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

I thank AILG and LAMA for their submissions and comments. I was a councillor for 12 years so I completely understand where the councillors are coming from. For years, different Ministers have slandered local authorities for not providing housing. They have blamed local authorities for the problems that we have now and the housing crisis. I want to completely state here that that is not true. From my own experience as a councillor on Cork County Council and having spoken to other councillors, the reason we have had a lack of housing is because local authorities were never supported with the funds they needed.

I come from Gurranabraher, where I live now. It was a big social housing development 80 years ago. Knocknaheeney is another one. There are many areas in Cork where we know local authorities can deliver excellent social and affordable housing. I believe the statements made today by the councillors in respect of giving the power and funding to councillors and local authorities so that they can deliver the social, affordable, private and affordable rental housing that is required. I am 100% on board with what the councillors are saying. I was frustrated when I was a councillor and we wanted to drive on projects and build houses but could not get the funding. The councillors might comment on that. Do they believe that if local authorities are given the funding they will be in a position to deliver social and affordable housing? I believe the Land Development Agency has a part to play in getting land and putting it together, but the local authorities are the bodies to deliver social and affordable housing.

I have two other points not related to the Land Development Agency. One relates to the sizable loans that several local authorities have and the amount of money they are paying back every year on interest. These loans should be taken off all local authorities because they are a weight around their necks.

The other issue I have relates to local authorities paying local property tax on social houses. That funding would be better spent in housing maintenance and the provision of other services for local authorities. That is something we need to reverse.