Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The NESC report deals with the issue of homeownership. It is why I am pleased this Government has brought forward so many proposals which will seek to increase the level of homeownership and provide an increase in social and cost-rental housing. These are all measures that essentially provide more housing for more people. That is what is at the heart of Housing for All.

You only have to look at the measures that have been taken forward. There are 20 public housing sites in my constituency, all of which comprise public housing on public land and all of which are being driven by approved housing bodies, AHBs, and being done by local authorities. They are part of a State affordable purchase scheme being developed by organisations such as Ó Cualann and Dublin City Council. They are cost-rental and social housing schemes. We have increased the income limits making more people eligible for those social homes. We have brought in new income limits, effectively for cost-rental or council housing, for those people earning above the income limits, albeit not a differential rent, which provides secure tenancies for the entirety of their lives.

It is continuously championed in the House that this Government relies on the private market to deliver housing, but that belies the very fact that Housing for All is based on an incredibly strong public housing programme.

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