Mr. Dermot Lacey:

In response to Deputy Butler, of course housing adaptations have a role to play and there should be more flexibility on that.

On NAMA, let us be clear that no councillor across the country, as far as I understand, rejected any housing allocation or offering by NAMA, because councillors do not have a role in that under our dysfunctional local government system. The decisions were made by the unelected chief executives talking to the unelected NAMA people and the unelected officials in the Customs House. If Deputy Butler wants to change that, she will have my full support.

On Deputy Ó Broin's comments regarding Part VIII, it is a question of wanting a swift decision but also an accountable decision. They are not incompatible.

On the last point, I support rapid build as it is necessary, but I will not take any lectures from either the Minister or the Department about our tardiness in respect of Part VIII. The Department has some cheek in accusing local councillors of delaying any process, given its own very shameful record over the past 20 years.