David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to housing needs and I speak primarily from my own experience. I imagine, however, that it is the same for other Members of the Dáil here. People come into my office with a housing need. They want social housing and there is no chance of them getting social housing. I can make as many phone calls as I want to the housing office but the homes are simply not there. The response in any event would be that the housing assistance payment is the only solution. We send all of these people into the private sector to find solutions. What has happened as a consequence of not building social housing is that we now have everybody competing in the same space as social housing applicants. That includes people who can afford to rent and want to rent. As a consequence, the price of rent has been driven up. Does Mr. McCarthy agree that is the reality for people? I also want to know if he agrees that is the reality because the State has not built social housing. Does he accept that?