I call Deputy Rabbitte and in doing so thank Deputy Kenny and the Tánaiste for their co-operation in keeping to the time allocated.

I ask the Tánaiste about the commitment in the programme for Government to introduce legislation, in line with the recommendations of the all-party Oireachtas committee on the Constitution, on property rights. InThe Irish Times today he will see a story that explains that the State has paid €81 million for school sites since 2002 and that there have been a number of outrageous attempts to get the State to buy back a site for a school at rezoned values. The Tánaiste’s colleagues in government, the Green Party Ministers, in particular the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, have made a point of this commitment to bring forward legislation to implement the all-party committee recommendations on the acquisition of land. This is a major issue in respect of housing because such measures as were in place were changed by the Government at the request of developers, the result being that the number of social and affordable units has been much lower than it might otherwise have been. Essentially, it provides for the compulsory acquisition of land at existing value plus 25%. The all-party committee concluded, as the Tánaiste is aware, that there was no constitutional impediment, if the exigencies of the common good so required, to acquiring land for the provision of housing, schools and so on using such a formula. Deputy Sargent looks like he approves of my reading the programme for Government. I hope it helps him in getting the matter brought quickly before the House.

Forgive me for interrupting, Deputy Rabbitte, but your time has expired.

I thank you, Sir. I just ask the Tánaiste when it will be brought forward.

Obviously, it is the intention of the Government to honour all of our commitments in the programme for Government, as negotiated, over the period of office of the Government. I cannot indicate to Deputy Rabbitte at this remove, not having the line responsibility, as to when and how we can proceed with the continuing examination of that issue and come forward with a means by which we can deal with this question of an integrated planning framework, particularly in areas that have seen very rapid development, to ensure there are amenities and infrastructure in place commensurate with the residential and other development that has taken place in some of these areas. It is the intention of the Government that the Minister with the line responsibility will in due course come to Government with proposals on the way those issues can be dealt with.

I hope the Tánaiste will forgive me for saying that there is nothing at all in that answer. I observed your time strictures, Sir, because I merely wanted to know when that legislation would be brought before the House.

There have been grossly scandalous and outrageous excessive profit taking in the housing market, as the Tánaiste will be aware. It has been obscene for a dozen years. The result is that it takes approximately 11 times an annual salary to purchase a house. It is beyond the reach of most people on reasonable incomes. Some 50% of the cost is due to the acquisition of the site.

The Government has this proposition in its programme for Government. The Tánaiste was one of the negotiators. He is speaking like a man who is not all that familiar with it. Does this mean that he is lukewarm? I am not trying to frighten the horses in the Galway tent, seeing that we are coming up to that time of the year, but as Tánaiste and as acting head of Government this morning, he should be able to tell the House when he intends to bring forward these proposals. What is the shape of them? Does Deputy Sargent continue to retain the strong conviction about this issue that he held when on this side of the House? Will we make any attempt to end the rip-off that has been going on in this area and when are we likely to see the shape of the proposals?

I think it is reasonable for me to state, as I have, that it is our intention to proceed with the implementation of the programme for Government during the tenure of office of this Administration, that the priorities outlined there are ones with which line Ministers will now proceed having taken up office within the past few weeks, and that, as Deputy Rabbitte will be aware, it will be the responsibility of the line Minister concerned to come to Government for consideration of proposals to implement any commitments in the programme for Government.

On housing policy generally, it is our intention — and we have provided in the national development plan sufficient funding — to meet in full the commitments in the NESC report relating to social and affordable housing. I am glad that output in this area is considerably higher than it was a decade ago and that the Central Bank sees a move to an easing of output to approximately 60,000 to 65,000 units per year as being the one that will best ensure supply meeting continuing demand in the future. The thrust of what we must accomplish in the coming months and years is to achieve a soft landing in that respect.

That completes Leaders' Questions. I thank Deputies Kenny and Rabbitte and the Tánaiste for their co-operation in the implementation of the Standing Order.