Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)

Will the Minister fund and resource local authorities to start building houses directly, including social, affordable and cost-rental houses? It is all being subcontracted out now. I think the local authorities need to start building houses. Even doing this on a small scale would help. Will the Minister also fund the local authorities to have the staff to turn around all these boarded-up and vacant properties? They belong to and are owned by the State.