Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Warfield's amendment, which was accepted, was mentioned and this discussion has been useful.

Amendment No. 2 adds public-public partnerships and not-for-profit arrangements to the existing arrangements, but Senator Higgins noted that I accepted a Committee Stage amendment to section 6 to include "arrangements with co-operatives, community housing trusts and other not for profit bodies" through which housing authorities will be able to provide affordable dwellings, particularly for purchase. We will use their expertise straight away on the cost-rental side to show proof of concept. They have been good at managing properties. They are good partners for us in the delivery of housing and I support them greatly.

The Senator's amendment requires some work in respect of the legal soundness of the definition. I intend to table a further amendment on Committee Stage in the Dáil and I will reference this amendment when I do so. I intend that the amended provision will encompass the totality of partners that we need to cover. For the avoidance of doubt, we must get the definition right. We are working on that.

In implementing this legislation, we want to ensure that whoever we partner with has the appropriate level of housing knowledge, skills and expertise. Since we have all that work done, we can start delivering affordable homes, including cost rentals and affordable purchases, this year. That is why it is important that we pass the Bill in advance of the summer.

In that context, I propose to consider this matter on Committee Stage in the Dáil. I will reference the Senator's amendment. Since she needs to do a little more work on the definition, I cannot accept the amendment in its current form, but I commit to addressing it on Committee Stage in the Dáil.