Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Policy changes are important and some key changes may be made shortly. That said, one must ascertain the most effective way to spend the €1.3 billion in Exchequer funding. When combined with the non-Exchequer funding, the total amounts to almost €2 billion. Policy changes are fine and take up some time and energy, but one must also focus on whether housing is being delivered and resources are being spent in the proper way while at the same time considering other ideas that come forward. Given that the housing sector is now so significant to the construction industry and the economy generally, many outside bodies are making submissions, producing reports and talking about how we should do our business.

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