Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

In doing that I also sought a means of extracting something from developers. Whether we like it, the planning permissions due to wither had no impact on developers in terms of their obligations under the Part V provisions because they did not come under them. There was no obligation on them in terms of the provision of social or affordable housing, community gain or contribution to local authorities.

Having taken all views on board, I considered that the maintenance of the sites and the retention of full-time planning would be good for supply in the housing market and welcomed by all first-time buyers and other purchasers. I also considered, in anticipation of the views expressed in the House, the possibility of securing a community gain, which was not part of the planning permissions. I hope Senators will accept that much as I would have wished, I was unable to apply the Part V 20% provision retrospectively to them. In view of this I decided to introduce a levy to provide funding for local authorities and thereby create more volume in the market place. I balanced a number of factors in deciding on the kind of levy to be imposed, including the cost of housing, deliverability and the provision of money for the social and affordable housing funds of local authorities.