Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Having listened to his response to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, I am still at a loss as to why he intends to give up to €144,000 per apartment to developers so they may do the job that they and, indeed, the Government believe they are capable of doing. Through the Chair, I will once again ask who initiated the scheme. Who was around the table when the Government came up with this scheme? The Minister should feel free to interrupt me now. He has rolled his eyes and jumped in at various points. Who helped him to initiate the scheme? Are any independent commentators advocating for it? Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked several questions. I will repeat them and allow time for the Minister to answer them, if he wishes to do so. As the Minister hands out €450 million worth of State assets, what independent analysis was carried out on this policy? He should feel free to interrupt me.

He asked about what the Social Democrats stands for. We stand for evidence-based policies. That is why we are asking for an independent analysis. Why are we asking the Minister for it? Because we are conscious of our history. We are conscious of the Galway tent. When one becomes conscious of the scandals of one's nation's history, one starts to see them replicated in different ways. When we hear of €450 million going to developers, we have every reason to ask why that is happening and who benefits - cui bono-and we make no apologies for doing so. The Minister should again feel free to interrupt.

Are there any international examples to which he can point where the affordability of housing increased as a result of the state gifting huge sums of money to private developers without securing additional benefit for those seeking a home? Are there any benefits to Irish taxpayers in general, who are inevitably funding this enormous transfer of wealth? Why are there no affordability criteria locked into this massive subsidy?

I will accept absolutely no indignation from the Government when it comes to whom it deems worthy of State funding. Many Members throughout the Chamber act in different roles as spokespersons. Last night in this Chamber, I asked the Minister for Social Protection whether an artist with a disability, for example, who receives the minimum basic income should keep his or her blind pension or disability allowance. I was scoffed at and told that, of course, the Government has to scrutinise every cent in State subsidy. Why not apply the exact same standard in the context of this €450 million that is being gifted to developers just for doing their jobs and building apartments?

I am conscious this is the third time in seven years we have been told apartment buildings are so unviable for developers that the State must simply bend to their whim and on each occasion it has contributed to the worsening of our housing crisis and to the benefit of those who seek only to profit from it. In 2015, a former Minister with responsibility for housing and a former Labour Party Leader, Deputy Kelly, slashed Department guidelines, including the minimum size of apartments, because he said it would make them more affordable and would boost supply. It did not. In 2018, a former Minister, Eoghan Murphy, slashed guidelines for build-to-rent developments, further reducing apartment sizes and eliminating the need for apartment mix and outside space because he said it would make them more affordable. It did not. When one becomes conscious of one's State's history, one starts to see it replicated in different ways. It is clear what the Social Democrats stand for in this respect.

My colleague, Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, asked which side is the Minister on? It is a very reasonable question. We are ploughing through a scenario where €450 million of State assets will be transferred to developers. The Minister can feel free to tell me how that is not the case. At different times in this Chamber, as we discussed the housing crisis and solutions to it, we have been told of things we simply cannot do. The Minister told us a record number of commencements are beginning to happen. I want to believe him. I want to take what he said at face value. However, while that is happening, it will take a number of years to introduce. Therefore, why can we not introduce a rent freeze? That is what people are calling for. We have been told that simply cannot happen. Yet the Government can give €450 million to developers.

Over the weekend we were told the long sought-after vacant home tax simply may no longer come to fruition. We have had delay after delay and prevarication. It will simply not happen and that will be to the advantage of those who have benefited from the housing crisis. We have been asked to legislate to deal with short-term lets. We are told that simply cannot happen despite the fact it is clearly increasing the cost of rent throughout the country.

Deputy Cairns referenced the level of dereliction in her constituency. Many of us see such dereliction in our constituencies throughout the country. Funding of €450 million would go a very long way towards solving that problem but the Government intends to transfer it to developers.

I am at a loss as to why this Government, of which Fianna Fáil is a member, continues to want to give the scorpion a lift on its back. Once one become conscious of one's nation’s failures, one starts to see them replicated in different ways. That is all we can see happening from the introduction of this measure. The Social Democrats stand for evidence based policy that will alleviate this crisis. What does the Minister stand for?

See this speech in context