Seanad debates

Friday, 28 May 2021

Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage

 

9:30 am

Photo of Fintan WarfieldFintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I understand that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, has informed the House that he will be here at some point today. I also look forward to that but in the meantime, I welcome the Minister of State and look forward to positive engagement with him. Good ideas come from this side of the House. We have tabled 106 amendments today, which shows the genuine interest that we show in this Bill. I want to add my voice in respect of amendment No. 3, in terms of removing an open market dwelling from Part 2.The phrase "open market dwelling" means that the affordable housing scheme could be used to help people purchase homes at massively inflated prices. A couple, friends of mine who have no children and a good mortgage have made an offer on a house in Inchicore. It is what we might call a Sims house and is typical of the many houses one would see in Cabra, Drimnagh, Inchicore or Crumlin. It went on the market at €315,000. As a result of various bids, the price has risen by €100,000 in a short period. I urge the Minister of State to accept amendment No. 3 in order to remove the phrase "open market dwelling". We will soon find out who is bidding on that house in Inchicore and why the price has risen by €100,000 in a short period. I urge the Minister of State to accept the amendment and remove the possibility of massively inflated prices.

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