Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We all agree that land costs are a barrier to housing affordability. No one disagrees with that and the point is worth emphasising.

Is the Housing Agency still in the business of acquiring lands or properties? If so, is there an inventory of those properties? The agency was involved in the past in acquiring properties. There is always a conflict when State agencies acquire built properties. There can be an issue in terms of affordability, the market and competition. I acknowledge circumstances have changed in recent years but it was an issue with the Housing Agency previously, as was the issue of how the agency acquires property. Is there an inventory of housing sites? Reference was made to a site in Carlow, and that came as a surprise to my colleague. Is there a national inventory of Housing Agency sites and properties? If so, can it be made available to the committee?