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

We will allow the local authority to decide that. It will be above the Part V requirement. From 1 August onwards, any development that comes forward for planning will need to include 10% social housing and 10% affordable housing. We are saying the new thresholds will be above that. Our LDA legislation prescribes that in Dublin, Cork and other areas with population centres of more than 150,000, all developments from the LDA may comprise 100% social and affordable housing. People said that was not possible and we could not do it. There is a minimum requirement for 50% affordable housing in those developments. We are doing what we said we would do. The Senator and I can tease this out further on Report Stage. I thought it appropriate to bring this in under this legislation.

Local authorities are now in the process of putting together their housing delivery plans which they must submit to me next month for sign-off. They know what their capital budgets will be between now and 2026. They have certainty around their budget and we want to give them certainty around social housing, which they have. I want them to be able to tell me what percentages and proportions in a given area should be affordable housing, owner-occupier housing, private rental housing and cost rental. The private rental market is still required. We, as a Government, introduced cost rental. It did not exist 12 months ago and there are now families in cost-rental homes. The rents average 50% below market rents. That is happening. Next year will be a year of delivery.

I appreciate the positive comments in this regard. I do not intend to detain the House any further. We can talk about these issues as we move through the other Stages. I thank the Senators for their input.