Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

There is also the affordable homes partnership. In the Deputy's constituency, it has delivered a couple of hundred homes through land swaps. We announced another such swap a few days ago under which we will get more than 200 houses, many of them in west and south-west Dublin, at good prices of €180,000 to €220,000. We are providing many affordable homes; 500 such homes have been provided on three land swaps. Many of the people on social housing lists who have jobs as a result of the improved economy are opting for those homes and are succeeding in getting into the market.

There has been much progress, although I accept there are over 40,000 families on the waiting list. If we can continue to increase the investment we are making in this area, we will meet the needs of more of those families over the next couple of years.

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