Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not have a question; it is more of a comment. We are nearly into the second quarter of the year. I presume the Department is working on the next quarter at this stage. It is the end of March this week. There will be busy people in the Department.

I thank the Chairman for facilitating a varied discussion. I also take the opportunity to thank the secretariat and the Secretary General and his team in the Department because the information we have received has been very helpful. I acknowledge that it is very helpful for us because not only do we attend meeting such as this but we also interact with local councillors and county managers around the country, including my own. I am aware that the Chairman will meet him tomorrow. I spoke to my county manager today about housing issues. Our relationships are close and everyone is keen to get on with it. I am conscious that we will have another quarterly report. There are 15 items under Pillar 1. That is all that is up for review, but we must go on what has been set out. At the end of the day, this is Government policy. We can forget about having debates about what we might like to see because this is the policy. The Minister is going around with the plan in his pocket and wants it to be delivered. That is the legacy the Government wants to have. I am not here to speak for it, but I am a realist and aware that this is, so to speak, the blue book and what the Department must deliver and on which it will be judged. There were five of the 15 items on schedule; eight had been completed and only two issues were outstanding.

Action 1.1 relates to rapid build housing. Deputy Dessie Ellis is correct. I am not happy with the words "rapid" or even "fast track" which implies a lot of things that are not necessarily true. It does not mean that it is a lesser system or that rapid builds are inferior houses. Some of the rapid builds I have seen on the Continent and in Scandinavia are very impressive.