Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Wide-ranging housing issues are being debated and discussed, but I will address some of the points about the amendment. As I outlined earlier, the intention and objective of the Bill is not to raise revenue. The primary objective is to incentivise and stimulate the beneficial use of vacant or dormant sites in our cities and towns. The purpose of the levy is to incentivise the owners of sites to unlock and develop them. I want that to be clear.

On the question of local authorities and social housing, the Bill already allows local authorities to utilise the levy proceeds for social housing. The success of the Bill will not be measured with reference to the amount collected in levies; it will be measured with reference to the number of vacant sites brought back into beneficial use. The levies collected should be relatively small if the Bill is a success. If we are not successful in that area, the levies can be collected and invested in social housing by local authorities. As drafted, the Bill also allows local authorities to invest the money in amenities, facilities or infrastructure to allow the development of more housing units. I brought forward an amendment on Committee Stage to give greater flexibility to local authorities so that the money does not have to be spent specifically on sites and can be spent in the vicinity of sites within local development plan areas. As such, we will oppose the amendments, because the Bill as drafted provides local authorities with the flexibility and authority to invest in social housing, amenities or facilities according to their preferred priorities.

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