Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two more questions. I understand the Minister of State's frustration. He is just one person. I know that he can drive change when he wants to do so. I accept that he wants to do so on this occasion. I appeal to public representatives not to object to social housing. There is a structure in place at local authority level. If that structure does not work or people are not satisfied with it, they can appeal to An Bord Pleanála. For good or bad, these structures are in place to facilitate the provision of social housing in this country. When Members of the Oireachtas and county councillors object to social housing, it does not help anyone. The concerns of residents can be articulated appropriately by making submissions and observations.

I am concerned about the role of the social housing agencies in providing accommodation to members of the Traveller community. These bodies receive hundreds of millions of euro in taxpayers' money and supports. By and large, they do a good job. They are necessary because the State has not done this job over the years. I am a traditionalist and I am of the view that local authorities should be building tens of thousands of social houses. We are not in that space, however. The social housing agency model is being pursued at the moment. Is the Minister of State satisfied that the social housing agencies are living up to their responsibility to provide houses to members of the Traveller community?