Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief, as always Chairman. The delegation is welcome because they speak the language that we know they have gleaned from their own direct dealings with people who are in need of housing within the local authority areas. That is very refreshing and important. Many of the other delegates spoke in a similar fashion.

What do the witnesses think might be done to speed up the planning process regarding Part V and to contribute to the preparation for and immediate supply of local authority housing? To what extent have the witnesses considered the reintroduction of local authority loans - previously known as the county council loan - which was a primary part of the system for first time house buyers, and which is unfortunately no longer available or considered worthwhile? Can the witnesses explain what is the problem with voids? It used to happen that in the event of a house becoming vacant any improvements to the house that had been carried out by the previous tenant, some of which were extensive, were immediately thrashed and thrown in the bin and the house reconstructed afterwards. The theory was that if an oak kitchen and oak tables, etc., were in situ the new tenant might expect to have them replaced if they needed to be replaced at a later stage. The idea was to replace them beforehand, at considerable cost needless to say. People were put in the position of fishing out of the waste bins some of the old materials that were being discarded. To what extent has that practice been discontinued?

How do councillors view modular homes and houses as a means to address the urgency of the situation we are faced with now? What proposals do they believe could be helpful to local authorities in meeting the urgent homelessness issues and the ever increasing threat of homelessness? These arise from a whole series of issues that I do not want to particularly want to go into now.