Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that. I want to tease it out. I am genuinely open to the proposition in front of us. I have spoken to representatives of a number of smaller, more rural, local authorities who have indicated that even with the serviced sites fund, the delivery of affordable homes within the price point I would like could be difficult. In his second response I would like to pin the Minister down a little more. Is he saying that this provision would not be usable, for example, for an individual or a couple in Dublin purchasing a house on a private housing estate at €300,000, to bring the price down? In a smaller rural area, where there might not be affordable housing schemes, or where the local authority might not be doing a large affordable housing scheme, could more appropriately-priced private dwelling be acquired in small numbers? The affordable housing fund discount will be applied to allow people to buy at those lower price points of €160,000 to €230,000. If that is what the Minister is proposing, I do not have a concern about that. I would like him to be as explicit as possible on what he intends to do with the regulations in this regard. There is a specific problem with the way the serviced sites fund could operate, for example, in counties Kilkenny, Carlow or Mayo. If this is a way of resolving that, I am open to considering it. I would like the Minister to be more specific.

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