Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I represent Cork, where more than 9,000 individuals and families are on the social housing list. Thousands of other families do not qualify to go on the social housing list and are either in receipt of HAP or RAS. Others again are not in receipt of any payment and are paying large rents. Rents increased by 5% in Cork in 2020. For the people I represent, access to affordable house purchase and affordable cost rental is a major issue and needs to be delivered now. All the contributions seems to promise everything in the future. People are looking for hope now. People need us to deliver now. How many units need to be delivered in cost rental and affordable housing to prevent rents increasing and make a difference to the people?

NESC produced a report recommending an examination of the compulsory purchase order legislation. It also stated that the current vacant site levy is insufficient as we all know. What would NESC do to change that? There are 95 vacant sites alone on the Cork City Council vacant and derelict sites list and there are many more throughout Cork city and across all local authorities. What changes would make a difference in this regard?