Housing Commission report
Deputy Murphy argued the leaked Housing Commission report showed Government housing policy was failing and too reliant on private developers. The Taoiseach rejected that reading, said a mix of private, social, affordable and cost-rental housing is needed, and explained the report's publication process.
I heard the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions trying to distract from the reality that, if the leaks are accurate, the Housing Commission's report is absolutely damning for the Government. The Taoiseach seems to accept the fact that it calls for a radical reset of housing policy. It would not be calling for that if housing policy was basically correct. It reveals we have "one of the highest levels of public expenditure for housing, yet one of the poorest outcomes". Why is that? It is because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael prefer to funnel billions of euro to private developers and corporate landlords as opposed to using money directly through a State construction company to build housing. The Taoiseach spoke earlier defending the idea of developer-led planning because developers are the ones who build housing.
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That is precisely the problem; the Taoiseach thinks housing can only be delivered primarily on the basis of profit.
I have a few quick questions.
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Has the Taoiseach any idea why or on what basis this report was leaked? If it had not been leaked, would he still have published it this week or would he have waited until after the upcoming elections? Will he accept the basic conclusions, for example-----
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-----that we should be aiming for a target of 20% of our national housing stock to be social and cost rental?
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I do not believe that the only way to deliver houses is through the private market but I do believe that it is part of the way. I believe we need a mix. I believe we need private developers and builders, we need social and affordable housing and we need cost rental. I believe we need a whole variety.
As regards when the report was due to be published, the Minister received it on 8 May. My understanding was the Minister was working up a response to the 83 recommendations and was due to bring a memorandum to Government and then publish the report. That would generally be the way. Now there is partial information in the public domain. The Deputy does not know the recommendations. This House has not seen the recommendations. I have not had an opportunity to read the 400 pages of the report, but I will be doing so now. It makes sense to publish the report this week so that we can have an informed debate.