Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will speak to my amendments. I am trying to build on the same kind of points. "Social background" is problematic language. We discussed it at great length and quite philosophically during the Affordable Housing Bill so I will not rehash that. There were concerns across the House in relation to it. The question of income was raised. I give credit to the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for accepting my amendment on diverse, sustainable communities and diverse, intergenerational and sustainable inner-city communities. I may submit that language again. I encourage the Minister to consult the Minister of State because it would be useful if the same language was used in the Affordable Housing Bill and this Bill. It brings a wider and more holistic recognition of what we are trying to create, rather than the narrow idea of social background. I would also bear in mind that if we end up with what we are seeing, which is estates 20%, 30% or 40% owned by the same company, that is not giving us a meaningful social mix.

I will speak to amendment No. 11. I am concerned about the language. It suggests "sustainable development". I am all for that phrasing and for sustainable development goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities. However, "new and regenerated communities" contains an assumption that these are new communities or communities that need regeneration or have deteriorated. I propose the idea of "existing communities" because, in many cases, we have vibrant and thriving existing communities, inner-city communities in many cases, which have a growing housing need. We have a new generation who wish to remain and live there. In some cases, it is not a matter of regeneration. I worry that we could drift into language of gentrification when we talk about new or regenerated communities, rather than existing or expanded communities, which are also part of the picture. It is about the signal that sends.