Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with my colleague Senator Casey. The importance of the legislation relates to the flexibility. I know of specific similar cases in Wexford where in order to get the development up and running, we will need to attract in a private developer, and that will mean allowing for a mix of types of housing on the land. We could say about some of these sites that we will be very ideological and that there will be only social and affordable housing on the sites, but that may mean those homes will never be built. It is important that we do not tie people's hands.

The Minister has moved considerably, particularly in urban areas where it is almost easier to direct the building of social and affordable housing, but for many rural areas, that represents a much greater challenge. It should be acknowledged how far he has gone. Like Senator Casey, I am not in favour of a centralised control whereby the Minister would direct exactly what should be done throughout the country. With the Office of the Planning Regulator, we have seen some of the difficulties regarding allegedly centralised control.I do not think we should move to that situation. Local circumstances will demand a local response. As the Minister said earlier, if we could get more than 100,000 homes built solely on public land tomorrow morning, it would be fantastic. However, the problem is not going to be solved by a centrally driven ideological approach. It has to be examined case by case. Outside of the major urban areas, a partnership with the private sector may be required. If we were to take too rigid an approach, as per these amendments, it would present some problems.

Another question that needs to be asked, and which is core to some of the discussion around ideology, is what is the problem people have with the private sector? There is a notion that the private sector is some sort of evil body. In most cases, the private sector in local communities are local builders. They want to contribute to the construction of social and affordable homes, but they know they need to get the right mix within the local community. They are committed to the community. That may mean some private homes needs to be built on the site to make the overall project viable.

The Minister's flexibility on all of this should be acknowledged. It is essential we allow some flexibility, particularly outside of the major urban areas.