Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The budget dealt with a number of issues in this element of the housing sector. It is important that landlords who have property to let are in a position to do that. It is also important that we have a comprehensive rental strategy. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is committed to publishing and bringing in such a strategy before the end of this year. I commend Deputy Jan O'Sullivan on producing a Bill in this area. I advise her to talk to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, because some elements of her Bill may be acceptable to him. We want to have a comprehensive rental strategy. It will be produced here before the end of the year. As Deputy Howlin is aware, the Government is focused on supply in its efforts to deal with the question of assistance for first-time buyers of new houses. We have deliberately focused on increasing housing supply over a three-year period. I know there has been some discussion or comment about the headroom given beyond the €400,000 limit, up to €600,000. There can be further discussions on that during the Committee Stage debate on the forthcoming finance Bill.

The Minister for Finance proposed a number of small changes in this regard when he presented the Bill yesterday. Obviously, he is prepared to discuss those changes. We are focused on increasing supply because the more houses there are, the better the opportunity for people to get affordable houses. The programme being advanced by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, aims to deliver 41,000 social housing units over the period. I welcome the Bill proposed by Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and I congratulate her on it. I advise her to sit down with the Minister and his officials because it may well be that the element of rent she has referred to in her Bill can be reflected in some way in the comprehensive strategy being adopted by the Minister. Deputy Howlin is well aware that his colleague, the former Minister, Deputy Kelly, had clear views on rent. I note how the Deputy's language has changed from saying that the Fine Gael Party blocked everything to prevent the Labour Party from getting on with its business or whatever else.

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