Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Government's decision announced by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage yesterday to ban co-living. It signals a really decisive and important shift in the policy of the Government and the State towards the provision of housing. When the concept of co-living was introduced in 2018, it was probably well intentioned but it certainly was never going to deliver quality homes for life, homes for families or homes for people living in our cities.

I note the recent decision by Dublin city councillors to reject the proposal for the development of a very valuable State-owned site on the north side at Oscar Traynor Road. That site for those Members who do not know it, is a site of State-owned land encompassing roughly 17 ha and it has the potential to deliver more than 800 desperately needed homes. I seek an update from the Leader on when the Minister will come to the House to debate housing issues generally. I would specifically like these two items on the agenda for that debate. The Oscar Traynor road site presents an amazing opportunity for the Government and the State to demonstrate their clear commitment to the provision of public housing on public land. The land is owned by the State and is serviced land. The Government can access borrowings at almost negative interest rates in some instances. The local authority needs to be supported to deliver social and affordable homes both to rent and to purchase on that site. I would appreciate if the Leader could give us an update on when the Minister will come to the House to debate those issues with us.