Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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Right, because you get the impression when the Minister comes in on budget day with the big budget book that this is a really important Department. Then, our engagement with it here, now and the last time is probably the most frustrating out of all the Departments. When you ask a question, you are invariably deflected to Departments like the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or Transport, rather than a Department with a responsibility. Long leases on housing, for example, which is part of Housing for All, falls under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I would have thought the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform would have gone to it and asked if it was off its rocker. Long leasing houses for 25 years is just about the most expensive way of delivering this. Does the Department have any weight to tell them not to do something, or to issue strong advisories not to do something if it will not produce value for money. Does the Department have that weight?