of accelerating this process.

I welcome the provision in section 16 whereby the vacant site will not apply in cases of negative equity. We must be reasonable in these cases and recognise the extremely difficult economic circumstances such landowners are under. While a lot remains to be done, I welcome this Bill and hope its provisions will ensure we are never again faced with the construction fiascos of the past. We need sustainable, good quality housing for all.

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