Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

That was a serious mistake. One almost had to state what one had for breakfast. However, the serious issue is that local authorities and the Government cannot plan. The budget is approaching but the Government does not have the necessary facts and figures and does not know its own needs.

My local authority tells me there has been a significant increase in the number of people on the local authority housing list, which is the area of greatest need. As the Minister has not done his homework or got his facts right, this debate is taking place in a vacuum. He does not know where he is going and cannot tell us the facts. Fine Gael will ensure that everybody knows the figures, whatever they are. To inform this debate properly, we should have the figures but we do not.

These are the main ideas I wish to bring to the Minister's attention. I look forward to debating the many aspects of this issue. The Minister is not doing his job and has been a failure on the provision of social and affordable housing. That is not a legacy I will have when I am in the Minister's position. In the short time the Minister has left in office——

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