Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a little concerned. It is one thing to have the idea that there are certain ancillary facilities, and I know that is recognised around childcare and other supports that are needed in regard to the residential developments. However, I am concerned that, in the Minister's reply, he focused very heavily on what developers want.What developers want, I have heard, is the commercial piece and the financial viability. We know we have an over-inflated market in which large profits are to be made. The Minister referenced commercial activity adding to the financial attractiveness of large-scale residential development. As we have had so many provisions and such a long record of provisions that are geared towards incentivising, supporting, enticing and encouraging investment in residential development, the balancing of that with ensuring we are clear on what kinds of activities will be there matters. It matters because if we have a particular kind of commercial activity attached to a large-scale residential development, that may have significant implications for other commercial actors in an area, including long-established ones. We know the difference when new sites get developed and it may be to the detriment of a main street.

There are a lot of considerations in this. I accept it cannot all be housing and do not really have a problem with the amount but it would be useful to have more clarity around what kinds of things will and will not be in that 30% space, which is quite a large space. One of the amendments provides that it could be as much as 50%. We have the scope that the 70% figure could be replaced by another figure. That raises concerns. If the case for these kinds of provisions and special measures is residential, we need to ensure that things that are residential or supportive of residential happen in a development that benefits from these measures.

Perhaps the Minister or colleagues across the House may want to bring a nuance to the amendment. There may be exemptions or exceptions in terms of holiday time. The problem at the moment is there is no protection and we have seen situations where students are effectively being required to vacate. They are working until the end of a term with a huge course load, things they need to do and exams they need to prepare for. In the case of international students, sometimes they have nowhere to go that is not priced at holiday prices. They may be in a vulnerable situation. It is a seller's market on student accommodation so they will not necessarily be in a position to refuse a situation where they are being required to vacate their home during a holiday period. We need to get the balance better on that and let it be an exception that holiday periods be excepted. Let there be mechanisms around that exception rather than a general provision that students are only protected during term time.