Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have a particular problem currently in the voluntary housing sector, of which I am sure the Secretary General and the Minister are very well aware. I refer to the issue of Fr. Scully House, which is a voluntary housing development of 99 units. The Department invested €17 million in its construction and it has been lying idle effectively since July of last year at a time when we have a housing crisis. How will the Department protect that investment by our taxpayers? Can we have a situation in the voluntary housing sector as we move forward whereby it can do pretty much do what it likes? If it is not happy with the rent, can it prevent people from being housed? It is a perverse situation that applies. Do we need to ensure that there is Government appointee or departmental appointees on the board of the voluntary housing sector?