Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister, the Ministers of State and their team. It is important that the Minister's priority has changed to housing. While the work has been slow to date, hopefully it will start to increase. I welcome the funding that has been allocated. Unlike some, I do not wish to see houses thrown up or regulations relaxed. We should not encourage that. Nobody wants another Riverwalk, Priory Hall or the like affected by pyrite. In that regard, how much money has been spent so far this year on fixing homes, apartments or buildings affected by pyrite or where problems have been caused by workmanship or lax regulations during the boom? With regard to pyrite, it is welcome that additional funding was allocated this year. For how many years in the future will funding have to be allocated and has provision been put in place for that?

Finally, €364 million has gone to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Does that go to the Department broken down by each county? Obviously, County Meath has a large population and an extensive road network and I believe it has been underfunded for many years and should get its fair share back.