Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many developments have closed down. I respect that some of my questions cannot be asked today but perhaps Mr. Parlon will furnish me with the details later. The final stages of many of these developments such as council houses in west Cork, Dunmanway, Bandon and Rosscarbery all had to be pulled due to Covid-19. These developments were very urgently required social houses for people in need. Are there dates for specific projects? Can Mr. Parlon give us a breakdown on the specific projects? Can he give us a date for when these council houses will be finished and made available to residents? Projects, like the children's hospital in Dublin, have run very much over budget, which we have debated all along. Does the fact that constructions like this and others have had to close down due to Covid-19 mean taxpayers will have to pay added costs to conclude these projects?

There are many hospitals builds going on throughout the country at the moment, especially community hospitals in west Cork, Skibbereen and Castletownbere. That is fine, they are going on and I presume they will see out their term. I worry about the Clonakilty Community Hospital and other community hospitals because funds were supposed to be made available to allow projects to go ahead. Will those funds remain available? Has that been indicated? Will the projects go ahead or be pulled, which is a serious issue? I would like to ask questions on roads funding but we get so little roads funding in west Cork that it is pointless to ask specific questions.

Mr. Parlon might answer my next question. Some large house builders have told their subcontractors that the new environment of reduced house prices will require a 20% reduction in their rates of costs charged to the main contractor. If so, subcontractors will go bust. Is that the case?