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

The changes will take place from the time of the commencement notice being signed for new permissions. A transition period is allowed for someone who has purchased already. There is a period of five years when the 10% will apply but there is an activation measure where if it is not developed, an additional 10% will apply to the land. For any new land purchase after the commencement order is signed, where someone lodges a planning application later this year, for example, there will be a requirement of 10% social housing and 10% affordable housing. Existing permissions were granted on the basis of the legislation that was in place at that stage. This change applies to future permissions. It will ensure that we will have affordable housing as well as the social units across the country, wherever housing is developed. I have been at pains to say that we support people in the honest, just and noble aspiration that they have to own their own home. This will help. It is another measure on top of the shared equity scheme and affordable housing directly built by local authorities. This is Part V housing, which ensures that the private sector also delivers affordable homes as well as social housing.