Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy MacSharry was getting to the issue of the lack of personnel in certain local authorities earlier and he continually referred to Fingal County Council. I am very proud of the work that is done in Fingal County Council. The Minister and I visited the area last Friday and were told a target of 1,376 housing units were to be provided over a three-year period. Fingal has delivered 2,241, which is a significant increase on the target it was given. I was informed it was also going to significantly exceed the target it was set last year. Why are other local authorities not able to match that? Housing output is in single figures in certain local authorities in the State. I appreciate there may be a lack of expertise in some local authorities but Mr. McCarthy outlined to me that, over the various stages of the drawdown of the funding provided to the local authorities during the development of a scheme, they would get €25,000 for doing very little. That sounds like the sort of money one might pay to an architect to draw up an advanced, large-scale plan. That is not an excuse for a local authority not putting properties on public display for consideration for their development. In a less adversarial manner than was presented to Mr. McCarthy earlier, would he have a view on that? I have a firm view, based on what I have heard, but perhaps Mr. McCarthy would like to enlighten me further?