Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)

I appreciate the Minster's detailed response. He did not answer my questions on the consultation with the institute of planners, the architects or the Irish Wheelchair Association. It is deeply regrettable that they clearly were not consulted and there was not proper engagement with them. If there had been there would be a different outcome to this, so it is deeply regrettable.

The Minister referenced people buying these apartments. How many people does he think bought a newly-built apartment in Dublin in the last couple of years? It is a handful. None of these apartments being built are going to be bought by anybody. They are all going to be build-to-rent or they will be social housing, and there is a massive question about micro-social housing units where people will be forced into overcrowding. Again, is this about jacking up numbers without concern for quality and liveability? I cannot remember whether it was the Tánaiste or someone else who was talking about how this is a measure that will help people buy their own home. They will get one of these apartments and they will go on the property ladder. Nobody is going to be buying these apartments. They are not for sale. They are all build-to-rent. It is delusional, and actually downright misleading, to say anybody is going to be buying these apartments. The Government is not building apartments for sale. Nobody can buy a home.

No young person can buy any of the new homes that are being built in Dublin. In my constituency it is apartments to rent at rents no-one can afford. That is the fundamental problem and there was and is an alternative. We have set it out. With the homes for Ireland savings scheme we could be leveraging the billions that are in savings accounts – which is private finance – into affordable housing. The Taoiseach and the Minister have said we are putting forward no solutions and the State needs private finance, so there is a source of private finance. It is done in France through the Livret A scheme, through the accounts, and it funds billions in affordable and social housing delivery. Michelle Norris of the Housing Commission said very clearly this could be a solution and my question is why is the Minister not putting into that the effort he is putting into ramming through this legislation.

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