Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

Deputy Niall Collins put forward a fair suggestion. Unless significant damage has been done to a vacated house, it should be possible to re-allocate it within six weeks. I speak as somebody who lived all my life in a local authority house. While local authorities may not have adequate maintenance staff to do the necessary work, where minor repairs or repainting are required I am eager to see them being proactive in providing funds so that people can complete the work themselves in order to move in. That would obviously be subject to examination by a clerk of works so that the repairs are done to a proper standard. Any work that takes more than four or five weeks is getting into the "unacceptable" zone. I have no doubt that the housing needs assessment, which was undertaken on 31 March and will be available within the next three to five months, will show a significant increase and I will buy Deputy Boyd Barrett a pint if I am wrong. That is why we must get this issue right as part of the overall social housing programme. I am prepared to take any suggestions as to what Deputies regard as a reasonable time period. I am considering a period of six to eight weeks but that may be too short.

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