Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister and his officials for attending. I will ask a couple of quick-fire questions and then a longer one at the end.

In light of current developments with Brexit, how are we planning to safeguard our economy next year and beyond? Would spending more on our health service have a greater impact on outcomes, bearing in mind that our spending is the third highest in the OECD? More focus probably needs to be put on terms and conditions and career paths to recruit and retain staff than on throwing more money at the system.

Interestingly, people always ask why we are not building or spending more, but they never have to say how that policy could physically be delivered. It is easy to throw out a one-liner when one does not have to come up with the implementation process required. The current drought has caused a loss of income to the water sector that was previously going towards servicing sites that were needed for housing. Everything has a knock-on effect. Someone might have a one-liner about getting rid of water charges, but the unintended consequence would be a lack of funding for the area. We are spending €8 billion on Irish Water, but that is just for bringing Irish Water to the point of functioning. The amount Irish Water requires is twice that. These factors are never considered when people throw out one-liners.

We have spent nearly €750 million delivering housing this year, with far more spending needed. However, emphasis is never placed on the question of how to deliver that. It is up to the Government to devise an implementation strategy. It is easy to tell people to spend more and build more without having to say how that can be done. I understand how difficult it is and what the restrictions and complexities involved are. It is great to say that we are spending too much on HAP and RAS - we all accept that - but no one ever explains what can be used in the interim before houses are up and running for individuals and families. I accept that this expenditure on our rental sector is needed while we are getting supply up and running, as I understand the complexities involved. I want sustainability in the construction sector, not populist remarks.