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

There will be a number of measures to help us deliver the affordable homes we need. One will be the Affordable Housing Bill, which I hope the Deputy's party and others will support, and another is the Land Development Agency, which will enable us to use our State land productively. I was taken aback when Deputy Ó Broin and his party admitted they wanted a Land Development Agency but do not want a State agency involved in residential development or building and, more strikingly, the Deputy said on the record of the committee that he does not want to master plan for housing.

The State owns enough land to deliver about 114,000 homes for our people, and probably more. We need to utilise the State land we have, get it into the market and use it productively. I have been focusing with colleagues on getting the Land Development Agency legislation passed before the recess. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating very soon when we see whether the Deputy and his party support the legislation. Alternatively, will they continue to let their perfect be the enemy of the good for all?

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