Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will move on to my slot. I thank the Minister for attending.

Our debate on the Estimates is an important opportunity for us to ask the Minister about the way resources are allocated and discuss the priorities, etc. of the Department. If he viewed the work of this committee over the past six weeks he will have seen our discussions with numerous local authorities on the implementation of Housing for All. I must say it has been very impressive to see the pipeline of public housing that is being delivered. I have yet to see a local authority use all of the tools that are available. I believe some of them feel that some tools do not suit them, with which I disagree and particularly the cost-rental model. I encourage the Minister, as he meets the chief executive of each authority, to recommend that each local authority use all of the tools he has put in their toolbox which are affordable purchase, cost rental, social housing, the schemes to combat derelict sites, and the Croí Cónaithe towns being extended into cities.

On Croí Cónaithe, does the Minister believe the Estimates reflect the new eligibility criteria for Croí Cónaithe towns for city areas, like Finglas and Santry, to allow derelict sites to be overturned? Does he expect an increase in demand as a result of extending eligibility?