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

I thank the witnesses for all the work their organisations are doing. I have been in contact with all the groups in Cork. To be fair to everyone involved, I find the co-operation levels and the work are excellent. The attitude with which they approach housing, social housing and homelessness is refreshing. They want to deal with people and they are solutions-based. We have problems and we are trying to fix things. To be honest, this will not be fixed today or tomorrow, but at least from looking at the witnesses’ submissions I can see there are plans. That is what is it is all about: putting plans in place to try to solve these crises. Whether it is affordable, social, cost rental or homelessness, we need a solution. From reading the witnesses’ submissions I can see great work is being done as well as being planned for the future.

I am very concerned about the comments that were made in this committee about community spaces and a lack of funding. I come from Knocknaheeny, which was a big social housing development. Three-bedroom housing developments were built for the regeneration of Moyross and Ballymun, but no playgrounds, parks or buildings were put in. They just built an estate and they walked away. We cannot go back to that. The witnesses have spoken about that. If there were a number of recommendations, where should that funding be coming from? I do not think they should be going from pillar to post to try to get a few bob out of other places to provide these spaces, buildings or services. Surely, with the work the witnesses do, that funding should be part of it. Someone made a point about the final contributions they have to pay. Surely those financial contributions should be used for that kind of work. Would that not be a solution? That is my first question.