Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know it is only a small point and not relevant to the current Department configuration but I was on the council when we heard of all these sites with an announcement by the previous Minister. There had been no consultation with elected members. My understanding is there was not an exhaustive process with the housing managers. I should be clear for the record. We desperately want those 89 units meant for those sites; we would take three or four times that number and give sites for them too that are just as good. We would get the Part 8 through. There will be a second phase of this beyond these sites and some of the difficulties of the Part 8 process could be designed out with a little more engagement with elected members who will play a constructive role. This would mean sites would not be chosen that are wholly unsuitable for social housing. That is not because of objections from the surrounding community but because they are bad for the people who would eventually be tenanting those properties.