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

I thank everyone for their answers. I want to go back to one point that was raised earlier. I get what Ms Cormican said about having mixed tenure. One of my issues is that too much social housing will only create problems. A mixed tenure is needed across social, affordable and cost-rental homes and homes for older people and those with disabilities. That feeds into my last comment for the witnesses. I thank them for all their contributions.

My one worry is about acquisitions when organisations are buying developments that are produced and built. If they are negotiating with a developer themselves, they are telling a developer what they need. Even if they are going to buy a development off the books or the plans, they still have an input. My worry is about when a development is bought after it is built. The standard X amount of two-bedroom or three-bedroom homes are bought, but no single units or very few universal design or universal design wheelchair-accessible homes are bought. That is a concern for me.

Mr. Dunne made the point earlier that people are pressured to deliver housing. If the Department and people in local authorities are sending out a clear message, it should be need led and not developer driven. That is important. I encourage the representative organisations to be as strong as they can without delaying anything. They are doing excellent work but that is an issue.

There are 10,000 people on Cork City Council's waiting list. We know 5,000 of them are single. However, we are not building 50% of the properties as one-bedroom or two-bedroom units, which are needed because people with children might be separated and stuff like that. We are seeing three-bedroom houses. Do not get me wrong; there is a need for three-bedroom houses but we need a balanced delivery. I would make that point. I apologise; we have to run. I thank everyone.