Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that but I am putting together the reasons that we are so short of social housing.

Recently, Dublin City Council turned down two developments, one at O'Devaney Gardens for the refurbishment of 67 units, and the other in Maryland. I can understand height restrictions but if they had been altered, we would have extra housing units. The Government has invested €12.5 million to build 52 units in St. Teresa’s Gardens and given €3.5 billion as a start-off for social housing building over the next several years. The Government has given over €500 million to Dublin alone for landbanks for house building. No one can tell me the Government is not looking at building. It is, but the problem is when a plan comes to the council, it is rejected. The latest plan of 67 units for O’Devaney Gardens would have seen 67 families coming out of hotel rooms where they cannot live in one room with three children. It is appalling. The council needs to wake up and smell the grass.