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

The programme for Government states:

To this end the new Government will introduce a new model of affordable rental by working with housing associations and local authorities to develop a “cost rental” option for low-income families, as recommended by the NESC. The new Minister for Housing will provide leadership, work with all relevant stakeholders, and will set out in the Action Plan for Housing, a roadmap to implement the cost rental model.

The existing Government policy is not working. Only 2,378 houses were built by local authorities and housing bodies in 2016 and 2017, which is 4% of what could be built on State-owned lands. . Apart from the fact that it is a giveaway of State lands, the housing land initiative will not work. Even if developers take up the offer from local authorities, the housing built will not be affordable.

We are pushing an open door here. Many people in the community support the concept of the pilot scheme proposed by the St. Michael's estate regeneration team. Councillors also support the concept in general. People on this side of the House support the concept and have committed to work together in solidarity to implement this pilot model. I ask the Tánaiste to sit down with the relevant parties, including the councillors, the housing manager in Dublin City Council and Government representatives, to implement a cost-effective rental model that will be a game changer in our community.

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