Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My apologies for not being here earlier. I had a clash and then I was speaking in the Dáil so I apologise if some of these questions are repeats. How many tenantin situscheme purchases were there last year and what is the budget for this year? Are extra resources being given to local authorities to complete the purchases.? It is great to hear about the 7,500 to 8000 brand-new social housing builds. I am wondering about the money behind these. Figures from the Department are showing that, in some cases, it is costing up to 50% more to build a three-bedroom house on a council's own land. What implications is that having for the budget? What figures are currently baked into the budget? Does the budget need to be revised to make sure those targets are hit? It seems a significant increase. With the massive inflation, the cost of labour and all the items that go into construction have increased quite dramatically. However, I am not sure that we are hearing a figure of 50% from other fields and from private developers. I would like some clarity on that.

I welcome the Minister of State to the committee. I particularly welcome the €92 million and the report he gave on older people and people with disabilities and the funding in that area. My local authority will shortly open a new development, Sallymills, which will cater for older people and, in particular, people with accessibility needs. It is great this state-of-the-art centre will open and I commend the Minister on this work. Does the Minister of State have information on the filling of the new positions for the housing delivery and planning teams that were announced last year for local authorities? What is the situation with recruitment for these positions?