John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

That is the point. If the Deputy were to insist, he would be removing the option to go back and introduce a scheme. There would be five-bedroom houses in parts of this city coming to the market at a reduced rate, but they would not be affordable. It is precisely to address that issue that the amendment was introduced. We can deliver multiples of those houses at cheaper rates. Realistically, it will not work.

The insinuation and misinformation is there that local authorities are doing deals with developers, and money is coming in. Last night in his response, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, pointed out that it is only in 13% of cases that the cash alternative to houses is being used. The vast majority of the argument therefore falls flat. By and large, local authorities are not taking cash but the built product.

I agree with the Minister of State in his comment that the preferred option is to provide housing. If there is to be a recommendation at all, it should be that where a local authority decides to take an alternative, such as the cash alternative, it could require ministerial approval. That would put more pressure on local authorities to deliver housing rather than take cash. The issue should not be taken out of proportion.

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