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

I will deal with the amendments shortly but if anything, having an agency that will ensure that State land comes out and into the market, for want of a better term, that in itself could have a very significantly positive effect with regard to land price and cost, etc., because we will be activating lands for use. We reckon that we have enough zoned and serviced State land to deliver about 114,000 homes across the country but what is happening with it? Very little and that is why this Government wants to get to grips with this through the LDA to deliver it. In some instances it will mean partnering with the private sector and I do not see anything wrong with that as we need homes for people. We can either have the ideological discussion back and forth and say that I want this but do not want it this way. As I said earlier on, we are 26,000 homes behind in two years because of Covid-19 and we really do not have that luxury. Some of the instances and concerns that the Senator has raised will just not come to pass because they are protected against already. We can live in a world in which conspiracy exists or we can look towards what the reality of the situation is.We want an increase in the delivery of housing across the State and, in particular, on affordable housing where it is so acutely needed. I remind the Senators opposite that the budget passed for 2021 was the biggest public housing budget in the history of the State. I accept that the Covid pandemic has affected delivery, but we will get back and make up for lost time. Some €2.1 billion in capital has been allocated. We need to ensure that we keep up social housing provision, but that we are also delivering affordable homes and cost-rental homes as provided for when we passed the Affordable Housing Bill earlier without any dissent in the House. That is a good thing.

One of the key principles of the legislation relates to delivery of affordable housing. Amendments Nos. 13 and 14 make reference to speculation and exploitation. The subsection in the Bill provides that one of the purposes of the Act is to address deficiencies in the housing system and alleviate the shortage of land for housing where the market is experiencing a systemic housing shortage. It is very clear. I cannot accept amendments Nos. 13 and 14.

Amendment No. 34 seeks to insert a new provision that prevents the agency from permitting any private investment funds to purchase land. I remind Senators of what the Government has done recently. We have basically banned the bulk sale of all new properties. Section 57 deals with the disposal of land by the LDA and subsidiary DACs and provides that ministerial approval is required where the LDA or a subsidiary seeks to dispose of land. Ministerial approval is also required because of the change in legislation I introduced very recently where more than one house is being sold as part of a linked transaction. That is specific to the LDA. The agency will not be able to dispose of more than one house to a single purchaser without seeking ministerial approval. That is what we have done. I think the Senator will recognise the importance of that.

Of course, there will be occasions where it may be appropriate to sell more than one home, such as where the LDA is selling to an AHB, perhaps for cost rental, or to a local authority. Ministerial consent would not be required for the disposal of a single house for sale or purchase, but it will be required for multiple units. We are well covered in that space. I know the point the Senator is making. We do not need to see speculation or exploitation, but the Bill as it is structured is all about releasing idle public land for productive use, which will have a calming effect on the rest of the market because we are getting more land into the market to build homes for our people, which is what we wanted to do.

Therefore, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 13, 14 and 34.