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

I am interested in what Mr. Honohan has said but much of it is out of my reach because it relates to the law. However, I will make my contribution on what I know as a public representative on the ground. I agree with Mr. Honohan about building Ballymun and St. Michael's estate and so on, but the fault in building them did not lie only with the residents. It was the way they were managed and abandoned by many of the councils and were not properly serviced. If we had them today as private rented accommodation, a person would probably not get one for €2,000 per month. They were spacious and well built and most of the facilities in them were really good. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons they failed to live up to the standards for which they were built. Mr. Honohan did not speak about the number of houses for sale in the different areas, although it was in his submission. The areas that are of interest to me are Drimnagh and Crumlin because that is the constituency in which I live. I am aware the local authority has bought many houses. It has de-tenanted areas such as St. Teresa's Gardens and Dolphin House and is continuing to buy units. Although it might acquire them for €180,000, clearing them out and refurbishing them can cost up to another €150,000. Therefore the cost is not €180,000 but a much higher figure.

I wish to ask two questions. What are Mr. Honohan's views on voluntary housing agencies? In regard to number of homeless people, we have a report from the Mercy Law Resource Centre, the Peter McVerry Trust and Circle Voluntary Housing Association. Mr. Honohan is correct in saying everybody has different figures. If we could get a clear indication from the councils on the exact figures, we might be able to find a proper solution. Why is Mr. Honohan so set against modular housing? Will he specify if it is because of the price? These modular houses are being built. We are talking about a life span of 60 years or more on them. How can he say that modular housing would be a transient unit? Many of the people who will go into modular houses would like to remain in them. I have spoken to many people on the issue of modular housing in my constituency who have said that if they had a roof over their heads for the next 30 or 40 years, they would be very happy. Is it down to the price or is there some other factor that makes Mr. Honohan - I will not say negative about them - reluctant to have them built?