Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is disappointing he did not intervene or listen to what Fine Gael had to say about Dublin City Council reducing its affordable prices last year. He should have issued a directive to other local authorities to do likewise. There is now a situation where they have a glut of affordable housing on their books and it will be a long time before they get to sell those properties.

Does the Minister of State agree that the affordable housing partnership has not performed since it was set up in 2005 and that it has been a complete waste of taxpayers' money? The Minister of State said that more than 1,300 social and affordable housing units were provided last year but this is only a drop in the ocean. Much more needs to be done and should have been done over the years. Will the Minister of State comment on this and on the fact his policy has failed to link social housing with the private market? Clearly, the private market has not delivered.

See this speech in context