Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I know he is busy. We have engaged with the over-supply in the housing market. We do not need to construct new homes because we already have them. We have to match supply with demand from people on the social housing lists. We have engaged with the National Asset Management Agency to assign the over-supply of housing it controls in major urban areas to local authority lists. We are working in a proactive way to make supply meet demand. We will use State resources to assist people into proper accommodation. It is costing us a significant amount of money but we want people to get high quality accommodation and, equally, be able own their own homes in time. Our first port of call is to ensure people on local authority housing lists are able to get good accommodation in the private market. Ultimately these properties may be sold to their occupants.

We are not involved with any slum landlord class. I do not know where the Deputy got that idea. We are trying to help people into quality accommodation.

See this speech in context