Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

If the local authorities are not doing their jobs and producing the houses, responsibility should be removed from them. They must meet their responsibility in respect of the applicants.

Reference was made to a reduction in the number on waiting lists for housing. In County Louth, there has been an increase — the number almost doubled in the past year. This may be because more single people are living in the county or because more people are moving to the county. One must acknowledge the reality that there are significant increases in the numbers on waiting lists in some counties.

I agree with Deputy Stagg that people living in houses such as those managed by Respond should be able to purchase them. Why should one family be able to buy its local authority flat while another family in the same complex, whose flat is not a local authority unit, cannot do so? This must be addressed. There is no reason that Respond or any other group should oppose this move. Everyone has the right to buy his or her own home.

Conversely, when local authorities purchase houses outside their stock, could they not be offered to Respond tenants or others in similar houses which they could never purchase? It would give the tenants an opportunity to start buying. This is everyone's right and people want to do it for their families.

See this speech in context