Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The commitment on affordable housing was that we would give over 10,000 housing units in total that were projected for delivery under the initiative and that will be achieved. It was never envisaged that it could be achieved over the short period of the programme but that the State would identify sites and hand them over. There are now 70 projects with State and local authority lands where this is planned. I would like to see it happen faster but the affordable housing initiative is playing its part, taking into account all it must contend with in terms of planning and other difficulties. The Deputy knows there are often difficulties as a result of objections to social and affordable housing in some areas. Some Members of this House could help us to press on in many of the projects because it is disheartening for those involved with the affordable housing initiative when they are trying to make progress.

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