Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I take it from the Minister of State's reply that he supports the call by NESC for a net increase of 73,000 housing units. Does he accept that we are not meeting current demand? Housing stock is being sold without being replaced, despite the fact that demand is not being met. When we demolish local authority social housing units, should we not build replacements?

Does the Minister of State agree that a crisis exists with regard to local authority housing? Housing lists are getting longer and prices are spiralling out of control. The Government can huff and puff as much as it likes but the reality is that young people and families earning the average industrial wage cannot afford to buy houses in Dublin and other cities.

Will the Minister of State commit to strengthening Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 so it is restored to its original form or does he propose to allow social exclusion to continue? Does he want to repeat the mistakes of the past or permit a situation in which people are forced abroad because they cannot afford to buy their own houses?

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