Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have spoken on a number of occasions recently about my own view that we should have a housing stimulus programme, which would address some of the issues Deputy Durkan has raised but would also help get people back to work. We have a difficulty in certain areas where there is a shortage of housing. The previous Government abandoned the building of council housing because, I suppose, at the time Fianna Fáil was encouraging everybody to take out a mortgage. We have inherited a situation in which we need to move long-term rent supplementation for tenants to the local authorities. As I said, I have had intensive consultations with both the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In certain areas, particularly where there has been an influx of foreign direct investment - north Kildare has done very well in that regard, as have parts of south and south-east Dublin - there is a lot of competition for very scarce accommodation. In addition, the recent changes in regard to bedsit accommodation have affected availability, although for a good reason - namely, to improve standards in what people used to call bedsits.

I concur with the Deputy's sentiments. When I have met the Deputies from Kildare and when the survey is completed, I will speak about this in the House again.

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