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

The OPW, which appeared before this committee last week, told us that squandering €11 million on empty office space was a good deal. We are now hearing that rejecting 50% of a portfolio of homes offered for social housing is reasonable. It is not reasonable. The response goes to the heart of the matter in terms of what is deemed suitable and not suitable. Elsewhere in the answer we were told that some of the homes offered were located in areas where there is no demand. I know of nowhere on the housing list I am looking at where there is no demand. Indeed, it is the complete opposite.

It was said that where units were declined it was due to the need to avoid over-concentration of social housing units. I ask again if this an example of the philosophy of the Housing Agency influencing the fact that we are not going into a construction phase and are instead dependent on HAP?