Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment further on the point the Minister of State responded to. Why is there a discrepancy and variation between local authorities? I assumed it was due to resources. Clearly that is not the case and instead it is due to competence and administration. Why is there a wide variation in the way local authorities treat such housing? Is the Minister of State, in her capacity as housing minister, not able to wield a big stick over local authorities? She should insist that they adhere to a uniform set of principles and guidelines rather than allow a laissez-faireattitude because there is a housing crisis. I am sure she is the last person who wants to have the type of dwelling she referred to boarded up and shut down in local authority areas, particularly where there is not a resource issue but an administrative reason. It is clear she needs to urgently address the issue.
I read the figures that were published recently on the NAMA properties available in some local authorities nationally which had not been taken up by local authorities. Is there a reason for that situation? The issue is allied to what we are talking about here because it relates to dwellings that are available or have been made available - in this instance by NAMA - yet have not been allocated. Is there a reason that has not taken place?