House Prices.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004

Thursday, 30 September 2004

Ceisteanna (5)

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

5 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received the report of the NESC on housing and building land; when it is expected that the report will be published; if he has completed his consideration of the results of the research he commissioned from a company (details supplied) into the ownership and control of building land in certain development areas, particularly Dublin, to determine whether current practices are retarding the overall delivery of building land or impeding long term market stability; when the results of the research will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22973/04]

Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)

Mr. Roche

My Department continues to examine possible measures to moderate land costs for housing and other essential public infrastructure with a view in particular to identifying policy initiatives capable of early implementation to deliver an increased supply of affordable housing. This touches on the issues debated in the House earlier.

As part of this process, my Department is considering in detail recommendations contained in the ninth progress report of the All-Party Committee on the Constitution on the subject of property rights. My Department is also considering the report on ownership and control of building land which was commissioned from Goodbody economic consultants. As Members of the House will know, the National Economic and Social Council has conducted a major study on housing and land policy and its report, which is expected to be finalised shortly, will also be very relevant in this regard. As already indicated, it is intended to publish the Goodbody report in conjunction with the NESC report.

Given the positive work the NESC has done, we should await the publication of its report with great interest. Certainly, I do. Past reports on housing produced by the NESC have been models in terms of the writing and the logic which underpinned them.

Mr. Gilmore

I join my colleague, Deputy Allen, in congratulating Deputy Roche on his appointment as Minister. I wish him well in office.

The Minister will be aware that the Goodbody report, which was commissioned by his predecessor rather than the NESC, has been in his Department since last December.

While I appreciate he has had less than 24 hours to consider its contents, his Department has had nine or ten months to do so. Why is the report not being published? Will the Minister give the House a commitment that he will publish it? Can he shed any light on why the NESC report is taking so long? An article in a newspaper some weeks ago purported to contain a version — I do not know what validity attached to that version of the report — of what was included in the NESC report, including a recommendation that State assistance be provided to first-time buyers by way of deposits on houses and on certain measures related to multiple home ownership and so on. Is a row in the NESC between certain interests delaying publication of the report? Is the Minister prepared to ask the NESC to publish the working documents under consideration by it?

Mr. Roche

I am not in a position to speculate on whether there have been disagreements within the NESC and if that explains the delay in publishing the report. There are diverse views within the NESC. The Deputy will be aware from the procedures to which the NESC operates that papers will be circulated. It was always my understanding that the NESC report was due in the autumn and in that regard it is not that overdue. I believe it is worth waiting for given that past reports on this area by the NESC, in its previous guises, have been worthwhile. I am not in a position to comment on whether the press reports are a preview of what will be contained in the final report as it is not yet available to me.

The Deputy is correct in saying the Goodbody report was completed last year. I think it was completed in December 2003 though I stand to be corrected on that. However, that was but one input into what is a multifaceted approach to studying the particular problem. Deputy Gilmore can be assured it will be published with the NESC report. When we have both reports, they can be considered in totality.

Mr. Gilmore

Why can it not be published separately? The Goodbody report dealt with a specific dimension of this problem — the ownership of development land in the Dublin area. The report of the all-party committee on building land is in the public domain. What is the secrecy surrounding the Goodbody report? It was never intended that the report would go to the NESC although I am sure it is interested in the report and would receive it when published. Sending the Goodbody report to the NESC is a delaying tactic and an excuse for not publishing it. I appreciate this is the Minister's first day at the Department. He is a fresh pair of hands. Given that we do not know when the NESC report will be published, will he consider publishing the Goodbody report as soon as he has had an opportunity of studying it? I do not see any reason that report should not be in the public domain.

Mr. Roche

The Deputy has made a reasonable suggestion. I do not believe there is an obvious intent to obfuscate the report nor do I believe there is much point in taking an incrementalist approach in this regard. I will take the Deputy's point on board should there be any undue delay in publishing the NESC report.