Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for their attendance. I do not wish to go over old ground considering the questions that have been asked and the answers that have been forthcoming. I simply seek information from the Minister and his officials to measure the success of the future but to measure any success or failure that we have seen in recent years. To that end, I welcome the efforts to ensure there is transparency regarding the targets that will be set and the ability of the Department and local authorities to deliver.

I seek a spreadsheet, if possible, that outlines how many people were on the housing waiting list for each local authority on 1 January 2016 and, during the course of the year, how many houses were constructed by the local authority, how many houses were constructed for the local authority in co-operation with approved housing bodies, how many properties were purchased by the authority, how much land the local authority had in stock at the beginning and the end of the year and what was the waiting list at the end of 2016. I would like the same data for 2017. When we see the targets for 2018, we will be able to put a bit of shape and background on those targets, thus allowing us a better opportunity to measure performance and whether it has been enhanced and improved. Perhaps such data would help us to identify the failures of the conventional system as we know it over the past number of years.

I am sure the frustration that is evident among my constituents and throughout my constituency is replicated throughout the country. Irrespective of the arguments we might have about figures, data and statistics, no community in my constituency has seen the Government or local authority construct homes for those who cannot provide or afford them in their own communities. When I consult my constituents, that is their response, that is the reality and that is what is reflected in their views to me. I need a simple concise mechanism that will allow me to report back to them, as is my duty and privilege, as to how taxpayers' money, the Government and the parties in government are working with the Department and with those who are charged with the responsibility to deliver within local authorities to deliver to those poor unfortunates. I do not use that term lightly. I share, as do we all, the terrible frustration of meeting the same people for the past number of years in our constituency offices and not being in a position to help despite the record achievements in recent years with regard to having got our finances back in shape and despite having record levels of income and revenue coming into the State. The Government now has an opportunity to prioritise how that money is spent and that is the greatest issue that faces society, the economy and the country. We can all agree on how the Government is handling Brexit. We can all, to some extent, agree on taxation measures, the universal social charge and so forth. However, we have not reached agreement on how to tackle housing. We have been told that money is no obstacle when it comes to resolving this issue but it is not. I need to simplify for myself and my constituents what happened in recent years and how the situation will be improved immediately.