Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will share my time with the Minister. I again thank the Social Democrats for tabling the motion. It is important that we discuss this important topic. It is also fair to say, despite what was said, that we all want the same thing. There is a shared ambition in the House for increased home ownership, increased housing delivery, decreased rents and ending homelessness. Despite that, it is a mischaracterisation to say that our interests are developer-led. They are not. We are interested in helping the same people that the people on the other side of the House are interested in helping.

It is clear that, despite the progress we have made under Housing for All, we need to increase supply. We need to get to approximately 50,000 houses per year. To do that will cost around €20 billion per annum. The State's contribution at the moment is in or around €6 billion. Whether or not that increases - everything is on the table and it may well increase - the fact of the matter is there still remains a deficit of approximately €14 billion. The State cannot do that on its own. We cannot fill that gap on our own. It is, therefore, important that we have input from private investors. However, as soon as we suggest that it is completely mischaracterised. We hear accusations that we are only out there for the developers and that the Celtic tiger is back. That is simply not true and is a mischaracterisation of the truth.

We constantly hear the Housing Commission being referenced in these debates. We are putting on the table and suggesting solutions that have been put forward by that commission. One solution is that we have a diverse and stable source of funding, which includes funding and sources of investment from private investors. I have also constantly heard during today's debate that the RPZs are gone and we are getting rid of rent caps. Nothing of that sort is being suggested. A review is going on. It is only right that we review and look over what we have done so far. To say that we are ending rent caps or that RPZs are gone is, again, a mischaracterisation.

Deputy Hearne mentioned a mother living in emergency accommodation and a baby being born there. Of course, that is unacceptable. That is something we all want to see an end to. Deputy Catherine Connolly referenced people living in tents. These are situations that are unacceptable that we want to see an end to. The Deputies are right to bring these up and this is their opportunity to raise those issues, but what we never hear from the Opposition is how Housing for All has helped people and where it has been a success, which it has. In my constituency, I have seen hundreds of people get secure tenure from social housing under Housing for All. That is something we never hear about. I know these people. They have keys to their houses and are very glad of interventions from Housing for All. We never hear of those people who availed of the help-to-buy scheme and simply would not have a house without that scheme. We never hear of those people who have availed of the vacant property scheme. Housing for All has helped. It is not perfect but it has helped, although of course we need to do more. We also hear about emigration and people going to Australia quite often in this debate, but we never hear about those who are coming back, which they are. They are coming back in their droves. I know them. They are friends and people my age, and both younger and older, who are coming back. That is something we do not hear about.

We need to have a mature debate on this. I welcome the debate but there has to be room for the private sector to fill that gap. That is quite clear.

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