Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

It was not me. If one looks at the history, in most city and county councils there was an iron alliance between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. There has been talk about the coalition Governments this country might have, but the real coalition is in local development where Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have worked hand in hand together. It was an iron alliance. The end result is that young people are paying through the nose for homes and many of them have given up hope of getting homes.

Then there are the people who, for one reason or another, are unable to work or do not have an income or are on benefit. There are 6,000 of them on the Dublin city housing list alone. Each week we desperately try to get them some affordable units. However, with every planning permission no decision is ever taken about affordable units until long after the planning permission is given and the houses and flats are nearly ready to be occupied. That is another issue the Minister could address.

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