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

I have one or two comments. I will be parochial, for a moment. It is dramatic where we have come from in the space of two years. That is particularly the case when it comes to delivering social housing.

I concur with the remarks made by Senator Boyhan regarding the staff in both local authorities represented here today. The compassion with which they deal with people is to be commended. I have had many dealings with both local authorities regarding people in very difficult circumstances. We appreciate all that the staff do. Sometimes we hear bad stories but I have not had any experiences like that. I want to acknowledge that.

Regarding affordable schemes, the complexities involved and those being site specific, I think Mr. Kenny mentioned this before. A tight site will mean that the costs of construction will be much higher than at a site such as Shanganagh, which is vast and flat. It does, however, have other complications. It needs services, road infrastructure, a DART station etc. No two sites are ever the same. We can talk about having a range of bands, having one cost and all of the different things mentioned earlier. When it comes down it, however, these issues have to be dealt with site by site, with all of the complexity, or perhaps lack of complexity, involved in that.

Turning to Cherrywood, it was mentioned that there would be around 300 units. The council also owns a site there. I expect there will be delivery on that site also, when development there becomes possible. That will happen on a phased basis. Overall, I acknowledge where we have come from in the space of two years. Much of the detail, under the water, as it were, has been completed and now we are going to see the resultant development. Little emphasis is placed on the amount of work required before building can commence on a site. It can be frustrating how slowly housing is delivered. As public representatives, however, we also have to recognise the level of detailed work that goes into getting a site ready. That work is rarely seen. Those are more comments than anything else and concern the front line staff in particular. They work in difficult circumstances and are rarely commended. We should acknowledge the work they do.