Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have addressed this issue many times. I am trying to do as much as I can under the various funding mechanisms we have at our disposal. There have been reductions in the housing capital budget over recent years. We are positioning ourselves to expand the construction programme as soon as the economy improves. As I have said, I am making a strong case under the various stimulus packages that are under consideration. In the meantime, we have to do whatever we can to provide housing for people. Yesterday, I launched a voluntary code for the approved housing bodies sector. The purpose of the code is to ensure the voluntary housing associations and the co-operative housing associations have proper governance and to facilitate them in raising money from banks, credit unions, pension funds and other sources. It is acknowledged that the sector has or will have the capacity to help to address housing need. In Britain, the voluntary housing sector is a significant provider of social housing. As not-for-profit organisations, the voluntary housing associations are set up for that purpose. That is one area where we want to see extra provision. Unfortunately, we will have to keep using all the various methods, including the private rented sector, which is much larger in other European countries than it is in Ireland. I want to ensure that sector is regulated so that people can have as much security as possible in their homes, regardless of whom they are renting them from.

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