Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome any opportunity we have to debate the number one issue in the country, namely, the provision of housing. As housing spokesperson for Fianna Fáil, I enter this debate with an open mind. I wish to place on record - we have said it time and again - that we believe the reduction from 20% to 10% under Part V was a regressive step on the part of the previous Government. I am of the view that 10% is too low. We must also look at the consequences of increasing it from 10% to 25%, which seems like a significant jump. The percentage is 30% under strategic development zones. We need to look at how that delivers.

Deputy Ó Broin and the Minister have acknowledged that regardless of the political hats we wear and the parties to which we belong, all of us in this House know that rents are out of control. My biggest concern is that an entire generation of people will never be able to aspire to own their own homes. This is why Fianna Fáil insisted and worked hard in confidence and supply to ensure an affordable housing fund of €310 million was put aside over the next three years - €100 million per year - to establish an affordable housing scheme whereby individuals and couples could purchase their own homes. That is a fundamental part of getting people back in and I want to see that delivered. What we tried to do was use our mandate in a constructive way but also to be critical. I have been very critical of Government policy from time to time but I have also come forward with our alternatives and other suggestions. This is why I welcome the Bill. It does not try to do anything other than put forward another viewpoint and another solution. We need to increase housing delivery.

There is one issue that Deputy Ó Broin might address. I want to follow on from the point made by the Minister about the apparent over-reliance on the private sector. I agree with the Minister about that. I have been very strong and clear in saying that public housing should be built by the State on public land as well. We have enough zoned and serviced State-owned land to deliver approximately 114,000 homes and we should be doing that. I welcome direct build and building on State-owned land. In Deputy Ó Broin's constituency recently, mixed schemes were voted down by councillors. I understand that some Sinn Féin councillors opposed it. There will be local reasons. As someone who represents Dublin Fingal, I have always put on the record the fact that I have supported every social housing scheme that has been proposed in my county since I entered politics in 2004. I have never objected to one nor have any of my colleagues and we will not do so in the future. We need engagement with local communities but, fundamentally, people need homes. Fianna Fáil believes in that. It is a core belief. It comes down to delivery. It involves ramping up supply. The targets in Rebuilding Ireland are for in the region of 50,000 public homes between now and 2021. We need to see an increase in that. If this means some increase in Part V in order to deliver it, that is fine. This year, three quarters of all social homes will be delivered by the private sector. That is an over-reliance on the private sector. We need to make sure the balance struck is correct. I would like to see a focus on housing delivery on State-owned land. This is why we insisted on an increase in the discretionary cap from €2 million to €6 million in our budget negotiations with the Government in order to give local authorities more autonomy to allow them to build, relieve the Customs House of some of the work it is doing and streamline the process. I would like to see that cap increase to €10 million so we can have local authority estates of up to 40 or 50 homes being built without having to go through the 59 week, four-stage procurement process.

My concern in respect of the Bill relates to unintended consequences. To be honest, I have not made a definitive decision on it. I wanted to hear the debate here this evening. I would like to see the Part V level increase. There was an over-reliance on Part V on the part of previous Governments, including those led by Fianna Fáil. The correct thing to do has been to halt cash in lieu and moving sites but when this is done, it automatically reduces the percentage delivery under Part V through putting in those restrictions. We could have brought forward a Bill saying that we want 40% Part V because it would deliver more homes but we really need to look at what that would mean. We are about delivery, an affordable housing scheme and more public housing. Rents are out of control. Year on year, we are looking at about 11% in Dublin while rents nationally are 30% above the 2008 peak. We need to house people in permanent homes that are secure for them.

See this speech in context