Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State. The situation is extreme with close to 100,000 people on social housing waiting lists yet we are only talking about 8,000 to 10,000 accommodation places. This is completely unacceptable. The social housing budget has been drastically cut by almost 20% and long-term leasing is not achieving any value for money for the taxpayer. There should be an opportunity for equity in these homes to be purchased so that the taxpayer gets more bang for the buck. The rental accommodation scheme spent €441 million of taxpayers' money in 2008 and with very little to show for it. These people need permanent accommodation. People in social housing do not want to be moved from house to house and from city to city. The Minister of State's priority should be to give them permanent accommodation and to give them a place called home. I await the Minister of State's response and that there will be an opportunity for equity to be purchased in these homes rather than the money being given to developers yet again.

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