Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from the AILG for appearing before the committee and helping it with its work. This committee would not exist were it not for the fact that there is a housing supply issue. As a committee, we are trying to address, as quickly as possible, the issue of how to deliver housing in a year to 18 months while people are waiting for the existing strategy to come into play. We are in that time-lag phase.

On the measures required to deliver quickly in those areas, obviously rapid build comes into play. Local opposition can arise in the case of social housing. Has the association discussed that issue and the part councillors might play in trying to hold off that opposition? I recognise that there is a role to be played by them and by the community in general in terms of delivering in respect of this problem.

One element of the void issue which has occurred to me over the years is why local authorities allow voids to build up over time and why it is necessary for the authorities to wait for special funding to deal with voids. I would have thought that, as part of the budgetary process of the local authorities, one of the annual measures would be to repair the housing stock. This appears to have been left behind over time and has become such a critical issue that central funding is needed. These are my two queries, the other questions have already been asked.