Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On those NAMA properties, the language is somewhat opaque in a reply given to Deputy Broughan. In terms of the explanation given that the properties were unsuitable, there is a suggestion that not only were they unsuitable, but that they were unavailable. We need some further clarification because NAMA told us a number of weeks ago that 6,500 units of accommodation were made available to the 31 local authorities but approximately two thirds of them were rejected by the local authorities. Those properties were made available over a period of time but eventually NAMA had no choice but to put them up for sale to the private sector, where they were snapped up.

They have all been sold except for 300 units. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and it is incredible to think that over 4,000 units of accommodation should not have been suitable for whatever reason, yet the private sector had no problem at all purchasing them for housing purposes. We need further clarification as to why the local authorities did not take them and whether the full information was provided to us by NAMA on the suitability and availability of the properties in question. I ask that we seek further information on those 4,000 plus units.