Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the long-term strategy, the Department is dealing with both the county councils and the approved housing bodies that do such fantastic work. The Department is dealing with the matter through acquisitions. I am harping on this issue because building has unquestionably flagged over the last decade or so. I saw very little building during my time on the local authority. We now have a scheme approved by the Department in my town, where there are about 5,000 people on the housing waiting list. The scheme is for 42 units and delivery is coming in at a cost of €11.1 million, which works out at around €280,000 per home. That is the cost of it. That was approved. The Minister of State with responsibility for housing represents my constituency. I spoke to Mr. McCarthy about this site this time last year, I think, when he was before the committee about Farganstown. This is just one example. In that big town with 5,000 people on a waiting list, that is what we are getting: €11.1 million, which is a lot of money, to deliver 42 homes. The Department is tackling this problem across a number of areas but, from the point of view of empowering the county councils, the Department faces a big challenge to make sure they step up to the mark. I would love to know what they are telling the Department. I would love to know what all the city and county managers are saying. They are all in the room together. I see them on the television. What are they saying? I have heard money is not a problem. If money is not a problem, where is the plan from their point of view to meet their targets outside of the acquisitions, the HAP schemes and so forth?