John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader for a debate on housing. The ESRI has confirmed the current boom is expected to continue. It has projected single figure growth in the price of housing. This is on top of the exceptionally high cost of housing in cities, especially in Dublin. Auctioneers have referred to the possibility of double digit growth. In light of the situation where a large proportion of land is already designated, the debate should include an examination of the use-it-or-lose-it policy whereby builders with development land who have not used it within a set time would lose their planning permission.

The debate should also include discussion on the possibility of giving tax relief to commuters, as is done in some Scandinavian countries, on the basis of kilometres travelled. Provision was made in the national development plan and the national spatial strategy for better transport services for commuters in outlying areas. It would be a good idea to allow 30 cent per kilometre as a tax relief to incentivise people to move out from cities. This matter is once again becoming an urgent crisis.