Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum, the committee may commence in public session. I call on members and those in the Gallery to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are switched off as they may interfere with the broadcasting equipment even when on silent mode. The meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 34, Housing, Planning and Local Government which was referred to the select committee by the Dáil on 28 November with an instruction to report back not later than 12 December 2018.

I welcome the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and his officials to the committee and propose that the following arrangements shall apply to the debate. The Minister shall make a brief address to the committee after which we can consider the subheads relevant to the Supplementary Estimate. I remind members that in accordance with Standing Order 184 discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimate. The subheads are A3, local authority housing, C6, local government and other services and D13, which relates to the Land Development Agency. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.