Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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As I was saying, the Minister is consistent in that he has never reached his own rule. I would criticise the Minister if he tried to do that. Moreover, I would criticise him again because we have the housing crisis because the Government is not investing basic sufficient capital to build social affordable cost-rental homes. As for the numbers that underpin this stability programme update, the number may look large in terms of core year-on-year increase but of that €4.7 billion or €4.5 billion, at least €3 billion of that is ELS. About half a billion euro is capital, which is across all Departments and that then leaves you the remainder for new measures. That level of additional capital simply does not cut it and we have been here before with the Minister. Unfortunately, the numbers in respect of homelessness are testament to what I have been saying for many years about the Minister's plans.

Going back to windfall capital for next year, some €750 million has now been allocated to the Departments.