Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Land Development Agency Bill has not yet been seen in these Houses. It is a matter of considerable worry to many that this body is claimed to have been established even though the legislation for its existence has not yet been passed. As I travel through this city every day, I see student residence buildings running up rapidly all around. I see hotels being built everywhere. I have no doubt that tax incentives lie behind the student accommodation boom. However, there seems to be little or nothing happening in the city centre in respect of building living accommodation for ordinary people who want to live and work here. I am not making a partisan point. I want the Leader to know I am not trying to score any points. I am merely saying that we must have this dealt with as an emergency. Homelessness is an emergency, high rents are an emergency and the amount of money being poured into landlords' pockets in inflated rents through HAP is an emergency issue. The shortage of decent accommodation is an emergency and it should be dealt with as such. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to come to the House for a reasonable discussion with Members as to when we can envisage this legislation being brought through the Houses and how the agency will deal with the matter. The market does not work.