Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I will confine myself to asking where the Minister was last week.

I was born in a house in the west Kerry town of Dingle. When I was growing up all human life, including people who owned factories and small businesses, tradespeople, unemployed people, people with a farm at the edge of town and elderly people living off the old age pension, could be found nearby. If one went into the pub on a Saturday night, one might find the factory owner having a drink with a bank porter or the bank manager having a drink with a farm labourer. Nobody passed any heed of this and I am grateful such an atmosphere still obtains in the area in which I live in north County Dublin.

People of my age group, those with whom I attended college and who came to live in the big city, will soon find unacceptable the idea of individuals of a lower social class moving into their estates. The worst feature of the legislation is that it will lead to social apartheid. My other major criticism of it is that the level of fine is not sufficiently high. Less than two weeks ago I informed the Taoiseach that we needed a housing policy incorporating a series of measures, including one to fine people who do not build on their lands. I welcome the introduction of such a measure in the legislation.

In the 1930s the State compulsorily purchased land which was then zoned for development and made available at cost – in other words, the combined cost of purchasing and developing the land. The farmer who sold it also received a premium. We need to remember that land costs, not building costs, are increasing the price of houses. The Government should admit it has failed in this area and announce its intention to buy up and sell land for housing. One of the pension management groups could do it and pay commercial rates without excluding people.

A recent survey of the availability of houses, etc., by Davy Kelleher McCarthy indicated that Los Angeles with a population of 12 million or so would fit comfortably into the space between Dublin and Portlaoise. We should remember this.