Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased with the announcement made by the National Asset Management Agency that it has identified 4,000 houses under its control which would be suitable for social housing, in other words, to accommodate those who are most in need. According to NAMA, 2,000 of these homes will be ready in the next three years. To date, the agency has transferred only 397 units to the social housing programme. Without meaning any disrespect to NAMA, this is a derisory figure, particularly as 10,000 units under its control are being rented in the private rented sector. On foot of the announcement and in advance of the upcoming, broader negotiations in the budget, I seek a debate on the role of the construction sector in the economy. Every ten jobs created in the sector delivers an additional seven jobs in the wider economy.

The capital commitment to social housing provision has fallen off a cliff. In that regard, I welcome the recent announcement by the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, of an additional stimulus in the social housing sector.

We are falling very far short of what it is needed for social housing. At the moment more than 98,000 households are on the social housing waiting list. NESC has estimated - others have agreed with it - that we need 9,000 units a year to deal with the social housing demand and we are coming nowhere near that.

In the context of the upcoming budget debates, this House has discussed in the past ways to stimulate the economy. We have all received the pre-budget submissions and it is time for this House to have its chance to outline what needs to be done. It is high time we started talking in real terms about the so-called social gain that the people were supposed to get from the NAMA housing stock.