Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Significant funding is being made available in the social and public housing programme this coming year. Based on his experience and previous work as a local authority member, the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, is well au fait with the prospects for local authorities and others providing for that. This arises from a significant allocation; from memory it may be over €4 billion or €4.4 billion. That is a significant commitment.

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