Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The figures are available for the third quarter of the year and they show that year-on-year employment increased by 3.4%. There is an increase of 14% overall, year-on-year, in the number of people working in the construction sector. It is evidence that the building of residential accommodation continues to increase. Approximately 20,000 new houses will be completed by the end of this year. The long-term target is 30,000 to 35,000 per annum and, hopefully, we will reach that target in the next 12 months. I refer to Senator McDowell's comments on inspections and the fact that bedsits have been eliminated under legislation. In fact, somebody called to me recently and told me that 12 people living in a property in Cork have been given notice to leave by the end of February. Unfortunately, all 12 of them will find it difficult to get accommodation, and it is a major challenge for the local authority to provide alternative accommodation.I am not clear about the issues in Dublin, but my experience in Cork is that the fire authority and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, are inspecting buildings in the Cork region. When 30 beds appeared in one property over a short period, the fire officer went in and had the place closed down. I congratulate the fire officer for being vigilant and making sure all the safety measures relating to residential accommodation are upheld. I accept that we need to look at this issue. Many people who were in bedsits are now out of the property market and are finding it difficult to source alternative accommodation. We need to review how we can deal with people who want to live on their own. More than 1,800 single or separated people are on the Cork City Council waiting list.