Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

It will not be possible for local authorities to engage in the traditional approach of direct building. The amount available for construction, direct purchase or to assist voluntary housing bodies in acquiring housing has declined from €1.5 billion to €353 million over the past four years. This is a substantial reduction and I do not know where we would obtain capital resources to go down that road again in the years ahead. Leasing and rental accommodation schemes have been to the fore in trying to resolve problems for people by providing private rented accommodation.

There is an opportunity to lease a substantial number of accommodation units from the National Asset Management Agency to assist those who are on the social housing waiting lists. I hope we will have the co-operation and goodwill of the local authority system to expedite the units and make them available to people on the social housing lists as quickly as possible.

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