Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Reference was made on several occasions to modern methods of construction, new technologies and modular homes. The figures for modular homes delivered by the last Government show they were as expensive as traditional homes. One reason was that none of the infrastructure was in place. There was no water, no wastewater facilities, no electricity and no roads. We have a major problem at the moment with providing serviced sites. Some of us met CIF officials in Cork recently and they were saying “Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure”. They said they need water, electricity and access to serviced sites if they are to deliver the quantity of housing needed. Surely, from the perspective of where we are now, there has been major underinvestment in infrastructure over the past ten or 20 years and we are now trying to play catch-up. The management of Uisce Éireann says it does not have the money to deliver the infrastructure for 50,000 homes. Surely a priority should be giving the required capital to Uisce Éireann, the ESB and local authorities to deliver the serviced sites.