Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make three points. I am conscious of the order of the House today, so I will be brief because many other Senators have tabled amendments.

Amendment No. 19 has been tabled in the same spirit as my previous amendment, which was amendment No. 9, in that it ensures that the cost to the person availing of housing is affordable. Affordability is a key issue, which Senators Moynihan and Higgins discussed in great detail on Committee Stage. The amendment allows for rent to vary from person to person, providing more flexibility and mixed income communities, which are important and something that the Government supports fully. I am favourably disposed towards cost rental. It works and is a good mechanism and I support it. I believe in cost rental in the truest sense of the term. By "affordable", I mean that the rent is no greater than the building, management and maintenance costs of the property. Those are the key planks underpinning my proposal. This would eliminate the speculative aspect of housing and reinforce the idea of homes as a social good and, indeed, a social necessity. Perhaps a nice house has been built somewhere but its cost is a bit higher than normal. This amendment, which ties cost rental to the income of the applicant, would allow for someone who wanted to pay a bit more to get a bit more. That should not pose a problem. At the same time, it also allows people on lower incomes to get a cost rental home at a rent that is affordable.Clearly this is what everyone is trying to achieve. I would like to think this amendment is acceptable. I do not think it is controversial. I am conscious this will be my last time speaking in the debate and I am fully behind what everyone is trying to do. It is important that we tease out these issues. People have varying perspectives and views and it is important to respect those views. I thank the Minister of State and the Minister. I look forward to hearing what the Minister of State has to say.