Mr. Michael Hourigan:

In response to the Deputy’s question about speeding up Part VIII, in all local authorities because of the embargo on recruitment there is a serious lack of technical people, architects, engineers and administrative staff. Where I come from availability not money is the problem in the acquisition of houses. People are very slow. Landlords are over regulated and are getting out of it. If we want to get the construction industry back into the game we must give them tax breaks. There has to be an incentive. These people are in business to make a profit. Unless they are given a tax break or some real incentive to do the work I do not think they are going to come back. The same is true for the landlord unless he has an incentive to let out his house. There are so many regulations around a tenancy now that people are pulling out of the business.