Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a supplementary question and perhaps the Minister could clarify an issue for me. When councils say there is no demand for housing in an area, that is not actually true if they have not tested that demand. One of the issues that has arisen is councils refusing houses from NAMA. Houses are available but the councils do not actually ask the people who applied, or they do not advertise that homes are available at a location asking applicants if they wish to take them. That is a huge issue. If one looks at the Housing Agency's map of houses in Ireland, it is very clear that a lot of vacant homes are theoretically in the west. Houses are offered to local authorities which could be available to rent but they say there is no demand in a particular area. They do not actually test that and this is hugely important.

In Dublin, there are 40,000 vacant homes. That is a huge issue. I do not know if I am crossing into pillars 2, 3 or 4. I think this is an area we should debate at our next meeting if that is okay.