Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Land site cost per unit is currently increasing by approximately 25% per annum. Even if the 7% vacant site levy put forward by the Minister applied to all developers sitting on landbanks, it would not bother them. However, because of all the exemptions it contains, very few developers will have to pay it.

The Government stated that the LDA is based on best practice in European countries such as Germany. However, that is not the case. Under German planning law, the value of land is frozen when the local municipality specifies the area for residential construction. If that was done here, there would be no room for all the lobbyists who would come to the Oireachtas. Will the Government freeze the value of land when it is zoned for residential development? I will believe it when I see it.

It is incredible that the Minister states that the LDA will provide affordable housing. As he stated, 60% of those houses will be sold for private use. We will be lucky if the price of such houses starts at €320,000. For the majority of people in Ireland, that is not affordable housing. Why does the State not build those houses?

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