Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We need a rental market. Does the Deputy not get that? In addition to other markets, we need a rental market. We need more supply. We need affordable houses and more social houses. Last night is just one measure in regard to one area. The Government is coming up with a range of initiatives in housing, the most important being substantial allocation of funding for the largest ever social housing programme over the next five years. We want to provide 50,000 social houses. The Government has provided €690 million in the 2021 budget for affordability, including for the first national cost rental scheme, which will provide homes at 25% below market price. Those are the kinds of positive measures we are introducing and the Deputy is voting against. Why is she voting against good measures that will provide affordable housing to ordinary people? The affordable housing Bill will do just that. It will introduce the first scheme of direct State-built affordable houses. A total of €310 million has been allocated for the serviced sites fund to deliver approximately 6,200 homes.

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