Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That attracted me to the waiting list for social housing in County Leitrim. The number is 1,622 with a population of 31,000 people, whereas in Galway city the corresponding number is 1,265. There is no comparison population wise. It raises some questions and the figures seem to raise some alarming concerns as well. Perhaps the Minister of State will comment on the county breakdown of social housing waiting lists and NAMA properties.

We believe there have been consistent delays in transferring NAMA properties and that there has been a failure by the Government to push forward with significant levels of transfers by the agency. In particular, local authorities require guidelines and administrative assistance to deal with the logistical and legal challenge of property transfers. Furthermore, voluntary housing associations have noted the administrative challenges of dealing with NAMA. While the Government is moving way away from direct supports to the housing sector, we believe it has failed to fundamentally redevelop the voluntary housing sector to meet the challenge of housing provision.

NAMA is committed to providing a social dividend in its work and utilising its property portfolio for local authority housing. Demand has been confirmed by local authorities for 1,515 of the properties that NAMA has made available. A further 799 properties are being evaluated bringing the overall total that may be deemed suitable to 2,316, potentially. However, in reality, as has been pointed out already, only 450 properties have been acquired to date. I am keen to hear the comments of the Minister of State in respect of the aspirations in terms of what NAMA has made available and what has actually been achieved as well as the reasons that there seems to be such a slow take-up. Perhaps it is do with the fact that a relatively small sum of money was put aside for NAMA social housing. We believe it has fallen short of the funds necessary to address the problem at hand.

The figures do not lie. There are approximately 100,000 households on the housing waiting lists in the State, equating to an estimated 200,000 plus citizens. Perhaps this is the nub of what Senator Kelly was saying, that is, this particular figure is probably not realistic and some people have gone on the waiting list to get rent supplement. I am keen to hear the analysis of the Minister of State analysis with regard to these figures and whether there is some truth or credence to what Senator Kelly has said.

I have no wish to attack the Government on its homelessness policy in any way. The last thing I want to do is to in any way impugn the integrity of the Minister of State in this regard. I believe the Minister of State is trying to walk up a down escalator. This problem is never-ending and it has had to be addressed by successive Governments. In the current economic climate, it must be almost impossible to try to square the circle. However, I believe the one thing that must be given is hope. I am keen to hear how the Minister of State will respond to the allegations that have been made in terms of lack of resources, the NAMA situation relating to lack of transfers and the situation relating to waiting lists.