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

I am committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to all and that is reflected in the programme for Government. I believe in home ownership and I have restated that on many occasions. I will come good on the programmes made in the programme. The programme details a wide range of measures to be brought forward over the lifetime of the Government to firmly put affordability back at the centre of the housing system.

This includes, for example, ensuring our local authorities are central to the delivery of housing solutions, the progression of State-backed affordable housing programmes and the development of a cost rental model that creates affordability for tenants. These are things most of us would agree with.

The Land Development Agency has also been tasked with working with Departments, local authorities, State agencies and other stakeholders, and it is assembling large and strategic sites to deliver social and affordable homes for rent and purchase. This is a key priority of mine and I have engaged extensively with key delivery partners and other stakeholders to foster a broad consensus on issues and, most importantly, potential solutions.

The Department is working to complete this required work to bring forward the detailed plans that will deliver on the programme for Government commitment. As I have said previously, including in the House, I will outline these detailed plans in the autumn, informed by the budget 2021 process. It is a firm commitment in the programme for Government. I believe in affordable housing for purchase and rent. I voted in the Chamber in opposition for this very thing when others opposed it. Working together we can deliver a good and robust affordable purchase and affordable rental scheme.

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