Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the people of Dublin South-Central for their courteous and respectful response on the doorstep, regardless of whether they favour "Yes" or "No". There is a very strong indication that there will be a "Yes" vote from Dublin South-Central. While people have indicated a "Yes" vote, it is really important that people go down tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and plan their day to do that.

I wish to raise the regeneration of St. Michael's Estate in Inchicore. St. Michael's Estate Regeneration Team called a public meeting on 15 May 2017 saying that there is another way. One of the speakers was Tom Healy, author of a report entitled Ireland's Housing Emergency - Time for a Game Changer. I also wish to put on the record the fact that the Government programme embraces the concept of cost rental. I welcome the fact that the Minister met with St. Michael's Estate Regeneration Team from St. Michael's Estate this morning. This is a 12-acre site owned by Dublin City Council. St. Michael's Estate Regeneration Team, which is a local campaign, has put forward a very sound proposal, namely, for the State to use this site as a pilot project for the development of publicly owned land throughout the State. On 26 April, St. Michael's Estate Regeneration Team launched a plan entitled Inchicore for Quality: Fair Rents Homes, which is based on the fair rent model, which is a proven European model that delivers a secure tenure home at an affordable rent which remains a public asset.

It is proposing the site be used to build affordable energy-smart homes, half of which would be local authority housing and half on the cost-recovery rental model. This would make housing affordable for those whose income is above the limit for local authority housing and would never be able to afford a €350,000 mortgage and who are being screwed with exorbitant rents in the private rental sector, facing constant insecurity in short-term leases. This morning, I checked daft.ieand the rent for a two-bedroom apartment was between €1,900 and €2,600 in our area.

Such a scheme would achieve a good social mix; the Tánaiste previously said he did not want to see social housing ghettoes. This is precisely the type of affordable rental accommodation with security of tenure required for people on moderate incomes such as nurses, teachers, construction workers, transport workers and all sorts of people who get up early in the morning but cannot afford the unaffordable house prices or rents in the private sector.

A recent report by housing expert, Mel Reynolds, estimates that 114,000 homes could be built on existing zoned land held by local authorities. Some 70,000 of these could be built in the four local authority areas in Dublin if this land was used as proposed by the St. Michael's estate regeneration team, with 50% local authority housing and 50% cost-rental.

A number of Deputies from various parties attended the launch on 26 April and all gave a commitment to support the St. Michael's estate regeneration team pilot. We have not got an indication from the Government as to whether that would be the case. However, if the Government is not prepared to do it, it will be in the minority. I urge the Tánaiste to come back with a positive response.

See this speech in context